The Prime Minister, Rui Maria de Araújo, travelled to New York to represent Timor-Leste at the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly, where he gave a speech on September 24th.
A year after the approval of the Sustainable Development Goals, the General Assembly, chaired by Peter Thomson, took up the theme “Sustainable Development Goals: an universal push to transform our world.”
The General Assembly received the leaders of almost every country in the world, in order to talk about the most important issues of the international policy, which influence the execution of the 2030 Agenda.
In his speech, among other issues, the Prime Minister referred to the importance of the UN reform, to ensure that its system becomes more effective in responding to the constant challenges facing different countries and different people. He addressed the issue of stability and collective security, the need to strengthen the State institutions and preventive diplomacy as ways of avoiding conflicts, and also the key role regional integration undertakes in economic development, contributing to peace and stability.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for working together and strengthening international partnerships among all countries to end the conflicts afflicting the world, namely Syria’s and South Sudan’s conflicts, terrorism, organized crime, the situation of refugees and migrants and any situation that undermines the rights and welfare of human beings. He mentioned, of course, the issues of climate change, which are also a global threat.
The Prime Minister in his speech also outlined the work that has been developed, resulting from Timor-Leste’s commitment to adopting the Sustainable Development Goals and to define the maritime borders, in support of full sovereignty for his country.
The Prime Minister reiterated Timor-Leste’s position as regards to the use of dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes, the belief in the international multilateral system, being confident that neighbouring Australia will be prepared to contribute to “a fair and mutually acceptable solution.”
On behalf of Timor-Leste and the Timorese, the Prime Minister had also the opportunity to thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, whose term of office expires soon, the support that the country received over the last 10 years of his leadership.
To read the Spokesperson’s statement on the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, click here.