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© Mike
Segar / Reuters
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Sustainable development,
global security and efforts to diffuse ongoing conflicts, many of which have
resulted in explosive global refugee crises, top the agenda of the 70th
anniversary UN General Assembly session that has begun its work in New York.
The
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speech marathon will see more than 160
leaders in attendance at the 70th anniversary. Russian President Vladimir
Putin, who returns to the UN after a 10-year absence, will be delivering his
address on September 28.
Cuban
President Raul Castro is also expected to address the gathering for the first
time in New York on that day. Other high-level speakers will include China’s
President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and US President Barack
Obama.
RT America report continues:
Speaking
at the opening of the anniversary working session on Tuesday, President of the
General Assembly, the Danish Mogens Lykketoft, urged the world body to deliver
on objectives outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The
agenda, which will be adopted during a special conference held between
September 25 and 27, consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169
targets aimed at addressing climate change, economic problems, health, energy,
education, agriculture, gender equality and a whole host of other issues.
The
Pope is also scheduled to deliver an address which will kick off the conference
which is designed to shape the direction the world takes across the century.
“The
summit, of course, marks only the beginning,” Lykketoft said. “There is an urgent
need for action right across the three pillars of the UN and ample
opportunities to do so during this session… an ambitious and universal climate
agreement is an absolute must and the first real test of the world community’s
ability to deliver the necessary policy tools for sustainable development.”
Besides
tackling sustainability goals, Lykketoft urged the world democratic body to
strengthen security around the globe and to remedy the impact which war zones
have on civilian well-being and prosperity.
“The
UN and its member states have a strong obligation to work together to end the
catastrophic wars and conflicts – not least in and around Syria. And we will
have to act here and now to address the huge and explosive refugee crises
resulting from ongoing conflicts – and to protect the human rights of all
refugees,” Lykketoft said.
The
UNGA president also promised to bolster efforts to revitalize work to reform
the Security Council, after the General Assembly on Monday adopted a decision
to continue long-running negotiations to increase the membership of the
Council.
“I
will conduct all activities in as transparent, inclusive and open a manner as
possible,” Lykketoft assured. “Where it is relevant I will also engage with and
involve civil society representatives and others, such that a multi-stakeholder
approach becomes a hallmark of my presidency.”
Taking
the stage, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon, urged the General Assembly to
review peacekeeping operations which have thus far been tainted by numerous
scandals involving UN peacekeepers around the globe, especially in Mali and
Haiti.
“In
the weeks ahead, the General Assembly will deepen its discussions on my new
report on the future of United Nations peace operations, and on the review of
our peacebuilding architecture,” Ban said.
Ban also urged GA members
to address drug trafficking during the upcoming high-level debate on the World
Drug Problem expected to take place in April.
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