General Assembly: 39th plenary meeting, 80th session General Assembly Date: 13 November 2025 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/ga/80/39 Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- GA · PGA [0:00]: Good afternoon, distinguished delegates. The 39th plenary meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. The Assembly will continue its consideration and a joint debate of agenda item 120, entitled "Implementation of the resolutions of the United Nations." and item 121, entitled "Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly." I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Maldives. Sir, you have the floor. Maldives [1:03]: President, the General Assembly must work faster, smarter, and with clearer purpose to meet today's demands. Revitalization efforts led by the ad hoc working group are central. The Maldives notes the leadership of Ambassador Colonel Feruta of Romania and Ambassador Matojoine of South Africa as co-chairs at the 79th session. The working group's report and resolution 79/327 give a firm platform to improve the Assembly's working methods. Then the Assembly can use time and resources where they matter most. The Assembly is the most representative organ. It must therefore deepen coordination with other principal organs and with key international organizations to advance peace, security, and sustainable development. The Secretary-General's UN80 initiative can complement these reforms and strengthen the Assembly's efficacy, efficiency, and effectiveness. The Maldives proposes that the revitalization focuses on two key elements. First, decision-makers need strategic, concise, effective information. The UN should modernize report preparation, emphasizing analysis of outcomes from the implementation of UN resolutions. That approach will equip member states and guide the organization to improve service delivery for those who need it most. Second, use innovative technologies and modern working methods to broaden participation. Virtual and hybrid modalities already used by the UN expand participation at a fraction of the cost. They also let the Secretariat draw on experienced, well-trained, more affordable personnel worldwide. The Global South holds millions of educated young people eager for opportunity. The UN will benefit from their talents and from operating closer to program beneficiaries. The Maldives would like to see a General Assembly that evolves with the world and preserves the UN's gains. The Maldives stands ready to help make the UN more effective and efficient. I thank you. GA · PGA [3:27]: I thank the distinguished representative of Maldives. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan. Pakistan [3:53]: President, I would like to thank you for convening this timely joint debate on the implementation of United Nations resolutions and revitalization of the General Assembly's work. It is imperative that every institution continuously adapt and renew itself to remain relevant and effective. Pakistan aligns itself with the statement delivered by Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. The General Assembly occupies a unique and indispensable place in the architecture of the United Nations. As the only principal organ with universal membership, it embodies the principles of sovereign equality and inclusivity that lie at the heart of the UN Charter. President, the consensual adoption of resolution 79/327 in September reflects the collective resolve of Member States to strengthen the General Assembly and to make it more effective, dynamic and responsive. Revitalization is not a procedural exercise alone. It is indeed a political endeavor aimed at restoring balance equity, and democratic participation in the organization's work. Pakistan supports efforts to make the Assembly's work more efficient through rationalizing the agenda, streamlining resolutions, improving the quality of reporting, and promoting action-oriented outcomes. The Assembly's limitations do not arise from procedure. but from the reluctance of some Member States to allow it to fully exercise its Charter-based authority. The Working Group on Strengthening and Revitalizing the Work of the General Assembly, established pursuant to resolution 79/327, must therefore address these political constraints and reaffirm the Assembly's central role within the United Nations. The General Assembly's role in maintaining international peace and security is broad and complementary to that of the Security Council. And when the Security Council is unable or unwilling to act, the Assembly is fully empowered to assume its responsibilities under the Charter. The work also extends to addressing the root causes of conflict and promoting peaceful settlement of disputes including through mediation and arbitration in line with the Charter's principles. For the United Nations to remain credible, its resolutions must be implemented in both letter and spirit. They carry not only moral authority, but also legal and political weight, reflecting the collective will of the international community. All organs and Member States must therefore respect and implement these decisions. Pakistan reiterates its proposal to establish a dedicated mechanism to monitor the implementation of General Assembly resolutions, supported by regular, detailed secretariat reporting. Such a mechanism would strengthen the Assembly's effectiveness, accountability and relevance. We also reaffirm that resolutions remain valid until their mandates have been fully implemented, a principle that underscores the enduring authority and continuing relevance of the Assembly's decisions. Pakistan attaches great importance to strengthening the institutional relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council. The Council must report to the Assembly more frequently and substantively, especially when acting under Chapter VII of the Charter. In this regard, we welcome the continued implementation of resolution 76262, which provides for convening the Assembly within 10 days following the use of a veto in the Security Council. Such mechanisms are vital to promoting transparency, accountability and the democratization of the United Nations system. The Assembly's role in norm setting and the progressive development of international law remains one of its defining strengths. It has long served as the most inclusive and legitimate forum for building international consensus and codifying global norms. Norm making, the development and codification of international law must remain within this universal participatory framework. While Pakistan supports efforts to streamline the Assembly's work, to enhance efficiency and avoid duplication, such measures must not result in privileging one UN pillar over another. The three pillars, peace and security, development and human rights, are interdependent and merit balanced attention in the Assembly's agenda. It is therefore essential to ensure coherence between the UN80 initiative and the revitalization of the General Assembly. We further emphasize the need for transparency in relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council and for predictable and adequate resources for the office of the President of the Assembly. A well-resourced presidency is essential for an inclusive and effective Assembly. On the appointment of the Secretary-General and Executive Heads, Pakistan reaffirms the principles of transparency, inclusivity, gender parity, and equitable regional representation. In revitalizing the General Assembly, we must also look to the future. The world confronts emerging challenges, from the governance of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to the sustainable use of outer space and global commons. The Assembly must remain at the center of these discussions to ensure that global governance remains inclusive, equitable, and reflective of the priorities of all Member States. President, a revitalized General Assembly is essential to a revitalized UN. It must embody the collective will of Member States and ensure that no organ acts beyond the limits of the Charter. Pakistan remains fully and firmly committed to constructive engagement in this process to restore the Assembly's rightful place as the principal deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of the United Nations. And I thank you. GA · PGA [11:04]: I thank the distinguished representative of Pakistan I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mongolia. Mongolia [11:25]: Mr. President, we thank the permanent representative of Romania and South Africa, co-chairs of the ad hoc working group on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, and their team for an exceptional leadership, guiding us toward the consensus agreement of the resolution 79/13. 327, as well as for the recent report of the ad hoc working group. Mr. President, this year's discussion on GA revitalization is going in parallel with the dialogues on the Secretary-General's UN80 initiative. Thus, we expect that the two processes will complement each other and accelerate further the reform of the United Nations. We consider that the most, uh, as most representative organ of the United Nations, the role and authority of the GA must remain central to the organization's work as enshrined in the charter. Therefore, revitalizing GA through its work methods and mandate review must be our shared objective, as it would promote the credibility of the United Nations, help advance democratic norms and attitudes, and strengthen multilateralism. We share the views of the fellow Member States that balance between the three pillars of the UN should be kept. not prioritizing one over another, and that the GA resolutions must remain valid until their mandates have been fully implemented. The latter reflects initiatives and interests of all states, large and small, which they put forward to exercise their sovereign rights. Mongolia also underscores the importance of multilingualism and accessibility, key principles reaffirmed in the report 79/995, to guarantee the full and equal participation of all delegations, particularly smaller missions and developing countries, in the work of the General Assembly. We only need to put more efforts for streamlining and improving working methods of the GA through appropriate measures, such as reducing the frequency, length and number of resolutions submitted to the GA, combining and extending a sequence of multiple and duplicative meetings, and decreasing excessive number of reports and other publications. In this context, we attach great importance to revitalization discussions at the main committees that are enabling experts of Member States to contribute concrete proposals and inputs based upon their daily practice and lessons learned. On the other hand, while conducting lengthy discussions, we should not lose our focus on producing a consensus outcome. which could guide further the UN reform process and bring tangible results on improving overall effectiveness and efficiency. Mr. President, transparency and the relationship between the GA and the Security Council need to be strengthened, and cohesion and coordination among all UN system organizations enhanced and fast-tracked. Moreover, we consider that achieving gender parity in the leadership positions of the United Nations is crucial for its revitalization, and it is very pertinent to the positions of the PGA and Secretary-General. In this spirit, we have joined several joint statements of like-minded countries on rotation for equality initiative, as well as the joint statement delivered last February at the thematic debate on the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General and other executive heads. In conclusion, Mongolia reaffirms its firm commitment to constructively participate in future discussions toward a revitalized and effective GA that is transparent, accountable, inclusive, and truly reflective of the diversity of the United Nations membership. I thank you. GA · PGA [15:42]: I thank the distinguished representative of Mongolia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Portugal. Portugal [16:01]: Mr. President, Excellencies, Portugal aligns itself with the statements delivered by the European Union and the ACT Group. We thank to the permanent representatives of South Africa and Romania for their leadership and all delegations for the constructive spirit that led to the adoption by consensus of the latest resolution on GA revitalization two months ago. In our view, that resolution was more than a procedural update. It was a political signal that this Assembly is determined to adapt and lead by example. Revitalization is not an end in itself, but a way to make this body more credible, more responsive and trusted by the peoples we represent. Portugal welcomes the decision to transform the ad hoc working group into a permanent working group. To ensure these reforms remain dynamic, we also support the annual open dialogue to review implementation and share best practices between sessions. We particularly value the renewed recognition of the Assembly powers under the relevant articles of the Charter. The General Assembly must remain a space for collective action when the Security Council is unable to act. Portugal sees three practical steps to strengthening this role. First, the GA should consider making concrete recommendations to the Security Council in each emergency special session or veto debate. Second, recent years have shown clear cases of non-compliance with Article 27.3 of the Charter, which requires members of the Security Council to abstain from voting when they are a party to a dispute. We believe that this deserves a collective reflection in the GA. A dedicated thematic debate might help gather views from the wider membership on possible ways forward. Third, the Assembly for Peace Digital Handbook, which Portugal helped fund and promote through thematic workshops, should be updated annually and further disseminated. Portugal supports the reforms to reduce repetitive resolutions, simplify adoptions through the one gavel approach, and rationalize high-level events. This goes in line with the efforts underway also in the UN 80 initiative. But efficiency must go hand in hand with inclusion. We propose continuing to extend the IGOV and the delegate systems to subsidiary bodies. We also welcome the introduction of gender inclusive language on the rules of procedure and encourage also gender balance in all bureaus and panels. In 2026, Excellencies, The UN will appoint the next Secretary-General. The process must embody the transparency we advocate. We support the timeline set out by the ACT Group and call for an agreement on the joint letter by the Presidents of the GA and the Security Council as soon as possible. We also support public vision statements and interactive hearings with civil society. Additionally, we called the PGA to explore ways to assess the level of support for candidates throughout the process and suggest that the General Assembly holds an additional interactive session with the candidate or candidates recommended by the Security Council prior to its formal appointment. Final revitalization begins with the office of the President of the General Assembly. Predictable funding, structured handovers and training for incoming teams are essential for continuity. We support the continuation of the PGA Fellowship programme that was initiated in 2021 and encourage more Member States to contribute, like Portugal, to the OPGA Trust Fund. Mr. President, concluding, revitalisation is not a one-time frame reform, it is a culture of responsibility. My country remains committed to a strong, transparent and inclusive General Assembly as the best investment in the credibility of the United Nations. I thank you. GA · PGA [20:36]: I thank the distinguished representative of Portugal. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Singapore. Singapore [20:59]: Thank you very much, Mr. President. My delegation aligns itself with the statements earlier delivered by Malaysia on behalf of ASEAN and by Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. I join other delegations in commending Ambassador Cornel Furtu of Romania, as well as Ambassador Mathu Joaheini of South Africa for their stellar contributions. They showed great leadership and worked tirelessly to advance the work of the ad hoc working group on revitalization during this past session. Mr. President, the UN today is traversing a period of crisis and conflict. And in such a context as this, we need a strong and effective multilateral system underpinned by the principles of the UN Charter and international law. As the chief deliberative and representative organ of the United Nations, the role of the General Assembly is critical, even foundational. The role played by the General Assembly has become even more relevant today, given increasing concerns about the ability of the Security Council to discharge its responsibilities more promptly and effectively, as it is envisaged in the Charter. In such a context, it is really important that we devote great attention to the work of the ad hoc working group on revitalization with a view to strengthening its role and enhancing and empowering its ability to discharge the role given to it by the UN Charter. Allow me to highlight three specific points. First, Singapore strongly supports the action-oriented proposals in resolution 79/327 that streamline the working methods of the General Assembly and its main committees. We support the one-gavel approach and proposals as well to reduce the frequency, length, number of resolutions and meetings. We believe there is also considerable scope to review and revitalize the working methods of the main committees, again with a view to enhancing and reducing duplication of work. For small delegations in particular, the streamlining of the work of the General Assembly and the main committees help us to optimize our limited resources and allow all member states to focus on the emerging and strategic issues relating to the three pillars of the UN Charter. The work of the ad hoc working group on revitalization is also intricately linked to the ongoing UN80 process. The UN80 process, with the ongoing work stream two of this process, needs to be aligned and done in a way that is mutually reinforcing in terms of enhancing the work of the General Assembly. We should continue to ensure coherence and convergence between the two processes so that ultimately we empower the role of the General Assembly. The second point that I wish to make is that we as a delegation support greater coordination between the General Assembly and other organs in particular, the Security Council. If we are serious about revitalizing the role of the General Assembly, we must continue to empower and strengthen the role of the Assembly and enhance its authority in considering all matters under the scope of the UN Charter, including matters of international peace and security. Articles 10 and 11 of the UN Charter make this very clear. The General Assembly has demonstrated that it can take action to express the will of the membership, even when the Security Council has not always been able to rise to the occasion. This year, the General Assembly has convened at least twice under the veto initiative. This exercise promotes greater transparency and accountability in the actions of the Security Council. We welcome the General Assembly's support of timely and decisive action by the Security Council. The third point we wish to make is that as we begin the nomination process for the next UN Secretary-General, it is important that we make incremental progress through the ideas contained in the resolution on General Assembly revitalization. We welcome the fact that there has been progress made in order to establish more predictability and structure in the selection process of the Secretary-General, and we thank the two co-facilitators for having led our process in this direction. This year's resolution builds on the progress made by clarifying the process further and by including timelines for initiating the selection process, guidelines on withdrawal and the conduct of candidates. We believe that it is important for the General Assembly to play a more active role in the selection process of the Secretary-General, and we believe there is more work that we can continue to do in order to provide greater clarity and transparency in the process. Mr. President, I think all of us are agreed that we want a more dynamic, agile, and future-ready United Nations. This requires a stronger and more effective General Assembly at its core. For Singapore and many small states, strengthening and revitalising the General Assembly's work is critical to these efforts. We must pursue these in tandem with our efforts to refresh and re-energise the UN through the UN80 process. Singapore remains committed to working with all Member States to deliver impactful and forward-looking outcomes by this Working Group. Together, we can achieve a UN that is more effective, responsive to the needs of its membership, and prepared for the challenges of the future. Thank you very much for your attention. GA · PGA [27:49]: I thank the distinguished representative of Singapore. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan. Japan [28:12]: Mr. President, at the outset, I would like to congratulate and thank Ambassador Kono and Ambassador Matuudini for their able leadership in steering the ad hoc working group, now known as the Working Group on the Strengthening and Revitalizing of the Work of the General Assembly. At a time when global challenges are more complex and interconnected than ever, Japan reaffirms its conviction that the General Assembly, as the most inclusive and representative organ of the United Nations, must be at the center of global deliberation and consensus building. Capturing this momentum of the consensus adoption of resolution 79/327, we should strive to work together to advance the effectiveness and efficiency of the GA. In addition, the annual discussion on the GA's revitalization is not a mere procedural exercise. It is an essential and continuous process of improvement to ensure that the UN remains fit for purpose, particularly as we look towards outcome of the ongoing UN80 initiative. The said resolution 79/327 continues the pragmatic reforms and strengthening of our work methods. Today, I would like to touch upon four main points of the resolution. First, Japan strongly welcomes the decisive steps to streamline the Assembly's working methods, including measures like the one-gavel approach for the GA resolutions that main committees have previously discussed, and the further utilization of the General Committee, as well as ongoing discussions in the main committees. Japan encourages fellow member states to harness concrete measures for more effective work at the General Assembly. For instance, we should consider how we can streamline the frequency, length, and the number of the resolutions, while avoiding negative implication on the substantive work of the General Assembly or the necessary mandates. The spirit of resolution 79/327 should guide our action throughout this 80th session to ensure more focused deliberation. Second, We commend the continued rollout and encouragement of the use of the digital handbook on the General Assembly's role in peace and security. The timely update and wider dissemination of all institutional information, including the digital handbook, are vital for strengthening the institutional memory and transparency that are fundamental for effective governance and decision making. We believe this is an effective tool for strengthening the GA's role as a complement to the work of the Security Council. Third, the resolution collectively emphasizes closer coordination among UN organs, particularly between GA, the Security Council, ECOSOC, and PBC. The PBC's advisory, bridging, and convening role is vital in enabling this Assembly to fulfill its greater responsibilities in peacebuilding and sustaining peace. Lastly, as we select the next Secretary-General in this difficult time of the Organization, Japan strongly hopes that the Security Council and General Assembly in the current and subsequent sessions take appropriate steps in line with the resolution. including the practice of delivering vision statements by the candidates, convening interactive dialogues, as well as regularly updating a public list of candidates, which would facilitate all member states to engage in the selection process of the Secretary-General in a transparent manner. Japan would like to reiterate the importance of continued efforts of further enhancing transparency, inclusivity, and predictability in the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General, as we proposed during our term in the Security Council in 2017, outlined in the UN documents under A/71/74-S/2017/93. Mr. President, Looking ahead to UNH's mandate efficiency pillar, while recognizing the full implementation of existing mandates is critical, we must commit to addressing institutional inefficiencies through their rationalization. Japan remains a long-standing advocate for the utilization of expiry clauses. This proposal is aimed squarely at eliminating redundancies, and ensuring the Assembly can focus on its most crucial tasks. As stated in paragraph 27 of the resolution, we are looking forward to receiving concrete proposals from the Secretariat within the framework of the UN80 Initiative. We expect the efforts we make for a more effective General Assembly to parallel the UN80 Initiative as well. In closing, Japan remains committed to fostering an effective, efficient and vital General Assembly, working closely with the PGA and all the Member States to address these global challenges. I thank you. GA · PGA [33:41]: I thank the distinguished representative of Japan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kuwait. Kuwait [34:01]: Mr. President, Kuwait would like to affirm that the General Assembly in the United Nations, within the United Nations, is the most representative forum for the international community, the place where states express a common view for peace, security, and development. In the world where the crises and complexities are growing, we think that the revitalization of the role of the United Nations is not a procedural issue, but a need to guarantee that the United Nations can act quickly on urgent issues and that its credibility can be strengthened as an essential pillar of the multilateral system. Mr. President, we are convinced of the collective values and international law, and we therefore would like to present three essential elements of our vision on revitalizing the General Assembly. First of all, we think that the General Assembly is a collective conscience of the UN, therefore strengthening its working methods and modernizing them, the decision-making mechanism that is essential to strengthen the transparency, effectiveness, and inclusivity of the General Assembly work. We also think that being attached to the principles of dialogue, preventive diplomacy is the best way of settling conflict, for peace and security, and to strengthen confidence. Next, we are convinced that strengthening the role of the General Assembly is a priority, a greater priority for this organ than for any other within the UN. And we think that dealing with crises is something that the tools available to the General Assembly need to be strengthened under the Charter. We follow with great attention the development of the Middle East and want to make sure that things develop peacefully. When it comes to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, it is an impediment towards just, lasting, and inclusive peace, with, therefore, a call for the full implementation of all the relevant UN resolutions. Thirdly, The State of Kuwait affirms that the reform needs to be comprehensive and integral, including the development of the implementation and monitoring mechanisms to be able to react quickly and effectively to contemporary challenges. We reiterate, therefore, the importance of ensuring transparency and geographical equity when it comes to choosing the next Secretary-General and the high-level leadership within the UN. This needs to be inclusive, based on the principle of legality, merit-based to make sure that the representation of states. We also want to strengthen the role of the President of the General Assembly, give that post the necessary tools and provide for institutional continuity, financial independence, and administrative independence to enable the President of the be able to effectively and neutrally implement resolutions. We therefore call for the implementation of UN80-related initiatives, because we want to have a UN system which is more equitable and needs to meet the needs of the states. For us, revitalization of the General Assembly means rehabilitating the principle of sovereign equality among states, enshrining the capacity of the United Nations to work as a global forum for cooperation. And we will continue to make all of the efforts to make sure that the General Assembly is more present and effective. capable of changing the political will into effective collective action, which reflects the principle of peace, justice, and development. I thank you. GA · PGA [38:05]: I thank the distinguished representative of Kuwait. Distinguished representative of India. India [38:26]: Mr. President, I thank you for convening today's joint debate covering two important agenda items: implementation of UN resolutions and revitalization of the General Assembly. This is the first plenary meeting on GA revitalization since the adoption of resolution 79/327. Today's joint debate takes place in the wake of UN80 initiative that aims at budget rationalization and mandate streamlining, among others. India aligns itself with the statement delivered by Algeria on behalf of NAM. In addition, I would like to make the following brief points in my national capacity. First, Resolution 79/327 recognizes that UNAT has the potential to enhance agility, responsiveness and resilience of the UN by addressing the issue of duplicative efforts and ensuring effective and efficient mandate delivery across all three pillars of the UN. Therefore, the approach towards UN80 must be ambitious in nature. The endeavor needs to be on reforming the UN in a holistic and comprehensive manner in order to make it fit for purpose. Second, in terms of implementation of UN resolutions, there is a need to strengthen the effectiveness and impact of the development pillar under UN80 initiative. This is critical to countries of the Global South. UN mechanisms and resources that cater to specific contexts and developmental needs must be preserved. Third, outdated mandates and mechanisms that have outlived their utility and purpose must be phased out. This is particularly true in bilateral contexts. Anachronistic UN mandates and mechanisms should not continue to be in operation merely to serve narrow political interests of some Member States. Fourth, on GA revitalization, Resolution 79/327 underscored that the GA has a preeminent position in the UN as the chief deliberative policy-making and representative organ. universality, and intergovernmental nature of the GA impart centrality to this principal organ. Fifth, India calls for greater coordination of GA with other UN organs, including the Security Council. This would help in achieving synergies and addressing duplication. Sixth, working methods of the UNGA must be prioritized for reform including under the UN 80 framework. Improvement in working methods of the GA would have a profound impact on the day-to-day functioning of the Member States, particularly given its universal membership. Finally, President of the General Assembly is a key pillar of the GA. India has been fully supportive of its functioning. I urge all Member States to also support this establishment in different ways. Of particular significance is the need to strengthen efficiency, transparency, and institutional memory of this office. In closing, I reiterate that India remains fully ready to work alongside all Member States in revitalizing the work of the General Assembly. I thank you, Mr. President. GA · PGA [42:17]: I thank the distinguished representative of India. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt. Egypt [42:39]: Allow me to start by aligning with the statement delivered by Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Mr. President, we thank the permanent representatives of South Africa and Romania for their stewardship of the Working Group on Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly. and welcome the consensual adoption of resolution 79/327. This resolution advances concrete, practical measures to strengthen the Assembly's authority, effectiveness, and efficiency, and to enhance coherence with other UN organs. Revitalization must remain Member State-driven, inclusive, and anchored in multilingualism and equality of treatment among delegations and groups. It must also be resourced. We therefore reaffirm the importance of adequate, predictable support to the Office of the President of the General Assembly, with robust accountability and transparent hiring practices that reflect equitable geographical representation and gender balance. On working methods, Egypt supports the streamlining steps captured in the new resolution, among them a more structured calendar, efforts to curb duplication, and the one-gavel approach. This, of course, does not diminish intergovernmental oversight, negotiating space, or the sovereign right of member states to bring issues to the floor. We call on each committee to conduct focused working group dialogues in accordance with the resolution to improve planning, documentation, speaking arrangements, and clustering and biennialization of agenda items where appropriate. The revitalization track should be mutually reinforcing with the organization-wide reform agenda envisioned in the SG's UN80 initiative, including Workstream 2 on the time-bound mandate implementation review process. Rationalizing mandates is not an end in itself. It is a means to deliver better and to safeguard space for the priorities of developing countries, including financing for development, peacebuilding, water, and climate resilience. We must avoid proliferating overlapping processes that strain limited delegations' capacity. Egypt attaches particular importance to strengthening the interaction between the General Assembly and the Security Council, while fully respecting distinct mandates under the Charter. The General Assembly must remain able to discuss matters of peace and security, uphold international law, and speak with moral authority, especially when the Council is unable to act. Looking ahead to next year, Egypt underscores the Assembly's central role in the selection process of the new Secretary-General. We regret that the ambitious proposals included in the first draft of the revitalization resolution were not all adopted, and we call for a transparent, inclusive, and timely process, building on resolution 69/321 and the updates reflected in resolution 79/327. We support a predictable timeline for the process, open dialogues with candidates, and the respect for the roles of both organs, without prejudice to regional considerations. We also join the broad calls for gender balance at the highest level of the Organization. Colleagues, revitalization is not a mere technical exercise. It is a political commitment. to restore trust in multilateralism by making our Assembly more focused, more representative, and more responsive to those whom we serve. Egypt will continue to work constructively with all partners to implement the resolution we adopted and to ensure that our practices match our principles. I thank you. GA · PGA [46:19]: I thank the distinguished representative of Egypt. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand. Thailand [46:36]: Mr. President, Thailand aligns itself with the statement delivered by Malaysia on behalf of ASEAN and by Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. We would like to offer additional remarks on our national capacity. Thailand welcomes the recent adoption by consensus of the resolution on the revitalization of the work of General Assembly. In this regard, we wish to extend our appreciation to Ambassador Cornel Furtica, Permanent Representative of Romania, and Ambassador Mathu Joyini, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa, for their dedicated leadership as the co-chairs of the ad hoc working group during the 79th session. and we stand ready to support and take part actively in the newly established working group on the strengthening and revitalizing of the work of the General Assembly in its efforts to advance a more effective, responsive, and people-centered United Nations. We firmly believe that the General Assembly, with its central role as the chief deliberative, policy-making, representative, organ of the United Nations, must continue to adapt its working methods to keep pace with our rapidly changing world. A revitalized and streamlined General Assembly is essential for addressing the complex and interlinked challenges of our time. Thailand strongly supports ongoing efforts to reform and modernize the Assembly's working methods to enhance coherence efficiency and impact across the three pillars of the United Nations. Reducing duplication and ensuring more effective mandate delivery are key priorities in line with the vision of the UN80 Initiative. As part of ongoing efforts on mandate implementation review under the UN80 Initiative, we stress the pursuit of practical measures or quick wins. that can yield immediate progress. These include crafting shorter and clearer resolutions, piloting sunset clauses for mandates, and harnessing digital tools to promote efficiency, accountability, and transparency. We underscore, however, that the reform must advance inclusivity and equity. It must not come at the expense of developing countries, but rather ensuring their full participation and benefit from a stronger multilateral system. Mr. President, to further enhance the work of the General Assembly, Thailand stresses the importance of reinforcing synergy, coherence, and complementarities between the Assembly and other bodies. We support making fuller use of the General Committee to coordinate agendas and foster cross-cutting collaboration among the plenary and main committees. Thailand, as the current chair of the Third Committee, is committed to advancing coherence within the United Nations system and ensuring that the human dimension of development remains at the heart of our work. To further strengthen the work of the United Nations in a more integrated manner, we also underscore the need for deeper coordination between the General Assembly and other principal and subsidiary organs of the UN. Thailand looks forward to enhanced coordination between the General Assembly and ECOSOC, and to this end, We hope that the practice of the President of General Assembly and ECOSOC co-chairing important events and meetings could be continued. We also support closer engagement between the General Assembly and the Peacebuilding Commission as stated in the resolution. And furthermore, we believe that stronger interlinkages among the General Assembly, the ECOSOC and the Security Council will ensure that peace is built upon human security and anchored on sustainable development. Mr. President, Tana reaffirms the importance of promoting gender balance and equitable geographical representation throughout the United Nations system. We note that no women have yet served as Secretary General and encourage that the nomination of qualified female candidates for this post will happen. We also support greater representation of women in leadership positions across the United Nations, including the President of the General Assembly. Mr. President, Thailand strongly supports strengthening the accountability, transparency, and institution memory of your office. In this regard, we look forward to your recommendations and stand ready to engage constructively to ensure that the office can further enhance its mandate delivery effectively and sustainably. To conclude, Mr. President, Thailand remains steadfast in its commitment to advance the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly as we mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. We must cease this opportunity to reaffirm our collective resolve to strengthen multilateralism and ensure that the United Nations can adapt, deliver, and remain relevant to the challenges of today and tomorrow. I thank you. GA · PGA [52:41]: I thank the distinguished representative of Thailand. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa. South Africa [53:03]: Mr. President, South Africa associates itself with a statement delivered by the Non-Aligned Movement. We reaffirm the central role and authority of the General Assembly and maintain that it should be empowered to respond to matters of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter. This is particularly necessary when the Security Council fails to fulfill its mandate on these matters. The genocide in Gaza and other ongoing conflicts are a clear demonstration of the inaction by the Security Council, which remains divided on how to respond. This is against the letter and spirit of the Charter. We welcome the decision in paragraph 7 of Resolution 79/327 calling for credible, timely and decisive action by the Security Council in the exercise of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It also calls on member states to refrain from measures impeding action to prevent or end the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. South Africa reiterates its support for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the UN and its organs, including through the UN80 initiative. While we understand that streamlining and rationalization of the work of the UN entail financial considerations, we caution against a predominant focus on the reduction of costs to the detriment of programs and mandates. A more balanced approach will ensure that the organization is still able to carry out its mandate and not prevent it from doing its work. Furthermore, sufficient consultation and concurrence with member states on the concrete proposals by the secretariat is necessary. South Africa would also guard against using the good work on the UN 80 initiative to circumvent ongoing debates within the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly before matters have been resolved here. We appreciate the efforts of the co-facilitators of the mandate review in considering the work of the working group on the strengthening and revitalization of the General Assembly. We welcome the decision of the committees of the General Assembly to review their working methods in line with resolution 79/327 and other resolutions on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly and look forward to the recommendations of the six committees. South Africa supports consideration of biennialization and triennialization of resolutions, especially ones without substantive amendments. However, Consideration of the periodicity of resolutions should be decided on the merits of the particular resolution and not based on a uniform approach. We therefore agree with the recommendations that more time be provided for extensive discussions by committees on how to further strengthen their working methods. Mr. President, as preparations start for the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General, we would like to implore Member States or groups of Member States to nominate female candidates. The selection of female candidates neither undermines the standards set out by paragraph 40 of resolution 79/327, nor entails that the nominated individuals would not meet the highest standards of competence and merit by virtue of being a female. We also reiterate our support for the President of the General Assembly convening interactive dialogues with all candidates in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 42 of resolution 69/321. South Africa continues to advance the view that the office of the President of the General Assembly should be provided with adequate support by the Secretary-General to effectively carry out its mandate. In conclusion, We are pleased to see the evolution of the working group from an ad hoc one to a substantive working group, given its critical mandate. We also believe that this working group can contribute meaningfully to the UNIT initiative. Mr. President, please be assured of South Africa's continued commitment and support in the implementation of the resolutions on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, as well as our continued and constructive engagement in the working group. I thank you. GA · PGA [58:14]: I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tunisia. Tunisia [58:30]: Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Tunisia aligns itself with the statement made by the Non-Aligned Movement. We reaffirm our full support for the principles set forth therein. We are convinced that the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly is a collective endeavor which aims to reestablish the central role of this body within the UN system and to build confidence among Member States in multilateralism and joint action. Indeed, the General Assembly, as the most representative body as well as the most democratic and inclusive one within the UN system, remains the forum par excellence for constructive dialogue and collective decision-making based on sovereign equality between Member States. Tunisia is of the view that genuinely revitalizing the work of the General Assembly is based on equitability, transparency and the buttressing of the principles of inclusion and justice at all stages of the decision-making process. In this connection, Tunisia underscores that multilingualism is a crucial pillar of the reform process. This because it embodies the respect for cultural diversity and the diversity of civilizations, as well as equality between member states. Consequently, my country wishes to seize this opportunity to warmly congratulate the UN translators and interpreters for the vital work they do in giving tangible form to multilingualism and in guaranteeing that the voice of each State is heard in its own language. Tunisia, moreover, welcomes the decision adopted by the General Assembly aiming to integrate inclusive and equitable language gender language that is, in all official documents of the United Nations. This is a step which reflects the UN's commitment to real equality, a step which seeks to acknowledge the role of women in the UN system, including at the highest level among senior leading officials. In order to optimize the work of the General Assembly, this work is necessary. Structural reforms, a streamlined agenda, standardized timelines and standardized procedure. All of these will transform fundamentally the way we work together. These reforms will create the necessary conditions for multilateral action, which is faster, more targeted and more visible. Elsewhere, we commend the strengthening of reporting mechanisms, namely those on the use of the veto. All of these mechanisms are key in increasing the transparency of our work and ensuring more informed decisions are taken. These operational strides forward lay the foundations for a revitalized Assembly resolutely focused on action. Revitalizing the General Assembly must be supported by a robust institutional framework. Djinnija stresses the critical need to strengthen the Office of the President of the General Assembly to ensure both institutions institutional memory and the provision of adequate resources for the impartial and effective fulfilment of its mandate. Furthermore, we are convinced that genuine inclusivity must be reflected in leadership. We particularly welcome the call to enhance the representation of women in senior positions, including the prospect of a future Secretary-General. as a crucial step toward a more representative and legitimate United Nations. President, Tunisia is of the view that the revitalization of the General Assembly must go hand in hand with simultaneous efforts to strengthen the work of its subsidiary bodies, including ECOSOC and its thematic commissions. The process adopted in the CSW demonstrates how transparency, coordination and accountability can be transformed into greater institutional effectiveness and into more coherent results. The revitalization of the General Assembly also underscores the importance of promoting gender equality and equitable geographical representation at all levels. The process also underscores the need to ensure that administrative and digital reforms respect multilingualism and accessibility. These experiences confirm that revitalizing working methods is not a technical exercise, rather it is an act of political commitment to more effective multilateral work and multilateral work which is also fairer and more effective. Tunisia, Mr. President, reaffirms that the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly remains a common goal and a collective responsibility to guarantee the effectiveness of this organ and its ability to meet the aspirations of Member States. Veritable renewal indeed involves making the General Assembly more balanced and representative and better in sync with the priorities of the peoples it represents. At the same time, it must preserve multilingualism as a guarantor of equality and the respect for cultural diversity and linguistic diversity. Tunisia will continue to support all genuine efforts aiming to bolster transparency of multilateral work, as well as equality of participation and the respect of diversity. This in order to ensure that the Assembly remains the broadest possible basis for the taking of decisions and the ideal forum to express the will of the international community. I thank you. GA · PGA [1:04:58]: I thank the representative of Tunisia for her statement. The floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [1:05:16]: Mr. President, I'd like to start by joining others in thanking Ambassador Joini and Ambassador Ferruzza for their leadership of the Ad Hoc Working Group, and to congratulate them on guiding the membership to an ambitious and consensual text. The United Kingdom welcomes the progress made in resolution 79/327. The United Kingdom recognizes, too, the special importance of this year's resolution, directly preceding the start of the selection process for the next UN Secretary-General in 2026, and we hope that process can formally begin soon. Mr. President, I'll make two brief points. First, in light of the Secretary-General's UN80 initiative, which provides a critical opportunity to refocus this organization and bolster its impact. I'd like to reaffirm the United Kingdom's support for the many innovative elements of resolution 79 327 that aim to make the General Assembly more impact oriented. In this regard, we hope to see long-standing discussions on streamlining the General Assembly's agenda translate into action and encourage the PGA to use the General Committee as a forum for these discussions. Second, The UK applauds the strong advancements made on gender in resolution 79/327. And as we begin the Secretary-General selection process, we reiterate our shared call encouraging member states to nominate women for the role. Mr. President, Excellencies, we look forward to continuing the important work of the ad hoc working group and stand ready to work towards a more effective and efficient General Assembly. Thank you. GA · PGA [1:06:55]: I thank the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba. Cuba [1:07:19]: Mr. President, distinguished delegates, my delegation aligns itself with the statement made by Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. we wish to add the following remarks in our national capacity. Cuba reaffirms the role and authority of the General Assembly. We also reaffirm the importance of preserving the intergovernmental nature as well as the inclusive and democratic nature of the United Nations as a whole. In the complex current international juncture, the revitalization of the General Assembly takes on even greater importance. We must ensure that this body is able to efficiently tackle the growing global challenges that are economic, social, health-related, environmental, and indeed they take on many forms and all affect the international community. Consequently, it is vital to guarantee the full respect and compliance with the provisions and norms that govern the functioning of the General Assembly, including its rules of procedure. This is a matter of shared responsibility. There must be stringent compliance with these standards as we work, all relevant activities and initiatives which are undertaken within the organization must be rooted in broad consultations with member states in line with the principles of inclusion, transparency and effectiveness. The revitalization of the General Assembly as a political process whose goal is to bolster its role as the primary normative decision-making and most representative body of the United Nations must always be guided by that principle. The mandates and functions of the General Assembly and their remits, as well as those of its main committees, must be fully respected. Revitalizing or streamlining work must not involve a reinterpretation of those mandates. Moreover, we reiterate the importance of respecting the practical mandates and negotiating spaces assigned to each of the committees and to other subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly. improving the functioning of this organ cannot under any circumstances restrict rights entrusted to member states by the United Nations Charter and bestowed upon them by the GA rules of procedure the the implementation of resolution 179/327 cannot be understood in any way as a limitation of or an erosion of these rights and prerogatives my delegation endorses the importance of rationalizing the work of the General Assembly and streamlining it, but this must be Member State-led and should duly take note of their concerns before any decision is adopted. At the same time, we underscore that the real effectiveness of this organ lies in Member States' ability to make progress with discussions on substantive issues, this on the basis of dialogue, mutual respect, political will and cooperation. The effectiveness and efficiency of the General Assembly cannot be measured by how we streamline its work, far less can it be measured by how we and if we eliminate topics or resolutions from its agenda. This would be a biased, piecemeal approach that my delegation could not endorse. Any proposal moving in that direction should not work to the detriment of, or rather work to prioritize the interests of some over those of others. With this in mind, we recall that the working methods of this General Assembly, as provided for in cluster 2 of resolution A/79/327, cannot be interpreted under any circumstances as a constraining of the possibility of presenting historical initiatives that are of huge relevance to the General Assembly. These are legitimate political demands and foreign policy priorities of Member States and groups of states, particularly of developing countries. We oppose any attempt to restrict states' rights to present initiatives or resolutions to limit their format or content or to establish criteria that leads to proposals being marginalized or cast aside. Moving forward along that dangerous path runs counter to the spirit of the United Nations Charter and the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, and could set a precedent with dangerous consequences, adverse consequences, indeed, on the future work of this organ. Neither should we establish unnecessary or artificial divisions between resolutions which contain technical updates. We can't confuse those with those that contain substantive updates. A technical update cannot be considered a simple repetition of a previous resolution, rather the reaffirmation of a desire that something be properly complied with. that is an appeal being made by the international community in relation to a specific matter, we recall that resolutions adopted by the General Assembly preserve their legitimacy and validity until their normative scope and mandate have been fully adhered to and implemented by Member States and the relevant bodies of the United Nations. The validity of A resolution is not measured by how old it is, but rather how far it has been implemented. It is counterproductive to adopt approaches that restrict member states in the face of a liquidity crisis whose origin is very well known. President, Cuba defends and staunchly promotes progress of science and technology in all spheres of human life. We recognize the impact this can have on the progress of all peoples, in particular the progress of developing countries. We also recognize the essential role that such progress plays in the work of the Organization. However, we reiterate that any decision related to the use of ITCs in the work of the General Assembly must guarantee that they be used appropriately in stringent compliance with the procedures of the General Assembly, ensuring the full and equal participation of all States. There can be no discrimination of any type in the way they are used. Coordination between the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council remains crucial, something that will positively contribute to discussions on revitalization of the General Assembly. It is a matter of priority to maintain an appropriate balance between these three organs, in line with the provisions established in the United Nations Charter. With this in mind, and as we have stated on previous occasions, interfere the Security Council's interference in matters which go beyond its remit should cease, particularly when it comes to matters that are the prerogative of the General Assembly. President, we are ready and willing to continue working constructively to make progress with the process to strengthen and revitalize the General Assembly. This on the basis of the principle that the effectiveness of our work must never be achieved to the detriment of the historic and legitimate appeals made by developing nations. Thank you. GA · PGA [1:14:58]: I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brunei Darussalam. Brunei Darussalam [1:15:22]: Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Mr. President, Brunei Darussalam aligns itself with the statement delivered by Malaysia on behalf of ASEAN and by Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. At the outset, like others, I wish to express our appreciation to Ambassador Cornel Furtu of Romania and Ambassador Mathu Joyini of South Africa for their able leadership as co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly in steering the process forward during the 79th session. Murad Al Salam reaffirms his commitment and full support towards advancing this important agenda and looks forward to productive discussions under the stewardship of the incoming co-chairs of the working group on the strengthening and revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. Mr. President, as it marks the 80th anniversary this year, the United Nations stands at a defining moment. The organization must adapt to emerging realities and transform the multilateral system into one that's fit for purpose and responsive to the pressing challenges of our time. From climate change to digitalization and pandemics, today's challenges transcend borders and cannot be solved in isolation. An effective and efficient General Assembly is therefore essential for a United Nations system capable of coordinating collective responses and deliver multilateral solutions. Mr. President, Brunei Darussalam would like to outline the following key points. First, on the role and authority of the General Assembly. We reaffirm the central position of the GA as the chief deliberative policy making and representative organ of the United Nations And as the only UN organ with universal membership, the GA plays a crucial role in guiding the work of the organization and upholding the United Nations Charter and international law. Revitalizing the work of the General Assembly is essential to the comprehensive reform of the organization. We therefore support all efforts to enhance the effectiveness, transparency, and inclusiveness of the GA and to ensure it plays its rightful role in the discussion of matters of international peace and security. In this regard, Brunei Darussalam reiterates its call to further strengthen the relationship and interaction between the bodies of the General Assembly and the Security Council, recognizing the mutually reinforcing and complementary roles. Second, we welcome proposals in improving the working methods of the General Assembly and its main committees through the streamlining measures outlined in the resolution 79/327, such as to repurpose the agenda, putting on hold consideration of international days, for example, and simplifying the adoption of resolutions. These efforts will help reduce the strain on smaller delegations, including Brunei Darussalam, and allow for more effective participation and meaningful outcomes that better serve the purposes of multilateralism. We also welcome efforts to ensure the integration and complementarity of the revitalization process with wider UN reform efforts, including the UN80 initiative, with a view to avoiding duplication and proliferation of processes. Third, as we reflect on the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General and other executive heads, we underscore the importance of further enhancing transparency, inclusivity, and predictability in the selection process, which should be conducted in full compliance with the General Assembly's mandate. Finally, strengthening the accountability and transparency and institutional memory of the Office of the President of the General Assembly remains of vital importance. Brunei Darussalam welcomes initiatives to enhance the efficiency of the office and further underscores the need to preserve strong institutional memory to ensure that the President can effectively fulfill the mandates entrusted to her office. Mr. President, let me conclude by reaffirming Brunei Darussalam's continued support for ongoing efforts to further advance the revitalization process of the General Assembly towards a more robust and responsive multilateral system, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity for all without it being at the expense of a few. I thank you. GA · PGA [1:19:52]: I thank the distinguished representative of Brunei Darussalam. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of El Salvador. El Salvador [1:20:11]: Thank you very much, Mr. President. Allow me to begin by expressing our gratitude to you for convening this general debate on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly of the United Nations. This topic is pivotal to guarantee the legitimacy, effectiveness and relevance of the United Nations system and the General Assembly. Our General Assembly is, par excellence, the most representative decision-making and representative body of the United Nations. It's here where every member state has a voice and vote on an equal footing. Revitalizing the work of the General Assembly is a political imperative. It's also a moral one. What's at stake is guaranteeing that this body remains at the heart of multilateralism and that it remains the forum in which all nations are able to develop common responses to global challenges. In this vein, El Salvador is grateful to the permanent representatives of South Africa and Romania for their work at the helm of this working group. President. the primary pillar of revitalization that is strengthening the role and authority of the General Assembly today has acquired renewed importance in a context in which multilateralism is under pressure and in which the Security Council is facing difficulties to act in the face of urgent crises. The General Assembly has proven itself to be a vital space to preserve the legitimacy of collective action. The United Nations Charter entrusts to the General Assembly authorities that we should keep reaffirming, particularly when it comes to international peace and security. Consequently, it is vital that this process make progress and forge ahead with a sense of urgency and responsibility. It is vital that the working group continue to discuss how to ensure more active participation of the General Assembly in these spheres, including in situations where the Security Council is not taking action. The adoption of resolution 179/327, as well as the continued implementation of the Uniting for Peace initiative and the veto initiative, are tangible steps towards this goal. It is in that way that we see the manual Assembly for Peace, a document which reaffirms the knowledge of Member States about mechanisms and procedures that exist and strengthens the role of them. These initiatives strengthen our collective capacity to act and renew the authority of this body. The second pillar linked to working methods also demands our attention. To ensure that the Assembly can effectively work, we need to tackle the overburdening of its agenda and the fact that there are simultaneous processes occurring at the same time that affect delegations with scant resources, revitalizing also means guaranteeing equitable participation of all member states on a genuinely equal footing. In order to guarantee that discussions are more focused, we encourage the full implementation of mandates already adopted in this field, including the streamlining of meetings and the coordination of thematic work to avoid overlap, without prejudice to the sovereign right that all Member States have to present resolutions and propose agenda items. We must make it clear that, in the implementation of these mandates, we should not undermine the importance of international cooperation or important technical assistance initiatives that the UN use to provide technical assistance to Member States. We recognise the efforts by the majority of main committees of the General Assembly to reform and revitalise their work, and we urge all subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly to follow that example. Moreover, we underscore the central role of the General Committee and the importance of ensuring that it continues to hold informal meetings throughout the decision-making period. We reaffirm that multilingualism is a pivotal value of our organization. Preserving multilingualism must remain a cross-cutting priority throughout this process. It should remain a priority for all bodies of the United Nations, including the ICJ. President, another crucial sphere for action is the process for the selection of the Secretary-General, male Secretary-General or female Secretary-General, and the executive officials of the system. This process should be strengthened. adhere to the principles of transparency, inclusion, and geographical representation. The full implementation of the resolution on revitalization remains yet to be completed. We encourage member states to propose candidacies that reflect the diversity of the world we represent. The office of the PGA also deserves specific attention. This office is the driving force of our institutional work. It turns our decisions into action. Strengthening that office, including human and financial resources commensurate with need, is vital to guarantee that the General Assembly is able to discharge its mandate effectively and continually. Finally, we wish to underscore progress made with the promotion of the role of women in multilateral diplomacy. The recent amendment to the General Assembly Rules of Procedure to adequately reflect in the use of official languages the offices and roles performed by women is a historic step that we hail. Words matter, and their power, their symbolic power, can turn into genuine transformation. We urge all Member States to maintain that commitment across all resolutions and decisions that we adopt. President, allow me to conclude with a clear message. current debates on the mandates of the organization within the framework of UNAT reveal a fundamental reality. Challenges that we face do not emerge from the absence of rules or guidelines, rather from the lack of implementation and the insufficient involvement of member states themselves in the process, in this process of revitalization of the General Assembly. If the agreements arising from the work of the working group were rigorously implemented and if Member States were to shoulder this responsibility for this process with a greater sense of constancy and responsibility, we would today not be discussing the accumulation of mandates, nor the sustainability of our cycles of work. With that in mind, please, in terms of lessons learned with revitalization, they need to be incorporated into efforts currently underway to create greater efficiencies within the organization, particularly in regards to the activities of the working group for the review of mandate implementation as part of the UN review process, and this among other initiatives and work areas that are linked to the UNHCR reform process. We deeply believe in this process. We have had the honor to lead the General Assembly for many years and we continue to actively participate in this work and all that has allowed us to note that when states get genuinely involved and constructively involved and when they support the implementation of their own agreements, revitalization picks up the pace and produces tangible results. It is that reason that today, President, we appeal for efforts, this collective commitment to step up and grow stronger. A revitalized Assembly represents for my country, El Salvador, the most faithful expression of the very spirit of the United Nations. an organization able to adapt, to listen, and to act with legitimacy and unity. El Salvador will continue to actively and constructively participate to ensure that the decisions we adopt in this process subsequently produce an organization that is more representative, more transparent, and more effective. An organization which, 80 years after its inception, continues to make a reality the purpose and principles of the Charter, and which continues to more decisively and clearly heed the expectations of the people that we must serve. Thank you, President. GA · PGA [1:29:35]: I thank the distinguished representative of El Salvador. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Germany. Germany [1:29:56]: Mr. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, colleagues, I would like to join others in thanking the Ambassador of South Africa and the Ambassador of Romania for the excellent work on the revitalization of the General Assembly in the 79th session. Germany aligns itself with the statement by the EU and its member states. Please allow me to add two additional points in my national capacity. First, on working methods and efficiency. Germany applauds the PGA and all of us on having made real progress on time limits for our statements. From her first day in office, the PGA has been very consistent in enforcing these limits wherever possible. And we have all adapted very quickly. We have heard no major complaints. On the contrary, most missions praise the efficiency and especially the predictability of the schedule and find it easier to grasp the key points of each statement. Great news that, for example, the first and the fourth committee are following the same pattern. Please allow me to take the first committee as an example of how we could be even more ambitious moving forward. In internal discussions, the calls for greater efficiencies have been louder than they had been for many years. One initiative that provides concrete suggestions is the French-German non-paper entitled, "How can we collectively make the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly more efficient?" This non-paper has found broad support amongst member states. It suggests incremental yet realistic improvements like, inter alia, the reduction of the time dedicated for general statements, the focus on the submission of draft resolutions providing for new mandate or substantial updates, and a reduction of the overall duration of the First Committee. We would encourage the First Committee, as well as all other main committees, to submit these and other concrete proposals to the General Committee during the course of the 80th session, in line with OP.25 of resolution 79/327. Second, on the SG selection process, Germany encourages all members of the Security Council, all Member States of the General Assembly, as well as the respective Presidents, to ensure an open, transparent and inclusive process for the selection, exactly as laid out in the resolution 79/327. Especially the dialogues that are to be held with all candidates are a key element. They are decisive for providing the necessary transparency, inclusivity and accountability. We also encourage civil society organizations to stay involved, as they can serve as a bridge towards people all over the world during the process. When it comes to the nomination phase, Germany would like to recall that the Pact for the Future encourages us to strongly consider nominating women candidates, as no woman has ever held the position of UN Secretary-General. We assure you, Mr. President, that Germany will remain strongly committed to the process of revitalizing the General Assembly. You can count on our support. GA · PGA [1:33:18]: I thank the distinguished representative of Germany. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China. China [1:33:43]: President, The General Assembly is the most representative organ established under the UN Charter. Its effectiveness bears directly on the vital interests of all member states, as well as on the authority and status of the United Nations itself. At a time when the UN faces both internal and external challenges, the GA should keep pace with our times, respond to the calls of member states, and lead by example through its own reform, so as to faithfully fulfill its key responsibilities under the Charter. In recent years, thanks to the joint efforts of all member states, the revitalization of the work of the GA has seen positive progress. In particular, tangible results have been achieved in improving its working methods, which deserve our recognition. China welcomes the establishment of the Working Group on Strengthening and Revitalizing the Work of the General Assembly during the current UNGA session and calls on all parties to earnestly implement GA Resolution 79/327. Regarding the strengthening and revitalizing the work of the GA, China wishes to propose three points. First, we must uphold the right direction as a symbol of multilateralism and international solidarity. The GA must firmly safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, adhere to sovereign equality, and advocate dialogue and cooperation. The Assembly should fully leverage its function as a deliberative and policy-making organ, advance in a balanced manner the three pillars of peace, development, and human rights, and pay more attention to issues of common concern to member states, particularly those affecting the vital interests of the global south, thereby contributing to the building of a fairer and more equitable global governance system. Second, we must respect the mandates of the charter. The GA, the Security Council, and ECOSOC have clearly defined mandates under the Charter. Each should perform its own functions rather than usurping others' duties, act in coordination rather than competition, and work in synergy rather than at cross purposes. The GA and its main committees already cover all major areas of UN work and deal with a wide range of global challenges. Their tasks are already considerable. The Assembly should therefore focus on delivering tangible outcomes within its existing mandates by taking concrete actions and achieving real results in order to restore its authority and vitality. Third, we must enhance both quality and efficiency. In recent years, the GA's agenda has continued to expand, with nearly 180 items considered each year, along with countless meetings and consultations, and innumerable reports and documents. all of which have long overburdened member states and the secretariat. Against the backdrop of the UN initiative, the entire UN system is advocating streamlining, downsizing, efficiency, and optimization. Last year, the ad hoc working group on the revitalization of the General Assembly made active explorations in reducing the number of meetings and documents. China supports the GA in continuing these efforts to avoid formalism, bureaucratism, and excessive paperwork and meetings so as to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness through concrete actions. President, the selection of a new Secretary General will be one of the top priorities for the Security Council and the GA in the coming year. The UN Charter, GA resolutions, and Security Council documents all contain clear provisions regarding the selection procedure. Following these provisions and based on real experience, member states have developed a set of proven practices that should be upheld. Any deliberate attempt to break with these practices, create divisions, or stoke institutional competition would only hinder the selection process, contravene the collective interests of member states and the UN as a whole, and reflect an irresponsible attitude toward history. All member states should strengthen unity around the same goals, safeguard effective institutional arrangements, and foster an enabling political atmosphere. China stands ready to work with all parties through thorough deliberation and repeated consultations to select a new Secretary-General who can serve the common interests of the broad UN membership. We would also be pleased to see female candidates presented by member states. Thank you. GA · PGA [1:38:10]: I thank the distinguished representative of China. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of France. France [1:38:28]: Mr. President, colleagues, France aligns itself with this statement delivered by the European Union and its 27 member states, and now wishes to add the following in our national capacity. First of all, I would like to thank you for convening this debate on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, just a few weeks after the consensus adoption of resolution 79/327. I take this opportunity to commend the work accomplished by the co-facilitators, the permanent representatives of the Republic of South Africa and Romania. in achieving this result, which we now have to implement, as was stated by the President of the General Assembly this morning. Revitalizing the work of the General Assembly contributes to the effort to streamline the work of the United Nations so that our organization becomes more effective, more transparent, and more inclusive in implementing the purposes and It is consistent with the ambitions of UN 18, ensuring that the creation, execution and review of UN mandates are guided by the principles of efficiency, clarity and accountability. Mr. President, France is deeply committed to the role of the General Assembly, which occupies a central position as the main deliberative policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations. The General Assembly plays, therefore, an important role in maintaining international peace and security, in coordination with the Security Council, which the Charter entrusts with primary responsibility in this regard. The General Assembly has demonstrated since 2025 its leadership and several times as a lodestar for law, solidarity with victims, sovereign equality of states and defense of the foundations of the international order and of the Charter. It acted as such a lodestar on the 12th of September when it endorsed the New York Declaration on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution, which was the outcome of the international conference it had itself decided to convene as part of its 10th emergency special session. It was also such a lodestar when it reaffirmed twice on the 24th of February 2025 its support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with the principles of the Charter. These were its seventh and eighth resolutions since the outbreak of Russia's war of aggression in 2022. Mr. President, France advocates an open and effective multilateralism that represents us in all of our diversity. Linguistic diversity is at the forefront of diversities. Multilingualism is a fundamental value of the United Nations and contributes to the legitimacy, inclusiveness, and effectiveness of decision making within our organization. Its effective implementation on a daily basis remains a challenge, and it must not become an adjustment variable in ongoing budgetary efforts. Geographical diversity and gender equality are also of particular importance, and this is highlighted in resolution 79/327. France is committed to these principles in accordance with the Charter regarding the selection of senior UN officials, including the Secretary-General. The General Assembly plays an important role in the selection process, which was modernized in 2015 and reaffirmed this year. In this regard, We reiterate our call to Member States to submit female candidates. Mr. President, in conclusion, please be assured of France's full commitment to continue with its engagement in the process of revitalizing the work of the General Assembly. I thank you. GA · PGA [1:43:00]: I thank the distinguished representative of France. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco. Morocco [1:43:26]: Mr. President, the Kingdom of Morocco is very pleased to take part in this joint debate devoted to two essential dimensions of the functioning of our organization, namely the implementation of United Nations resolutions and the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, which respectively give effect to our decisions and effectively guide our multilateral action. My delegation emphasizes that the effective implementation of resolutions adopted by General Assembly must remain based on transparency, respect for intergovernmentality and accountability. It's important to have a coherent, consistent implementation to preserve Member States' trust in the multilateral system and to ensure continuity in the normative operational work of the UN. The Kingdom also attaches great importance to better coordination amongst the principal organs of the United Nations. This enhanced coordination is indispensable to ensure consistency of mandates and to guarantee an integrated approach to the three pillars of the UN, whilst respecting the prerogatives of each organ. Mr. President, on the issue of revitalizing the General Assembly, here, Morocco welcomes the progress achieved under Resolution 79/327. which strengthens ongoing efforts to modernize and streamline the work of our Assembly. In this regard, my delegation wishes to highlight three elements. First, the need to rationalize the work program, make the organization of debates more structured, and improve resource utilization. Second, the strengthening of transparency and predictability of the calendar, so as to improve the participation of all member states. and thirdly, the enhancement of the role of the President of the General Assembly, including as a facilitator of consensus-building processes. Furthermore, Morocco is following with interest the UN80 initiative, which aims to improve system coherence, optimize the life cycle of mandates, and strengthen the operational capacity of intergovernmental bodies. This initiative must remain fully Member State driven and be based on regular and inclusive consultations. Mr. President, to conclude, please allow me to say that we remain convinced that the rigorous implementation of resolutions and the effective revitalization of the General Assembly constitute the foundation of a more effective, more representative, and results-oriented multilateralism. The Kingdom will continue its constructive engagement to contribute to a United Nations that is more modern, more transparent, and better adapted to the multiple, successive, and multidimensional challenges of our time. I thank you. GA · PGA [1:46:21]: I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. Russian Federation [1:46:41]: Mr. President, we welcome the convening of the General Assembly plenary meeting on the issue of UN resolution implementations and the revitalization of the Assembly's work. The Russian Federation actively participates in advancing the revitalization agenda of the General Assembly, which is aimed at strengthening the authority and effectiveness of this organ. This task is becoming particularly important important in light of growing geopolitical tensions and new global challenges and threats. Given the latest liquidity crisis at the UN, what has become exposed are many shortcomings in the functioning of its system, including inflated mandates, the overfilling the field presence with non-core tasks, and donors' obsessive promotion of their own priorities, which remain alien and irrelevant to the needs of recipient countries. The key to optimizing the work of the General Assembly lies in further refining its working methods and streamlining its agenda, which remains overloaded. It remains relevant to shift some agenda items on the GA agenda to a biennial, triennial basis and removing outdated ones. This process must be approached in a well-considered way. This session will focus on implementing resolution 79327 on revitalization, which resulted from a fragile compromise reached during the previous session of the GA. We expect that the co-chairs of the working group will be able to conduct all planned discussions, organize a thorough and impartial review of existing weaknesses in organizing the work of bodies, and also find ways to reduce the politicization of debates. The revitalization process should not mean reallocating powers to the General Assembly, the powers that belong to other bodies under the UN, including the Security Council. We, therefore, have consistently been insisting on strict compliance with the Charter provisions regarding the Security Council's primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Mr. President, During this session, substantial work lies ahead in selecting candidates for the next UN Secretary-General. We expect that very soon the letter from the Presidents of the General Assembly and Security Council, President launching this process, will be agreed very soon. As President of the Security Council in October, the Russian Federation started work on drafting this document, responding to numerous calls from Member States for a timely start to this process. We expect that the President of the General Assembly will approach her task in this area very responsibly, and this will be done based on Article 97 of the UN Charter and will promote the constructive development of this process, given its very special importance and sensitivity. We must not forget that the main goal here is to elect the most merit-worthy candidate. We also expect that the President of the General Assembly throughout the session will closely adhere to the Code of Ethics, which requires her to maintain high standards of neutrality, impartiality, and equidistance. The issue of implementing General Assembly resolutions remain extremely important for us. It is regrettable that some states try to apply double standards when considering resolutions on various issues. And whenever the content of those does not align with their interests, they seek to block them using various pretexts. We proceed on the basis that most decisions in this hall aimed at improving diverse aspects of human life must and will be implemented because this is in our common interest. Russia confirms its readiness to work constructively in this area under the leadership of the co-chairs of the Working Group on Strengthening and Revitalizing the General Assembly. I thank you for your attention. GA · PGA [1:51:18]: I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. by now, give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil. Brazil [1:51:37]: Mr. President, Brazil is proud to have actively participated in the negotiations leading to the adoption of resolution 79/327 on the revitalization of the works of the General Assembly. In this regard, we regret that the ongoing liquidity crisis is negatively impacting deliberations of the Assembly and its committees, especially the Third Committee, where the general debate on agenda items has been temporarily suspended, presumes of the view that this exceptional circumstance in no way constitutes a precedent to be followed. In addition, the legitimate objective of streamlining our work and avoiding the duplication of efforts must never be used for political purposes. No agenda item, debate, or dialogue can be eluded under the pretext of revitalizing the work of the Assembly. Mr. President, Brazil values the resolution's emphasis on the imperative to ensure gender balance and the equitable geographical representation in the process of selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General of the United Nations. The resolution strengthens our commitment to a transparent, inclusive, and predictable process in line with the UN Charter. We look forward to the official launching of the process in the upcoming weeks, as established in the resolution. Brazil also firmly believes that it's high time for the next Secretary-General to be a qualified woman from the Latin American and Caribbean region. We have many talented and experienced names to offer to the United Nations. Brazil remains fully engaged and committed to ensuring that this process is fair, transparent, and truly representative of the diversity of our organization. Thank you. GA · PGA [1:53:33]: I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste [1:53:57]: Mr. President, the Maltese Alliance follows the statement delivered by Malaysia on behalf of ASEAN and Algeria on behalf of NAM. As a proud member state of the United Nations, we reaffirm our commitment to multilateral cooperation, to human dignity, to global solidarity, and to ensuring the that one voice, one country truly matters in this Assembly. We extend our sincere appreciation to all those who, over the past year, who have worked tirelessly to strengthen this institution, giving renewed relevance to the Assembly, especially in a moment when the world is rocked by overlapping crises, increasing inequality, climate disruptions, and geopolitical fragmentation. Particularly, we welcome the adoptions of resolutions 79/327, which some describe as linking revitalization with wider UN reform efforts, including the UN Act initiative and the Pact for the Future. The action is aligned with our collective resolve to renew the General Assembly's relevance to make this body not only equal for all Member States, but practically effective for all peoples. From the experience of Timor-Leste, which has drawn on conflict and recovery to achieve peace building and institutions building, as well as today's effort to diversify our economy, create jobs, and improve health and education, we know that global aspiration must translate into national realities. A stronger, more coherent General Assembly can make exactly that difference. The global future remains sovereign. According to UN Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2025, only about 17% of SDG targets worldwide are on track, and lower and middle income countries face mounting financial shortfalls. Debt servicing in these countries reach a record 1.4 trillion U.S. in 2024, funds that might otherwise have been allocated to poverty reductions, education, climate action, and health. These figures underscore the urgency of today's topic, revitalization. The Assembly is not cosmetic, it is essential. Mr. President, Timor-Leste Our UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025 and our national SDG roadmap clearly show progress, but there are also remaining gaps. However, we cannot ignore the fact that for many countries, the gap between ambition and means remain wide. Strengthening the General Assembly about more than institutional reform. It is about providing more equitable support, predictable financing, stronger coordination, and meaningful representations for those often squeezed between ambition, goals, and resources constraints. Timor-Leste support the revitalization agenda, which addressing core areas where the General Assembly must involve, including First, enhancing coordination across UN bodies to avoid duplication, improve clarity, and reduce fragmentation, including stronger links with the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Second, streamlining agenda items, consolidating documentation, promoting informal, interactive debates, and thematic discussions, and engage all member states. not as passive observers, but as active participants. Third, strengthen the Assembly's role in peace and security, particularly when the Security Council is unable to act decisively via mechanisms such as the Uniting for Peace resolutions or Link Initiative. Mr. President, ultimately, we view the revitalized General Assembly as a bridge A bridge between global norms and local realities, between promise and delivery, a forum where small states and developing countries can not only speak, but be heard, where our experience matters, where outcomes translate into opportunities for our people. In conclusion, Mr. President, Timor-Leste stands ready to engage actively with all Member States in implementing this reform agenda. Drawing on our experience in peacebuilding, institution building, and SDG implementation, we believe that a more agile, inclusive, effective General Assembly will accelerate our collective progress toward a just, sustainable, and peaceful world. I thank you. GA · PGA [1:59:25]: I thank the distinguished representative of Timor-Leste. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of United Arab Emirates. United Arab Emirates [1:59:43]: Mr. President, at the outset, the United Arab Emirates aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. We thank the co-chairs of the ad hoc working group on revitalization in the 79th session for their valuable stewardship towards the adoption of resolution 79327 by consensus. Mr. President, as we prepare for another session of engagement on this important topic, and as we consider the UN80 initiative for a more efficient and effective UN, allow me to highlight three main points. First, the relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council should be further strengthened, including in matters of international peace and security. Several developments deserve to be retained and built upon. These include the veto initiative established by resolution 76262, the annual plenary debate on the use of the veto, as well as the January meeting for member states and observers to present views on the Security Council's annual report. Equally important is the selection process of the Secretary-General, which brings me to my second point. As we approach the first stage of this process, before the end of the year, the two organs should continue to work in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant General Assembly resolutions and the post-2015 transparent and inclusive practice. Looking ahead, we encourage the General Assembly to articulate the leadership profile and competencies it seeks in the next Secretary-General. This role demands vision, integrity and impartiality. And as our challenges compound, the next Secretary-General will need to affirm the UN's role in conflict prevention and resolution, and uphold the Organization's principles and purposes. This must be complemented by the Secretary-General's leadership team, which will be critical in her or his success. Equal and fair distribution of the executive heads in terms of merit as well as gender and geographic balance would bolster the Secretary-General's efforts. I also underscore that our commitment to inclusivity and increasing female representation across the UN system includes electing the UN's first Madam Secretary-General. Third, the UAE reaffirms the continued importance of multilingualism as a core value of the UN. In particular, we emphasize the importance of issuing all documents on time in all official languages, including Arabic. Mr. President, the UAE continues to see relevance of further discussions to revitalize the General Assembly. including through efforts in the main committees as well as the General Committee, and we will remain engaged to this end. Thank you, Mr. President. GA · PGA [2:02:54]: I thank the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates. We have heard now the last speaker in the debate on these items. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda items 120 and 121. The meeting is adjourned.