General Assembly: 1st plenary meeting, 81st session

Good afternoon. It's my great pleasure and honor to declare open the 81st regular session of the General Assembly and call to order its first plenary meeting. In accordance with rule 62 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, I would like to invite representatives to stand and observe one minute of silent prayer or meditation. I thank you. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, as President of the General Assembly, I will now make a statement. Mr. Secretary-General, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it's a profound honor to stand before you as President of the General Assembly for its 81st session. Let me begin by expressing my deep gratitude to Prime Minister Tarik Rahman and the Government of Bangladesh for nominating me to this esteemed office, and to all of you for your trust and support. I will discharge my responsibilities to the best of my ability, with fairness, independence, and integrity, Allow me also to recognize my predecessor, Ms. Annalena Baerbock, who shepherded this Assembly through a challenging year. I thank her for the support afforded to me and my team throughout the transition. I assume this responsibility at a consequential moment for the Organization. As the United Nations enter its ninth decade, we should acknowledge the many achievements that deserve recognition. There is one, above all, that stands apart. For more than eight decades, our organization has helped the world avoid plunging into a third world war, arguably the very reason for its existence. The United Nations has also helped articulate the development vision of dozens of countries, the vast majority of which were not present at the creation of the organization in 1945. And it has helped bring emerging and contemporary challenges faced by the world community, from climate change to the governance of artificial intelligence, to the forefront of our deliberations. Every day, often far from the spotlight, The United Nations and its dedicated core of professionals work to feed millions of people, including refugees and other displaced populations around the world, support peace and security, combat chronic diseases, and help countries address complex transboundary challenges. These are the United Nations' unsung heroes, the people whose indispensable contributions rarely make the evening news, yet whose impact is felt every day in communities around the world. It is in their tireless efforts that we see the best of the United Nations and the enduring value of multilateral cooperation. They deserve our full recognition. At the same time, we must speak candidly about the grave challenges before us. The United Nations has often fallen short of the expectations placed upon us. Conflicts continue to inflict immense human suffering. Development gains remain feeble and fragile. Climate impacts are intensifying. Together, these challenges have brought trust in multilateralism under tremendous strain. A widening trust deficit is testing confidence in international institutions and collective action. A deficit that we must close by working together through dialogue, renewed cooperation, and delivery. Indeed, trust is the quiet force behind every understanding we reach, every agreement we sign, and every resolution we adopt. The understanding that each of us will shoulder our respective share of the burden, honoring commitments we make. Today, our responsibility is not merely to defend this institution, there are good reasons to do that, but to strengthen it, not simply to invoke trust on which multilateralism rests, but to earn it every day. My pledge for the 81st session, dear colleagues and friends, is to work tirelessly to revive trust in this institution upon which success of our collective action ultimately depends. This conviction is the spirit behind the theme of this 81st session, Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation, a United Nations that Delivers for All. Excellencies, friends, and dear colleagues, restoring trust requires both delivery and reform. We must prove through concrete results that this institution effectively serves the 8 billion people in whose name we act. With that in mind, I will focus the work of this Assembly around six priorities in the year ahead. First, and perhaps more fundamentally, we must strengthen peace and security, in keeping with the Charter's promise to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. With full respect to the mandates of the relevant organizations of the relevant organs of the organization, I'll collaborate closely with the member states and with the president of the Security Council and Secretary General to support the UN's work on conflict resolution, peacekeeping, and peace building. Drawing inspiration from the more than 200,000 Bangladeshis who have served in the United Nations peacekeeping, I will champion a people-centered approach to peace that puts prevention and political solution first. Second, we must accelerate sustainable development and ensure that no country is left behind. With only four years left to achieve the 2030 agenda and just 36% of SDG targets on track or making moderate progress, The gap between ambition and delivery is far too wide. Ahead of the 2027 SDG Summit and building on the compromise of this year, I will work with you to close the SDG financing gaps, advance debt sustainability, and pursue reform of the international financial architecture with particular attention to the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states. I will work to strengthen cooperation with the African Union in support of Agenda 2063 and convene the mandated General Assembly meeting to address the particular challenges facing middle-income countries. Third, and inseparable from our development ambitions, we must accelerate climate action, particularly in the areas of adaptation and resilience. I will work with Member States ahead of COP31 to advance the operationalization of the loss and damage fund and champion greater climate finance for those most vulnerable and on the front lines of climate impacts. Later this month, the Assembly will convene its high-level meeting on sea level rise, an existential matter for small island developing states and low-lying coastal nations everywhere. And recognizing that the climate crisis cannot be separated from the health of our ocean and biodiversity, I will use key processes, including the Ocean Decade and the first Conference of the Parties to the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, or BBNJ Agreement, to advance science-based ocean action and stronger partnerships. Fourth, I will work to advance human rights and uphold the General Assembly's role in their protection. I will support greater cooperation across United Nations human rights mechanisms and with civil society and other stakeholders. while lending the full support of my office to the high-level meetings marking the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. I will remain equally focused on protecting humanitarian space and upholding the rights and dignity of refugees, migrants and displaced communities, whose plight too often disappears from the headlines even as their suffering continues. For me, this commitment is personal. Bangladesh has provided shelter to over 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, and I witnessed their situation closely while serving as my government's high representative on the Rohingya issue. Their experience and that of displaced people everywhere reminds us that human rights must be measured not only by the commitments we make in this hall, but by the dignity and protection afforded to people in their daily lives and by our action to sustainably resolve these issues. Fifth, we must help ensure that technological transformation serves people everywhere and leaves no one behind. Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are reshaping how we work, learn, communicate, and solve problems at an extraordinary speed. Harnessed responsibly, they can accelerate development, improve public services, and expand access to knowledge and opportunity. But these benefits will not be shared equally unless we bridge persistent digital divides, strengthen safeguards, and build systems of governance that protect human rights and public trust. Building on the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact, I will work with Member States to advance an inclusive approach to digital cooperation and emerging technologies. I will make efforts to effectively involve the scientific and innovation community, industry leaders, and academic and research organizations, as well as civil society in this process. Sixth, and underpinning all of these priorities, we must trust, restore trust in multilateralism itself. This returns us to my vision of we, the people reimagined, we the United Nations fit for future that delivers for all. Trust in this institution depends upon its ability to deliver. In this regard, I commend the work of Mr. Secretary-General on UN reform and recognize the attention and dedication of my predecessor to the UN80 initiative. I will carry their work forward and support the reform process. Serving as a convener and bridge between you, the membership, who ultimately hold decision-making responsibility, and the Secretary-General and his team, who are mandated to provide concrete options for the path ahead. I'll pay particular attention to the work of the UN country teams. Their actions directly touch the people of the United Nations. I have myself seen up close how the country team in Bangladesh have been effectively doing more with less in supporting the Rohingyas sheltered at Cox's Bazar camps. In the days and weeks to come, I look forward to engaging with each of the main committees as we work to strengthen our organization and to improve its financial stability. I appeal to every Member State to pay its assessed contribution in full, on time, and without conditions. But this appeal must be accompanied by an equally clear commitment to accountability. The resources entrusted to the United Nations come not only from the wealthiest among us. They also represent the sacrifices, hopes, and hard-earned contributions of ordinary people around the world, including those living in the poorest and most vulnerable communities. We have a solemn duty to ensure that every single resource, every penny, is used responsibly, transparently, and effectively. Every day in the office, I will remind myself and all of you of this duty. I will seek to deepen engagement with civil society, above all, with young people who make up the majority of humanity today, yet hold the smallest share of the decisions that shape their future. as well as with a range of other stakeholders, so that the United Nations draws more fully upon the ideas and experiences of the people it was created to serve. Excellencies and friends, delivering on these six priorities demands that we remain true to the values of our Charter, while adapting our institution to a world profoundly different from that of 1945. And if the United Nations is to remain indispensable in an ever-changing world, it must also remain fit for purpose and fit for the future. The achievements of the United Nations should not be an excuse for complacency, nor should its shortcomings obscure how essential it remains. We must continually examine our work with honesty and humility, unhesitatingly identify the deficiencies, and relentlessly work together to enhance our capacity and efficiency so that our organization is able to credibly respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow. Excellencies, during my campaign, I made it clear that the office of the President of the General Assembly would reflect the diversity of the United Nations itself, geographically balanced, gender balanced, and linguistically diverse. I promised, too, that smaller and developing countries would have a dedicated voice and focused support within my office. Today, I am proud to report to you that all these commitments have not merely been honored. In many cases, they have been exceeded. My office has been deliberately built to be representative, inclusive, and responsive, because a United Nations that seeks to serve all must draw its strength from the diversity of all. And because the concerns of small and developing countries must not be peripheral to our work, they must be heard. understood and reflected at the center of our common agenda. Moreover, and you'll be very happy to hear this, women make up 60% of my cabinet, a reflection of my commitment to the essential leadership and expertise women bring to this work. Excellencies, like all other institutions, the success of the United Nations is shaped substantially by its leadership. This brings me to another important responsibility of this session: the selection of the next Secretary-General. In the coming days, I will work with the Presidents of the Security Council and with all of you to ensure this process remains fair, inclusive and transparent, abiding fully by the existing rules and by Article 97 of the Charter, which is clear: The Secretary-General shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. Trust that I will approach this charge with the utmost seriousness, impartiality and openness it demands, and with full respect to the mandates of the Security Council and the General Assembly. Excellencies, 40 years ago, in 1986, I stood in this very hall as a newly minted member of the cabinet of the then President of the General Assembly, 41st session. I remember the optimism of that moment and the sense of awe, because this hall is where history is made, where decisions have the potential to shape the futures of countries and change the lives of the people who called them home across geographies and generations. I think too of San Francisco on the 25th of June 1945, when the Charter was put to the vote and every delegation rose and remained standing. Trust made visible. That is the inheritance entrusted to this Assembly. 40 years later, I return to this hall with the same sense of possibility and a deeper appreciation of the stewardship that comes with it. None of this will be easy, and some of it will be painful. But as seasoned diplomats, we know that diplomacy is rarely easy. That is precisely why we are here. to undertake the difficult work to bridge our differences and forge collective solutions where none can be achieved alone. I begin this presidency with a clear conviction. Trust cannot simply be requested. It must be earned. It will be earned through decisions we take, the commitments we honor, and above all, the results we deliver for the people we serve. I'll devote my self fully to this difficult and complex endeavor. You will not find me wanting in terms of honesty, probity, impartiality, and intensity of efforts. And I invite each of you to join me in making the 81st session one that will go down in history as having turned the tide for our organization and carried it into its ninth decade with renewed confidence, purpose, and resolve. Because when the world asks whether we still believe in this organization, the one and only that we have, our answer must be, now and always, UN, yes, LONU, we. I thank you. Thank you. It is my great pleasure now to give the floor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Antonio Guterres. You have the floor, sir.

Mr. President of the General Assembly, congratulations once again on your election. And I thank the outgoing President, Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock, for so ably guiding this Assembly over the last year. I pledge my full support to you, President Kolilu Raman, as you take on this important role. Your remarkable political and diplomatic experience, together with your deep knowledge of the United Nations, are the best guarantees of success as you assume this high office. Throughout your distinguished career, you have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to dialogue, consensus-building, and international cooperation, qualities that will serve the General Assembly well in the year ahead. And I welcome the team of your presidency, restoring trust, managing transformation, a United Nations that delivers for all. Rebuilding trust in the multilateral system is the defining challenge of our time. And I look forward to working with you, Mr. President, to continue this critical effort. Mr. President, Excellencies. In these tumultuous times, the global problem-solving system is more crucial than ever. We face conflicts, divisions, and the risk of nuclear escalation, persistent poverty and inequality, worsening climate chaos, technology like artificial intelligence that offers great promise, but also great peril without good governance and transparency around its environmental footprint. and sluggish progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Displacement is near record levels. Human suffering is intensifying while funding for aid and development is being slashed. The institutions of the multilateral system, from the UN Security Council to the international financial architecture, are straining to meet the moment. International law and human rights, the core of our organization, are too often flouted with impunity. And geopolitical mistrust and suspicion continue to block the effective solutions we need and erode people's faith in the possibilities of global cooperation. But as I join you in this opening of a General Assembly session for the last time as Secretary-General, I have enormous hope thanks to the work that happens here. From the start, This has been the place where the world's toughest and most consequential problems are confronted head-on. And under your leadership, Mr. President, through diplomacy, dialogue, and collaboration, this Assembly can rebuild the trust and good faith that is missing from our geopolitics today, and ensure the people of the world inherit a better, healthier, and more peaceful future. Excellences, Monsieur le Premier ministre.

Excellencies, our direction is clear. The Pact for the Future and the UN80 initiative represent a blueprint for action, solutions, and bold reforms to carry our organization into the future. The work of this Assembly is critical to bringing these commitments to life. As we embark on the 81st General Assembly, let's meet the moment. Let's live up to the great promise of this organization and through solidarity, deliver the solutions our world needs. Mr. President, you can count on my full support in this vital effort. Thank you.

I thank you, Mr. Secretary-General. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, next I would like, in keeping with established practice, to invite the attention of the Assembly to document A/81/360. It contains a letter from the Secretary-General addressed to the President in which he informs the Assembly of Member States in arrears in the payment of their financial contributions to the United Nations within the terms of Article 19 of the Charter. I would like to remind delegations that under Article 19 of the Charter, and I quote, "A Member of the United Nations which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Organization, shall have no vote in the General Assembly if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years. The General Assembly may nevertheless permit such a Member to vote if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the Member. May I therefore take it that the Assembly takes note of the information contained in document A/81/360? It is so decided. Next, I would like to invite the Assembly to turn to the appointment of the members of the Credentials Committee. Rule 28 of the Rules of Procedure provides that the Assembly, at the beginning of each session, shall appoint, on the proposal of the President, a Credentials Committee consisting of nine members. Accordingly, it is proposed that for the 81st session, the Credentials Committee should consist of the following Member States: Bahamas, Belgium, Benin, China, Jamaica, Russian Federation, Vanuatu, Uganda, and United States of America. May I take it that these States that I have just mentioned are hereby appointed members of the Credentials Committee? I see no objection. It is so decided. Delegations are reminded that the credentials should be submitted to the Office of Legal Affairs. Additional details are available in the information note issued as A/INF/81/4. Now some announcements. Before concluding, I'd like to inform delegations that the General Committee will meet tomorrow morning, Wednesday, 9 September 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, to consider the memorandum of the Secretary-General on the organization of the 81st session of the General Assembly, adoption of the agenda and allocation of items, issued at document A/BUR/81/1. The first plenary meeting of the Assembly at its 81st session is now concluded. I thank you, the meeting has adjourned.