General Assembly: 3rd plenary meeting, 81st session General Assembly Date: 11 September 2026 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/ga/81/3 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 [16:20]: Good morning. The third plenary meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. It is my sad duty to pay tribute to the memory of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, who passed away on 28 August 2026. On behalf of the General Assembly, I should like to convey our condolences to the Government and people of Norway and to the bereaved family of His Majesty King Harald V. I now invite representatives to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway. Please rise. Please be seated. I will now make a statement as the President of the General Assembly. Your Excellency Merete Fjeld Brettedstvedt, Permanent Representative of Norway, Excellencies, dear colleagues, allow me, on behalf of the General Assembly, to express my sincere condolences to Her Majesty Queen Sonia and His Majesty King Haakon VIII and the entire royal family as well as to the government and the people of Norway on the passing of His Majesty King Harald V. The Charter of the United Nations begins with the words, "We, the peoples," a reminder that this organization is ultimately about people. It calls on us to practice tolerance and to live together in peace with one another as good neighbors. King Harald V reigned in that spirit, with openness and a deep appreciation for humanity in all its diversity. He understood a simple truth. For a society to remain strong and united, every person must be able to see themselves as part of its story. Perhaps nowhere did he express this more powerfully than in 2016 when he said, "My greatest hope for Norway is that we will be able to take care of one another, that we will continue to build this country on a foundation of trust, fellowship and generosity of spirit, that we will feel that we are, despite our differences, one people, that Norway is one." Those words resonate far beyond Norway then, and they resonate still. They remind us that unity does not require uniformity, that our differences need not divide us, and that belonging is not something we grant to others, but something we build together. That message carries particular weight here in this hall. It speaks directly to the task we have set for ourselves in this session, restoring trust. Trust among nations, trust in this institution, and trust between people and those who govern. King Harald reminds us that trust is not proclaimed. It is built patiently by seeing one another and working with each other. At a time of profound challenges and deepening divisions, King Harald's example reminds us that there is more that binds us together as human beings than sets us apart. His passing marks the end of an era, but not the end of his legacy. It will live through the generations of Norwegians he served and inspired, and through the simple conviction that defined so much of his reign, that everyone should have a place in the story we share. As Norway begins a new chapter, we extend our best wishes to His Majesty King Haakon VIII. May His Majesty King Harald V rest in peace. Thank you. In accordance with Rule 70 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, I now have the pleasure to give the floor to Mr. Courtney Rutrige, Chair of the Cabinet of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, to make a statement on behalf of our Secretary-General. You have the floor, sir. UN Secretariat · Chef de Cabinet [23:01]: Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Today we gather to honor the life and legacy of King Harald V of Norway. Here at the United Nations, it is fitting to recall that before he became King, he was a child touched directly by war. At the age of three, Prince Harald was forced to leave Norway. Together with his mothers and sisters, he fled the occupied country and spent much of the Second World War in exile in the United States. The experience remained with him throughout his life, having suffered the pain of separation from home, the horrors of conflict, and the value of protection, solidarity, and hope he developed a keen understanding of the challenges others faced. This profound sense of empathy was reflected in the compassion he showed to those experiencing hardship. He understood that behind every statistic was a human being, behind every refugee, a family, and behind every vulnerable child, a future that deserves protection. As King, Harald V became a deeply respected and unifying figure for the people of Norway. He combined dignity with humility, tradition with accessibility, and a profound sense of duty with genuine warmth. He championed the well-being of children and young people, inclusion and social cohesion, and the protection of the environment for future generations. These were not simply causes that he supported. They were values he lived, shaped by experience and expressed through service. King Harald also understood that solidarity does not stop at national borders. Under his reign, Norway strengthened its role as a trusted humanitarian partner a supporter of peace efforts, and a principled advocate for people affected by conflict. Norway's close partnership with the United Nations reflects these same principles: respect for human dignity, commitment to solidarity, and faith in international cooperation. I had the privilege of meeting His Majesty in 2018 during my visit to Oslo. King Harald received me at the Royal Palace together with Crown Prince Haakon. I remember a man of quiet confidence, deep humanity, and remarkable generosity of spirit. Excellencies, dear friends, today we mourn the passing of a remarkable leader, but we also remember the young prince who experienced exile and war, and the man who returned to dedicate his life to his country and its people. His journey carries an enduring lesson. King Harold V understood the value of peace because he had known conflict, the importance of belonging because he had experienced separation, and the necessity of solidarity because his own family had once depended on it. These lessons informed his leadership and helped define his legacy. Today, our thoughts are with His Majesty King Haakon VIII, Her Majesty Queen Sonja, the royal family, and with the people of Norway. May the memory of King Harald V inspire us to uphold human dignity, strengthen solidarity, and protect the most vulnerable. And may we work together to build a world in which no child is forced to flee home because of war. I thank you. GA · PGA [27:20]: I thank the Chef de Cabinet who just made a statement on behalf of the Secretary-General. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Burundi, who will speak on behalf of the African States. You have the floor. Burundi · Africa Group [27:50]: Mr. President, it is an honor for me to speak on behalf of the African Group and to join the UN General Assembly in paying tribute to the memory of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, who passed away on 28 August 2026. The African Group extends its condolences to Her Majesty Queen Sonja, to the royal family and to the government and the people of the Kingdom of Norway. King Harald reigned for 35 years. Before this, he served as Crown Prince for four decades. He was a constitutional monarch in the fullest sense of the term. He did not craft his country's policies. However, he gave those policies a face which other nations came to trust. Africa knew that face well. His Majesty's first journey to the continent was in Tanzania in 1981. There he was received by President Julius Nyerere. King Harald spoke of that visit with warmth for the rest of his life, most recently when he welcomed President Samir Soluhu Hassan. This was in Oslo in February of 2024. His association with South Africa was of a different nature. He paid a state visit there in February 1998 upon the invitation of President Nelson Mandela. He asked to meet the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and to walk the ground of Robben Island. The next year, he received President Mandela in Oslo Following which he returned to South Africa in 2009. He then chose Cape Town to celebrate his 80th birthday. When President Mandela died, the King said that Mandela had shown the world that it was possible to choose reconciliation over revenge. This statement says as much about the man who offered it as about the man it describes. President, the African Group is cognizant that the wider relationship between Norway and Africa, from support for liberation movements in Southern Africa to the long track record of Norwegian development cooperation and the country's contribution to peace processes on the continent, we understand that this is the fruit of the work of successive governments and of the Norwegian people. King Harald did not author that track record. He represented it, unswervingly, without ostentation. He did this for three and a half decades, and in doing so, he lent the dignity of his office to the partnership that many African states value to this day. Africa also recognized, in His Majesty, a head of state who understood that a small country earns its standing through steadiness, rather than size. This is a lesson that resonates very much so with many of our own members. The African group takes some comfort in the continuity that follows the King's departure. The new King, as Crown Prince, wrote his master's thesis on international trade and Africa. He was appointed goodwill ambassador at the UN Development Program. in 2003, and he's spent all the years since visiting the continent's programs rather than speaking about them from a distance. He went to Burundi in 2007, to Kenya in 2022, for example. He has reiterated plainly that Africa should be treated as an economic partner. Our group very much looks forward to a reign that embodies this very conviction. The African group asks the delegation of Norway to kindly convey to the royal family and to the Norwegian people the sympathies of the 54 States which make up our group, as well as our deepest respect for a long life spent in the service of his country. I thank you, President. GA · PGA [32:26]: I thank the distinguished representative of Burundi for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Myanmar, who will speak on behalf of the Asia-Pacific states. You have the floor. Myanmar · Asia-Pacific Group [32:51]: Mr. President, Excellencies, dear colleagues, In memory of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Member States of the Asia-Pacific Group, in my capacity as the Chair of the Group for this month. It is with profound sadness that the Asia-Pacific Group conveys its deepest, most heartfelt condolences to the royal family, the government, and the people of the Kingdom of Norway on the passing of His Majesty King Harald V. Throughout his remarkable 35-year reign, King Harald served as a steady beacon of unity, compassion, and dignity. He was a reverent monarch whose lifelong commitment to peace, human rights, and sustainable development resonated far beyond the borders of Europe, touching the hearts of many in our region. His unique ability to connect with people from all walks of life, combined with his unwavering humility, transformed the modern monarchy into an enduring symbol of national comfort and resilience. The nations of the Asia-Pacific region remember with immense gratitude His Majesty's steadfast dedication to international cooperation, dialogue, and mutual respect. In an interconnected world, his voice was a consistent force for multilateralism and global solidarity. His legacy of service and his principled leadership stand as an inspiration to us all. During this period of mourning, the Asia-Pacific Group extends its warmest sympathies to His Majesty King Haakon VIII, the royal family, and all Norwegians. We stand in absolute solidarity with the Kingdom of Norway as it honours a truly historic legacy. I thank you, Mr. President. GA · PGA [35:14]: I thank the distinguished representative of Myanmar. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia, who will speak on behalf of the Western European and other states. Australia · WEOG [35:38]: Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. I stand here today on behalf of the group of Western European and other states to pay tribute to the memory of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway. Let me begin by extending our deepest condolences to His Majesty King Haakon VIII, Queen Sonja, the Royal House of Norway, and the people of Norway. For over 30 years, King Harald served Norway with dedication. navigating a changing world with exceptional wisdom, charisma, and grace. Guided by the Norwegian royal motto, Alt for Norge, or We Give Our All for Norway, King Harald took utmost pride in serving Norway and its people. He represented Norway with distinction and helped foster understanding and friendship between nations. His Majesty will be remembered as a highly respected, deeply committed, and long-serving friend to the world. We wish His Majesty King Haakon VIII every success as he takes forward his father's legacy of service and steps into the important role that lies ahead. I thank you. GA · PGA [36:56]: I thank the distinguished representative of Australia I now have the pleasure of inviting the distinguished representative of Guyana who will be speaking on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean states. Guyana · GRULAC [37:25]: Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean, GRULAC. At the outset, the GRULAC Member States commiserate with the government and people of Norway on the passing of King Harald V. King Harald V lived an exemplary life of service to the Norwegian people, as exemplified by his strong leadership during times of crisis, such as the 2011 Norway attacks and the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. His legacy of service which earned him the fine moniker of Grandfather of the Nation, is one of which the Norwegian people should be proud and which is worthy of emulating. We also remember King Harald's efforts in establishing the Norwegian branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature. Mr. President, the rich legacy of King Harald is both an encouragement and an admonition to all of us who are striving for a better world. It behooves us to dedicate our best energies. and resources for the betterment of those who look to us to protect and defend their dignity. GRULAC remains fully committed to doing this as together we, the United Nations, strive to serve the people of this world. I thank you. GA · PGA [39:08]: I thank the distinguished representative of Guyana. I would now like to invite the distinguished representative of Norway to come to the podium and deliver a statement. Norway [39:34]: President, Excellencies, dear colleagues, first of all, thank you. Thank you for your presence and for your kind and thoughtful messages of condolence. Norwegians are filled with a great sense of gratitude for 35 years with King Harald as Norway's king, and above all, for the way he performed his duties as king. King Harald V struck a balance between being stately and being down to earth. I could also use the words caring, inclusive and generous. He cared deeply for the rights of children, for nature, and for the environment. As has been mentioned, the King spent five years of his early childhood as a refugee here in the United States at the invitation of President Roosevelt. He was known to have played under the desk in the Oval Office. Those early years abroad shaped the King who throughout his life looked outward as well as inward. He became a strong advocate for international cooperation, dialogue, and peaceful resolution, peaceful relations between nations. Through decades of state visits, international engagement, and personal diplomacy, King Harald was a respected representative of Norway around the world. In a time of profound global change, King Harald consistently used his voice to promote tolerance, inclusion, and respect for human dignity. At a garden party to celebrate his and Queen Sonja's 80th birthdays, the King reflected on what is Norway. I would like to read you a few excerpts from his speech, my own translation, and I quote: Norway is most of all its people. Norwegians are from the north and from the south. Norwegians have immigrated from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Poland, Sweden, Somalia and Syria. My grandparents immigrated from Denmark and England. Norwegians are girls who love girls, and boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other. Norwegians believe in God, Allah, everything and nothing." End of quote. King Harald gave his all for Norway. Today, we also look to the future. Upon the passing of King Harald V, Crown Prince Haakon has acceded to the throne and become King Haakon VIII of Norway. The King is dead, long live the King. GA · PGA [42:50]: Madam Representative of Norway, my heartfelt thanks to you. This brings us to the end of our proceedings this morning, and the meeting is adjourned.