Prime Minister Oli joins world leaders at 79th UN General Assembly

The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly began Tuesday with conflict resolution as one of its top priorities. Dennis Francis, President of the 78th General Assembly, passed the gavel to his successor, Philemon Yang. Yang, Cameroon’s candidate who was elected President of the 79th General Assembly in June, took the oath and assumed office.

Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba are attending the high-level meeting of the UN to present Nepal’s position on regional and international issues, including the reform of the UN itself. Moreover, Nepal will be highlighting climate change issues, with special emphasis on melting mountain glaciers and its impacts, to draw international attention, according to officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prime Minister Oli is also expected to call on the parties concerned to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the war between Israel and Palestine.

During his stay in New York, Oli is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with heads of state and government of neighbouring countries, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world leaders. This will be Oli’s first foreign trip since becoming prime minister in July. Officials are working on the possible meeting between Oli and Modi on the sidelines of the UN meeting.

Nepal is also preparing to host a meeting of SAARC foreign ministers as an attempt to revive the stalled SAARC process. As the current chair of SAARC, Nepal has the responsibility to make efforts to give fresh impetus to five. However, the chances of a revival of SAARC seem remote due to the current hostilities between India and Pakistan and the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which is isolated by the international community.

Prime Minister Oli will also highlight Nepal’s achievement in the transitional justice process. Nepal’s parliament has approved the transitional justice amendment, which has been welcomed by the international community, including the UN.

In addition to addressing the UN meeting, Prime Minister Oli will attend the Summit of the Future, to be held in New York on September 22-23. The summit aims to address critical challenges and gaps in global governance exposed by recent global shocks. According to the UN, the summit is intended to reaffirm commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Charter, while enhancing cooperation and laying the foundation for a revitalized multilateral system.

According to the UN: “The Summit will result in a negotiated pact for the future, an action-oriented document aimed at strengthening global cooperation and adapting effectively to current challenges for the benefit of all and for future generations.” The Summit will issue a pact for future declarations at the end of the meeting. The main actions that the UN has are the following points.

Sustainable development and financing for development

We will take bold, ambitious, accelerated, just and transformative action to implement the 2030 Agenda, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and leave no one behind.

We place the eradication of poverty at the heart of our efforts to achieve Agenda 2030.

We will eradicate hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition.

We close the SDG financing gap in developing countries.

We ensure that the multilateral trading system remains an engine for sustainable development.

We invest in people to end poverty and strengthen trust and social cohesion.

We will step up our efforts to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms.

We strive for gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls as a crucial contribution to progress on all Sustainable Development Goals and targets.

We will strengthen our actions to tackle climate change.

We will step up our efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment.

We protect and promote culture and sport as integral parts of sustainable development.

We will plan for the future and strengthen our collective efforts to accelerate the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030 and beyond.

International peace and security

We redouble our efforts to build and sustain peaceful, inclusive and just societies and address the root causes of conflict.

We protect all civilians in armed conflict.

We ensure that people affected by humanitarian emergencies receive the support they need.

We promote cooperation and understanding among Member States, reduce tensions, seek peaceful resolution of disputes and resolve conflicts.

We will fulfill our obligation to comply with the judgments and uphold the mandate of the International Court of Justice in every case to which our state is a party.

We will accelerate the implementation of our commitments on women, peace and security.

We address negative climate and environmental impacts that can contribute to the emergence or escalation of conflict.

We adapt peace operations to better respond to existing challenges and new realities.

We address the serious consequences of threats to maritime safety and security.

We strive for a future without terrorism.

We prevent and combat transnational organised crime and associated illegal financial flows.

We will continue to work tirelessly to achieve the goal of a world without nuclear weapons.

The Pact also includes actions in the areas of science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation; youth and future generation and transforming global governance. This document is considered a blueprint for the challenges facing the world today.

At the opening session of the UN General Assembly, Yang outlined a vision of unity in diversity and called for closer international cooperation to address a range of global challenges, including climate change, escalating conflict and a slowdown in sustainable development. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also delivered a speech at the opening of the session, stressing the urgency of collective action to address a world “in trouble.”

He praised Yang for his vision and leadership and pledged his full support to unite the diverse member states around common goals. “From day one, the United Nations has been the venue for multilateral solutions, grounded in cooperation, dialogue, diplomacy and the UN Charter,” he said.

The opening of the 79th session also marks the first time that the State of Palestine is part of the General Assembly’s member states, following the adoption of resolution ES-10/23 at the tenth emergency session earlier this year.

The resolution also established additional rights for the participation of the State of Palestine in meetings of the Assembly, but not the right to vote or to submit its candidacy to the main UN bodies such as the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The additional rights and privileges do not grant the State of Palestine membership, which requires a specific recommendation by the Security Council.

Key highlights