UN General Assembly eyes better world through sustainable development
KUWAIT: The Saud Nasser Al-Sabah Kuwait Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday hosted Miroslav Lajcak, President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, who spoke on ‘The Leadership between the UN General Assembly and the Security Council’.
The main plan and program of the 72nd session of the General Assembly focuses on transforming the world into a better place through the sustainable development program. “We will continue working on this development program, but we are facing the problem of financing, so we aim to let the private sector participate,” stressed Lajcak.
The development program includes various fields. “Water support for sustainable development is one of the main fields. Then the program also includes organizing an important event for the youth in May and providing information about the role of the United Nations towards the new generation. In June, we will hold an important event that highlights the financing of the sustainable development programs,” he explained.
The UN General Assembly has many priorities. “One of our main priorities is to avoid any conflict and protect world peace. The reform process is also a priority, as the world is changing and we have to change according to it. So we will start with two operations in this regard - the first is effecting change in the United Nations, and the second is to rehabilitate and reform the General Assembly,” noted Lajcak.
The goals of the 72nd session of the General Assembly include suggestions for change in three sectors. “These changes include the administration, financing and infrastructure departments. This will make the United Nations a stronger organization with an effective role, especially in the humanitarian sector,” he pointed out.
“Reforming the budget is part of the secretary general’s work. I suggested setting a budget for priority projects that need quick financing. This rehabilitation process was in fact discussed and this suggestion was adopted the General Assembly. This year we approved a budget of $225 million, which is less than what’s needed, but the countries decided to decrease the budget,” Lajcak said.
Regarding the role of Kuwait in the GCC dispute, he said that this conflict should be resolved within the region. “I speak on behalf of the international community when I say that the role of Kuwait and HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad in this issue is highly respected and supported. I believe that no solutions from outside can be better than any agreement reached here in the region. If there is anything that we can do at the General Assembly, we will do it. I visited the UAE and I will be visiting Qatar, and I hope I will understand the conflict better,” concluded Lajcak.