As Palestine\u2019s envoy to the UN, Riyad Mansour, launched his candidacy for president of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, he urged member states to recommit, at this time of growing global division, to multilateral cooperation, the principles of international law and the founding ideals of the UN.<\/p>\n
Mansour, whose candidacy was endorsed by the UN\u2019s Arab Group, presented a vision grounded in the three core pillars of the UN: human rights, development, and peace and security.<\/p>\n
In his vision statement, he said: \u201cThe world we live in today needs more, not less, United Nations. It needs us to honor our commitments, not renege on them; to uphold our responsibilities, not abandon them; to respect the rules of international law, not grow accustomed to their breach.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly begins in September, and the election of its president will take place on June 2 in the General Assembly Hall at the UN headquarters in New York. In accordance with the established regional rotation of the position, the next president will be chosen from among the Asia-Pacific group of states.<\/p>\n
Two others candidates have announced their intentions to stand so far: veteran diplomats Touhid Hossain from Bangladesh and Andreas S. Kakouris from Cyprus.<\/p>\n
Mansour, who has served as the permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the UN since 2005, framed his candidacy through the lens of personal experience, describing himself as \u201ca refugee, a migrant, the son of a steelworker,\u201d who had lived through conflict, poverty and displacement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know what it means when the United Nations is at its best, and I know only too well its shortcomings,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In his vision, Mansour reflected on the origins of the UN in the aftermath of a global conflict, describing the institution as a response to humanity\u2019s \u201cdarkest moments\u201d and a platform designed to replace war with cooperation.<\/p>\n
He credited the General Assembly with enabling collective action that has delivered tangible gains, including advances in development, health, human rights and environmental protections.<\/p>\n
\u201cTogether, we rejected the impulses of war and destruction and chose cooperation, common security and shared prosperity,\u201d he said, citing milestones such as the Millennium Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and international agreements on climate change, disarmament and gender equality.<\/p>\n
Despite those achievements, however, Mansour warned that many pledges have not been kept and trust in the international system is eroding.<\/p>\n
\u201cToo many promises remain unfulfilled, and too much suffering continues,\u201d he said. \u201cThe international order has grown increasingly uncertain, and the ideals of the United Nations are too often left unenforced.\u201d<\/p>\n
He cautioned against a return to a world in which \u201cconflict prevails over dialogue\u201d and \u201ccoercion replaces diplomacy,\u201d arguing that the scale of present-day crises \u2014 from armed conflict and humanitarian emergencies to climate change and technological risks \u2014 requires a renewed, collective resolve.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot risk a return to a world where disorder undermines the rule of international law,\u201d Mansour said. \u201cWe must rise above division and recommit to partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n
He called for reforms within the UN system itself with the aim of improving efficiency, inclusivity and engagement, saying that such changes were necessary to restore confidence in the organization\u2019s ability to deliver peace and security.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis moment demands engagement grounded in mutual interest and sustained by persistent action,\u201d he said, adding that reform was essential \u201cto restore trust in our United Nations and its enduring capacity to contribute to international peace and security.\u201d<\/p>\n
He described his vision as pragmatic rather than ideological, shaped by decades of multilateral diplomacy and a belief in the UN as \u201can anchor for a more peaceful and just world.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cAt a time of profound strain on the multilateral system, my vision seeks to mobilize member states and stakeholders to preserve and safeguard what we have accomplished, and to pursue progress with urgency, so that dignity, opportunity and hope are extended to all.\u201d<\/p>\n
The president of the General Assembly is elected annually and is responsible for presiding over its sessions, representing its decisions, and facilitating negotiations among member states.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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