KATHMANDU, Sept 22: While reaffirming Nepal’s commitment to peace, prosperity and justice, Prime Minister KP Sharma has called for strengthening the United Nations and empowering it as the centre of multilateralism to deal with the complex challenges the world is confronting today.
Addressing the High-level Meeting to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations through a pre-recorded video on Monday night, the prime minister said, “The impacts of COVID-19 have hit across lives, economies and societies with the toughest brunt felt by the weakest and most vulnerable countries. Today is an occasion to reaffirm our commitment to peace, prosperity and justice. We, as humanity, have the responsibility to strengthen the UN and empower it as the centre of multilateralism to deal with the complex challenges the world is confronting.”
Stating that Nepal’s partnership with the United Nations has been ever-growing in all three pillars -- peace and security, development, and human rights-- PM Oli said that his country has been providing one of the most dedicated and professional services to the UN peace operations for over six decades.
“The UN has been a key partner in our development process. We continue to contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights constructively. We believe that all human rights are equal and must be treated in their totality,” said the prime minister.
Prime Minister Oli said that the United Nations is at a ‘generational crossroads’ of continuity and transformation.
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Oli pointed out that the global body is facing a test of delivering on the ever-increasing expectations:
– to protect the neediest countries and peoples,
– to promote the sovereign equality and dignity of all,
– to fight against the threats like pandemics, climate crisis and terrorism, and
– to ensure total elimination of nuclear, chemical, biological, radiological and all other weapons of mass destruction.
“Building on the achievements, it is also our collective responsibility to make the world body more ‘fit for purpose’,” he said adding that now is the time to do so.
“First, there is no alternative to unity, solidarity and cooperation. We must reaffirm these values and commit ourselves to move beyond rhetoric to action. Second, it is important that the UN is focused on the 12 ‘action points’ highlighted in the Declaration we adopted today and mobilize support for the entirety of the SDGs so that no one is left behind. Third, with timely reforms, we must enable the UN to build a just, fair, and rules-based international order where no nation is superior to others,” Oli said.
Prime Minister Oli said that the world should ensure that the UN is stronger and better prepared to tackle the existential threats and emergencies.
The UN event is being convened under the theme of ‘The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism’. The declaration on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations was adopted earlier in the meeting.
A total of 182 speakers including 88 heads of state and 44 heads of government are scheduled to address the commemorative event.
