Mr. President,
Let me begin by thanking you for convening this important debate on both implementation of United Nations Resolutions and the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly.
Bangladesh aligns itself with the Statement made by Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.
We congratulate Ambassador Cornel Feruta, Permanent Representative of Romania, and Ambassador Menissa Rambally, Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia, for their appointment as the Co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly. We are confident that under their able leadership the Group will achieve significant progress.
We thank Ambassador Mitch Fifield, of Australia and Ambassador Egriselda González López of El Salvador, for their excellent leadership and dedication on the revitalization process during the last two sessions.
Mr. President,
Amidst multifaceted challenges facing the international order, the role of the United Nations has become more crucial than ever. We believe that the revitalization of the work of the GA is a critical component of the comprehensive reform of the UN. The GA is a symbol of international solidarity. It is also a symbol and practical manifestation of multilateralism.
Therefore, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the General Assembly is a first step forward towards a more democratic and inclusive United Nations that is capable of carrying out its international functions and obligations in line with the Charter of the United Nations.
Mr. President,
We acknowledge the incremental progress in the functioning of the General Assembly. Nevertheless, we emphasize the imperative for a bolder and more decisive approach to render the Assembly more effective and action oriented.
Allow me to make the following points:
First, a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation status of General Assembly resolutions and a clear identification of underlying causes for any shortcomings are vital. This approach is essential to progressively eliminate constraints hindering the General Assembly’s revitalization process from reaching its full potential. Genuine political will from all Member States is crucial to achieve greater progress and overcome differences within the Ad Hoc Working Group’s four agenda clusters.
My delegation looks forward to the discussions during the current session, specifically focusing on the “role and authority of the General Assembly” and “Working methods,” as outlined in resolution 77/335.
Second, we subscribe to the initiative aimed at proper implementation of the
UN Charter with respect to the functional relationship between its main organs, in particular the GA and the ECOSOC. It is imperative to enhance synergy, coherence and complementarity among the agendas of the Assembly and its Committees, the ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies to avoid overlaps and duplication.
Third, we also emphasize the importance of streamlining the agenda of the General Assembly to allocate more time for substantive and interactive dialogues and to review the implementation of adopted resolutions. We support the request for the Secretariat to prepare a conference room paper outlining the evolution of the agenda to facilitate deliberations on further biennialization, triennialization, clustering, or elimination of items. This proactive approach aligns with our commitment to enhancing the efficiency of the General Assembly.
Fourth, we recall the importance of the Resolution 76/262, which provides standing mandate for a General Assembly debate within 10 days when a veto is cast in the Security Council to ensure accountability within the United Nations system. As we underscore the importance of the General Assembly’s role in matters related to international peace and security, we support the emphasis on fostering interaction between the General Assembly and the Security Council. We call upon the Council to present a more thorough, substantive, and analytical report of its activities to the General Assembly. This should include additional details on the draft resolutions that were unsuccessful in gaining Council adoption.
We are deeply frustrated by the failure of the Security Council to stop the atrocity in Gaza and as a result of this failure, this Assembly adopted a landmark resolution ES-10/L.25 calling for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities. My delegation co-sponsored the resolution, and we want to see its full implementation, as a matter of priority.
Fifth, Bangladesh strongly advocates for gender parity and geographical balance in inter-governmental processes. Despite notable strides in advancing gender equality, there is a pressing need for additional progress, particularly in in line with today’s realities.
We share the view of many other delegations that the Security Council should consider proposing more than one candidate for the Secretary-General to the General Assembly. We emphasize the need to actively support the nomination of women candidates for key roles such as the UN Secretary- General and other executive positions. We see the merit in the proposal that the appointment terms for the Secretary-General may be revised to a single, non-renewable term.
Finally, we recognize the vital role of information and communication technologies in the work of the United Nations, and we stress the importance of their proper use to ensure full and equal participation of all Member States.
We welcome the proposed briefing as outlined in the resolution 77/335 on the use of information and communications technologies in the work of the General Assembly during the seventy-eighth session, with a view to ensuring better preparedness in exceptional circumstances.
Mr. President, to conclude, let me reaffirm our commitment to actively participating in the revitalization process. We believe that these collective efforts will contribute to a more effective, transparent, and responsive General Assembly, better equipped to address the pressing challenges of our time.
I thank you.
