Guyana President Irfaan Ali addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday (CMC Photo)
UNITED NATIONS (CMC)–Guyana on Wednesday called on the international community not to allow the ideals that led to the formation of the United Nations eight decades ago to be diminished, saying it must stand firm now against aggression and “remain fully engaged with the great questions of our time”.
Addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), President Irfaan Ali said that the organisation was conceived “not in comfort but in crisis, forged from the ashes of war to serve as the conscience and compass of humanity.
“Eight decades later, that duty has not dimmed; it has only grown more urgent. If the UN is to remain humanity’s best hope, it must stand firm against aggression and remain fully engaged with the great questions of our time. We must be bold in recognising the necessity for institutional adjustments that will advance the organisation’s success.”
Ali warned that this current generation will be judged not by the eloquence of declarations, but by the substance of its deeds, noting that “from the ruins of Gaza to the streets of Haiti, from Kiev to the drowning coasts of small island states, the peoples of the world cry out for more than words.
“To honour 80 years of promise is to act with courage, to match principle with action, and to bind ourselves once more to the dream of a world united, not by fear or force, but by shared destiny and enduring hope.”
He said that as the world marks the 80th anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Charter, ”we find ourselves at a crossroads” even as he acknowledged that “this organisation has delivered”.
He said, from creating international law, promoting development and human rights, to resolving disputes, providing humanitarian aid and advancing self-determination and independence, the fact remains, over these eight decades, “we have worked together for the greater good.
“From 51 member states in 1945 to 193 today, the UN has established itself as the premier organisation for multilateralism. In fact, it is difficult to imagine our world without the United Nations. However, as it is with anniversaries, we must reflect honestly and candidly. Where are we at 80?”
Ali said that conflicts are raging as geopolitical tensions intensify, food insecurity is worsening, displacement is growing, human rights are being ignored, and climate change is threatening lives and livelihoods.
He said the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) aimed at improving the lives of people on this planet “are imperilled by shrinking development and budget support.
“Spending on peacekeeping budgets is diminishing, and humanitarian costs are soaring. Meanwhile, global military spending in 2024 saw its steepest annual increase since the Cold War.”
He said that the United Nations’ noble mission to maintain international peace and security will ring hollow if it allows power to triumph over principle and might to override right.
“In remaining faithful to its Charter, the United Nations must ensure that the survival and progress of humanity are not mortgaged to the ambitions of the powerful,” he said, adding that ‘the collective will of our membership must be reflected in the institutions and governance structures of the United Nations, including the Security Council”
Ali said it is precisely when the ideals of the United Nations are tested by horrific realities that the collective must act in defence of the UN Charter and international law.
“At present, a dark shadow looms over this 80th Session of the General Assembly; Genocide in Palestine, annexation of Ukrainian territory, persecution of women in Afghanistan, humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, brutal gang violence in Haiti, increased transnational organised crime, trafficking and illegal migration.
“All this, as new challenges are emerging – cybercrime, cyber terrorism, and the pandemic of misinformation and disinformation, alongside the abuse of social media.”
The Guyana head of state said that whilst his country reiterates its condemnation of the attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, and again calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, “Israel’s actions have long shattered any pretence of legitimate self-defence.
“What we are witnessing is not warfare, but mass extermination, a systematic slaughter and displacement of Palestinian men, women, and children. Those who escape the bombs and bullets are condemned to die slowly, starved of food, water, and hope. This is a war crime.”
He said that the international community must not remain paralysed, while an entire people is annihilated. Impunity must never triumph over justice.
“We must take urgent action to halt the genocide, return the hostages and accelerate our efforts towards the Two-State Solution. We urge Qatar, Egypt and the United States to continue their efforts in this regard.
“Further, the situation in Ukraine remains of utmost concern. Guyana reiterates its call for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war and reaffirms its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The Caribbean Community (Caricom) leader said that equally, the international community must act decisively in Haiti, a member of Caricom, “where gang violence, displacement, and shortages of food and medicine have pushed the nation into deepening despair.
“Restoring security is the foremost priority, requiring strict enforcement of the arms embargo and robust support for a UN-authorised mission,” Ali said, emphasising that without urgent humanitarian funding and a Haitian-led and owned political process, stability will remain elusive.
“We must address the root causes of Haiti’s continuing troubles, including its historical debt burdens which stymie its development prospects and upliftment of its peoples,” he said, recalling the French President Emmanuel Macron’s acknowledgement that making Haiti pay for its independence was unjust.
“This is a welcome step,” Ali said, taking the opportunity also to update the international community on the decades-old border dispute between his country and Venezuela, saying “we have endured repeated threats and aggression” from Caracas.
He said that the territorial controversy between the two countries is now before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has twice affirmed its jurisdiction, and which in 2023, issued provisional measures ordering Venezuela to refrain from altering the status quo.
“Yet, Venezuela persists with unilateral laws and threats of annexation, flagrantly violating international law, the UN Charter, and the very principles that sustain global order.
“If the rights of a small state can be trampled upon and legally binding orders ignored, what protection remains for any nation under international law? Yet, Guyana continues to repose confidence in international law. For us, the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and noninterference are not negotiable.”
Ali said that Guyana will not cower to coercion, intimidation, or unilateral action, thanking “our international partners and allies for their solidarity”.
He said that at 80 years old, the time has also come for “a frank conversation on Cuba, one that would lead to the prosperity of its people, optimising the full potential Cuba offers to its people and the rest of the world”.
He said central to this dialogue is the lifting of the decades-old United States embargo on Cuba and its removal from the list as a State Sponsor of terrorism.
“Also important to our region is our collective effort against drug trafficking, human trafficking and illegal migration. We support efforts by the international community in addressing these crimes that are destroying the lives of our people, especially young people.
“The region must continue to champion efforts to enhance democracy, promote good governance and respect the will of the people in determining governments of their choice through free and fair elections,” Ali told the international community.