77th Session of UN General Assembly Called "Watershed Moment"
UN Session Hobbled by Global Crises
UN General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi addresses the opening of 77th session.
The 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) took place at the UN headquarters in New York City September 13 to 26 under the theme "A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges." The UN notes: "The theme stems from the recognition that the world is at a critical moment in the history of the United Nations due to complex and interconnected crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, humanitarian challenges of unprecedented nature, a tipping point in climate change as well as growing concerns about threats to the global economy." While the UNGA was in session, besides the high level general debate September 20, various UN Committees reviewed and set their work for the coming period.
More than 150 countries participated in the UNGA including Canada, represented by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and others. Each day various heads of states or their representatives addressed the General Assembly on matters of concern.
In his address, prior to the start of the high level general debate on the issues which began on September 20, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted "Let's have no illusions. We are in rough seas. A winter of global discontent is on the horizon. A cost-of-living crisis is raging. Trust is crumbling. Inequalities are exploding. Our planet is burning. People are hurting -- with the most vulnerable suffering the most." He added that the world is "gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction." He said, "The international community is not ready or willing to tackle the big dramatic challenges of our age. These crises threaten the very future of humanity and the fate of our planet." He added that "no power or group alone can call the shots. No major global challenge can be solved by a coalition of the willing." He called for the unity of the nations and peoples in a "coalition of the world" so as to cooperatively solve the problems facing humanity.
The comments of Secretary-General Guterres reflect the crises in which the UN is mired. When the UN was founded in 1945, with an original membership of 51 countries, its aim was to enable the nations of the world to work together in "maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights."
From the get-go, the Anglo-American imperialists did not permit the UN to function and set up their own organizations such as NATO to dominate the world and enslave the peoples. This is the main obstacle which has led to the UN being crisis-ridden and dysfunctional today.
What is required is for the peoples of the world, including Canadians, to renew the UN and re-establish the aims of the UN and its Charter in today's conditions. This means opposing Anglo-American imperialism, aggression and war in the interests of diplomacy and peaceful relations between nations and peoples based on equality and respect.
Already, many of the countries of Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America are challenging the hegemony of the U.S. and its allies at the UN on matters such as the war in Ukraine, and in other ways. This reflects the striving for a new world order based on peace.
(With files from UN.)
This article was published in
Volume 52 Number 8 - November 2022
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2022/Articles/MS52089.HTM
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