New York/New Delhi, Sep 30 (UNI) The 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) Debate in New York concluded today after a difficult Session both for the UN itself and for the multilateral spirit it is meant to embody.
General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said the world body remains “the house of diplomacy and dialogue” in a divided world and as the UN marks its 80th anniversary, member States must show the people of the world why the organization matters and uphold its founding principles in the decades ahead.
The Debate concluded with strong speeches by the leaders of 189 countries. The deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza echoed as the General Assembly heard calls by most world leaders for urgent global action to stop Israeli attacks. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not rest until Hamas is eliminated and hostages are freed.
Ukraine situation and calls for an end to the war was also mentioned by many leaders.
The Session witnessed cryptic remarks by some leaders about the relevance of the UN while some demanded strengthening and overhaul of the world body to address the new challenges.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said “The United Nations is committed to fully supporting all meaningful efforts to end’’ the Ukrainian war. Against this backdrop, Mr. Guterres argued that the UN remains indispensable.
“At its best, the United Nations is more than a meeting place, it is a moral compass, a force for peace…a guardian of international law and a lifeline for people in crisis.” He noted that today’s multipolar world could bring dynamism, but without cooperation it risks instability. International cooperation, he insisted, is not naïve but a necessity.
“No country can stop a pandemic alone. No army can halt rising temperatures. No algorithm can rebuild trust once it is broken.” In this moment of crisis, the United Nations has never been more essential, the Secretary-General stressed. “The world needs our unique legitimacy. Our convening power. Our vision to unite nations, bridge divides and confront the challenges before us.”
Deputy UN Chief Amina Mohammed, while addressing a 60,000 strong crowd at the 2025 Global Citizen Festival on the Great Lawn in Central Park, New York City, said ‘‘The UN doesn’t give up. We faced a few shots fired this week, but we’re not giving up.’
Amina Mohammed was obliquely referring to the potshots taken by US President Donald Trump in his UNGA address in which he described UN as a feckless institution and said “UN is not coming close to living up to its potential.” The US President also criticized the UN over the failure to stop wars and said “The UN is supposed to stop invasion, not promote them.”
In his address to the General Assembly on September 27, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar outlined the failings of a “gridlocked” UN, while asserting the need for more international cooperation and a reformed Organisation.
Highlighting the issues of Ukraine and Middle-East crises, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), tariff volatility and uncertain market access, Dr Jaishankar said these issues point to a need for more international cooperation. He questioned the UN’s ability to solve them.
Dr. Jaishankar said the UN is “in a state of crisis,” and gridlocked, partly due to resistance to reform even though most members want change. “It is imperative that we see through the cynicism and purposefully address the reform agenda,” he said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said widespread violations of the principle of the equality of states are the cause of crises and conflicts and the founding principles of the UN are as relevant as ever in today’s “age of multipolarity.”
African leaders delivered a resounding and unified message: the United Nations must undergo meaningful reform and the global order must be reshaped to ensure fairness, equity and representation for all nations.
The UN symbolizes the highest expression of the aspiration for peace and prosperity but the ideals that inspired its founding 80 years ago are under threat as never before, Brazilian President Lula Da Silva told the General Assembly in his address.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the world faces “testing times” marked by conflict, terrorism, and climate change. He called for urgent action for peace in South Asia, the Middle East and beyond.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned world leaders that international institutions are “too weak” to stop wars. He urged more countries to join Ukraine’s security coalition and step up pressure on Russia.
UNI RB 1539