Green transformation 'no longer matter of choice': Lithuanian president

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The green transformation is "no longer a matter of choice," the Lithuanian president said on Wednesday.

"We need decisive actions to keep the goals – and the spirit – of the Paris Agreement alive," Gitanas Nauseda said in his speech to the annual UN General Assembly in New York.

Nauseda stressed that the world must rise to the challenges and work together to preserve peace, prosperity and stability to safeguard the “rules-based order, democracy and the universality of human rights,” as well as to save the Earth from the effects of “disastrous climate change.”

"For sure, this will not be easy. Global trust will have to be restored. Sustainable Development Goals (should be) implemented," he said.

Noting that there can be "no sustainable development amidst a war," Nauseda urged the international community to no longer allow Russia to “manipulate and abuse global rules.”

"Its (Russia’s) numerous crimes, such as the wholesale destruction of Ukrainian cities and towns, murder of thousands of innocent civilians and displacement of millions, bring disgrace upon the UN Security Council, where Russia still sits as a permanent member with the power of veto," he said.

He said that the international community should put more pressure on Russia to stop “deliberate attacks” on Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure, underlining the need for an "immediate, complete and unconditional" withdrawal of Russian troops and military equipment from Ukrainian territory.