Kyrgyz president says it’s time to reconsider ‘global security priorities’ in UN address

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said Tuesday that it is time to reconsider “global security priorities” during his address to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Highlighting what he described as a “troubling paradox” where military spending is growing while least developed and vulnerable states continue to suffer from a lack of resources for their development, Japarov said coordinated efforts are needed from developed and least developed countries to make progress in this regard.

He said that developed countries should increase their financial assistance to least developed countries, focusing particularly on infrastructure projects and social development.

He further said that least developed countries should be actively involved in international initiatives on sustainable development and commit to efficiently use the resources provided, defining the transfer of modern technologies to poor countries as “crucial.”

“Today, we observe that geopolitical conflicts not only require increased defense spending, but more importantly, international cooperation for their resolution,” he said.

Japarov said the global community can create a “safer and more prosperous world for all” if it can unite in achieving an “equitable resource distribution, help vulnerable states, and eliminate the causes of armed conflict.”

“If we begin investing not in war but in people, if instead of weapons, we invest in education, health care and sustainable development, we can build a prosperous world,” he said.

"It is time to reconsider global security priorities. Security is not only about having strong armies and weapons of mass destruction. True security is achieved with trust, equality and prosperity for all peoples."

He added that he believes it is important for the world community to pay greater attention to issues of sustainable development in the Global South and defend the interests of developing and least developed states.​​​​​​​