UN General Assembly president calls for ‘unity, solidarity and action’ amid crisis

By Handan Kazanci

ISTANBUL (AA)- The president of the UN General Assembly urged global unity and solidarity in the face of crisis during his address to the opening of the 78th General Debate in New York.

“This year our imperative is clear: to unite the nations, to be united in the conviction of common purpose and in solidarity of joint action,” said Dennis Francis.

Francis, from Trinidad and Tobago, said a common approach is needed, as much as at any point in history, as the international community confronts conflict, climate change, debt, energy and food crises, poverty and famine.

He noted the challenges are rolling back decades of hard-won development gains, thus condemning millions to lifelong intergenerational poverty and hardship. Francis urged leaders to make “full and effective use” of the General Assembly as the global forum to ignite change.

“Let us listen and learn. Let us rebuild trust and reignite global solidarity. And let us find common ground to address the challenges we face,” he said.

On the Russian war against Ukraine, Francis said the “horrendous war” has been affecting food security and energy prices, and also raised “the unconscionable threat” of nuclear war.

“We all want this war to end. It is an affront to everything that this organization and the UN Charter stands for,” he added.

The 78th session of the UN General Assembly, gathering heads of state and government, ministers and delegations from member countries, began Tuesday.

Representatives from 193 countries are participating in the annual high-level talks, which take place at the UN headquarters every September.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, representing Türkiye in the General Assembly discussions, addressed the chamber on the first day of the week-long session.

The session's agenda includes sustainable development, climate issues, epidemic preparedness and conflict zones, with this year's theme: "Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity."