Uganda: UN Chief at Non Aligned Movement Summit | United Nations

Remarks by Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, at the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Kampala, Uganda. Speaking at the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala, Uganda, UN Secretary-General António Guterres today (20 Jan) reiterated his call for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza and "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages." Leaders from the 120-member bloc met amid deep division globally, including rising geopolitical tensions, climate catastrophe, widespread poverty and raging conflict in Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza. Guterres said that following the abhorrent Hamas attacks on 7 October, the wholesale destruction of Gaza and the number of civilian casualties caused by the Israeli army in such a short period are totally unprecedented during his mandate. And this includes 152 UN staff members — a heartbreaking tragedy for the organization, for their families, and for those they were serving in Gaza, the UN chief added. He continued, “People are dying not only from bombs and bullets, but from lack of food and clean water, hospitals without power and medicine, and gruelling journeys to ever-smaller slivers of land to escape the fighting.” “This must stop,” Guterres reiterated. He also said that the international community must “prevent spillover of this conflict across the region, in the West Bank, across the blue line between Israel and Lebanon and in Syria, Iraq and the Red Sea.” The Secretary-General highlighted, “the refusal to accept the two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, and the denial of the right to statehood for the Palestinian people, are unacceptable.” Guterres continued, “This would indefinitely prolong a conflict that has become a major threat to global peace and security; exacerbate polarization; and embolden extremists everywhere.” He reiterated, “The right of the Palestinian people to build their own state must be recognized by all.” The UN chief also said, “We see clear convergence between the principles of the UN Charter and the Bandung principles of the Non-Aligned Movement.” He said that the Non-Aligned Movement has an important role at the United Nations, “as significant contributors to UN peacekeeping forces. As supporters of our work to uphold the United Nations Charter, international law and human rights. As champions of solidarity in times of crisis — including during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.” “And in your strong call for the elimination of nuclear weapons,” Guterres added. The UN chief said that within the world’s “swirl of uncertainty and instability”, he sees new opportunities for countries and the Non-Aligned Movement to lead. First, global affluence depends on peace. He noted the need to reform bodies such as the UN Security Council which is “paralyzed by geopolitical divisions that block effective solutions.” Secondly, peace requires sustainable development. Guterres reiterated, “developing countries need resources to overcome these challenges. And this requires immediate debt relief and re-channeling unused Special Drawing Rights.” He explained, “It means reforming an outdated, unjust and unfair global financial system that favours its founders, mostly rich countries, and has proven unable to provide a global safety net, in particular to developing countries in distress.” “It means all countries going the extra mile to allocate their budgets wisely — investing in education, health, nutrition and social protection systems. And it means strengthening the social cohesion of societies, and upholding fundamental human rights, recognizing the rights of minorities and standing up to all forms of discrimination,” the UN chief added. At the end of his speech, Guterres said, “Conflicts, poverty, inequality, geopolitical fragmentation and climate catastrophe are the result of choices the world makes — or fails to make.” “Guided by the solutions being discussed here and the spirit of trust, understanding and solidarity that has infused the NAM from the start, I know we can tackle these challenges together, and make the right choices in the time ahead,” the Secretary-General concluded.


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