Bridge Divides, Recommit to Timeless Values of United Nations Charter, Secretary-General Tells Forum in Slovenia

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the Bled Strategic Forum, held in Slovenia today:

This year’s Bled Strategic Forum comes at an opportune moment as Slovenia assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council.  I congratulate Slovenia on that vital responsibility during this crucial month.

You gather as our world is beset by challenge after challenge.  Poverty, hunger and inequality…  Climate chaos…  A global financial architecture that is not providing an effective safety net for developing countries…  A flouting of human rights, international law, and the United Nations Charter around the world…  And ferocious conflicts that are inflicting suffering, misery, death and the largest displacement of people since the Second World War.

Your theme — “A World of Parallel Realities” — pinpoints the problem.  We are living in a world divided.  Healing this divide, and tackling the challenges facing us, requires finding common-ground solutions.

Solutions such as accelerating action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals…  Reforming today’s outdated, dysfunctional and unfair global financial architecture so that it better represents developing countries and responds to their needs…  Tackling the climate crisis, and anchoring economies in renewable energy…  Standing with the world’s most vulnerable people — including those living through conflicts and humanitarian emergencies.

And recommitting to the timeless values and principles of the United Nations Charter — peace, sustainable development, human rights, and upholding the dignity and equality of every woman, man and child on earth.

This month’s Summit of the Future is a chance for leaders to put forward new solutions and commit to action that can revitalize the multilateral system and build trust in what we can accomplish as a united human family.

Across all this important work, I know we can count on you. Let’s bridge divides and bring people together in common purpose for a better future.