General Assembly

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, delivered on behalf of the Secretary-General, to the General Assembly’s annual review of HIV/AIDS, in New York today:

Adopting a decision and amendment concerning the participation of non-governmental organizations in the forthcoming financing for development conference, the General Assembly today also held a debate on unilateral economic coercive measures, with some speakers underscoring that they hinder development, deepen divisions and increase trade inequities, while others upheld them as a tool for maintenance of peace.

Underlining the need to raise awareness of the value of diversity of civilizations and promote dialogue, mutual respect, tolerance and global solidarity, the General Assembly today adopted by consensus a resolution declaring 10 June the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the election of the President of the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly, in New York today:

In a series of elections today, delegates in the General Assembly chose its President for the seventy-ninth session, the Bureaus of the six Main Committees, as well the five non-permanent members of the Security Council for the next two-year term.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today approved a draft resolution forwarding the latest report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations for adoption by the General Assembly.

The General Assembly adopted two resolutions today, one by recorded vote concerning the rights of persons affected by the conflicts in Georgia and another by consensus on regional cooperation in tackling drug-related challenges in Central Asia.

Spotlighting Guatemala’s transformation — including its tremendous efforts to combat corruption — as an example of what national endeavours bolstered by international support can achieve, that country’s President underscored the urgent need to rescue multilateralism as a fundamental tool for overcoming pressing global challenges as he addressed the General Assembly today — a point also made by the body’s President, who opened the meeting.

As the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States concluded today, world leaders adopted the “Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS: A Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity” — named after the Caribbean island nation that hosted them — and pledged to help such States achieve their priorities over the next 10 years.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks on the death of the President of Iran, in New York today: