Plenary

Following are Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the closing of the seventy-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York today:

Following are Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the opening of the seventy-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York today:

Taking up the remaining business before the closure of its current session, the General Assembly adopted several resolutions and decisions today, including drafts on multilingualism and indigenous peoples’ participation in United Nations meetings.

Despite progress made, the threat posed by nuclear weapons still looms unacceptably large, exacerbated by a world once again torn apart by conflict and strife, the President of the General Assembly warned today on the International Day against Nuclear Tests.

The General Assembly today adopted an oral decision reaffirming its central role concerning the question of equitable representation and increased Security Council membership, as delegates underscored that the organ’s composition no longer reflects today’s political landscape.

With the seventy-eighth session drawing to a close, the General Assembly today adopted numerous texts on a variety of topics, including one that honours the history, culture and struggles of women and girls of African descent around the world.

The General Assembly met today to take up drafts on "Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit", "Global health and foreign policy" and "Report of the United Nations Youth Office", including a debate on the report.

The General Assembly today adopted three texts — including a resolution in support of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States — and conducted a debate on building peace, with speakers applauding the work of the Peacebuilding Commission and calling for resources to increase its engagement.

The General Assembly today adopted a resolution that demands that the Russian Federation immediately return the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to the full control of the sovereign and competent authorities of Ukraine to ensure its safety and security, also adopting a decision and a related amendment concerning civil society participation in the high-level Summit of the Future.

The General Assembly today adopted three draft texts concerning efforts to combat sand and dust storms, the venue for the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries and speaking arrangements for the upcoming Summit of the Future.