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New York UN

STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE DURING THE INFORMAL INTERACTIVE SEGMENT ON THE SECRETARY-GENERAL’S PRIORITIES FOR 2020 ON 22 JANUARY 2020

22 January 2020

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Mr President


1                  The Secretary-General’s remarks are very sobering indeed.  I have a comment and a question.  As the Secretary-General has said, the 75th anniversary is not just a moment for celebration, it is also a period for reflection.  The reflection has to begin today.  We have to begin the reflection by reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism.  The choice of the theme for the 75th anniversary celebrations was a very deliberate one, in that we have to reaffirm our collective commitment to multilateralism.  The key question that each one of us has to ask ourselves is “what can we do to strengthen the multilateral system”.  This is an organisation of 193 Member States, and the health and efficiency of this organisation depends on what each one of us does to strengthen the system.  Each one of us has a responsibility to demonstrate our commitment to multilateralism not only through our words, but also through our actions.  At a moment when we are beginning the year, I think it is really important that each delegation, each mission to the United Nations, thinks very seriously about what we can do individually to make this organisation better.  To build trust and rebuild trust.  To reset relations if we have to.  It is often convenient to ask questions of the Secretary-General, but I am also quite conscious that the Secretary-General will not have all the answers.  The question is: what can we do to enable and empower the Secretary-General?  And what can we do to strengthen and empower this organisation so that we have the multilateral system that we need for the future that we want?  That is the comment I wanted to make.


2                   My question to the Secretary-General is this.  What are your plans to ensure that the UN system, especially the different agencies under your charge, works as one, particularly in partnership with the Bretton Woods institutions?  That is an area that needs continuous attention and I would like to hear what you have in mind on that front.  Thank you.


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