REMARKS BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UN, AT THE INFORMAL INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT OF THE 81ST SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 13 MAY 2026

Interactive Dialogue with Cyprus’ Candidate Andreas Kakouris 

        Thank you Mdm President. I also thank Ambassador Kakouris for presenting his vision and priorities. I welcome, in particular, his characterisation of the UN as global central that brings together countries from all regions.  

Mdm President, 

        I speak as a representative of a small state. In this regard, the role of the General Assembly is crucial because it is the only universal body of the UN where no country has a veto. Accordingly, small states have very high expectations of the role of the General Assembly, and we also expect the President of the General Assembly to actively reach out to small states and to listen to the voices of small states in order to understand our vulnerabilities and priorities. It is also important that the perspectives of small states are well-represented in the Office of the President of the General Assembly. 

        In this regard, I would welcome your views, Ambassador Kakouris, on how you intend to engage and work with small states if you are elected as President of the General Assembly. I know that you yourself are a representative of a small state, and you did address some of these points, but further elaboration would be welcome. 

        My second question is, how do you intend to actively support the implementation of the SDGs and the Pact for the Future? This is a question that has also surfaced previously, especially with regard to the Global Digital Compact and the Global AI Dialogue which is scheduled next year. 

        Thank you very much. 

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Interactive Dialogue with Bangladesh’s Candidate Dr Khalilur Rahman 

        Thank you Mdm President for convening this very important interactive dialogue. Excellency, Dr Khalilur Rahman, a warm welcome and thank you for presenting your vision, as well as your very comprehensive listing of your six priority areas. 

Mdm President, Dr Rahman, 

        I speak as the representative of a small state. In this regard, the role of the General Assembly is crucial because it is the only universal body of the UN where no one can or should have the veto. Accordingly, small states generally have very high expectations for the President of the General Assembly, and we also have very high expectations of the role that the General Assembly should perform at a time when multilateralism is being tested. In this regard, it is very much our hope that whoever is elected President of the General Assembly will actively reach out to small states and listen to the voices of the small states in order to understand our vulnerabilities and priorities. 

        You have already addressed the concerns of small states in your response. I had some questions with that regard, and I will not raise them here, because you have given us some of your response in terms of helping small states, and I have taken note of that. It is also our hope that, if you are elected, that you will give us, from time to time, your time to meet with our group, the Forum of Small States. 

        Let me move to my question, which relates to the implementation of the SDGs and the Pact for the Future, particularly as it relates to the implementation of the Global Digital Compact. You have touched on it to some extent, but I would like to have greater details, if you are able to share on how we can use digital technology to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs, and whether you would consider, for example, convening a special meeting of the General Assembly to focus on how we can collectively leverage technology (for the implementation of the SDGs). 

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