STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UN, AT THE PLENARY MEETING TO HEAR A BRIEFING BY THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ON HIS PRIORITIES FOR 2026, 15 JANUARY 2026, NEW YORK

 1     Thank you very much, Madam President. I thank the Secretary-General for his remarks and for his steadfast leadership. We welcome the priorities that he has outlined for the year ahead, and we recognise and appreciate the Secretary-General’s commitment to “keep working” and “keep pushing” with urgency and determination. 

Mdm President, 

2     A large majority of members of this Assembly, members of the United Nations, are small states. And for small states like Singapore, the multilateral system, anchored by the United Nations and founded on the principles of the UN Charter and international law, is indispensable for peace and security. In a world of chaos and conflict, every member state has a responsibility to stand up for international law and defend the principles of the UN Charter. We cannot allow violations of international law to become normal or to be normalised. As member states, we all also have a collective responsibility to work together to build understanding and to bridge our differences based on mutual respect and mutual trust. Singapore stands ready to work with all member states to strengthen the role of the United Nations and to defend multilateralism. 

Mdm President, 

3     Please allow me to make a few points. First, we need to accelerate reform and deliver results. We have made a good start with UN80, but we need to press on with this process. Just two weeks ago, we adopted a consensus budget for 2026 that led to significant reductions in resources and staffing requirements, while also seeking to streamline and enhance our organisation’s efficiency. This is a concrete demonstration that the UN can adapt to challenges and deliver results. In this context, we underline our readiness to work with all member states to continue the UN80 process in a way that is beneficial to all of us collectively. 

4     Second, we need to accelerate the implementation of what we have already agreed, in particular the Sustainable Development Goals and the Pact for the Future. The Pact for the Future provides a very clear blueprint to make the UN future-ready to address the challenges posed by emerging technologies, and to harness its potential in order to reduce inequalities between nations.

5     Third, as an organisation, we need to communicate better and communicate differently. We need to make a positive case for multilateralism to people, especially young people, around the world. There is far too much cynicism about the UN and multilateralism, and this needs to be changed. 

6     We look forward to working with you and your team, and with all member states. I thank you very much. 

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