Indonesia Reaffirms Commitment to Multilateral Diplomacy at UN General Assembly
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia has reaffirmed its commitment to playing an active role in multilateral diplomacy through the participation of Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugil Sugiono at the opening of the 81st UN General Assembly (UNGA) General Debate at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday (22/9).
“The participation of the Indonesian Foreign Minister in the High-Level Week of the 81st UNGA General Debate underscores Indonesia’s commitment to continue playing an active role in multilateral diplomacy and ensuring that Indonesia’s interests and priorities are reflected in the discussions of various global agendas,” the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release received in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the 81st UNGA General Debate is presided over by the President of the 81st UN General Assembly, Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh, under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All”.
This theme emphasises the importance of restoring trust in multilateralism and ensuring that the UN is capable of responding effectively to various global changes and challenges.
During the opening of the General Debate, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his final General Debate speech as UN Secretary-General, highlighted the changing landscape of global power amidst conflict, inequality, climate change, and the development of artificial intelligence.
Guterres emphasised that the future will be determined by humanity’s ability to manage power wisely. Therefore, multilateralism and international law are increasingly important to ensure that power is exercised based on shared rules and principles.
Meanwhile, the President of the UN General Assembly, Khalilur Rahman, emphasised the importance of restoring trust in the UN through reform and concrete action.
“The UN remains irreplaceable, but it must be able to prove that the organisation works and delivers results for the global community,” he said.
In addition to the General Debate, the 81st UNGA High-Level Week includes a series of high-level meetings on various strategic issues, including the Right to Development, climate action and a just transition, rising sea levels, pandemic preparedness and response, the eradication of racism, and the elimination of nuclear weapons.
During the High-Level Week, Indonesia will bring several key priorities, including promoting peace and conflict resolution, particularly for Palestine; strengthening Indonesia’s role as a bridge-builder; pushing for UN reform and strengthening the voice of the Global South; and presenting various national development achievements and priorities.
Indonesia will also continue to assert the importance of a stronger, more inclusive, and more effective multilateralism, as well as international cooperation capable of producing concrete solutions to shared challenges.