António Guterres, for the first time spoke from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly as the administrative head of the world organization.
Source: AP 2017
UN, September 19. / TASS /. The threat of use of nuclear weapons, international terrorism, armed conflicts, climate change and negative consequences of scientific progress among the seven most serious threats that the humanity has to face.
This was stated on Tuesday at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly by Secretary General of the World Organization António Guterres.
"’We the peoples’, and the United Nations, face grave challenges," he said. “People are hurting and angry, said Mr. Guterres, who first spoke from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly as the administrative head of the world organization. "They see insecurity rising, inequality growing, conflict spreading and climate changing."
The global economy is increasingly integrated, but the sense of global community may be disintegrating. Societies are fragmented. Political discourse is polarized.
António Guterres, The UN Secretary-General
The Secretary General pointed out that currently, “the world is full of contradictions,” however, he assured that the assistance of the UN can “restore trust and make the world a better place for everybody.”
Nuclear Threat and Terrorism
The use of nuclear weapons, which Mr. Guterres linked to North Korea’s ambitions, was the first in his list of most serious threats for humanity.
According to the UN leader, "the use of nuclear weapons should be unthinkable."
"Even the threat of their use can never be justified," he said, and sharply condemned the missile launches and nuclear tests of Pyongyang.
"I call on the DPRK and all Member States to comply fully with Security Council resolutions," Guterres said. He also called on the UN Security Council to "maintain its unity" on the issue, because "it is the only thing that could lead to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Guterres stressed that "fiery talk can lead to a fatal error." He pointed out that to resolve the crisis is possible only through political means and warned the international community against “sleepwalking into war”.
The second issue on Mr. Gutteres' list of the world’s most pressing threats was global terrorism.
He said he planned to convene in 2018 the first-ever gathering of heads of national counter-terrorism agencies.
According to the Secretary General, this will allow "to establish a new International Counter-Terrorism Partnership."
"But it is not enough to fight terrorists on the battlefield or to deny them funds," he said. He noted that it is necessary to pay more attention to "the roots of radicalization, including real and perceived injustices and high levels of unemployment and grievance among young people."
Conflicts and climate
Armed conflicts proliferation also remains a serious threat for the humanity, according to Guterres.
No one is winning today’s wars. From Syria to Yemen, from South Sudan to the Sahel, Afghanistan and elsewhere, only political solutions can bring peace.
"We should have no illusions. We will not be able to eradicate terrorism if we do not resolve the conflicts that are creating the disorder within which violent extremists flourish," Guterres added. He paid special attention to the situation in Myanmar. "The authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations and allow unhindered humanitarian access," he said. "They must also address the grievances of the Rohingya [nationality], whose status has been left unresolved for far too long."
Addressing the climate change, Guterres said that "last year was the hottest ever and the past decade has been the hottest on record." As the UN Secretary General noted, "millions of people and trillions of assets were at risk from rising seas and other climate disruptions."
The administrative head of the world organization emphasized that scientific evidence that indicates global warming is "unassailable" and, in particular, explains the increase in natural disasters in many regions. Guterres in this regard urged the world community to implement the historic Paris Agreement with ever greater ambition. Inequality, migrants and "dark side" of progress
Guterres pointed out that another threat to humanity is "the growing inequality that undermines the foundations of society." As stated by the Secretary General, the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can provide a blueprint to change that course.
He also drew attention to the dangers of the "dark side of innovation".
As explained by Guterres, it is a question of "unforeseen consequences of scientific progress", including the growth of the hackers capabilities and unregulated segments in the Internet.
Guterres also noted that artificial intelligence can "gravely impact labor markets" and "the very structure of society." The genetic engineering technology, according to the Secretary General, poses new ethical issues, which have not yet been answered. "With no proper responsibility these achievements can inflict incalculable disasters," Guterres emphasized.
The UN Secretary-General also stated that the world faces a crisis caused by a large number of refugees and the unwillingness of a number of countries to accept them. "Every country has the right to control its own borders," Guterres said. "But that must be done in a way that protects the rights of people on the move."
I have been pained to see the way refugees and migrants have been stereotyped and scapegoated
António Guterres, The UN Secretary-General
As he pointed out, there are cases when political figures "stoke resentment" against migrants in search of "electoral gain".
In conclusion, Guterres voiced his commitment to the goal of reforming the UN to make it more prepared to face the present-day tasks. The Secretary General urged the world community to unite and noted that only together states can ensure compliance with the UN Charter.