Foreign Minister leads Bahrain delegation at opening of 80th UN General Assembly session
New York, Sep. 23 (BNA): Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, led Bahrain’s delegation at the opening session of the 80th United Nations General Assembly held at the UN headquarters in New York. The session titled "Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights" was chaired by Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th UN General Assembly, with participation from Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General.
The delegation included Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States; Ambassador Jamal Faris Al Ruwaie, Permanent Representative of Bahrain to the UN in New York; Ambassador Khaled Yousef Al Jalahma, Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Dana Imad Hamzah, Assistant Undersecretary for Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Sustainable Development.
Guterres underlined the need to enhance the UN for the next century to achieve its goals. He noted rising global tensions, geopolitical divisions, and chronic uncertainty. He urged the Security Council to be more representative, transparent, and effective, and the world to address grievances, exclusion, inequality, impunity, and corruption.
He said that the only sustainable solution for peace in the Middle East is the two-state solution. He called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of all hostages, and full humanitarian aid access to the area.
On her part, Baerbock said that the strength of the UN Charter depends on the commitment of member states to uphold its principles and hold violators accountable. She described the 80th session as a call to maintain resolve and perseverance. She emphasised the UN’s longstanding role as a guide for peace, humanity, and justice, noting that no country could have faced the Covid-19 pandemic alone. She underscored the importance of UN reform, highlighting the UN 80 initiative and the broader reform process as essential, and called on member states to fully support the Secretary-General.
