Mr. President,
Your Excellencies the Heads of State and Government,
Mr. Secretary General,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I stand here as a humble representative ofthirty million proud Nepali people.
At theveryoutset,allow me to extend my sincere congratulations toyou,Mr. President,anddistinguishedmembers of the Bureau on yourwell-deservedelections.I would also like to reaffirmNepal’sfullsupportas you undertake theimportant responsibilitiesentrusted to you.
Weextend our deepestappreciation to His Excellency Mr. Dennis Francis, the outgoing President, forhis commendable leadership insuccessfullyguidingthe 78thSession of the Assembly.
Our highest accolades are due to theSecretary-General, Mr.AntónioGuterres, for histireless dedicationtoreinforcingmultilateralism intacklingglobal challenges.
Ifondlyrecall your visit to Nepallast year, Mr. Secretary-General, and yourmessage of peace from thesacredbirthplace of Gautam Buddha, and the message of climate catastrophe of mountains from the Everest region.
Mr. President,
The world isat a watershed moment inhistory.
The contrast between rich and poor,harmony and hatred, and economicdevelopment and environmentaldestructionhavenever been as stark as they are today.
Both people and planet stand on the brinkof climate catastrophe.
Geopoliticalrivalriesare resurging.
Militaryexpenditures areskyrocketing alongwith anunabetted arms race.
The spectre of nuclearconflict loomslarger than everbefore.
On one hand, oureconomyremains frail,stillgrappling withthe lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, on the other, nationalism and protectionismhave re-emerged, evenbeforewe have reaped the benefitsthat liberalisation and globalisationwere meantto deliver.
Even after three hundred years of industrialization and modernization journey, it isdeeply troubling that in our so-calledcivilized world of 21stcentury, wealth and prosperity are concentrated mostly at the hand of Global North and the poverty and destitution areheavilyconcentrated in the Global South,particularlyin theleast developed countries(LDCs).
Toovercomethesetravesties, we mustdemonstrateour leadershipthat promotesmeaningful cooperation and collaboration.
It is only through collective will and unified action that we can turn the tide and usher in an era of enduring peace and shared prosperity for all.
In this context, the theme of this Session “Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations,” could not bemore timely or relevant.
We havereaffirmedour commitment through the ‘Summit of the Future’ tobuilda safe, just, and sustainable world forbothpresent and future generations.
This pledge is embodied in the three pivotaldocuments wehaveadopted:Pact of the Future, Declaration on Future Generation, and the Global Digital Compact.
We must demonstrate our determination to implement these documents for the wellbeing of present and future generations.
Mr. President,
Allow me to underline that the principle of‘Leaving No One Behind’ haslong been the cornerstone ofNepal’sapproach to development across allsectors.
This philosophy is enshrined in ourConstitutionwhich upholds the values ofdemocracyby guaranteeinginclusivity, equality, justice, proportional representation, human rights, and social protection forthe mostvulnerable sections of society.
I am determined to lead my country with my deep conviction to ‘comprehensive democracy’.
For me, comprehensive democracyensures equal rights, equal access to opportunities, social justice, protects the vulnerable communities, and provides the security and dignity for all individuals.
Democracygoes far beyond therightof the peopleto choose their leaders. It isabout leading the people towards prosperity and happiness so that they could feel highest level of dignity.
At the international level, sovereign equality and mutual respectconstitute the bedrockof comprehensive democracy.
These principles are essential for buildingthe frameworks of a just, inclusive, equitable, representative, and accountable global order.
Mr. President,
As anation emerging fromconflict, Nepaldeeply understands the profoundvalue of peace and political stability.
Sincethe signing ofthe Comprehensive Peace Accord in 2006,Nepal has been firmlyfocused on completing the peace process at the earliest.
Immediately after the formation of my government, parliament passed a Transitional Justice billto settle transitional justice issue once and for all.
While we implement the law, we will uphold victims’ rights, including truth and justice.
We will also use reparations and reconciliation to heal the wounds and scars of conflict period.We appreciate support from international community including the UN system in this regard.
The present government, formed by thecollaboration of ourtwo major political parties, isdetermined to securestability whiledrivingeconomic transformation for the inclusive and equitable prosperity to our people.
At this juncture, stability and economic transformation are paramount to us than our periodic competition in elections.
We havededicated ourselvesto realizing our national aspiration: ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali.’
Nepal will be graduating from its LDC status by 2026. We arediligently working towardsachieving theSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 andaspire to becomea developed country by 2043, despitefacing significanteconomic headwinds.
However, our path to achieving theSDGsremains fraught withdifficulties.We are confronted with a substantialfinancial gap of about 24 billion US dollars to attain the 2030 Agenda.
Inthis backdrop, Nepalhostedthe IDA 21 replenishment meeting last June,underscoring the crucial need forcontinued and enhanced support fromthe International Development Association along with other development partners.
In this pursuit,westronglyreiterate our call for enhanced, predictable, andsustainedinternational support.
Mr. President,
Climate change has emerged as the gravest threat to our planet, people, and prosperity.
My own country, Nepal,is particularly hard hit. We stand asone of the most vulnerablenationsto climate change andare ranked asthe 20th most disaster-prone country in the world.
Of utmost concernis the alarming rate at whichthe pristine Himalayas,often referred toas the Third Pole, are losing their vast snow reserves.
This loss threatenswater availability for billions of people living downstream,extendingfar beyond the borders of my country.
Nepal has hugely been contributing to the health of our planet through its forests, mountains and rivers.
Yet, despite these efforts, we continue to bear the brunt of climate change. In this context, we call for climate justice.
Our mountainsplay a crucial role in regulatingthe climate and ecosystem of oceans,with theirsnow-fed riversflowingdown to the oceans.
Nepal’s Himalayas, as a natural climate stabiliser,help maintain a cooling system in a region situated inthe hottest zone of the planet between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Given their significance, it is essential thatthe mountain agenda should receive due attention in climate negotiations.
Nepal issteadfast in its commitmentto the Paris Agreement andaims toachieve net zero target by 2045, five year earlier than global target.
As climate change is a globalchallenge, itdemandsglobal action and collaborative efforts to address its widespreadand cascading impacts.
Adequate climate financing including ‘Loss and Damage’ fundis crucialto support climate-resilient measures and infrastructure for adaptation in developing countries not least in LDCs.
Mr. President,
Nepal’s land isblessed withthe wisdom of enlightened great sagesfromboth the Hindu and Buddhist faith, particularly theteachingsof Gautam Buddha.
This profound legacyhas shaped our world view to seekglobal harmony, peace, and security.
The values of love, harmony, tolerance, and empathyas espousedby Gautam Buddha,holdevengreaterrelevance today than theydid overtwo thousand five hundred years ago.
But, to ourdeepdismay, the world is increasinglydistressed by division,suspicion, hatred, and enmity.
Nepal firmly believes that dialogue and diplomacy are thesole meansto resolve conflicts, including in Ukraine and the Middle East.It is through love and compassion that hostility and hatred can beovercome,paving the way for lasting peace.
On the issue of Israel-Palestineconflict, wecontinue to supporta two-state solution,whereIsrael and Palestinecoexistpeacefully and securelywithininternationallyrecognisedborders,in line withrelevant United Nations resolutions.
We mustaddress theworsening humanitariancrisesinregions such asLibya, Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, andelsewhere.
It is vital to uphold the principles ofsovereign equality, non-interferenceas enshrined inthe UN Charter to ensure peace and stability.Consequently, we staunchly oppose any formof unilateral intervention or sanctions.
Mr. President,
Disarmament and non-proliferation issues must be prioritised.
Nepal stronglyadvocatesfor the general and complete disarmament of all weapons of mass destruction. As the host country to the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, Nepalfirmlybelieves that regionalefforts, including the Kathmandu Process,serve to strengthenthe global disarmament regime.
Technologypresentsa double-edged sword,especiallyfor the Least Developed Countries.
Ifwe harness it, wecan make remarkable progress. If we fail, it will leave us further behind. We call for technology transfer to enable us to catch up.
Mr. President,
Nepal has alwaysadhered to apeaceful, independent, balanced, and non-aligned foreign policy, based on the principles of Panchsheel, the UN Charter, international law, and norms of world peace.
We conduct our foreign policy with profound belief in‘Amity with All, Enmity with None.’
Nepalremains committed tofurther strengthening its close, cordial, and constructive relations with its immediate neighbours and beyond,rooted inthe principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality, territorial integrity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and peaceful co-existence.
As the largestcontributor oftroops and police to UN Peace operations, Nepalstandsready tofurther enhance itscontribution to global peace and security.
Nepal believes it is our rightfulcall for havingcommensurate representation in the leadership positions,bothat theUNheadquarters and in the field,reflectingoursignificantcontribution.
Mr. President,
Nepalfirmly advocates for thereform of the UN System to make it more effective, democratic, transparent, and accountable.
We firmly believe that stronger multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core, is the onlypath forward to tackle the numerousglobal criseswe face.
Weecho acall for substantial reform of the global financial system, asaptly described it by Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres as“morally bankrupt.”
The voice and representation of countries in special situations including the LDCs,Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), andSmall Island Developing States(SIDS) must be ensured.
Mr. President,
Nepal firmlyupholds the beliefthat all human rights are universal, inalienable, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated.
It is with thisconvictionthat we have become a party to twenty-four international human rights-related conventions and protocols, including seven of the nine core instruments.
We are fullycommittedto promoting gender equality andensuringequal rights for women. Nepal is making necessary legal arrangements for the fullrealisationof all human rights for women and girls including their sexual and reproductive health rights.
Protection of the rights of migrant workers including their safety, security, dignity, and wellbeing, has always remained our priority.
Westrongly advocatefor safe, orderly, and regular migration to ensure that the benefitsof migration are shared by all.
Finally, Mr. President,
The world weinhabitis far from being perfect.
Yet, it is not all doom and gloom. Wefirmlybelieve that humankind is still capable enough tomarch aheadwithout compromising the prosperity and happiness of future generations.
None of the global challenges we are facing today have been imposed by aliens. These are our own makings. Our own creations.
Therefore, it is self-evident thatby fosteringglobal understanding, trust and cooperation, wecan overcome theseproblems and challenges.
A just, inclusive, and equitable world order as well as sustained prosperity are attainable when we collaborate effectively.
Let me resonate the wisdom of our ancient text, the ‘MahaUpanishad’from around the sixth century BC,'Vasudhaiva kutumbakam’: meaning ‘the whole world is one family.’
We not only hold this philosophy dearly, but we also act it on our everyday life.
With this constantconviction, Nepal iscommitted to playing its role to secureourshared aspiration ofenduring peace, progress, and prosperitywhileleaving no one behind.
Thank you.
[Statement by Right Honourable Mr. K P Sharma Oli,
Prime Minister, and the Leader of Nepali Delegation
at the General Debate of the
79thSession of the United Nations General Assembly
New York, 26 September 2024]
