Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellati recently participated in a high-level ministerial dinner in New York, organized by Egypt's mission to the UN in collaboration with the International Peace Institute. The event, titled "Africa and the International System: A Discussion with Candidates for UN Secretary-General," took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The dinner was attended by several African foreign ministers and candidates for the position of UN Secretary-General.
During the dinner, Minister Abdellati delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of selecting a UN Secretary-General based on competence, integrity, and diplomatic capabilities. He highlighted the increasing challenges facing the international system, the UN's role in maintaining international peace and security, and the need for the next Secretary-General to play an active role in enhancing partnership between the UN and the African Union.
Minister Abdellati stressed the importance of prioritizing African issues, particularly peace and security, given the ongoing conflicts and crises in the region, including in Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and the Sahel region. He also emphasized the need to address food and water security, climate change, and financing challenges facing developing countries.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister expressed his country's support for efforts to reform the UN and enhance its efficiency and ability to respond to the priorities of member states. He emphasized that the reform process should be comprehensive, based on international law, and concurrent with efforts to reform the UN Security Council, including achieving fair representation for Africa.
Minister Abdellati highlighted the importance of the UN continuing to play a pivotal role in leading international development agendas and promoting efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. He stressed the need for accessible, sustainable development financing, addressing the debt crisis, and reforming the international financial system to make it more equitable and responsive to the needs of developing countries.
The minister also emphasized the importance of international cooperation to address climate change, provide climate financing, transfer technology, and build capacity for developing countries, taking into account their development priorities and circumstances. He stressed the need for a fair and inclusive transition to a more sustainable economy.
The high-level dinner discussion reflects Egypt's commitment to promoting African issues and enhancing international cooperation to address global challenges. The event provided a platform for African foreign ministers and UN Secretary-General candidates to engage in dialogue on the continent's role in the international system and the future of the UN.
Key points
- Egypt's Foreign Minister emphasizes the need for a competent and impartial UN Secretary-General to address global challenges.
- The minister highlights the importance of prioritizing African issues, including peace and security, in the context of the continent's ongoing conflicts and crises.
- Egypt supports comprehensive UN reform, including Security Council reform, to ensure fair representation for Africa and enhance the organization's efficiency.
