Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellati recently hosted a high-level ministerial dinner in New York, organized by the Egyptian Mission to the United Nations and the International Peace Institute. The event, titled "Africa, the International System, and Discussion with UN Secretary-General Candidates," 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 highlighting the importance of selecting a UN Secretary-General based on competence, integrity, and diplomatic capabilities. This is particularly crucial given the increasing challenges facing the international system and the organization's role in maintaining international peace and security. The minister emphasized the need for the next Secretary-General to play an active role in enhancing the partnership between the UN and the African Union.
Minister Abdellati also stressed the importance of prioritizing African issues, particularly in the areas of peace and security. He cited ongoing conflicts and crises in countries such as Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and the Sahel region. Additionally, he highlighted the need to address issues related to food and water security, climate change, and financing challenges faced by developing countries.
Egypt supports efforts to reform the UN system, enhance its efficiency, and strengthen its ability to respond to the priorities of member states. Minister Abdellati emphasized that the reform process should be comprehensive, based on international law, and concurrent with efforts to reform the UN Security Council. This includes achieving fair representation for Africa, in line with the "Ezulwini Consensus" and the "Sirte Declaration," which represent the unified African position.
The minister concluded his speech by emphasizing the importance of the UN's continued leadership role in driving the international development agenda and promoting efforts to achieve the 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.
Minister Abdellati also highlighted the importance of international cooperation to address climate change, provide climate finance, transfer technology, and build capacity in developing countries. This should be done while taking into account their development priorities and circumstances, and without imposing additional burdens on them.
The high-level dinner provided a platform for discussion on Africa's role in the international system and the characteristics of the next UN Secretary-General. The event was attended by several African foreign ministers and UN Secretary-General candidates, underscoring the importance of African perspectives in global affairs.
Key points
- Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdellati hosts high-level dinner on Africa's role in the international system and UN Secretary-General candidates.
- Minister Abdellati emphasizes the need for a competent, integral, and diplomatically capable UN Secretary-General to address increasing global challenges.
- Egypt supports comprehensive UN reform, fair African representation in the Security Council, and enhanced partnership between the UN and African Union.
