Statement by President of Kazakhstan Tokayev at the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations
Politics Statement by
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the High-Level Meeting to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations
Mr. President,
Mr.
Secretary-General,
Dear colleagues,
Ladies and
gentlemen,
Today we commemorate the historic decision taken in June 1945 to create a
totally new organization as an outcome of the most devastating World War in the
history of mankind.
The United Nations as Dag Hammarskjöld famously underlined “was not created
to bring us to heaven, but to save us from hell”.
Though conceived primarily as a system for collective security, the UN has
in fact consolidated nations around much broader common aspirations and
principles. The result has been an era of really active and broad international
cooperation.
However, the path has not been easy. 75 years were overshadowed by missed
opportunities to find a common ground in advancing our shared goals and values,
to lessen suffering in the world.
But one learns from both failure and success. The history of the United
Nations has been a period of intense collective efforts and rich learning: from
decolonization to development, from child protection to climate change, from
health to human rights, from peacekeeping to peacemaking.
Over the last three decades, Kazakhstan has participated in endeavours of
every major UN body – including the Security Council – in pursuit of a range of
priorities including conflict resolution, non-proliferation and nuclear
disarmament, combatting terrorism, interfaith and interethnic dialogue, as well
as promoting the interests of Land Locked Developing Countries.
When we look around us today, many new challenges - and some old recurring
ones - threaten to drag us back in time.
Multilateralism now faces greater risk than at any point since the end of
the Cold War.
COVID-19 has proven surprisingly difficult to be overcome. A second arms
race looms. Our strategic development goals are suffering setbacks.
Some argue that the ideals enshrined in the UN Charter are no longer
realistic.
As President of my country and former senior manager of the UN I strongly
disagree.
More than ever,
We must give rein to the horse of our hopes, not pull back out of fear.
We must galvanize efforts in pursuit of those shared ideals, not abandon
them.
We must continue to build a rules-based community, not return to
lawlessness.
This will not be easy. The next decade is crucial as we strive to implement
the 2030 Agenda and simultaneously meet the crises of our time.
This formidable goal demands a common endeavour and responsibility.
We commend strong leadership by Secretary-General António Guterres, and
support his ongoing work to boost effectiveness, transparency and
accountability of the UN.
Kazakhstan adds its voice in a clear statement of commitment to the UN
mission and Charter, and to the shared aspiration of building a more peaceful,
just and prosperous world.
I am convinced that the United Nations as a single universal and most
representative international organization is indeed indispensable.
Thank you.