António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, addresses the general debate of the 75th Session of the General Assembly of the UN (New York, 22 – 29 September 2020).

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said “populism and nationalism have failed” and stressed that in an interconnected world, “it is time to recognize a simple truth: solidarity is self-interest. If we fail to grasp that fact, everyone loses.”

At The opening of today’s (22 Sep) General Debate of the UN General Assembly, Guterres said the COVID-19 pandemic had changed the annual meeting beyond recognition but has also made it more important than ever.

This year’s General Debate will, for the first time, witness the airing of pre-recorded statements by member states while also recording the largest-ever number of heads of states and governments participating.

Guterres said the pandemic has exploited global injustices, preyed on the most vulnerable and wiped away the progress of decades. He said COVID-19 serves as a dress rehearsal for the world of challenges to come and must be met with humility, unity, and solidarity.

SOUNDBITE (English) Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Populism and nationalism have failed. Those approaches to contain the virus have often made things manifestly worse. Too often, there has also been a disconnect between leadership and power. We see remarkable examples of leadership; but they are not usually associated with power. And power is not always associated with the necessary leadership. In an interconnected world, it is time to recognize a simple truth: solidarity is self-interest. If we fail to grasp that fact, everyone loses.”

The UN chief said, in many places, the pandemic coupled with conflict and disruption is dealing crippling blows to food security, adding that the time had come for a “collective new push for peace and reconciliation.” He appealed for a stepped-up international effort to achieve his previous call for a global ceasefire by the end of the year.

He added, “The world needs a global ceasefire to stop all ‘hot’ conflicts. At the same time, we must do everything to avoid a new Cold War. We are moving in a very dangerous direction. Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a Great Fracture — each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities. A technological and economic divide risks inevitably turning into a geo-strategic and military divide. And we must avoid this at all costs.”

Guterres said the UN system, led by the World Health Organization, has supported governments — particularly in the developing world — to save lives and contain the spread of COVID-19. He said, “We are working to advance treatments and therapies as a global public good – and backing efforts for a people’s vaccine available and affordable everywhere. We know some countries are reportedly making side deals exclusively for their own populations. Such ‘vaccinationalism’ is not only unfair, it is self-defeating. None of us is safe, until all of us are safe., everybody knows that.”

The Secretary-General also reiterated that recovering from COVID-19 must lead to a better future for all, anchored by inclusive, sustainable and resilient societies. He emphasized the need for what he labelled a New Social Contract, at the national level, and a New Global Deal, applicable internationally.

Guterres explained that the New Social Contract has several components, such as ending exclusion, discrimination and racism, and establishing Universal Health Coverage and even a possible Universal Basic Income. It also entails having fairer tax systems, providing education for all, harnessing digital technology, and ensuring human rights as well as opportunities for women and girls.

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