STATEMENT BY
H.E. AMBASSADOR AHMAD FAISAL MUHAMAD
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN)
AT THE PLENARY MEETING ON
THE REVITALISATION OF THE WORK OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
4 NOVEMBER 2024
Mr. President,
Thank you for convening this important debate. Malaysia has the honour to speak on behalf of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
2. We would like to thank Ambassador Cornel Feruţă of Romania and Ambassador Menissa Rambally of Saint Lucia for their immense contributions as the Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalisation of the Work of the General Assembly (AHWG) for the 78th Session of the General Assembly.
3. ASEAN remains committed to our support and cooperation in the process, and welcome the re-appointment of Ambassador Cornel Feruţă, as well as the appointment of Ambassador Mathu Joyini of the Republic of South Africa, as the Co-Chairs of the AHWG for the 79th Session of the General Assembly.
Mr. President,
4.ASEAN reiterates the central position of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations.Revitalizing the General Assembly is crucial to strengthening the overall effectiveness of the United Nations because of the Assembly’s primacy and important role in convening multilateral dialogues.
5. As the only principal organ comprising all Member States, a revitalized General Assembly is crucial for effectively addressing evolving and complex global challenges. No single country can tackle these challenges alone. The General Assembly is unparalleled in terms of its convening power, the inclusive nature of its membership and thus, the legitimacy of its decisions. It is therefore the best platform to discuss global challenges and initiate global actions.
6. A revitalized General Assembly will further enable us to foster collaborative solutions to pressing global challenges. Its broad membership ensures that every voice is heard and no one is left behind. By enhancing the effectiveness of the Assembly’s functions, we can strengthen the credibility, inclusivity, and dynamism of the multilateral decision-making process, within the United Nations system. These efforts will contribute towards enhancing the efficacy of the United Nations system more generally, and empower us to tackle global challenges more effectively and equitably.
7. With these goals in mind, ASEAN reaffirms the need to enhance the role, effectiveness and efficiency of the Assembly with focus on the four clusters of the AHWG. ASEAN in this regard wishes to emphasize the following:
- First, on the role and authority of the General Assembly – ASEAN supports the call for gender parity and geographical balance in inter-governmental processes;
- Second, on working methods – ASEAN emphasizes the need to streamline the General Assembly’s agenda to avoid duplication and overlap. Prioritizing and consolidating issues will lead to more focused debates. Additionally, a mechanism to review the implementation of resolutions is essential, as their execution is the true measure of our commitment.
- Third, on the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General – ASEAN is of the view that we should ensure a transparent and inclusive selection process. We reiterate the call to encourage nomination of women candidates for the positions of the UN Secretary General and other executive heads. Nominations for such positions should strive to achieve gender balance and geographical representation; and
- Finally, to strengthen the accountability, transparency and institutional memory of the Office of the President of the General Assembly – ASEAN fully supports the convening of the transition workshop for the OPGA. The workshop aims to support the smooth transition between presidencies, and provide a platform for sharing of information, best practices and experiences.
Mr. President,
8. During the recently concluded Summit of the Future, the General Assembly adopted the Pact For the Future. The Pact calls for, among others, action to increase efforts to revitalize the work of the General Assembly. The revitalization of the work of the General Assembly is in our collective interest. A stronger General Assembly will, among others, improve our ability to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
9.ASEAN remain dedicated to advancing the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly agenda.We look forward to collaborating closely with the Co-Chairs, and contributing constructively alongside member states, during the next session of the Ad Hoc Working Group.Through bold reforms and renewed commitments, we can restore the General Assembly’s central role in global governance, ensuring it remains an effective, inclusive, and accountable institution.
Thank you.
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