The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, affirmed this Thursday that there is a new multipolar order underway and highlighted the Russian invasion of Ukraine as one of the factors of the current “divisions” and “tensions” between countries.
“This is a moment to unite and work together,” appealed the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) during his speech at the 15th summit of the BRICS countries, which ends this Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“But instead, divisions are growing and tensions are rising,” he warned.
Guterres pointed to several factors that he believes contribute to these divisions: “Different perspectives on global crises, contrasting approaches to non-traditional security threats, different strategies in relation to new technologies and, of course, the consequences of Covid-19″. and the Russian invasion of the Ukraine”.
“I remain deeply concerned about the risk of a breakdown in the global order, we are entering a multipolar world,” he stressed.
The UN Secretary General insisted that “our world is in a difficult situation”, stating that humanity faces “existential challenges” from the worsening of the climate emergency and the escalation of conflicts to the global crisis of the cost of life, passing through rising inequalities and dramatic technological disruptions.
Regarding the calls by the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa for “profound reforms” of global institutions, such as the United Nations and its Security Council, and of the global financial system, António Guterres defended that “the world has changed and global governance must change with it.”
“To this day, the continent [africano] It is underrepresented in the global financial architecture, just as it does not have a permanent seat on the Security Council,” he said.
“That is why I have advocated deep reforms so that global frameworks are truly universal and representative of current realities, and more sensitive to the needs of developing economies,” justified António Guterres.
In his speech, the former Portuguese socialist prime minister stressed that “developed countries have a special responsibility that they must lead and fulfill.”
In this sense, Guterres listed as a priority “the promise of 100 billion dollars [cerca de 92 mil milhões de euros] to developing countries” and the “replenishment of the Green Climate Fund”, among others, stating that “as a matter of fairness, Africa must be considered a priority in all these crucial commitments”.
“Every country has a role to play,” he said, adding that “measures are needed to save economies and reduce inequalities.”
In South Africa, facing an unprecedented energy crisis, the UN Secretary-General also praised Pretoria for “pioneering the Just Transition Energy Partnership, a crucial tool to unlock emissions cuts, boost renewable energy and make grow the green economy”.
Guterres also called on the multilateral development banks to change their “business models” to mobilize “much more private financing for the developing world”, which, in his opinion, needs “more inclusive” and “effective” international tax cooperation. .
“And work together to stop the illicit financial flows that are draining vital resources from the African continent,” concluded the UN Secretary General.
On the eve of the annual BRICS meeting, the South African Head of State reiterated South Africa’s support for the United Nations, stressing that this support exists alongside the “firm conviction that this important multilateral institution needs genuine reform to become more democratic.” , representative and efficient”.
“The United Nations Security Council must become a more inclusive, more effective body, capable of guaranteeing peace and security,” he advocated.
Source: TSF
