The Secretary General of the United Nations affirmed this Thursday that the planet is experiencing a “real risk of fragmentation”, with crises in the global economic and financial systems and a security situation marked by conflicts and wars.
“There is a real risk of fragmentation, of a great fracture in the world’s economic and financial systems, with divergent strategies in technology and artificial intelligence and contradictory security frameworks,” António Guterres said at a press conference.
“I congratulate the ASEAN member countries for their vital role in building bridges of understanding. We need it more than ever, in an increasingly multipolar world that requires strong multilateral institutions, based on equity, solidarity and universality. “, he stressed.
Guterres spoke in Jakarta, on the eve of the opening of the Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations, one of the meetings that coincides with the 43rd. ASEAN Summit, which will mark the end of Indonesia’s rotating presidency and its handover to Laos.
A meeting, he said, in which various topics will be analyzed, from the UN’s cooperation with ASEAN to “regional concerns and global challenges” and where Guterres intends to underline the “resolute defense of Indonesia and ASEAN on the climate crisis , sustainable development, non-proliferation and disarmament”.
“Unity in diversity is not just Indonesia’s national motto. It is the key to forging a better future for all of us,” he told reporters.
The UN Secretary General referred to the current global crises that have left the planet “on the verge of breaking up” and issues such as the worsening of the “climate emergency” and the increase in wars and conflicts, poverty, inequalities and “geopolitical tensions”. “.
Issues that require “cooperation on all fronts”, and where ASEAN can play a constructive role, such as “defusing tensions from the South China Sea to the Korean Peninsula, prioritizing dialogue and promoting respect for the international law,” Guterres said.
Expressing himself as “deeply concerned by the worsening political, humanitarian and human rights situation in Myanmar” (formerly Burma), he welcomed ASEAN’s efforts, through the “five-point consensus”, to seek a solution to the crisis.
“I reiterate my urgent appeal to the Myanmar military authorities to listen to the aspirations of their people, release all political prisoners and open the door for a return to democratic rule,” he said.
António Guterres also referred to the global economic situation, considering that it is necessary to “reform the global financial architecture, making it truly representative of current economic and political realities, and more reactive to the needs of developing economies.”
“We need to establish an effective debt restructuring mechanism to support payment suspensions, longer loan terms and lower rates,” he said, asking to channel 100,000 million dollars (93,300 million euros) available through multilateral banks developmental.
Guterres insisted on the need for “greater cooperation in the field of climate”, given the growing signs of the profound impact of climate change that there are immediate joint solutions.
“We can still avoid the worst of the climate chaos, but time is running out. We don’t have a moment to lose,” he said, referring to his proposal for a climate solidarity pact, “in which all major emitters do more to reduce emissions and the richest countries mobilize financial and technical resources to support emerging economies”.
“Greater ambition is needed at all levels, along with much more support and resources,” he said.
Guterres will also have a brief meeting today with Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of East Timor, which has observer status with ASEAN.
Source: TSF
