Csaba Kőrösi (at podium and on screens), President of the seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly, addresses the first plenary meeting of the seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN world headquarters in New York, Sept. 13, 2022. (UN Photo/Evan Schneider)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
UNITED NATIONS – NEW YORK – The 77th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session officially opened Tuesday with the world still waiting for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine war. The horrific war in Ukraine has sparked a massive humanitarian and refugee crisis. The world is looking to the UN to step up and help end the conflict amid daily reports of civilians being killed and the tense security situation of the nuclear power plant in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia. The UN GA’s new president Csaba Kőrösi urged world leaders to respond to humanity’s most pressing challenges, including the war in Ukraine, by working together and building bridges across what are “deep divides. Kőrösi reminded delegates that the United Nations was created out of the ashes of war and destruction, with the intention of being “a well of solutions”.
“Responding to humanity’s most pressing challenges demands that we work together, and that we reinvigorate inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism and focus on that what unites us”, he said.
Csaba Kőrösi, President of the seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly, addresses the first plenary meeting of the seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN world headquarters in New York, Sept. 13, 2022. (UN Photo/Evan Schneider)
United Nations GA President Says Ukraine war: ‘A turning point’
The UN General Assembly President underscored that the conflict in Ukraine has been a “turning point”, and unless the world is vigilant, the “method” of warfare stemming from Russia’s invasion could become a part of the “toolkit of international life”.
“This war must be stopped. It kills people, it kills development, it kills nature and kills dreams of millions”, he emphasised.
The diplomat warned that the risk of use of nuclear weapons is now higher than in the past 40 years. “This ominous reality calls all of us to unite around the issue of disarmament”, the UN PGA noted. Kőrösi also warned that conflicts will worsen as the planet heats up and its natural resources grow more scarce. “The water crisis is poised to become our next greatest threat. Recent weeks have seen record-setting temperatures, raging fires and devastating floods. It looks as if Mother Nature is fighting back”, he said.
HUNGARIAN DIPLOMAT IS NEW PRESIDENT OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) Csaba Kőrösi, President-elect of the Seventy-Seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly briefs the press after being elected at UN world head quarters in New York June 07, 2022.
Kőrösi, a veteran Hungarian diplomat, was appointed President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. Ambassador Kőrösi, a former Director of Environmental Sustainability at the Office of the President of Hungary, leads the UN’s chief deliberative and policymaking body. Kőrösi took over from the outgoing GA president Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives this week. The new UN PGA highlighted the “ominous challenges” facing countries, including food and energy shortages, but also debt, the climate emergency, biodiversity loss, and urgent humanitarian and protection needs.
Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) Csaba Kőrösi, President-elect of the Seventy-Seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly briefs the press after being elected at UN world head quarters in New York June 07, 2022.
“There is no way back to the old normal. The only way out of our current predicament is through continued reforms and transformation of this Organization and strengthening our cooperation. We must do much better in delivering on our jointly agreed goals, commitments and pledges.”
-UN President General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi
