PM Oli joins global leaders at 79th UNGA

The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly began on Tuesday with the resolution of conflicts as one of its main priorities. Dennis Francis, president of the 78th General Assembly, handed over the gavel to his successor, Philemon Yang. Yang, Cameroon’s candidate, who was elected as president of the 79th General Assembly in June, took the oath and assumed office. 

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba are attending the high-level UN meeting to lay out Nepal’s position on regional and international issues, including the reform of the UN itself. Additionally, according to officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal will prominently highlight the climate change issues with special emphasis on glacier melting in the mountains and its effects, to draw international attention. Prime Minister Oli is also expected to call the concerned parties to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Palestine war.

During his stay in New York, Oli is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with the heads of state and government of neighboring countries, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world leaders. This will be Oli’s first foreign trip abroad since he became prime minister in July. Officials are working on the possible meeting between Oli and Modi on the margins of the UN assembly. 

Nepal is also preparing to organize a meeting of SAARC foreign ministers as an attempt to revive the stalled SAARC process. As the current chair of SAARC, Nepal shoulders the responsibility of taking efforts to five fresh momentums. However, the chances of the revival of SAARC appear slim due to the current hostilities between India and Pakistan and the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which is being isolated by the international community.

Prime Minister Oli will also highlight the achievement made by Nepal in the transitional justice process. Nepal’s parliament has endorsed the amendment bill on transitional justice which has been welcomed by the international community including the UN. 

Along with addressing the UN Assembly, Prime Minister Oli will attend the Summit of the Future which will be organized in New York on Sept 22-23. The summit aims to address the critical challenges and gaps in the global governance exposed by the recent global shocks. According to the UN, this summit aims to reaffirm comments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN Charter while enhancing cooperation and laying the foundations for a reinvigorated multilateral system.

According to the UN: “The Summit will result in a negotiated pact for the future, an action-oriented document aimed to bolster global cooperation and adapt to current challenges effectively for the benefit of all and for the future generation.”  The summit will issue a pact for future statements at the end of the meeting. The key actions that the UN has are the following points. 

Sustainable development and financing for development

• We will take bold, ambitious, accelerated, just and transformative actions to implement the 2030 Agenda, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and leave no one behind.
• We will place the eradication of poverty at the center of our efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.
• We will end hunger, eliminate food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition.
• We will close the SDG financing gap in developing countries.
• We will ensure that the multilateral trading system continues to be an engine for sustainable development.
• We will invest in people to end poverty and strengthen trust and social cohesion.
• We will strengthen our efforts to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms.
• We will achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls as a crucial contribution to progress across all the Sustainable Development Goals and targets.
• We will strengthen our actions to address climate change.
• We will accelerate our efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment.
• We will protect and promote culture and sport as integral components of sustainable development.
• We will plan for the future and strengthen our collective efforts to turbocharge the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030 and beyond.

International peace and security

• We will redouble our efforts to build and sustain peaceful, inclusive and just societies and address the root causes of conflicts.
• We will protect all civilians in armed conflict.
• We will ensure people affected by humanitarian emergencies receive the support they need.
• We will promote cooperation and understanding between Member States, defuse tensions, seek the pacific settlement of disputes and resolve conflicts.
• We will fulfill our obligation to comply with the decisions and uphold the mandate of the International Court of Justice in any case to which our State is a party.
• We will accelerate the implementation of our commitments on women, peace and security.
• We will address adverse climate and environmental impacts that could contribute to the onset or escalation of conflict.
• We will adapt peace operations to better respond to existing challenges and new realities.
• We will address the serious impact of threats to maritime security and safety.
• We will pursue a future free from terrorism.
• We will prevent and combat transnational organized crime and related illicit financial flows.
• We will steadfastly advance our efforts to achieve the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.

The pact also includes the actions in the areas of science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation; youth and future generation and transforming global governance. This document is regarded as a blueprint for the problems that the world is facing today.

Addressing the opening session of UNGA, Yang outlined a vision of unity in diversity and calling for deeper international cooperation to tackle a host of global challenges, including climate change, escalating conflict, and a slowdown in sustainable development. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed the opening of the session, highlighting the urgency of collective action to confront a world “in trouble.”

He praised Yang for his vision and leadership, pledging his full support to unite the diverse member states around common goals. “From day one, the United Nations has been the place for multilateral solutions—grounded in collaboration, dialogue, diplomacy, and the UN Charter,” he said. 

The opening of the 79th session also marks the first time the State of Palestine was seated among Member States at the General Assembly, following the adoption of resolution ES-10/23 at the tenth emergency special session earlier this year. 

That resolution also set forth additional rights for the State of Palestine’s participation in Assembly meetings, but not the right to vote or put forward its candidature to UN Main Organs such as the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The additional rights and privileges do not confer membership to the State of Palestine, which requires a specific recommendation from the Security Council.

Key highlights 

• Opening of the 79th session: Sept 10
• General Debate: Sept 24-28 
• Summit of the Future: Sept 22-23
• High-level plenary session on sea level rise: Sept 25
• High-level plenary meeting to commemorate and promote International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear weapons: Sept 26
• High-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance: Sept 26