{"id":293135,"date":"2024-02-08T16:16:38","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T21:16:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=293135"},"modified":"2024-02-08T16:16:38","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T21:16:38","slug":"secretary-generals-press-conference-on-2024-priorities-8feb-2024","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/secretary-generals-press-conference-on-2024-priorities-8feb-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Secretary-General’s Press Conference on 2024 Priorities – Opening Remarks"},"content":{"rendered":"

08 February 2024<\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

[Opening remarks follow; full transcript will be posted shortly.]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear members of the Media.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, I addressed the General Assembly focusing on priorities for this year and beyond.<\/p>\n

It is a long and detailed agenda \u2013 but the varied challenges are connected by a common thread.<\/p>\n

Peace.<\/p>\n

The need for peace in all its dimensions because peace is the tie that binds.<\/p>\n

But, too often, we face instead a gordian knot.<\/p>\n

On issues of peace and security \u2013 we face rising conflict and geopolitical divisions.<\/p>\n

On issues of peace within communities \u2013 we see rising polarization.<\/p>\n

On issues of peace with justice \u2013 we have rising inequalities.<\/p>\n

On issues of peace with nature, we have rising global emissions and global temperatures.<\/p>\n

We are at a moment of truth \u2013 but we have a breakdown of trust.<\/p>\n

Trust in institutions.\u00a0 Trust in leaders. And also trust in governments and multilateral institutions.<\/p>\n

The way to restore trust is by making a real and positive difference in people\u2019s lives.\u00a0 By solving people\u2019s problems.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, I presented a clear-eyed, sober assessment of the world.\u00a0 This is no time for pulling punches.<\/p>\n

We have a number of existential challenges:<\/p>\n

The age-old nuclear threat.<\/p>\n

The climate emergency and the dangers posed by unchecked artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n

But we are not sufficiently united and organized to respond effectively to any of them.<\/p>\n

On top of that, we face a multiplication of conflicts and geopolitical divides.<\/p>\n

Much can be done across the board.<\/p>\n

To end conflict, to effectively address threats posed by Artificial Intelligence, to take climate action, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>\n

But it will require a serious conversation between developed and developing countries; between rich and emerging economies; between north and south, east and west.<\/p>\n

It will require reforming institutions that were built by a bygone world, for a bygone age.<\/p>\n

Starting with reform of the Security Council and the Bretton Woods institutions.<\/p>\n

We are no longer in a world of two superpowers or in a unipolar world.<\/p>\n

Multipolarity creates opportunities for justice and balance in global relations.<\/p>\n

But when multipolarity is not accompanied by effective, renewed and inclusive mechanisms of multilateral governance \u2013 the risks multiply.<\/p>\n

So, this is a year for focusing on the future \u2013 and we have our Summit of the Future in September and this is a year for focusing on people\u2019s challenges also today.<\/p>\n

We have institutions that need to be aligned with our times.\u00a0 And we have principles to guide us, that we must preserve in all situations.<\/p>\n

Respect for the Â鶹APP Charter.<\/p>\n

Respect for international law and international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n

Peace with justice that addresses inequalities.<\/p>\n

Following those principles will lead us to the pathways to solutions that I laid out yesterday.<\/p>\n

The New Agenda for Peace.\u00a0 The SDG Stimulus.\u00a0 The Global Digital Compact.\u00a0 The work of the Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence. The Climate Solidarity Pact.\u00a0 And much more.<\/p>\n

And on the peace and security front, I believe it is especially critical to find solutions to two burning conflicts that are having profound global consequences:\u00a0 Ukraine and Gaza<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This month marks the two-year anniversary of Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

It is essential that we work for a just and sustainable peace, but a peace in line with the UN Charter and international law.<\/p>\n

And in Gaza<\/strong>, the situation just keeps getting worse.<\/p>\n

In addition to the death and destruction from military operations — starvation and disease are bearing down on Palestinians in Gaza<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Despite some limited steps, our humanitarian operations continue to face denials of access, delays, impediments, and multiple dangers\u2013 including live fire.<\/p>\n

One of our convoys was damaged by Israeli naval artillery earlier this week.<\/p>\n

Just 10 out of 61 planned aid convoys to the north reached their destination in January.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be clear:\u00a0 Denial of humanitarian access means denial of humanitarian relief for civilians.<\/p>\n

Food and water are needed for a desperate population.\u00a0 Medicine and fuel are needed for the desperation in hospitals.\u00a0 And other life-saving supplies for a population in a terrible situation.<\/p>\n

I am particularly worried by reports that the Israeli military intends to focus next on Rafah.<\/p>\n

Half of Gaza\u2019s<\/strong> population is now crammed into Rafah. They have nowhere to go.<\/p>\n

They have no homes \u2013 and they have no hope.<\/p>\n

They are living in over-crowded make-shift shelters, in unsanitary conditions without running water, electricity and adequate food supplies.<\/p>\n

All of this underscores the need for full respect for international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and ensuring their essential needs are met.<\/p>\n

We are clear in condemning the horrific attacks of Hamas. We are also clear in condemning the violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.<\/p>\n

We need also the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.<\/p>\n

And we need real, visible, concrete steps towards a two-State solution \u2013 based on UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements.<\/p>\n

Repeated bloody hostilities, and decades of tensions and occupation, have failed to provide a State for the Palestinians, or security for Israelis.<\/p>\n

In the Middle East and around the world, we need peace in every sense.<\/p>\n

Our world cannot afford to wait.<\/p>\n

I thank you for your attention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

08 February 2024   [Opening remarks follow; full transcript will be posted shortly.] Dear members of the Media. Yesterday, I addressed the General Assembly focusing on priorities for this year and beyond. It is a long and detailed agenda \u2013 but the varied challenges are connected by a common thread. Peace. The need for peace […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[1699,2637],"document-source":[5352],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1945,2265,2005,1741,6870,6898],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-293135","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-press-conference","document-category-remarks","document-source-secretary-general","document-subject-assistance","document-subject-ceasefire","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-hunger","document-subject-un-charter","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/293135","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/293135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":293145,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/293135\/revisions\/293145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=293135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=293135"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=293135"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=293135"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=293135"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=293135"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=293135"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=293135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}