{"id":56036,"date":"2016-05-10T09:51:45","date_gmt":"2016-05-10T13:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/70\/?p=56036"},"modified":"2018-08-29T15:41:55","modified_gmt":"2018-08-29T19:41:55","slug":"press-release-un-must-become-more-relevant-more-credible-more-legitimate-and-more-capable-un-president-tells-high-level-thematic-debate-on-peace-and-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/70\/2016\/05\/10\/press-release-un-must-become-more-relevant-more-credible-more-legitimate-and-more-capable-un-president-tells-high-level-thematic-debate-on-peace-and-security\/","title":{"rendered":"PRESS RELEASE: High Level Thematic Debate on Peace and Security"},"content":{"rendered":"

PRESS RELEASE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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UN must become \u201cmore relevant, more credible, more legitimate and more capable,\u201d UN President tells <\/strong>High Level Thematic Debate on Peace and Security <\/strong><\/h2>\n

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UNITED NATIONS<\/strong>,<\/strong> 10 May 2016<\/em> — To respond to current and future threats to world peace and security, the United Nations must become more relevant, more credible, more legitimate and more capable, the President of the UN General Assembly said today.<\/p>\n

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Speaking at the opening of the UN\u2019s High Level Thematic Debate on Peace and Security, UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft challenged UN member states to identify specific steps, including for the next UN Secretary-General, to make that happen.<\/p>\n

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Recognising the violence and instability across much of the Middle East and North Africa, impunity for violations of international humanitarian law, terrorism that is wreaking havoc in many countries and the women and children who continue to suffer sexual violence in conflict, the President said, it is clear that the UN today remains insufficiently equipped to meet its overriding 1945 objective:\u00a0 To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.<\/p>\n

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\u201cToday, 70 years later, we reflect on the times the UN has succeeded and failed in meeting that objective and we look to determine how it can do better. On this 70th<\/sup> anniversary year, however, following the recent reviews on peacebuilding, peace operations and women, peace and security, we have an opportunity to fundamentally change this reality \u201c Mr Lykketoft said. \u201cAnd thankfully we are in a good moment for multilateralism.<\/p>\n

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The 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement provide member states with a framework to advance a more peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and sustainable world, he said. And the Iranian Nuclear deal and Security Council action on Syria last December, provide proof that, however belatedly, the UN can still help global and regional powers to resolve their differences.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen it comes to maintaining international peace and security, the UN has to be relevant for major, regional and small powers alike\u201d the President stressed. \u201cWe must build on this momentum and respond to the overarching challenges identified by the reviews,\u201d Mr Lykketoft said, urging the next Secretary General and member states to focus on four specific areas that emerge from the reviews:<\/p>\n

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