51ÁÔÆæ

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

I extend my sincere gratitude to His Excellency The Very Rev. Winnie Varghese, Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, for the kind invitation to join you this evening.

It is with humility that I assume the Presidency of the General Assembly today and, in a sense, mark a change of identity:

From someone who has spent more than half his life inside the United Nations,

To someone who now has the privilege – and responsibility – to serve as President of the 193 Governments that bring its ideals to life.

Friends,

We gather this evening united by our commitment to multilateralism – and our determination to restore trust in its enduring promise:

To solve problems together.

And in respect for the principles upon which our global order rests.

We take up this charge at a time when divisions run deep.

When conflicts seem to know no end.

When inequality leaves too many behind.

When climate crises test our resolve.

And when our information spheres – too often flooded with hate and disinformation – make trust more difficult to sustain; solidarity more difficult to find.

These trials remind us of something fundamental: In a world of shared challenges, none of us can meet them alone.

Our common humanity must remain the foundation of our common action.

This truth is perhaps nowhere more powerful than in moments of shared suffering.

Today, our hearts are with the people of Nepal and China, whose communities have been ravaged by catastrophic flash flooding.

With the people of Colombia, recovering from the devastating earthquake, and with all those around the world bearing the weight of want.

As a son of South Asia, and a country that knows the human cost of disaster, I feel the pain of these tragedies and know the extraordinary resilience they demand.

We stand at a crossroads: not of strength, but of spirit.

Will we allow multilateralism to be equal on paper and unequal in practice?

Our answer must be no.

Excellencies,

Prayer and reflection are not only about hope.

They are about remembrance and commitment.

And we have made ambitious commitments to the 8 billion people this Organization exists to serve.

Those whose voices are silenced by gunfire.

Whose doors are closed to opportunity, whose lives are made vulnerable by forces beyond their control.

We remember that community is measured not by how it treats the mighty – but by how it protects the marginalized.

As we begin a new chapter, I pledge to be a President for all Member States – one who listens before acting, serving without fear or favour.

In turn, I ask for your partnership.

Above all, in restoring trust.

Trust in one another.

In the tools of multilateral diplomacy.

And in the UN ideals underpinning their success.

To be sure: Multilateralism remains indispensable to a future of peace, dignity and prosperity for all.

And it must meet this moment.

With the Charter as our compass, let us rebuild trust, nurture consensus and manage the UN’s much-needed transformation to ensure it delivers for all people, everywhere.

I thank you.