AFRICAN NEWS            

 

The 64^th UN General Assembly concluded

Hadiza Wada, DBA

October 3, 2009

The United Nations President for the 64^th session of the assembly, Ali Abdussalam Treki, declared the session closed on Tuesday the 29^th day of September. Among the issues that were covered, and were not presented by the voice thus far, include some raised by Egypt as the current chair of the Non-Aligned movement. 

Egypt as represented by its Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit raised several issues including the need to address the current global climate change, and economic challenges.  Mr. Gheit called for some reforms at the world financial institutions IMF and World Bank to give developing countries greater voice and some control over their financial issues.  

On Millennium Development Goals, Egypt reiterated “the countries of the South should intensify cooperation among themselves, and the Non-Aligned Movement would work to enhance that cooperation in coordination with the “Group of 77” developing countries and China.”

On issues of human rights, Egypt decried the politicization of the process thus; “Despite the fundamental reform ushered in by the creation of the Human Rights Council, that politicization hindered the potential to reach consensus on several issues.”

He mentioned in particular “Tensions still ran high in the Middle East, with the question of Palestine still far from resolution.  Over the past year, Israel had shown a lack of necessary political will to engage in serious and credible negotiations.”

Nigeria also presented its speech, delivered by Chief Ojo Maduekwe the country’s Foreign Minister.  He touched on several issues including climate change and non proliferation.  On internal matters he cited “Nigeria continued to make great strides in its effort to build a democratic, stable, peaceful nation.  The country sought to build on this foundation to grow an economy that would see it take its rightful place among the world’s powerhouses.”  He however acknowledged that there are challenges ahead of the country, including those posed by the crisis in the Niger Delta.

In his closing remarks, the President of the 64^th General Assembly Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki assured the nations present that the UN has listened with interest to all the dialogue and concerns presented.  He called on all nations to come together in unity towards confronting those common challenges.

He also said he was encouraged by the discussions that took place on the sidelines of the assembly to further identify and find ways of approaching global challenges.  “It calls for collective strategies and cooperation” he says.  He described the major concerns that were presented including Sudan, Palestine, where he said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is urgent.

The UN President for the 64^th session Mr. Treki stressed the important role that the United Nations has as a united body to confront and dissolve many of such crises.  It is important, he says, because they pose threat to the international community.  He also cited the non proliferation treaty as another security issue, saying the goal is to have a nuclear free world.  He noted that all nations are united in their view that prosperity, development and progress is only achievable when security and justice is realized.

Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki was elected President of the sixty-fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly on June 10, 2009.  He is Libya’s Secretary (Minister) of African Union Affairs, a post he has held since 2004. Dr. Treki brings to the position a deep knowledge of United Nations issues, having served three times as his country’s Permanent Representative to the world body—from 1982 to 1984. 

After the brief speech, the president of the UN declared the meeting adjourned (closed).

 

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