President-elect of the United Nations General Assembly and the current Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid has publicly supported India’s bid for a seat at the United Nations Security Council as a permanent member.

UNGA President-elect Abdullah Shahid supports India’s bid to the UNSC

The President-elect of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, has said that under his leadership he will "make sure the members move forward" in the process of UN Security Council reforms.

The President-elect of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, has said that under his leadership he will "make sure the members move forward" in the process of UN Security Council reforms. Speaking to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Abdulla, who is on a Delhi visit, pointed out that his "presidency of hope" will have a focus on Covid crisis, rebuilding sustainably, reviving the economic devastation, UNSC reforms and climate change as the main issues. India is the first stop of his destination after the victory in June. He is also the foreign minister of Maldives and called ties with India "special". Asked about threats to Indian diplomats, as the foreign minister of his country he assured, "We do not take any of these threats lightly", adding his government has taken "appropriate security measures to protect the Indian diplomats in the country". WION: What will be your key focus areas during your Delhi visit? Also, congratulations on your new role as the UNGA president starting September. Abdulla Shahid: Thank you very much for your kind wishes. I am looking forward to calling on the Prime Minister and meeting [External Affairs Minister] Dr Jaishankar. We will be discussing multilateral issues as well as bilateral issues between the two countries. We have been able to consolidate the Maldives-India relationship during the past two and half years of President Solih's government. We have been working very closely at the multilateral forums promoting mutual issues. It will be an opportunity to catch up. WION: What will be your key focus areas as the president of the United Nations General assembly starting from September? Abdulla Shahid: I came promising the presidency of hope. I choose the theme of the presidency of hope, taking into account the loss, pain, and devastation that COVID-19 has taken in all countries of the world. I felt that it is the time we look to the future. Take into heart the goodness that we have inside, every individual. during the pandemic, we have seen the kindness, the humanity of so many, the frontline workers, the healthcare workers--nurses and doctors, so selflessly giving themselves to the cause of humanity. we have seen a miraculous vaccine invented during record time, there is light at the end of the tunnel. That is why I came to promising--the presidency of hope. During the presidency of home, it is my submission to the international community that we build a presidency of hope on 5 rays of hope--recovering from COVID-19, rebuilding sustainably, reviving from the economic devastation, we have to reform the United Nations, we have to address the climate issues and we have to respect human rights, the right of all. These are the areas that I will be concentrating on during my presidency. WION: Reforming the United Nations Security Council has been something that is much talked about with a lot of focus here in Delhi. How will you make sure things move forward? Abdulla Shahid: The United Nations Security Council reform is a membership-driven process. The role of the president of the general assembly is to bring the members together. The membership-driven process of UNSC reforms, I hope will gain momentum during my presidency. You would recall that the Maldives was one of the 10 countries that initiated the Security Council reform process way back in the early 1970s. We are committed to it, Maldives is committed to it. As the president of UNGA, I will do my utmost to make sure the members move forward on this process. WION: As UNGA president, your focus is on Afghanistan, especially forming consensus. It is a neighbour and SAARC member. What will your message be for the people of Afghanistan? Abdulla Shahid: For the people of Afghanistan, my message is that they are resilient people. That they will be able to come together and they should be fully committed as they are to the promotion of democracy and respect for human rights, good governance. I wish them all the best. WION: The entire world is divided on the issue of cross border terrorism. India has been calling for a single definition on the issue of terror. What is your focus area, especially on consensus formation? Abdulla Shahid: Terrorism is a scourge that has taken so many victims and it may hit anywhere because it is one person to cause so much damage. It is clear that the international community must come together and come together to make sure that we condemn all forms of terrorism. We can't pick and choose when it comes to terrorism. The definition that has been so long in coming within the United Nations is still not forthcoming. I hope given the experience of so many countries with terrorism, we will be able to come to a clear definition of terrorism. That will be the most clear signal for those perpetrators who so callously take innocent lives. we need to come together WION: You are also the foreign minister of Maldives. Speaking of the ties, what is the sentiment for India in the Maldives and how do you characterise this relationship? Abdulla Shahid: The Maldives has always believed that India is a special friend. It has always come to us at the most needed time, irrespective of the government in place, either in Male or in Delhi, the special relationship has flourished. Look at the 1988 coup, terror attack on the Maldives, India was the first responder. Look at the Indian Ocean tsunami that totally devastated the island, Indian Navy was the first responder. During President Yameen's time, we had the Male water crisis. The entire Male ran out of water, India was the first responder. Clearly shows, irrespective of government in either in Male or Delhi, the special relationship has never changed. When it came to the Covid crisis, India was the first responder, India made sure, when you rolled out the vaccines here in India, within 48 hours, the vaccines reached the Maldives and we started our rollout. These great acts of kindness, timely kindness are, remembered and appreciated in the Maldives. WION: Who is behind the anti-India campaign, especially on social media? Abdulla Shahid: It is very clear, the former government when they were in place, they were in government, they did not have a proper foreign policy. They had only one policy, that is to try and play one country against the other. It is clear that the India out campaign that is going by a few people on social, that is also an act of trying to play one country against other. It does not work in this day and age. In this day and age, we need to engage with all countries, and President Solih's govt will engage with everyone. We are reaping the fruits of engagement with everyone. WION: There seems to be a threat to Indian diplomats. What measures is the Maldives taking to ensure their safety? Abdulla Shahid: We do not take any of these threats lightly. The government has taken appropriate security measures to protect the Indian diplomats in the country and Sidhant you would know that when it comes to social media, and the internet, it takes just one person to float such a threat. It should not be seen as the majority of Maldivians supporting this kind of violent propaganda. Fake news is an issue that not only Maldives has to deal with, here in India it is the same, in the United States it is the same, we all have to live with this in this day and age of such proliferation of information which takes one individual to right something on media. WION: Both India and Maldives working for the security of the wider Indian ocean. Since you are at the heart of the Indian Ocean, are you worried about illegal fishing, piracy? Abdulla Shahid: I am very happy that you mentioned the Maldives as the heart of the Indian ocean, that is something that I firmly believe in. We are in the heart of the Indian Ocean. We are a large ocean state, huge ocean territory and we also have most of our wealth in that area. The fish stocks, we can't let fish stocks be captured by the illegal trawlers, we can't let our territory be used as a transit point for drugs, people who are trading in drugs, we cant have peace and stability of the Indian ocean be compromised. Because peace, stability, and prosperity of the Indian ocean are of utmost importance for the peace, stability, and prosperity of the Maldives. Vice versa, stability, prosperity, and peace of Maldives is required for the greater Indian ocean prosperity. So it is a relationship that is connected and the Maldives will be playing the role it is required to. Recently we became a member of the Indian Ocean rim association and we will take that responsibility seriously, we will work together with India, Sri Lanka, and many many other countries of the region to make sure we maintain this ocean of our stable, peaceful, and prosperous ocean.

'Will take UNSC reform forward', says UNGA President-elect Abdulla Shahid

The President-elect of the seventy-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly Abdulla Shahid has said that under his leadership he will "make sure the members move forward on this process". Speaking to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Abdulla who is on a Delhi visit pointed out that his "presidency of hope" will have a focus on covid crisis, rebuilding sustainably, reviving the economic devastation, UNSC reforms, climate change as the main issues.

"Will take UNSC reform forward," says UNGA President-elect Abdulla Shahid

The UN General Assembly is expected to approve a resolution calling on Myanmar's junta to restore the country's democratic transition and for all countries&nbsp;"to prevent the flow of arms into Myanmar,"&nbsp;diplomats said.

The draft resolution also condemns deadly violence by security forces and calls on the junta to unconditionally release the ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint "and all those who have been arbitrarily detained, charged or arrested."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blinken-calls-on-southeast-asian-nations-to-take-action-on-myanmar-397969">Blinken calls on Southeast Asian nations to take action on Myanmar</a>

The 193-member assembly is scheduled to consider the resolution, which has more than 50 co-sponsors, on Friday afternoon and its sponsors are hoping it will be approved by consensus to send a strong message to the military of global opposition to its Feb 1 takeover and support for a return to Myanmar's democratic transition, though any nation can call for a vote.

The draft resulted from negotiations by a so-called Core Group including the European Union, many Western nations and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations known as ASEAN, which includes Myanmar. A UN diplomat said there is an agreement with ASEAN to seek consensus, but what will happen with ASEAN members if there is a vote remains unclear.

The resolution's approval would mark one of the few times that the UN's most representative body expressed itself against a military coup and called for an arms embargo.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-rebel-group-suspends-key-leader-in-massacre-investigation-397219">Myanmar rebel group suspends key leader in massacre investigation</a>

Canada's UN&nbsp;Ambassador Bob Rae, a member of the Core Group, said Thursday that everyone has been working hard "to reach a broad consensus" on the text, and discussions were still underway on whether it would be approved by consensus or be put to a vote.

Myanmar for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions.

As the generals loosened their grip, culminating in Suu Kyi's rise to leadership in the 2015 elections, the international community responded by lifting most sanctions and pouring investment into the country. Her party was reelected by a landslide in November elections, but the military contends the vote was fraudulent and took over before the new Parliament was seated.

Widespread opposition to the junta's rule began with massive nonviolent protests. After soldiers and police used deadly force to crush the peaceful demonstrations, a low-level armed insurrection has emerged in both the cities and countryside.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/tank-ing-democracy-myanmar-army-bans-internet-to-curb-protests-against-military-coup-363746">Tank-ing democracy: Myanmar army bans internet to curb protests against military coup</a>

Last week, the UN&nbsp;Human rights office cited credible reports that at least 860 people have been killed by security forces since Feb. 1, mostly during protests, and that more than 4,800 people - including activists, journalists and opponents of the junta - are in arbitrary detention.

Speaking of the draft resolution, Canada's Rae said: "I think it's a strong statement by the General Assembly about our strong opposition to what's been happening in Myanmar, and our strong desire for a shift back to a process of attaining democracy in the country, civil and economic rights for everybody including the Rohingya."

The draft calls on the Myanmar armed forces to respect the will of the people as freely expressed by the results of the general election of Nov 8, 2020. It also said the Parliament should be allowed to convene and the armed forces and other national bodies should be brought into an "inclusive civilian government that is representative of the will of the people."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/covid-19-response-runs-underground-in-junta-ruled-myanmar-398915">COVID-19 response runs underground in junta-ruled Myanmar</a>

Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, but they do reflect global opinion and supporters of the draft believe it will have an impact.

Rae, a former Canadian special envoy to Myanmar, doesn't believe the nation can return to its past isolation since people in Myanmar "have developed a taste for openness, for democracy, for participation, and for social and political rights,"&nbsp;he said. "And I don't think the people are going to lose that taste. And I think that the answer is to do everything we can to sustain democracy."

The UN General Assembly is expected to approve a resolution calling on Myanmar's junta to restore the country's democratic transition and for all countries "to prevent the flow of arms into Myanmar," diplomats said.

The UN General Assembly is expected to approve a resolution calling on Myanmar's junta to restore the country's democratic transition and for all countries "to prevent the flow of arms into Myanmar," diplomats said. The draft resolution also condemns deadly violence by security forces and calls on the junta to unconditionally release the ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint "and all those who have been arbitrarily detained, charged or arrested." Also read | Blinken calls on Southeast Asian nations to take action on Myanmar The 193-member assembly is scheduled to consider the resolution, which has more than 50 co-sponsors, on Friday afternoon and its sponsors are hoping it will be approved by consensus to send a strong message to the military of global opposition to its Feb 1 takeover and support for a return to Myanmar's democratic transition, though any nation can call for a vote. The draft resulted from negotiations by a so-called Core Group including the European Union, many Western nations and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations known as ASEAN, which includes Myanmar. A UN diplomat said there is an agreement with ASEAN to seek consensus, but what will happen with ASEAN members if there is a vote remains unclear. The resolution's approval would mark one of the few times that the UN's most representative body expressed itself against a military coup and called for an arms embargo. Also read | Myanmar rebel group suspends key leader in massacre investigation Canada's UN Ambassador Bob Rae, a member of the Core Group, said Thursday that everyone has been working hard "to reach a broad consensus" on the text, and discussions were still underway on whether it would be approved by consensus or be put to a vote. Myanmar for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions. As the generals loosened their grip, culminating in Suu Kyi's rise to leadership in the 2015 elections, the international community responded by lifting most sanctions and pouring investment into the country. Her party was reelected by a landslide in November elections, but the military contends the vote was fraudulent and took over before the new Parliament was seated. Widespread opposition to the junta's rule began with massive nonviolent protests. After soldiers and police used deadly force to crush the peaceful demonstrations, a low-level armed insurrection has emerged in both the cities and countryside. Also read | Tank-ing democracy: Myanmar army bans internet to curb protests against military coup Last week, the UN Human rights office cited credible reports that at least 860 people have been killed by security forces since Feb. 1, mostly during protests, and that more than 4,800 people - including activists, journalists and opponents of the junta - are in arbitrary detention. Speaking of the draft resolution, Canada's Rae said: "I think it's a strong statement by the General Assembly about our strong opposition to what's been happening in Myanmar, and our strong desire for a shift back to a process of attaining democracy in the country, civil and economic rights for everybody including the Rohingya." The draft calls on the Myanmar armed forces to respect the will of the people as freely expressed by the results of the general election of Nov 8, 2020. It also said the Parliament should be allowed to convene and the armed forces and other national bodies should be brought into an "inclusive civilian government that is representative of the will of the people." Also read | COVID-19 response runs underground in junta-ruled Myanmar Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, but they do reflect global opinion and supporters of the draft believe it will have an impact. Rae, a former Canadian special envoy to Myanmar, doesn't believe the nation can return to its past isolation since people in Myanmar "have developed a taste for openness, for democracy, for participation, and for social and political rights," he said. "And I don't think the people are going to lose that taste. And I think that the answer is to do everything we can to sustain democracy."

UN proposal seeks arms embargo and democracy in Myanmar

The attack on an Indian airbase in Jammu marks the beginning of a new security threat for India. At the UN today, India shared how terrorists are using weaponised drones for their activities. How prepared are we to tackle this threat? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Are terrorists targeting India with flying bombs?

India's deputy ambassador to United Nations Nagaraj Naidu will be the Chef de Cabinet of the President-elect of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Abdulla Shahid. This is for the first time that an Indian diplomat has been given this post, and his tenure will be for one year.

The post is similar to&nbsp;chief of staff, or like in the Indian system, PM's principal secretary.

"As you are well aware the General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations. Comprising all 193 Member States of the UN, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of international issues including peace and security,"&nbsp;Nagaraj told WION.

"It is indeed a privilege and an opportunity to serve under the leadership of President-elect Abdulla Shahid. We are looking forward for a Presidency of hope," he added.

Naidu is a 1998 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, a fluent Chinese speaker, and an avid yoga practitioner. He has served in China and was also the National Coordinator for establishing the International Solar Alliance in India.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Inversions in preparation for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNGA74?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNGA74</a> <a href="https://t.co/998PcZdeLY">pic.twitter.com/998PcZdeLY</a>
— Amb/DPR to UN Nagaraj Naidu IFS (@NagNaidu08) <a href="https://twitter.com/NagNaidu08/status/1175038124105326593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

From 2017 to 2018 he has served as Joint Secretary/Director General of the Europe West Division and was responsible for India's bilateral political engagement with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, and the European Union.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
@mohitfreedom <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fitnesschallange?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fitnesschallange</a> accepted and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/challengeexecuted?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#challengeexecuted</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yogarocks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#yogarocks</a> <a href="https://t.co/2f8KcbKqWK">pic.twitter.com/2f8KcbKqWK</a>
— Amb/DPR to UN Nagaraj Naidu IFS (@NagNaidu08) <a href="https://twitter.com/NagNaidu08/status/1000211419571376128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The announcement was made in a tweet-statement by&nbsp;Abdulla Shahid, President-elect of 76th session of UNGA who said, "have appointed...Ambassador Nagaraj Naidu Kumar as my Chef du Cabinet."

Abdulla has also announced the appointment of Ambassador Thilmeeza Hussain as the special envoy to the President of the United Nations General assembly. Thilmeeza Hussain is Maldives Permanent Representative to the United Nations and also the country's envoy to the US.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Today, I have appointed Ambassador Thilmeeza Hussain as Special Envoy of the PGA, and Ambassador Nagaraj Naidu Kumar as my Chef du Cabinet. They will be instrumental in delivering my vision for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidencyOfHope?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PresidencyOfHope</a> <a href="https://t.co/1FsvJQKie3">pic.twitter.com/1FsvJQKie3</a>
— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) <a href="https://twitter.com/abdulla_shahid/status/1402741435598884867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Maldives Foreign minister Abdulla Shahid was elected as the president of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week and will start his one-year tenure from September. He got substantial 143 votes in the election process that requires 96 votes as the threshold.&nbsp;

In a conversation with WION, he said, "I am deeply humbled, by this election. I am also at the same time a proud Maldivian today. This is a great honor for the Maldivian people, for the nation."

The tenure of the post is one year and is considered to be&nbsp;prestigious due to its authority over the working of the General Assembly.

This is for the first time a Maldivian national is holding the post and his candidature was backed by India. In his vision statement titled "A Presidency of Hope: Delivering for People, Planet and Prosperity”, FM Shahid listed five priority themes, called "Five Rays of Hope”. These key areas are recovering from COVID, rebuilding sustainably, responding to the needs of the planet, respecting the rights of all, revitalising the United Nations.

India's deputy ambassador to United Nations Nagaraj Naidu will be the Chef de Cabinet of the President-elect of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Abdulla Shahid.

India's deputy ambassador to United Nations Nagaraj Naidu will be the Chef de Cabinet of the President-elect of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Abdulla Shahid. This is for the first time that an Indian diplomat has been given this post, and his tenure will be for one year. The post is similar to chief of staff, or like in the Indian system, PM's principal secretary. "As you are well aware the General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations. Comprising all 193 Member States of the UN, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of international issues including peace and security," Nagaraj told WION. "It is indeed a privilege and an opportunity to serve under the leadership of President-elect Abdulla Shahid. We are looking forward for a Presidency of hope," he added. Naidu is a 1998 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, a fluent Chinese speaker, and an avid yoga practitioner. He has served in China and was also the National Coordinator for establishing the International Solar Alliance in India. Inversions in preparation for #UNGA74 pic.twitter.com/998PcZdeLY — Amb/DPR to UN Nagaraj Naidu IFS (@NagNaidu08) September 20, 2019 × From 2017 to 2018 he has served as Joint Secretary/Director General of the Europe West Division and was responsible for India's bilateral political engagement with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, and the European Union. @mohitfreedom #fitnesschallange accepted and #challengeexecuted #yogarocks pic.twitter.com/2f8KcbKqWK — Amb/DPR to UN Nagaraj Naidu IFS (@NagNaidu08) May 26, 2018 × The announcement was made in a tweet-statement by Abdulla Shahid, President-elect of 76th session of UNGA who said, "have appointed...Ambassador Nagaraj Naidu Kumar as my Chef du Cabinet." Abdulla has also announced the appointment of Ambassador Thilmeeza Hussain as the special envoy to the President of the United Nations General assembly. Thilmeeza Hussain is Maldives Permanent Representative to the United Nations and also the country's envoy to the US. Today, I have appointed Ambassador Thilmeeza Hussain as Special Envoy of the PGA, and Ambassador Nagaraj Naidu Kumar as my Chef du Cabinet. They will be instrumental in delivering my vision for the #PresidencyOfHope pic.twitter.com/1FsvJQKie3 — Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) June 9, 2021 × Maldives Foreign minister Abdulla Shahid was elected as the president of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week and will start his one-year tenure from September. He got substantial 143 votes in the election process that requires 96 votes as the threshold. In a conversation with WION, he said, "I am deeply humbled, by this election. I am also at the same time a proud Maldivian today. This is a great honor for the Maldivian people, for the nation." The tenure of the post is one year and is considered to be prestigious due to its authority over the working of the General Assembly. This is for the first time a Maldivian national is holding the post and his candidature was backed by India. In his vision statement titled "A Presidency of Hope: Delivering for People, Planet and Prosperity”, FM Shahid listed five priority themes, called "Five Rays of Hope”. These key areas are recovering from COVID, rebuilding sustainably, responding to the needs of the planet, respecting the rights of all, revitalising the United Nations.

In a first, Indian diplomat Nagaraj Naidu to be UNGA President's Chef de Cabinet

In his first-ever interview since his massive victory for the post of President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has listed dealing with the Covid crisis, UN reforms among his five key priorities.&nbsp;

Shahid received 143 votes at UNGA during Monday's voting, far higher than the 96 votes required, with his one-year tenure all set to begin from this September.

Speaking to WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal from New York, Shahid said, "We need to make sure we provide vaccines to all".

He hoped that a 'common definition' would be reached by the membership when it comes to the issue of terrorism as envisaged under the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). 
 
India has proposed CCIT in 1996 which calls for a common definition on the issue of terrorism, but it continues to languish due to a lack of consensus.

Shahid thanked India for the support of his candidature saying, "India recognised important role a country like the Maldives can play in the international stage".

India had backed his candidature, with the announcement being first made during India's foreign secretary Harsh Shringla's Maldives visit in November.

During the visit of External Affairs Minister&nbsp;S Jaishankar&nbsp;to the Maldives in February, India reiterated its continued backing for the Maldives FM's candidature.

Sidhant Sibal: Your reaction after&nbsp;being elected for the post of president of United Nations General Assembly?

Abdulla Shahid: I am deeply humbled&nbsp;by this election. I am also at the same time a proud Maldivian today. This is a great honour for the Maldivian people, for the nation. The Maldives is a small country, but we have been responsible and committed member of the United Nations for the last 55 years.

We became the member of the United Nations&nbsp;three months after we became independent. And I think this election has clearly shown that the current President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's foreign policy is well-respected and received by the international community. It is indeed a great honour for the Maldives.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: You got more than 140 votes at the United Nations General Assembly, what does it show? And how has the process been?

Abdulla Shahid: The number of votes we received indicated&nbsp;how the international community has received the Maldives.

The international community has received the presidency of hope that I proposed to the international community.

You would know, last year has been a year of despair, death, sorrow, and pain for the entire world.

I proposed the Presidency of Hope, which I promised will help us&nbsp;overcome these difficult times. We should be aiming to go over the hill and had proposed that together the United Nations can lead this effort.

I believe the membership was also eager to take on this presidency of hope and give it to their constituents, the citizens of the world.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: The Presidency of hope has five-point agenda. If you can list these priority areas?

Abdulla Shahid: I proposed my presidency, the presidency of hope will be built on five rays of hope. The first ray of hope is recovering from COVID-19, it is going to dominate the international agenda for several years to come, but we need to concentrate on three main points.

Number 1 is a clear pathway in dealing with COVID-19, with the ultimate aim of eradicating it.

Number 2 is vaccine equity, no one is safe until everyone is safe. We need to make sure we provide vaccines to all.

Number 3 is dealing with the economic impact it has created on all our country. My second ray of hope is rebuilding sustainably.

We started the new decade with the launching of the decade of action, but the pandemic has really dampened the decade of action and now we have to start, reset the clock, and restart building back better, building back greener, and stronger and I believe we can do it.

We need to reset the clock and put into the recovery phase and make it into a decade of recovery as well. The third ray of hope of my presidency would be responding to the needs of the planet, both Sidhant, you and me, everyone, here we can feel and see our mother earth planet in pain. We need to address it.

The pandemic once again has taken focus again from climate-related issues, but these are not the issues we can put on the backburner. We need to start addressing it now, many major conferences coming now. COP26 is coming, the oceans conference is coming up, the COP15 on biodiversity is coming up, and the energy summit is coming up.

All these conferences are going to create momentum which I am proposing United Nations General Assembly should harness and turn into action. Fourth ray of hope I am proposing is, respect the rights of all, human rights have to be the centre of all developmental issues and all issues.

I believe, United Nations Human Rights Commission, and Human Rights Council, and the United Nations General Assembly should together be conscious of the international community on human rights issues. We should prioritise such issues like issues of gender-based violence, violence against children, gender parity.

We need to prioritise youth-related issues. These are the issues we should start addressing while respecting the rights of all.

Fifth and the final ray of hope is revitalising the United Nations. UN needs to be stronger, it needs to be transparent, accountable, and it needs to be efficient to deliver to the nations.

UNGA needs revitalisation. It’s a process that has been ongoing, and we need to continue with the reform of the Security Council, we need to make sure the Economic and Social Council is stronger.

These are my five rays of hope, I believe that the clear vote that was cast yesterday showed that the membership wanted this presidency of hope to be there so that presidency could be built on five&nbsp;rays of hope.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: On the issue of terror, what will be the key focus? Especially when it comes to consensus on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, something that has been languishing since 1996 due to lack of consensus?

Abdulla Shahid: Well, the United Nations General Assembly 6th Committee, the legal committee, has been working on this definition, as you said, for a very long time. I hope the definition would be reached by the membership soon. Because we need a clear definition of terrorism to be reached soon.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: Would you push for greater physical meetings? What are your plans to invite global leaders back to New York for the UN High-Level Week?&nbsp;

Abdulla Shahid: I have spoken to the secretary-general on this, I have also spoken to President about it. The secretariat and the current President are working on it. I will be consulting with them in detail again during this week. We need General Assembly to come back in some forms of meetings that are important.

Yesterday we had a session in person, 1+1, meaning in the General Assembly hall, each delegation is represented by one plus one which is a very limited number of people in the hall. Social distancing has to be followed, wearing of the mask has to be followed.

Under these difficult circumstances, we would want the general assembly to be functioning, but we cannot afford the general assembly to be a supercluster. So all precautions will be taken, but we must have some form of the high-level week this year.

Sidhant Sibal: Any signature events that you want to do as the President of the General Assembly?

Abdulla Shahid: I will be meeting my core team, I will be meeting them before my travel back to the Maldives and by September, I will be able to give my detailed input.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India's support? India had extended the support as early as November 2020?

Abdulla Shahid: Well, I thank the Indian government, the Prime Minister, the foreign minister and the foreign secretary for the outstanding support for Maldives candidature. They were very kind, and I think India recognised the important role a country like the Maldives can play on the international stage, especially as the President of the General Assembly. I am also grateful to many-many other countries, who have so kindly expressed their support and continued backing me during the campaign.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: After a long time a South Asian has reached this&nbsp;post, so how will it increase the positioning of South Asia?

Abdulla Shahid: As you said, it has been a while since a South Asian diplomat has presided over the General Assembly, it is indeed a great honour for me and I will try my best to keep the high level of diplomats that South Asia has created.

In his first-ever interview since his massive victory for the post of President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has listed dealing with the Covid crisis, UN reforms among his five key priorities.

In his first-ever interview since his massive victory for the post of President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has listed dealing with the Covid crisis, UN reforms among his five key priorities. Shahid received 143 votes at UNGA during Monday's voting, far higher than the 96 votes required, with his one-year tenure all set to begin from this September. Speaking to WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal from New York, Shahid said, "We need to make sure we provide vaccines to all". He hoped that a 'common definition' would be reached by the membership when it comes to the issue of terrorism as envisaged under the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). India has proposed CCIT in 1996 which calls for a common definition on the issue of terrorism, but it continues to languish due to a lack of consensus. Shahid thanked India for the support of his candidature saying, "India recognised important role a country like the Maldives can play in the international stage". India had backed his candidature, with the announcement being first made during India's foreign secretary Harsh Shringla's Maldives visit in November. During the visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the Maldives in February, India reiterated its continued backing for the Maldives FM's candidature. Sidhant Sibal: Your reaction after being elected for the post of president of United Nations General Assembly? Abdulla Shahid: I am deeply humbled by this election. I am also at the same time a proud Maldivian today. This is a great honour for the Maldivian people, for the nation. The Maldives is a small country, but we have been responsible and committed member of the United Nations for the last 55 years. We became the member of the United Nations three months after we became independent. And I think this election has clearly shown that the current President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's foreign policy is well-respected and received by the international community. It is indeed a great honour for the Maldives. Sidhant Sibal: You got more than 140 votes at the United Nations General Assembly, what does it show? And how has the process been? Abdulla Shahid: The number of votes we received indicated how the international community has received the Maldives. The international community has received the presidency of hope that I proposed to the international community. You would know, last year has been a year of despair, death, sorrow, and pain for the entire world. I proposed the Presidency of Hope, which I promised will help us overcome these difficult times. We should be aiming to go over the hill and had proposed that together the United Nations can lead this effort. I believe the membership was also eager to take on this presidency of hope and give it to their constituents, the citizens of the world. Sidhant Sibal: The Presidency of hope has five-point agenda. If you can list these priority areas? Abdulla Shahid: I proposed my presidency, the presidency of hope will be built on five rays of hope. The first ray of hope is recovering from COVID-19, it is going to dominate the international agenda for several years to come, but we need to concentrate on three main points. Number 1 is a clear pathway in dealing with COVID-19, with the ultimate aim of eradicating it. Number 2 is vaccine equity, no one is safe until everyone is safe. We need to make sure we provide vaccines to all. Number 3 is dealing with the economic impact it has created on all our country. My second ray of hope is rebuilding sustainably. We started the new decade with the launching of the decade of action, but the pandemic has really dampened the decade of action and now we have to start, reset the clock, and restart building back better, building back greener, and stronger and I believe we can do it. We need to reset the clock and put into the recovery phase and make it into a decade of recovery as well. The third ray of hope of my presidency would be responding to the needs of the planet, both Sidhant, you and me, everyone, here we can feel and see our mother earth planet in pain. We need to address it. The pandemic once again has taken focus again from climate-related issues, but these are not the issues we can put on the backburner. We need to start addressing it now, many major conferences coming now. COP26 is coming, the oceans conference is coming up, the COP15 on biodiversity is coming up, and the energy summit is coming up. All these conferences are going to create momentum which I am proposing United Nations General Assembly should harness and turn into action. Fourth ray of hope I am proposing is, respect the rights of all, human rights have to be the centre of all developmental issues and all issues. I believe, United Nations Human Rights Commission, and Human Rights Council, and the United Nations General Assembly should together be conscious of the international community on human rights issues. We should prioritise such issues like issues of gender-based violence, violence against children, gender parity. We need to prioritise youth-related issues. These are the issues we should start addressing while respecting the rights of all. Fifth and the final ray of hope is revitalising the United Nations. UN needs to be stronger, it needs to be transparent, accountable, and it needs to be efficient to deliver to the nations. UNGA needs revitalisation. It’s a process that has been ongoing, and we need to continue with the reform of the Security Council, we need to make sure the Economic and Social Council is stronger. These are my five rays of hope, I believe that the clear vote that was cast yesterday showed that the membership wanted this presidency of hope to be there so that presidency could be built on five rays of hope. Sidhant Sibal: On the issue of terror, what will be the key focus? Especially when it comes to consensus on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, something that has been languishing since 1996 due to lack of consensus? Abdulla Shahid: Well, the United Nations General Assembly 6th Committee, the legal committee, has been working on this definition, as you said, for a very long time. I hope the definition would be reached by the membership soon. Because we need a clear definition of terrorism to be reached soon. Sidhant Sibal: Would you push for greater physical meetings? What are your plans to invite global leaders back to New York for the UN High-Level Week? Abdulla Shahid: I have spoken to the secretary-general on this, I have also spoken to President about it. The secretariat and the current President are working on it. I will be consulting with them in detail again during this week. We need General Assembly to come back in some forms of meetings that are important. Yesterday we had a session in person, 1+1, meaning in the General Assembly hall, each delegation is represented by one plus one which is a very limited number of people in the hall. Social distancing has to be followed, wearing of the mask has to be followed. Under these difficult circumstances, we would want the general assembly to be functioning, but we cannot afford the general assembly to be a supercluster. So all precautions will be taken, but we must have some form of the high-level week this year. Sidhant Sibal: Any signature events that you want to do as the President of the General Assembly? Abdulla Shahid: I will be meeting my core team, I will be meeting them before my travel back to the Maldives and by September, I will be able to give my detailed input. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India's support? India had extended the support as early as November 2020? Abdulla Shahid: Well, I thank the Indian government, the Prime Minister, the foreign minister and the foreign secretary for the outstanding support for Maldives candidature. They were very kind, and I think India recognised the important role a country like the Maldives can play on the international stage, especially as the President of the General Assembly. I am also grateful to many-many other countries, who have so kindly expressed their support and continued backing me during the campaign. Sidhant Sibal: After a long time a South Asian has reached this post, so how will it increase the positioning of South Asia? Abdulla Shahid: As you said, it has been a while since a South Asian diplomat has presided over the General Assembly, it is indeed a great honour for me and I will try my best to keep the high level of diplomats that South Asia has created.

UN General Assembly President-elect Abdulla Shahid thanks India for support; says top focus on containing COVID-19

India has expressed its 'strong opposition' to the comments made by United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir on Kashmir during his visit to Pakistan. Dismissing his 'unwarranted references' on Jammu and Kashmir, the ministry of external affairs in a strongly worded statement called the comments 'unacceptable'.&nbsp;

The statement said, "when an incumbent President of the UN General Assembly makes misleading and prejudiced remarks, he does a great disservice to the office he occupies", adding, his "behaviour is truly regrettable and surely diminishes his standing on the global platform." India also dismissed equating of Palestine and J&amp;K saying that there is no ‘basis for comparison to other global situations'. &nbsp;

During his Pakistan visit, the UNGA President equated Palestine with Jammu and Kashmir issue, and said it's the 'duty of Pakistan to bring this to UN Platform more strongly'. Volkan Bozkır is a Turkish diplomat and politician and the first Turkish national to hold the post of President of the United Nations General Assembly. The term of the presidency of UNGA is for a one year, and he or she is expected to remain impartial.&nbsp;

The comments will be seen as a violation of the code of ethics mentioned in Annex XI (a) for the President of the General Assembly as enshrined under resolution 70/305 of 13 September 2016. The Annex, para 2 says, "The President shall perform his or her duties and responsibilities in an impartial and equitable manner and in full honesty and good faith".&nbsp;

Also, the same code, Para 3 states that President 'shall avoid any action' that 'might result in or create the appearance of' giving 'unwarranted preferential treatment to any State..', in this case, is Pakistan. &nbsp;

Para 5 points out, "President shall avoid any situation involving a conflict between his or her own personal or private interest and the interests of the Presidency or the United Nations". His comments are perceived to be shadowed by the Turkish foreign policy, which has taken the Pakistani position on Jammu and Kashmir irking India. &nbsp;

India has expressed its 'strong opposition' to the comments made by United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir on Kashmir during his visit to Pakistan.

India has expressed its 'strong opposition' to the comments made by United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir on Kashmir during his visit to Pakistan. Dismissing his 'unwarranted references' on Jammu and Kashmir, the ministry of external affairs in a strongly worded statement called the comments 'unacceptable'. The statement said, "when an incumbent President of the UN General Assembly makes misleading and prejudiced remarks, he does a great disservice to the office he occupies", adding, his "behaviour is truly regrettable and surely diminishes his standing on the global platform." India also dismissed equating of Palestine and J&K saying that there is no ‘basis for comparison to other global situations'. During his Pakistan visit, the UNGA President equated Palestine with Jammu and Kashmir issue, and said it's the 'duty of Pakistan to bring this to UN Platform more strongly'. Volkan Bozkır is a Turkish diplomat and politician and the first Turkish national to hold the post of President of the United Nations General Assembly. The term of the presidency of UNGA is for a one year, and he or she is expected to remain impartial. The comments will be seen as a violation of the code of ethics mentioned in Annex XI (a) for the President of the General Assembly as enshrined under resolution 70/305 of 13 September 2016. The Annex, para 2 says, "The President shall perform his or her duties and responsibilities in an impartial and equitable manner and in full honesty and good faith". Also, the same code, Para 3 states that President 'shall avoid any action' that 'might result in or create the appearance of' giving 'unwarranted preferential treatment to any State..', in this case, is Pakistan. Para 5 points out, "President shall avoid any situation involving a conflict between his or her own personal or private interest and the interests of the Presidency or the United Nations". His comments are perceived to be shadowed by the Turkish foreign policy, which has taken the Pakistani position on Jammu and Kashmir irking India.

India slams UNGA prez Bozkir's Kashmir remarks; Says comments 'unacceptable' 

India slammed Volkan Bozkir, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) president for his remark that Pakistan was 'duty bound' to raise the Jammu and Kashmir issue more strongly in the UN.

India slams UNGA chief for remark on Jammu & Kashmir during Pak visit

President of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkir's planned visit to India later this month has been postponed due to an unexpected situation&nbsp;relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Bozkir on Tuesday told reporters that he will be travelling to Bangladesh and Pakistan later this month on the invitation of the respective governments and will also be visiting Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh where he will meet with Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmars-war-displaces-new-generation-on-remote-river-frontier-381181">Myanmar's war displaces new generation on remote river frontier</a>

Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar's military crackdown, often considered as "ethnic cleansing" by many rights groups.

Bozkir said that he had also planned a visit to India during his trip to South Asia but postponed it due to an "unexpected situation."

"I also wanted to go to India. It was India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, but unfortunately, an unexpected situation came out and I had to postpone the India part to a later stage. But I will absolutely make sure that I'll go to India as well," the UN General Assembly President said, referring to India's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> crisis.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-andhra-pradesh-covid-19-variant-n440k-is-15-times-more-virulent-382805">India's Andhra Pradesh COVID-19 variant: N440K is 15 times more virulent</a>

Asked whether the UN will be able to host a regular General Assembly session in September, he said: "It would be wrong if we make a decision now for September on how the participation will be. Will it be a hybrid format? Or will we have again 10,000 people at UN Headquarters? What happens to civil society? What happens to the bilaterals? These are all questions we have in our minds."

He said June will be a proper time to discuss with the US, the host country of the UN, and local authorities on the COVID-19 situation and the feasibility of holding the UN General Assembly.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/faucis-advice-to-india-clamp-nationwide-lockdown-start-massive-vaccination-382645">Fauci's advice to India: Clamp nationwide lockdown, start massive vaccination</a>

With New York City aiming to "fully reopen" on July 1, Bozkir said it will "give us a signal on whether we can have a different type of a high-level week than we had last September"&nbsp;when all meetings were mostly virtual with minimal in-person presence in the UN premises.

"The important thing is not to risk any people's health"&nbsp;we must absolutely go along with the mitigation measures, we must listen to what science is saying to us and we must not really open everything without any precaution.

"If I were the host country, I wouldn't have made any plans for September as of now,&nbsp;because with this pandemic, unfortunately, we are living day by day or week by week. We suddenly see something happening, like what happens in India. Nobody was expecting this suddenly to happen. It changes all the plans. So, I think it's better to start talking about it, to start discussing it, and then leave it to the science and to the local authorities," he added.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-sees-record-3780-covid-19-deaths-in-1-day-382959/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

India is struggling with an unprecedented second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past week.

President of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkir's planned visit to India later this month has been postponed due to an unexpected situation relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

President of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkir's planned visit to India later this month has been postponed due to an unexpected situation relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Bozkir on Tuesday told reporters that he will be travelling to Bangladesh and Pakistan later this month on the invitation of the respective governments and will also be visiting Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh where he will meet with Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Also read | Myanmar's war displaces new generation on remote river frontier Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar's military crackdown, often considered as "ethnic cleansing" by many rights groups. Bozkir said that he had also planned a visit to India during his trip to South Asia but postponed it due to an "unexpected situation." "I also wanted to go to India. It was India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, but unfortunately, an unexpected situation came out and I had to postpone the India part to a later stage. But I will absolutely make sure that I'll go to India as well," the UN General Assembly President said, referring to India's COVID-19 crisis. Also read | India's Andhra Pradesh COVID-19 variant: N440K is 15 times more virulent Asked whether the UN will be able to host a regular General Assembly session in September, he said: "It would be wrong if we make a decision now for September on how the participation will be. Will it be a hybrid format? Or will we have again 10,000 people at UN Headquarters? What happens to civil society? What happens to the bilaterals? These are all questions we have in our minds." He said June will be a proper time to discuss with the US, the host country of the UN, and local authorities on the COVID-19 situation and the feasibility of holding the UN General Assembly. Also read | Fauci's advice to India: Clamp nationwide lockdown, start massive vaccination With New York City aiming to "fully reopen" on July 1, Bozkir said it will "give us a signal on whether we can have a different type of a high-level week than we had last September" when all meetings were mostly virtual with minimal in-person presence in the UN premises. "The important thing is not to risk any people's health" we must absolutely go along with the mitigation measures, we must listen to what science is saying to us and we must not really open everything without any precaution. "If I were the host country, I wouldn't have made any plans for September as of now, because with this pandemic, unfortunately, we are living day by day or week by week. We suddenly see something happening, like what happens in India. Nobody was expecting this suddenly to happen. It changes all the plans. So, I think it's better to start talking about it, to start discussing it, and then leave it to the science and to the local authorities," he added. India is struggling with an unprecedented second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past week.

UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir postpones India trip due to COVID-19

Describing his country as "heart of the Indian Ocean", Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has called for a "peaceful, prosperous and stable" region which he feels is an "essential factor" for the "prosperity of Maldives".

Speaking exclusively to WION's&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal during his ongoing Delhi visit, he said, "We will work with all our neighbours in making sure the region continues to be peaceful."

This has come at a time when India and Maldives are engaging in multiple ways on tackling challenges of the region such as terror and piracy, under a trilateral format with Sri Lanka — all three countries aim to better enhance the coordination.&nbsp;

He lauded New Delhi for its vaccine outreach under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, saying, "We are very grateful to India for the vaccines it provided and the promptness with which it was provided."

The Maldives was one of the first countries to get made-in-India vaccines in January, just 48 hours after India began its mega domestic vaccination programme. He also appreciated India's support for his candidature for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President.

WION: How do you characterise the relations between the two countries?

Abdulla Shahid: I have been recently describing the relationship between Maldives and India like a flight of a bird. A bird takes flight because the two wings flap together in unison. If one wing doesn't flap then the bird cannot fly, the flight is not there. The Maldives-India relationship is like the flight of a bird because countries flap their wings together and it's moving into new heights.

WION: India has been providing support to many countries including the Maldives amid the pandemic. Vaccines have been sent out to your country. What are your thoughts on that?

Abdulla Shahid:&nbsp;When India rolled out its vaccine programme Vaccine Maitri, Maldives received the gift of vaccines from India within 48 hours and we are very grateful for that.

We have been vaccinating our population and I am happy to say, 67 per cent of the population has been vaccinated now by the first dose. In the vaccination&nbsp;programme, in the rollout, we do not discriminate among nationalities or among any status. Everyone in the Maldives, irrespective of the status or nationalities will get the opportunity to get vaccinated. No one is safe till everyone is safe. We are very grateful to India for the vaccines it provided and the promptness with which it was provided. We are counting on India and the Serum Institute to make available more doses so that people, who have taken the first dose, can also be given the second dose during the required period of 8-12 weeks.

WION: How do you see the ongoing security situation in the Indian Ocean, the collaboration with the regional countries?

Abdulla Shahid:&nbsp;The Maldives regards itself as the heart of the Indian Ocean. If you look at the Indian Ocean and compare it with the human body, Maldives lies where the heart lies and throughout ages, Maldives has been the route through which the travellers have been travelling, crossing the Indian Ocean. For us, it is very important that the Indian Ocean be a peaceful, prosperous, and stable regime, and also for the prosperity of Maldives, it is an essential factor. Also, for the prosperity of the Indian Ocean, it is essential Maldives be stable and essential. Therefore, we will work with all our neighbours in making sure that this is maintained.

WION: You are standing for President of the United Nations General Assembly. What is your country's main focus with this, considering you have got Indian support as well.&nbsp;

Abdulla Shahid:&nbsp;President Solih came into office promising re-engagement with the international community. You would recall, when President Solih took office, we had already left the Commonwealth, the previous regime had left the grouping. We have been marginalised internationally. So, for President Solih, the first decision as President was to put the candidature of Maldives for the 76th session of the General Assembly. President Solih's decision to nominate me for the candidature is a great honour and a privilege for me. But it’s Maldives candidature and the support of the Indian government for the Maldives candidature is very much appreciated and it is a great honour for the country.

We have been able to work with many countries in many parts of the world and I have been meeting representatives, foreign ministers, ambassadors from many, many countries. The support for the Maldives and the standing that the Maldives has risen internationally since Maldives President took office and we are very confident in the candidature.

WION: Since you landed in Delhi, you have had several engagements with many envoys and you will be meeting EAM. What is your main aim for this visit?

Abdulla Shahid:&nbsp;The envoys I have been meeting today have not been to the Maldives, they haven't been able to come to the Maldives for over a year due to the pandemic. So I am using my Delhi visit to brief them about the situation in the Maldives and the steps we have been taking during the pandemic. Many envoys represent countries from where tourists visit the Maldives, so it's good to keep them briefed about the developments in the country.

I am looking forward to my meeting tomorrow with the EAM Jaishankar, with whom we are going to review the status of so many projects that are currently undertaken by the Maldives through Indian assistance.

WION: Since you mentioned tourism, a key sector of your economy, how is it going? What, perhaps will you say to Indian tourists coming to your country?

Abdulla Shahid:&nbsp;We closed our borders on March 15, 2020. We reopened after three months on 15 July and India was the first country to have a travel bubble with the Maldives and we have been able to secure this travel arrangement between India and Maldives in such a way that tourists visiting the Maldives are safe. The [Covid case] numbers in the Maldives are coming down tremendously and the stay arrangements, the procedures that we have from the airport to the resorts, are very strict. The protocols are adhered to perfectly and it provides a safe passage to visitors.

Also, we are blessed with geography, we are an archipelago state, and the concept of one Island, one hotel makes it easy for any outbreak to be contained. So far we haven't got any outbreaks at any tourist resorts and we have been able to provide the tourists with secure confidence that they would require to be on holiday. My advice to all Indians is to come and visit us, gets some sun, sea and the beach.

Describing his country as "heart of the Indian Ocean", Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has called for a "peaceful, prosperous and stable" region which he feels is an "essential factor" for the "prosperity of Maldives".

Describing his country as "heart of the Indian Ocean", Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has called for a "peaceful, prosperous and stable" region which he feels is an "essential factor" for the "prosperity of Maldives". Speaking exclusively to WION's Sidhant Sibal during his ongoing Delhi visit, he said, "We will work with all our neighbours in making sure the region continues to be peaceful." This has come at a time when India and Maldives are engaging in multiple ways on tackling challenges of the region such as terror and piracy, under a trilateral format with Sri Lanka — all three countries aim to better enhance the coordination. He lauded New Delhi for its vaccine outreach under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, saying, "We are very grateful to India for the vaccines it provided and the promptness with which it was provided." The Maldives was one of the first countries to get made-in-India vaccines in January, just 48 hours after India began its mega domestic vaccination programme. He also appreciated India's support for his candidature for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President. WION: How do you characterise the relations between the two countries? Abdulla Shahid: I have been recently describing the relationship between Maldives and India like a flight of a bird. A bird takes flight because the two wings flap together in unison. If one wing doesn't flap then the bird cannot fly, the flight is not there. The Maldives-India relationship is like the flight of a bird because countries flap their wings together and it's moving into new heights. WION: India has been providing support to many countries including the Maldives amid the pandemic. Vaccines have been sent out to your country. What are your thoughts on that? Abdulla Shahid: When India rolled out its vaccine programme Vaccine Maitri, Maldives received the gift of vaccines from India within 48 hours and we are very grateful for that. We have been vaccinating our population and I am happy to say, 67 per cent of the population has been vaccinated now by the first dose. In the vaccination programme, in the rollout, we do not discriminate among nationalities or among any status. Everyone in the Maldives, irrespective of the status or nationalities will get the opportunity to get vaccinated. No one is safe till everyone is safe. We are very grateful to India for the vaccines it provided and the promptness with which it was provided. We are counting on India and the Serum Institute to make available more doses so that people, who have taken the first dose, can also be given the second dose during the required period of 8-12 weeks. WION: How do you see the ongoing security situation in the Indian Ocean, the collaboration with the regional countries? Abdulla Shahid: The Maldives regards itself as the heart of the Indian Ocean. If you look at the Indian Ocean and compare it with the human body, Maldives lies where the heart lies and throughout ages, Maldives has been the route through which the travellers have been travelling, crossing the Indian Ocean. For us, it is very important that the Indian Ocean be a peaceful, prosperous, and stable regime, and also for the prosperity of Maldives, it is an essential factor. Also, for the prosperity of the Indian Ocean, it is essential Maldives be stable and essential. Therefore, we will work with all our neighbours in making sure that this is maintained. WION: You are standing for President of the United Nations General Assembly. What is your country's main focus with this, considering you have got Indian support as well. Abdulla Shahid: President Solih came into office promising re-engagement with the international community. You would recall, when President Solih took office, we had already left the Commonwealth, the previous regime had left the grouping. We have been marginalised internationally. So, for President Solih, the first decision as President was to put the candidature of Maldives for the 76th session of the General Assembly. President Solih's decision to nominate me for the candidature is a great honour and a privilege for me. But it’s Maldives candidature and the support of the Indian government for the Maldives candidature is very much appreciated and it is a great honour for the country. We have been able to work with many countries in many parts of the world and I have been meeting representatives, foreign ministers, ambassadors from many, many countries. The support for the Maldives and the standing that the Maldives has risen internationally since Maldives President took office and we are very confident in the candidature. WION: Since you landed in Delhi, you have had several engagements with many envoys and you will be meeting EAM. What is your main aim for this visit? Abdulla Shahid: The envoys I have been meeting today have not been to the Maldives, they haven't been able to come to the Maldives for over a year due to the pandemic. So I am using my Delhi visit to brief them about the situation in the Maldives and the steps we have been taking during the pandemic. Many envoys represent countries from where tourists visit the Maldives, so it's good to keep them briefed about the developments in the country. I am looking forward to my meeting tomorrow with the EAM Jaishankar, with whom we are going to review the status of so many projects that are currently undertaken by the Maldives through Indian assistance. WION: Since you mentioned tourism, a key sector of your economy, how is it going? What, perhaps will you say to Indian tourists coming to your country? Abdulla Shahid: We closed our borders on March 15, 2020. We reopened after three months on 15 July and India was the first country to have a travel bubble with the Maldives and we have been able to secure this travel arrangement between India and Maldives in such a way that tourists visiting the Maldives are safe. The [Covid case] numbers in the Maldives are coming down tremendously and the stay arrangements, the procedures that we have from the airport to the resorts, are very strict. The protocols are adhered to perfectly and it provides a safe passage to visitors. Also, we are blessed with geography, we are an archipelago state, and the concept of one Island, one hotel makes it easy for any outbreak to be contained. So far we haven't got any outbreaks at any tourist resorts and we have been able to provide the tourists with secure confidence that they would require to be on holiday. My advice to all Indians is to come and visit us, gets some sun, sea and the beach.

'Peaceful Indian Ocean important': Maldives FM; thanks India for support for UNGA prez candidature

Dec 10 in history: From Treaty of Paris to UNGA adopting declaration of human rights

The special session of the United Nations General Assembly in response to COVID-19 will take place on December 3 and 4 at the UN Headquarters.

Nearly 100 world leaders and several dozen ministers are slated to speak at the special session on coronavirus and the best path to recovery from the pandemic which has claimed 1.5 million lives, shattered economies, and left tens of millions of people unemployed in countries rich and poor.

Assembly President Volkan Bozkir, to this end, said, "With news of multiple vaccines on the cusp of approval, and with trillions of dollars flowing into global recovery efforts, the international community has a unique opportunity to do this right."

"The world is looking to the UN for leadership. This is a test for multilateralism. When financial markets collapsed and the world faced its last great crisis in 2008, major powers worked together to restore the global economy, but the COVID-19 pandemic has been striking for the opposite response: no leader, no united action to stop the pandemic that has circled the globe," he added.

The two-day special session will not be raising money to finance vaccine immunisations or taking any political action, and there will be no final declaration, just a summary document from Bozkir.

Leaders and ministers from over 140 countries will deliver pre-recorded speeches on Thursday after an in-person opening in the General Assembly including speeches by Bozkir and Guterres.&nbsp;

Among the leaders slated to address the session are French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and European Union chief Charles Michel. The United States will be represented by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.

Friday's session will focus on three virtual panels, the first on the UN's response to COVID-19 and the second on vaccines that will include representatives from producers BioNTech and Oxford University-AstraZeneca, and the World Health Organization's ACT-Accelerator which is working to get vaccines to the world's poorest people.

The final panel is on recovery from COVID-19. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is expected to participate in all three panels.

UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said secretary-general Antonio Guterres will be focussing on the need for all countries and people everywhere to have access to vaccines.

The special session of the United Nations General Assembly in response to COVID-19 will take place on December 3 and 4 at the UN Headquarters. Nearly 100 world leaders and several dozen ministers are slated to speak at the special session on coronavirus and the best path to recovery from the pandemic which has claimed 1.

The special session of the United Nations General Assembly in response to COVID-19 will take place on December 3 and 4 at the UN Headquarters. Nearly 100 world leaders and several dozen ministers are slated to speak at the special session on coronavirus and the best path to recovery from the pandemic which has claimed 1.5 million lives, shattered economies, and left tens of millions of people unemployed in countries rich and poor. Assembly President Volkan Bozkir, to this end, said, "With news of multiple vaccines on the cusp of approval, and with trillions of dollars flowing into global recovery efforts, the international community has a unique opportunity to do this right." "The world is looking to the UN for leadership. This is a test for multilateralism. When financial markets collapsed and the world faced its last great crisis in 2008, major powers worked together to restore the global economy, but the COVID-19 pandemic has been striking for the opposite response: no leader, no united action to stop the pandemic that has circled the globe," he added. The two-day special session will not be raising money to finance vaccine immunisations or taking any political action, and there will be no final declaration, just a summary document from Bozkir. Leaders and ministers from over 140 countries will deliver pre-recorded speeches on Thursday after an in-person opening in the General Assembly including speeches by Bozkir and Guterres. Among the leaders slated to address the session are French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and European Union chief Charles Michel. The United States will be represented by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. Friday's session will focus on three virtual panels, the first on the UN's response to COVID-19 and the second on vaccines that will include representatives from producers BioNTech and Oxford University-AstraZeneca, and the World Health Organization's ACT-Accelerator which is working to get vaccines to the world's poorest people. The final panel is on recovery from COVID-19. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is expected to participate in all three panels. UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said secretary-general Antonio Guterres will be focussing on the need for all countries and people everywhere to have access to vaccines.

World leaders to address special session of UN General Assembly on COVID-19

Without naming anyone, External affairs minister S Jaishankar has said "one or two countries" are obstructing reforms at the United Nations and want to "freeze one moment of history for perpetual gain to continue".

Comments come even as India has urged the international community for urgent reforms at the world body to reflect current geopolitical realities.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-china-is-stonewalling-reforms-at-united-nations-security-council-343771" hreflang="en">How China is stonewalling reforms at United Nations Security Council</a>

Jaishankar, speaking at an event said, "The fact that different people in different parts of the world are pointing out to the shortcoming and relevance of the UN, is something that UN should take seriously. It's common sense."

Explaining," In our life, what is it, which is 75 years old and you are still using. Everything requires refreshing, updating...The longer we let this stalemate, gridlock continue, it's harming the UN."

The UN this year marks the 75th anniversary of its coming into being in the aftermath of World War 2.

On reforms at the UN and United Nations Security Council (UNSC), intergovernmental negotiations&nbsp;are underway but these are informal, and even United Nations general assembly rules don't apply. China, while calling for reforms, has been scuttling any application of UNGA rules.

Beijing is also blocking any move to a single text-based negotiation. When it comes to any support for India's candidature for UNSC, it is the only permanent member of the body that has not to voice any support.

Indian PM Modi has spoken at the United Nations General assembly, SCO, BRICS meeting for urgent reforms, and India's candidature at the United Nations Security Council.

Without naming anyone, External affairs minister S Jaishankar has said "one or two countries" are obstructing reforms at the United Nations and want to "freeze one moment of history for perpetual gain to continue".

Without naming anyone, External affairs minister S Jaishankar has said "one or two countries" are obstructing reforms at the United Nations and want to "freeze one moment of history for perpetual gain to continue". Comments come even as India has urged the international community for urgent reforms at the world body to reflect current geopolitical realities. Also read: How China is stonewalling reforms at United Nations Security Council Jaishankar, speaking at an event said, "The fact that different people in different parts of the world are pointing out to the shortcoming and relevance of the UN, is something that UN should take seriously. It's common sense." Explaining," In our life, what is it, which is 75 years old and you are still using. Everything requires refreshing, updating...The longer we let this stalemate, gridlock continue, it's harming the UN." The UN this year marks the 75th anniversary of its coming into being in the aftermath of World War 2. On reforms at the UN and United Nations Security Council (UNSC), intergovernmental negotiations are underway but these are informal, and even United Nations general assembly rules don't apply. China, while calling for reforms, has been scuttling any application of UNGA rules. Beijing is also blocking any move to a single text-based negotiation. When it comes to any support for India's candidature for UNSC, it is the only permanent member of the body that has not to voice any support. Indian PM Modi has spoken at the United Nations General assembly, SCO, BRICS meeting for urgent reforms, and India's candidature at the United Nations Security Council.

EAM on UN reforms: One or two countries want to freeze one moment of history

India on Tuesday said that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) had become an "impaired organ" as it "failed to act with credibility essentially due to its unrepresentative nature".

WION Dispatch: UNSC an impaired organ, failed to act with credibility; says India

At the 75th session of United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) said that United Nation Security Council (UNSC) has become a 'Imapaired Organ' and unable to act with credibility due to it's Unpresentative Nature.

UNSC has become a 'impaired organ' and unable to act credibility :India

India has backed the candidature of Maldives Foreign Minister&nbsp;Abdulla Shahid&nbsp;for the President of United Nations General Assembly for 2021-22 period.&nbsp;

Speaking in Male, India's foreign secretary Harsh Shringla Said, "We feel that the Maldives should play a more prominent role in the UN. In this context, I am happy to reiterate the commitment made by our External Affairs Minister earlier during the Virtual Meeting with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid that India will support his candidature for Presidency of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly next year."

The post of president of UNGA is voted on a yearly basis by all the 192 members of the core UN body. Among South Asian states, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh nationals have been UNGA President in the past. Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan nationals have not UNGA president ever.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/with-focus-on-development-projects-india-maldives-to-sign-mous-discuss-covid-crisis-341840" hreflang="en">With focus on development projects, India-Maldives to sign MOUs; discuss COVID crisis</a>

The Indian Foreign Secretary explained, "With his vast diplomatic experience and leadership qualities, Foreign Minister Shahid has the best credentials to preside over the General Assembly in these tumultuous times.".

Adding, "his Presidency will also provide greater visibility to the Maldives. We are happy that his term will coincide with our membership of the United Nations Security Council for 2021-22. We look forward to working closely with the Maldives in the United Nations."

India's support to the Maldives shows New Delhi's close ties with Male. Both sides have seen increased engagement, especially with support extended by India during the COVID crisis.&nbsp;

In June, Turkish Diplomat Volkan Bozkir was elected President of the forthcoming session of the UN General Assembly. India's Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit in 1953 was the first women President of the body.

India has backed the candidature of Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid for the President of United Nations General Assembly for 2021-22 period. Speaking in Male, India's foreign secretary Harsh Shringla Said, "We feel that the Maldives should play a more prominent role in the UN.

India has backed the candidature of Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid for the President of United Nations General Assembly for 2021-22 period. Speaking in Male, India's foreign secretary Harsh Shringla Said, "We feel that the Maldives should play a more prominent role in the UN. In this context, I am happy to reiterate the commitment made by our External Affairs Minister earlier during the Virtual Meeting with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid that India will support his candidature for Presidency of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly next year." The post of president of UNGA is voted on a yearly basis by all the 192 members of the core UN body. Among South Asian states, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh nationals have been UNGA President in the past. Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan nationals have not UNGA president ever. Also read: With focus on development projects, India-Maldives to sign MOUs; discuss COVID crisis The Indian Foreign Secretary explained, "With his vast diplomatic experience and leadership qualities, Foreign Minister Shahid has the best credentials to preside over the General Assembly in these tumultuous times.". Adding, "his Presidency will also provide greater visibility to the Maldives. We are happy that his term will coincide with our membership of the United Nations Security Council for 2021-22. We look forward to working closely with the Maldives in the United Nations." India's support to the Maldives shows New Delhi's close ties with Male. Both sides have seen increased engagement, especially with support extended by India during the COVID crisis. In June, Turkish Diplomat Volkan Bozkir was elected President of the forthcoming session of the UN General Assembly. India's Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit in 1953 was the first women President of the body.

India backs Maldives' Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid's candidature for UNGA president

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided on Thursday to organise a special session on December 3 and 4 on ramping up international cooperation to deal with coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

"The special session of United Nations General Assembly on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic is a historic moment, and a test, for multilateralism. It will be defined by our collective action on one of the most critical issues of our time," said Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the UNGA, in his remarks ahead of the adoption of the Modalities Resolution for the 31st Special Session of the General Assembly on the pandemic, Xinhua news agency reported.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/20-years-witnessed-rise-in-natural-disasters-especially-in-asia-united-nations-334738">20 years witnessed rise in natural disasters, especially in Asia: United Nations&nbsp; &nbsp; </a>

As many as 150 of the 193 UNGA member states adopted the resolution. No country voted against the resolution, however, the US, Israel and Armenia did not participate in the voting.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/united-nations-faces-crisis-of-confidence-pm-modi-in-unga-address-329308">United Nations faces 'crisis of confidence': PM Modi in UNGA address</a>

"It is vital that the special session provides an inclusive platform which has the capacity to hear from and address the concerns of member states and other stakeholders, including civil society, academia, and private sector experts pioneering the development of vaccines. To this end, the second day will feature interactive multistakeholder dialogue panels on different aspects of Covid-19," the UNGA president said.&nbsp;

The special session on Covid-19 will feature an opening statement, a general debate and a closing segment, reports news agency IANS.&nbsp;

On the first day, the general debate will be held along with statements by member and observer states and the European Union and, if time allows, a limited number of representatives from relevant organisations attending the event.&nbsp;

World leaders will be making their address in pre-recorded statements, which will be aired in General Assembly Hall. The speakers will be allotted seven minutes on behalf of a group of states.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided on Thursday to organise a special session on December 3 and 4 on ramping up international cooperation to deal with coronavirus pandemic.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided on Thursday to organise a special session on December 3 and 4 on ramping up international cooperation to deal with coronavirus pandemic. "The special session of United Nations General Assembly on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic is a historic moment, and a test, for multilateralism. It will be defined by our collective action on one of the most critical issues of our time," said Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the UNGA, in his remarks ahead of the adoption of the Modalities Resolution for the 31st Special Session of the General Assembly on the pandemic, Xinhua news agency reported. Also read | 20 years witnessed rise in natural disasters, especially in Asia: United Nations As many as 150 of the 193 UNGA member states adopted the resolution. No country voted against the resolution, however, the US, Israel and Armenia did not participate in the voting. Also read | United Nations faces 'crisis of confidence': PM Modi in UNGA address "It is vital that the special session provides an inclusive platform which has the capacity to hear from and address the concerns of member states and other stakeholders, including civil society, academia, and private sector experts pioneering the development of vaccines. To this end, the second day will feature interactive multistakeholder dialogue panels on different aspects of Covid-19," the UNGA president said. The special session on Covid-19 will feature an opening statement, a general debate and a closing segment, reports news agency IANS. On the first day, the general debate will be held along with statements by member and observer states and the European Union and, if time allows, a limited number of representatives from relevant organisations attending the event. World leaders will be making their address in pre-recorded statements, which will be aired in General Assembly Hall. The speakers will be allotted seven minutes on behalf of a group of states.

UNGA to hold special session on coronavirus pandemic in December

More than 170 countries promised during a virtual UN summit Thursday to step up their efforts to advance women's rights, while the US took aim at China's claims of leadership on the issue.

The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, marked the 25th anniversary of the seminal 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing.&nbsp;

"In the coming five years, China will donate another $10 million to UN Women," President Xi Jinping said in a pre-recorded video, proposing another world meeting on gender equality for 2025.

In her own pre-recorded address, US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos condemned the treatment of women in Venezuela, Cuba and Iran, but saved her harshest criticism for Beijing.&nbsp;

"The worst violator of all in both scope and scale is the host of the conference we commemorate today," she said.&nbsp;

"Since 1995, the Chinese Communist Party has been responsible for the murder of millions of baby girls through brutal population controls on industrial scale, unfortunately with the support (of) UN agencies."

She specifically took aim at Beijing's operations in the Xinjiang region, which some rights groups and lawmakers in Washington have said could amount to genocide.

DeVos called out practices of sterilization, abortion and birth control she said have been forced on Uighur Muslim women.&nbsp;

'Question of power'

Meanwhile, France and Mexico committed to hosting an international forum on women's rights in Paris next June -- a meeting which was scheduled for July of this year but was canceled due to the pandemic.&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron lamented the slow progress of the last 25 years.

"Everywhere, women's rights are under attack, as are human rights, from which they are inseparable," he said.&nbsp;

"Progress achieved by great efforts is being undermined even in our democracies, starting with the freedom for women to control their own bodies, and in particular the right to abortion," he said, also pointing out inequalities in schooling, pay, domestic work and political representation.

Even at the UN General Assembly, there were only a handful of women speakers among the representatives for 170 countries.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said gender equality was "fundamentally a question of power, so it starts with the equal representation of women in leadership positions."

He bemoaned the circumstances that lead to one in three women experiencing violence and 12 million girls marrying under the age of 18 every year.&nbsp;

He also pointed to 137 women being killed by a family member every day in 2017.

More than 170 countries promised during a virtual UN summit Thursday to step up their efforts to advance women's rights, while the US took aim at China's claims of leadership on the issue.

More than 170 countries promised during a virtual UN summit Thursday to step up their efforts to advance women's rights, while the US took aim at China's claims of leadership on the issue. The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, marked the 25th anniversary of the seminal 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing. "In the coming five years, China will donate another $10 million to UN Women," President Xi Jinping said in a pre-recorded video, proposing another world meeting on gender equality for 2025. In her own pre-recorded address, US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos condemned the treatment of women in Venezuela, Cuba and Iran, but saved her harshest criticism for Beijing. "The worst violator of all in both scope and scale is the host of the conference we commemorate today," she said. "Since 1995, the Chinese Communist Party has been responsible for the murder of millions of baby girls through brutal population controls on industrial scale, unfortunately with the support (of) UN agencies." She specifically took aim at Beijing's operations in the Xinjiang region, which some rights groups and lawmakers in Washington have said could amount to genocide. DeVos called out practices of sterilization, abortion and birth control she said have been forced on Uighur Muslim women. 'Question of power' Meanwhile, France and Mexico committed to hosting an international forum on women's rights in Paris next June -- a meeting which was scheduled for July of this year but was canceled due to the pandemic. French President Emmanuel Macron lamented the slow progress of the last 25 years. "Everywhere, women's rights are under attack, as are human rights, from which they are inseparable," he said. "Progress achieved by great efforts is being undermined even in our democracies, starting with the freedom for women to control their own bodies, and in particular the right to abortion," he said, also pointing out inequalities in schooling, pay, domestic work and political representation. Even at the UN General Assembly, there were only a handful of women speakers among the representatives for 170 countries. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said gender equality was "fundamentally a question of power, so it starts with the equal representation of women in leadership positions." He bemoaned the circumstances that lead to one in three women experiencing violence and 12 million girls marrying under the age of 18 every year. He also pointed to 137 women being killed by a family member every day in 2017.

Slow progress on women's rights decried at UN summit

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually addressed the 75th UNGA. She went out to highlight the biggest refugee crisis.

Bangladesh PM highlights Rohingya crisis at UNGA

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the 75th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday pushed for the reforms in the global body.

Indian PM's virtual address at UNGA, Modi demanded bigger role at UN

Bhutan's Prime minister Lotay Tshering has supported G4 countries bid for United Nations Security Council reforms and a seat at the high table. G4 grouping, that has been calling for UNSC reforms includes India, Germany, Brazil and Japan.

Bhutan's PM in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly said, "Bhutan has also long supported the aspirations of the G4 to serve as Permanent Members to an expanded Security Council, of course, with Africa also appropriately represented."

Earlier this week foreign ministers of G4 countries met and called for urgent reforms "to better reflect contemporary realities".

Bhutan PM also spoke on the COVID-19 crisis and how his country has dealt with the crisis.&nbsp;

Lotay said: "Under direct supervision of our King, we have meticulous surveillance systems in place" which he said includes "close monitoring of our international entry points and timely institution of 21 days quarantine, which is mandatory for everyone entering Bhutan and fully sponsored by the government" &amp; "reliable and free testing facilities are also set up across the country."

Bhutan reported 261 positive COVID-19 cases, of which 192 have recovered. The mortality from COVID-19 remains zero in the country.

Bhutan believes in the concept Gross National Happiness(GNH) highlighted the issue of climate change with PM Lotay saying, "As a key component of GNH, our visionary monarchs emphasised on protection and preservation of our environment. We have the Constitutional mandate to ensure 60 per cent forest cover at all times and to maintain ‘inter-generational equity’ of our natural resources."

"So today, when the world is dealing with issues of climate change, we are grateful for the wise decisions that kept Bhutan carbon negative," Lotay added.

Bhutan's Prime minister Lotay Tshering has supported G4 countries bid for United Nations Security Council reforms and a seat at the high table. G4 grouping, that has been calling for UNSC reforms includes India, Germany, Brazil and Japan.

Bhutan's Prime minister Lotay Tshering has supported G4 countries bid for United Nations Security Council reforms and a seat at the high table. G4 grouping, that has been calling for UNSC reforms includes India, Germany, Brazil and Japan. Bhutan's PM in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly said, "Bhutan has also long supported the aspirations of the G4 to serve as Permanent Members to an expanded Security Council, of course, with Africa also appropriately represented." Earlier this week foreign ministers of G4 countries met and called for urgent reforms "to better reflect contemporary realities". Bhutan PM also spoke on the COVID-19 crisis and how his country has dealt with the crisis. Lotay said: "Under direct supervision of our King, we have meticulous surveillance systems in place" which he said includes "close monitoring of our international entry points and timely institution of 21 days quarantine, which is mandatory for everyone entering Bhutan and fully sponsored by the government" & "reliable and free testing facilities are also set up across the country." Bhutan reported 261 positive COVID-19 cases, of which 192 have recovered. The mortality from COVID-19 remains zero in the country. Bhutan believes in the concept Gross National Happiness(GNH) highlighted the issue of climate change with PM Lotay saying, "As a key component of GNH, our visionary monarchs emphasised on protection and preservation of our environment. We have the Constitutional mandate to ensure 60 per cent forest cover at all times and to maintain ‘inter-generational equity’ of our natural resources." "So today, when the world is dealing with issues of climate change, we are grateful for the wise decisions that kept Bhutan carbon negative," Lotay added.

Bhutan supports G4's bid for UNSC reforms

An Indian representative on Friday walked out of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Hall as Pakistani PM Imran Khan's speech was underway. Pakistani PM on expected lines raked Kashmir and lashed out at India during his UNGA speech.

India walks out of UNGA hall over Pak PM's speech

India hit out at Pakistan for its litany of lies at the United Nations after Islamabad's UN envoy claimed to have given a statement in a Security Council meeting.

India's UN Mission Exposes Pakistan's Lies At United Nations

The UN General Assembly this year is largely being held online due to the coronavirus pandemic. Majority of world leaders have been delivering pre-recorded speeches at the summit in New York.

PM Modi's global push for counter-terrorism at UNGA; Listen to him | PM Modi at UNGA

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged the world leaders to ensure that the information about the COVID-19 vccine is shared with all countries, or the history will tell the tale.

"When it comes to a vaccine, Australia's view is very clear —&nbsp;whoever finds the vaccine must share it," Morrison said in a pre-recorded message to the virtual UN General Assembly.

"This is a global responsibility and it's a moral responsibility for a vaccine to be shared far and wide," he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/enough-is-enough-china-lashes-out-at-us-during-un-meeting-330064">Also read|&nbsp;'Enough is enough': China lashes out at US during UN meeting</a>

"Some might see short-term advantage or even profit, but I assure you, to anyone who may think along those lines — humanity will have a very long memory and be a very, very severe judge."

It is believed that the appeal was made in reference to the US — an ally of Australia which has hinted towards a resistance towards global combined efforts towards developing a vaccine.

The US President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;had, few days ago, boasted about several American companies being in the race to develop the vaccine. So much so, the Trump administration has refused to promise to share the coronavirus-related research claiming it fears theft of research by China.

He&nbsp;has also advocated mandatory vaccinations once a vaccine is available.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-diplomat-walks-out-of-unga-hall-as-pak-pm-mentions-kashmir-in-speech-330306">Also read|&nbsp;Indian diplomat walks out of UNGA hall as Pak PM mentions Kashmir in speech</a>

Morrison also went against&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;accusations towards the World Health Organization (WHO) and applauded the organization for its efforts of containing the spread of the novel&nbsp;coronavirus.&nbsp;On the other hand,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;has warned the United Nations (UN) that the US will pull out of the WHO if it keeps (allegedly) favouring and aiding China.

The PM has also promised support for Covax — a UN initiative that promises to have two billion doses of a vaccine ready by the second half of 2021. The initiative has been rubbished by the&nbsp;United States, China and Russia.

However, Morrison did not completely abandon its ally, and urged the UN to find the origin of the&nbsp;coronavirus&nbsp;— a topic that has strained China's relationship with Australia and the US.

Unlike Trump,&nbsp;Morrison did not blame China directly for the origin of the virus and said, "We must do all we can to understand what happened for no other purpose than to prevent it from happening again."

The Australian PM gained support from the developing countries for vaccine sharing. "I urge that COVID-19 vaccines and medicines be considered as global public goods that can be accessible to all," said Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha.

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez also advocated for global sharing and warned that "With the pandemic, as with poverty, nobody will be saved on their own."

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged the world leaders to ensure that the information about the COVID-19 vccine is shared with all countries, or the history will tell the tale.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged the world leaders to ensure that the information about the COVID-19 vccine is shared with all countries, or the history will tell the tale. "When it comes to a vaccine, Australia's view is very clear — whoever finds the vaccine must share it," Morrison said in a pre-recorded message to the virtual UN General Assembly. "This is a global responsibility and it's a moral responsibility for a vaccine to be shared far and wide," he said. Also read| 'Enough is enough': China lashes out at US during UN meeting "Some might see short-term advantage or even profit, but I assure you, to anyone who may think along those lines — humanity will have a very long memory and be a very, very severe judge." It is believed that the appeal was made in reference to the US — an ally of Australia which has hinted towards a resistance towards global combined efforts towards developing a vaccine. The US President Donald Trump had, few days ago, boasted about several American companies being in the race to develop the vaccine. So much so, the Trump administration has refused to promise to share the coronavirus-related research claiming it fears theft of research by China. He has also advocated mandatory vaccinations once a vaccine is available. Also read| Indian diplomat walks out of UNGA hall as Pak PM mentions Kashmir in speech Morrison also went against Trump's accusations towards the World Health Organization (WHO) and applauded the organization for its efforts of containing the spread of the novel coronavirus. On the other hand, Trump has warned the United Nations (UN) that the US will pull out of the WHO if it keeps (allegedly) favouring and aiding China. The PM has also promised support for Covax — a UN initiative that promises to have two billion doses of a vaccine ready by the second half of 2021. The initiative has been rubbished by the United States, China and Russia. However, Morrison did not completely abandon its ally, and urged the UN to find the origin of the coronavirus — a topic that has strained China's relationship with Australia and the US. Unlike Trump, Morrison did not blame China directly for the origin of the virus and said, "We must do all we can to understand what happened for no other purpose than to prevent it from happening again." The Australian PM gained support from the developing countries for vaccine sharing. "I urge that COVID-19 vaccines and medicines be considered as global public goods that can be accessible to all," said Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez also advocated for global sharing and warned that "With the pandemic, as with poverty, nobody will be saved on their own."

Australian PM urges combined global efforts; takes indirect hit at Trump's secrecy

The United Nations has been held hostage by 5 countries since 1945. Can they still be allowed to dictate terms to rest of the world? On GravitasPlus WION's Palki tells you why it's time to decolonise the global body.

Gravitas Plus: United Nations: A redundant body?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in the 75th session on Saturday. He is scheduled as the first speaker.

Indian PM Narendra Modi to deliver virtual speech at UNGA

The Indian&nbsp;delegate at&nbsp;the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) walked out of the high-level meeting hall as soon as a recorded address by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan got underway.

The junior&nbsp;diplomat, Mijito Vinito, on Friday picked up his papers, and&nbsp;left the meeting hall as soon as Imran Khan began his usual diatribe against India.

Khan, on expected lines, raked the Kashmir issue and targetted&nbsp;India during his UNGA speech.

To this end, TS Tirumurti, PR of India to UN in New York, posted on Twitter: "PM of Pakistan statement a new diplomatic low - at 75th UN General Assembly. Another litany of vicious falsehood, personal attacks, war mongering and obfuscation of Pakistan’s persecution of its own minorities &amp; of its cross-border terrorism. Befitting Right of Reply awaits."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
PM of Pakistan statement a new diplomatic low - at 75th UN General Assembly. Another litany of vicious falsehood, personal attacks, war mongering and obfuscation of Pakistan’s persecution of its own minorities &amp; of its cross-border terrorism. Befitting Right of Reply awaits.
— PR UN Tirumurti (@ambtstirumurti) <a href="https://twitter.com/ambtstirumurti/status/1309537464013520897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Imran Khan&nbsp;termed New Delhi as a 'state sponsor' of Islamophobia in his UNGA address.

"Muslims continue to be targeted with impunity in many countries. Our shrines are being destroyed; our Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) insulted; the Holy Quran burnt – and all this in the name of freedom of speech," Khan said in his unsual demeanour, adding, "and the one country in the world today where, I am sad to say, the state sponsors Islamophobia, is India. The reason behind this is RSS ideology that unfortunately rules India today."

To this end, Khan urged the Assembly to declare an “International Day to Combat Islamophobia” and build a coalition to fight this scourge.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-pm-targets-india-at-unga-terms-it-state-sponsor-of-islamophobia-330309">Also read |&nbsp;Pak PM targets India at UNGA, terms it 'state sponsor' of Islamophobia</a>

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak on Saturday at the UNGA at 6.30 pm IST.

The Indian delegate at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) walked out of the high-level meeting hall as soon as a recorded address by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan got underway.

The Indian delegate at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) walked out of the high-level meeting hall as soon as a recorded address by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan got underway. The junior diplomat, Mijito Vinito, on Friday picked up his papers, and left the meeting hall as soon as Imran Khan began his usual diatribe against India. Khan, on expected lines, raked the Kashmir issue and targetted India during his UNGA speech. To this end, TS Tirumurti, PR of India to UN in New York, posted on Twitter: "PM of Pakistan statement a new diplomatic low - at 75th UN General Assembly. Another litany of vicious falsehood, personal attacks, war mongering and obfuscation of Pakistan’s persecution of its own minorities & of its cross-border terrorism. Befitting Right of Reply awaits." PM of Pakistan statement a new diplomatic low - at 75th UN General Assembly. Another litany of vicious falsehood, personal attacks, war mongering and obfuscation of Pakistan’s persecution of its own minorities & of its cross-border terrorism. Befitting Right of Reply awaits. — PR UN Tirumurti (@ambtstirumurti) September 25, 2020 × Imran Khan termed New Delhi as a 'state sponsor' of Islamophobia in his UNGA address. "Muslims continue to be targeted with impunity in many countries. Our shrines are being destroyed; our Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) insulted; the Holy Quran burnt – and all this in the name of freedom of speech," Khan said in his unsual demeanour, adding, "and the one country in the world today where, I am sad to say, the state sponsors Islamophobia, is India. The reason behind this is RSS ideology that unfortunately rules India today." To this end, Khan urged the Assembly to declare an “International Day to Combat Islamophobia” and build a coalition to fight this scourge. Also read | Pak PM targets India at UNGA, terms it 'state sponsor' of Islamophobia Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak on Saturday at the UNGA at 6.30 pm IST.

Indian diplomat walks out of UNGA hall as Pak PM mentions Kashmir in speech

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday, declared Nepal's firm stand against terrorism as he added that the country called for an early conclusion of a comprehensive convention against terrorism. He was addressing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). During his speech, he stressed on multilaterlism and two-state solution for Israel-Palestine.

"We would like to see peace and stability in the Middle East with a twostate solution for Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with secure and recognized international borders based on 
relevant United Nations resolutions," he said

Oli said that Nepal believed in amity with all and enmity with none. But at the same time he noted in his speech that geopolitical tensions were resurfacing. He added that world needed more social funding to improve lives and not military funding to destroy them.

This is 75th General Assembly of the United Nations. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, world leaders are addressing the assembly through electronic modes.

Nepal PM Oli said Nepal was firmly committed to protect its sovereignty based on principles he mentioned earlier in his speech.

"Let's choose peace over war, co-operation over collision," he said. During his speech, he said Nepal had enduring faith in multilateralism. He added that the country was performing its due role on multilateral platforms like SAARC, BIMSTEC.

In his speech, he touched upon ongoing global conflicts.

"Nepal is deeply concerned about the worsening humanitarian situations in Libya, Syria and Yemen. Protracted conflicts inflict painful miseries to the innocent civilians.Nepal calls for peaceful resolution of all such conflicts, led and owned by the people of the respective countries," he said.

Nepal and India currently have a border dispute. Nepal included Indian terrotories of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura in its national map earlier this year.

Nepalese government has now begun a new controversy by introducing a new book which showed the region of Kalapani within its boundary.&nbsp;

Nepal's education minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel has told TOI&nbsp;that the book titled as 'Nepalko Bhubhaag Ra Seesmasambandhi Swadhyay Samagri', which loosely translated as Nepal's territorial boundary and geography, has been introduced for students in higher secondary schools.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday, declared Nepal's firm stand against terrorism as he added that the country called for an early conclusion of a comprehensive convention against terrorism.

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday, declared Nepal's firm stand against terrorism as he added that the country called for an early conclusion of a comprehensive convention against terrorism. He was addressing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). During his speech, he stressed on multilaterlism and two-state solution for Israel-Palestine. "We would like to see peace and stability in the Middle East with a twostate solution for Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with secure and recognized international borders based on relevant United Nations resolutions," he said Oli said that Nepal believed in amity with all and enmity with none. But at the same time he noted in his speech that geopolitical tensions were resurfacing. He added that world needed more social funding to improve lives and not military funding to destroy them. This is 75th General Assembly of the United Nations. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, world leaders are addressing the assembly through electronic modes. Nepal PM Oli said Nepal was firmly committed to protect its sovereignty based on principles he mentioned earlier in his speech. "Let's choose peace over war, co-operation over collision," he said. During his speech, he said Nepal had enduring faith in multilateralism. He added that the country was performing its due role on multilateral platforms like SAARC, BIMSTEC. In his speech, he touched upon ongoing global conflicts. "Nepal is deeply concerned about the worsening humanitarian situations in Libya, Syria and Yemen. Protracted conflicts inflict painful miseries to the innocent civilians.Nepal calls for peaceful resolution of all such conflicts, led and owned by the people of the respective countries," he said. Nepal and India currently have a border dispute. Nepal included Indian terrotories of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura in its national map earlier this year. Nepalese government has now begun a new controversy by introducing a new book which showed the region of Kalapani within its boundary. Nepal's education minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel has told TOI that the book titled as 'Nepalko Bhubhaag Ra Seesmasambandhi Swadhyay Samagri', which loosely translated as Nepal's territorial boundary and geography, has been introduced for students in higher secondary schools.

UNGA: Nepal PM bats for multilateralism, two-state solution for Israel-Palestine

The 75th UNGA session will go down in history as the most unconventional one. Every world leader seems to be targeting their domestic audience by sparring on a global platform. Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you who said what.

Gravitas: The most unconventional UNGA session

unga

Unga, News on Unga, stories on Unga, articles on Unga, Unga stories at Wion, Unga news, Unga latest news