TIEMOKO MEYLIET KONE, Vice President of Côte D’Ivoire, said the general debate is taking place amid a worrisome global context as the world faces security, economic and political problems.  He called on Member States to “make a collective leap forward” as geopolitical tensions fuel conflicts around the world and rampant terrorism in many regions, such as the Sahel, aggravates insecurity.  “These conflicts are gradually wiping out years of progress and development,” he said, calling on the international community to “mobilize for the people of the Sahel, who are paying a heavy price in the war against terrorist groups.”  Côte d'Ivoire is hosting several thousand nationals fleeing violence by several armed groups in neighboring Sahelian countries.  “This violence is threatening West Africa and could spread beyond the African continent if effective measures are not taken,” he said.  Côte d'Ivoire has made the expertise of the International Academy for the Fight Against Terrorism available to help other countries strengthen their counter-terrorism efforts.

The progress countries have made in the development and human security are now being undermined by the effects of climate change — accentuating inequalities, poverty — and leading to the forced displacement of millions of people every year.  “The relentless increase in the number of climate refugees is a tragedy of our time that challenges us all,” he said.  Côte d'Ivoire calls on the United Nations and its partners to increase and intensify their humanitarian assistance for these hard-hit populations.  “But we must move further on the climate issue and wholeheartedly implement measures that will reverse the allow us to reverse the dangerous curve of global warming and its consequences on our societies,” he said. Côte d'Ivoire reiterates its call on developed countries to honour their pledges on climate finance, and support for the energy transition.  The Loss and Damage Fund must be rapidly filled to provide relief for the populations in climate distress, he stressed.

The world is also coping with enormous technological changes and AI holds great promise yet can also hold a range of threats due to the lack of international regulations governing its use.  “It falls to us that these developments do not lead to a digital downgrading of some and that it serves the progress and well-being of all,” he said.  He welcomed the Global Digital Compact, which should be used by all nations.  As no single country can deal with global issues, collective action should be firmly rooted in the unique multilateral framework of the United Nations.  “The world needs an effective and dynamic United Nations that represents the people and has the consensus of nations,” he said, adding:  “The United Nations inherited from the twentieth century must undergo reform.”  The Council particularly needs reform and must open up to Africa, in all categories, to reflect the new reality.

Reform will allow the Organization to make a real contribution to resolving conflict, based on respect for international law, he said, pointing out that the fight against global warming also depends on the Organization’s ability to mobilize Member Sates around this priority.  Global governance reform also must extend to multilateral financial institutions, so they can better support efforts to finance the SDGs in developing countries and address the debt issue.  “These institutions must be more inclusive in the way they operate and their decision-making,” he said.  “These deep-rooted transformations are inevitable and must be accelerated, so that the institutions are truly at the service of all our countries, in the service of our fight against poverty, and insuring development,” he said.  He recognized the Secretary-General’s courageous initiatives in the areas of preventive diplomacy, maintenance and peacebuilding.  “Together we have the tools to meet the challenges that disrupt the world, and to give our young people and women the ability to flourish and contribute, more than in the past, to the development of our countries,” he concluded.