Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, the President of Suriname, highlighted the UN’s achievements, for instance, in ending colonial rule, advancing human rights and working to establish a balanced world order.  Yet, she admitted that it has also been unsuccessful in avoiding conflicts, wars and violations of human rights.  She expressed heightened concern regarding the situation for people in Haiti, whom the Security Council recently heard are enduring a perfect storm of suffering.  Suriname strongly believes conflicts should primarily be resolved through dialogue.  She raised the question of what must be done differently over the next 80 years.  The UN will only be successful if all nations “without exception, adhere to the resolutions it adopts”, stressing that “we can only keep the peace if we stop allowing that the votes of all the countries of the world can be nullified by one veto.”

Member States must remind themselves that the world in which the UN was established no longer exists.  Therefore, they must recommit to the principles and objectives of the Charter and recognize that all people of the world should have opportunities for a dignified life.  The Council should be expanded to include all nations that exert major influence. Their exclusion will only increase the risk of conflict and obstruct beneficial cooperation that is needed for humanity to prosper.  Her country endorses the inclusion of, amongst others, Brazil, India, African representation and a non—permanent rotating seat for small island developing States,, and low-lying coastal countries.  The UN must be “a genuine unity of nations”, if it wants to play a crucial role in creating a prosperous future for humanity, she said, stressing:  “We have no choice but to genuinely unite.  All of us.”

While developing offshore oil and gas for energy security, Suriname is also advancing its transition to renewable energy.  “We know climate change is a fact.”  It has achieved results in disease prevention, including this year being the first in the Amazon region to be declared malaria-free, by WHO.  Her country’s example shows that it too can make a valuable contribution in combating infectious diseases.  Turning to reparations for slavery, she acknowledged the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice, underscoring that “slavery was a crime, is a crime, against humanity.”  Despite the Paris Agreement, the climate crisis is worse than was feared. “Our countries have least contributed to climate change, but are hit the hardest by its effects, directly impacting the livelihoods and economic growth of our peoples,” she said.  The international community must urgently address the climate impacts facing small island developing States and countries with low-lying coastal areas.

Her country is covered by rainforest and is one of the three carbon-negative countries on Earth.  Each year it captures more carbon than it emits, “and we want to keep it that way”, she said.  Protection and conservation of the forest, via sustainable foresting and Indigenous and Tribal communities’ stewardship, has been a priority.  “We are proud of the way we did it, but pride alone does not pay the bills.”  Forests are threatened by the potential development of gold, diamonds and bauxite. Suriname aims to maintain 90 per cent forest coverage but cannot do it alone.  The world’s largest emitters must share in this responsibility, with “action, justice and finance”.  She called for predictable climate finance for high-forested, low-deforestation countries; fair recognition of real carbon removals; and direct support for the communities who live in and protect these forests.  Suriname endorses the initiative of the presidency of the thirtieth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) to launch the Tropical Forest Forever Facility.