PHILÉMON YANG (Cameroon), President of the General Assembly, said that this year’s session showed the importance of multilateral cooperation in overcoming global challenges — from the climate crisis and poverty to global financial architecture and gender inequality.  The Summit of the Future — marked by the adoption of the Pact for the Future and its annexes — aims to revitalize the multilateral system and international cooperation.

“While we are meeting in New York, violent conflicts are raging in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan and Ukraine,” he said, noting that this is not an exhaustive list of the conflicts and crises affecting Member States.  In the last few days, the world has seen an extremely dramatic escalation of violence between Israel and Hizbullah in Lebanon.  Stressing that the escalation risks causing war in the entire region, he stated: “Peace in the Middle East is hanging delicately on a shoestring.”  Thousands of people have lost their lives, many others have been displaced and infrastructure has been destroyed.

“The world must not allow an all-out war to happen in this volatile region,” he said, calling on all parties — Israel, Hamas and Hizbullah — to urgently conclude a ceasefire.  And for all remaining hostages to be freed immediately and unharmed. He also called on all those with influence on the parties to demand an immediate ceasefire and dialogue. Moreover, he said, all States supplying weapons to the region must desist from such actions.  “No sustainable peace will be achieved militarily,” he asserted, adding that negotiations and diplomatic solutions must take precedence over brutal force.  Only a two-State solution can guarantee lasting peace and security for both the people of Israel and Palestine, and the rest of the region.

During the general debate, the Assembly heard from 190 Member States, including contributions from 71 Heads of State, 42 Heads of Government, six Vice-Presidents and Crown Princes, eight Deputy Prime Ministers, 53 Ministers, three Vice-Ministers, seven Chairs of delegations and three Observers. However, it was disappointing and unacceptable that only about 10 per cent of the speakers were women.  “This glaring disparity speaks to a deeper issue that we cannot ignore,” he said, underlining the need to “do far better on gender equality”.

“Only through dialogue, listening and collective action can we find solutions that benefit all of us,” he said, noting that the theme of the seventy-ninth session — “Unity in diversity, for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for everyone, everywhere” — is not just a guiding principle but “a call to action”.  With the aim of building a peaceful, just and dignified future for all, he declared:  “Let us all move forward together with this spirit of unity and shared responsibility.”