EMOMALI RAHMON, President of Tajikistan, said “it is high time now to take bold and effective steps forward to strengthen the key role of the United Nations in resolving conflicts and restoring peace and stability across the planet.”  Advocating for a solution to all conflicts through political and diplomatic means, he expressed support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, whose principal message is reflected in his country’s national development strategy. The existence of a wide range of difficulties hinders the financing of sustainable development, he observed, adding that challenges include economic and financial crises, climate change and loss of biodiversity.  “We are witnessing setbacks in achieving the SDGs in many developing countries,” he said, underscoring the need to remove barriers to development financing.  The activities of the international financial and economic systems should meet the needs of developing countries, he asserted.

Recognizing the importance of the Summit of the Future, he said that the adopted Pact plays a pivotal role in ensuring peace and sustainable development.  This pact was adopted at a time when millions of civilians are exposed to risks and dangers in different regions worldwide, he said, urging the international community to take action to withstand the threat of international terrorism, radicalism, cybercrime, drug trafficking and weapons smuggling.  Furthermore, he voiced concern over the rise of Islamophobia in recent years.

Turning to the security front, he cited the Palestinian crisis as “a matter of deep concern”, underscoring that “there is no military solution to the Palestinian case”.  The ultimate solution lies in the implementation of United Nations resolutions, he stressed, urging the international community to take effective steps to restore lasting stability in Palestine.  He also called on the international community to spare no effort to help the people of Afghanistan — including regions affected by natural hazards — to prevent a humanitarian crisis in this war-torn country.

As a country vulnerable to climate change, he continued, Tajikistan suffers from frequent occurrences of natural hazards, inflicting damage on his country’s economy and causing a death toll.  Climate change is also accelerating the melting of glaciers, negatively impacting his country’s agriculture and industry.  Today, over 1,000 out of 14,000 of Tajikistan’s glaciers — the region’s primary source of drinking water — have completely melted, he said, commanding initiatives for glacier preservation.  To advance the glacier preservation agenda, Tajikistan and France have put forward an initiative to declare 2025-2034 a decade of action for cryospheric sciences.  Dushanbe has also adopted adaptation strategies, including specific provisions of the Paris Agreement.  One of the ways to mitigate climate change challenges is to develop a green economy, which calls for the development of green energy, he added.