New York / Information Office / April 28

HE Ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al -Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations has affirmed that the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations is an opportunity to renew the principles and values established by the founders of the United Nations as well as to enhance multilateralism.

This came in a speech in which HE the Ambassador, in her capacity as facilitator in partnership with the Permanent Delegate of Sweden, participated in consultations between member States on the draft political declaration to be adopted at the High-level Meeting with the participation of heads of State and government on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations next September. And that was in the virtual dialogue held, under the title "The Future We Want - The United Nations We Need" and organized by the Government of Sweden in partnership with the "Global Challenges Foundation"; with the aim of highlighting the importance of global governance and the celebration of multilateralism, within the framework of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations .

Her Excellency said that the spread of the pandemic of the corona (Covid-19) is an additional challenge that requires the unification of efforts, cooperation and international solidarity. The virus reached all countries in the world and did not distinguish between them and became a test for all, she added.

She noted that this situation comes at a time when work is being done to plan for the future of the United Nations. Her Excellency reviewed the process of consultations on the statement of the high-level meeting of heads of state and government in light of the developments of the pandemic, stressing that the political declaration is meaningful and not far from the suffering and aspirations of people around the world, as the effectiveness of the United Nations in the twenty-first century depends on that.

Her Excellency said that the consultations will continue to communicate remotely, and that the main challenges will be built on, which are the ongoing conflicts, climate change, the absence of confidence globally, and the positive and negative aspects of emerging technologies. She also drew attention to the need to focus on the Covid-19 crisis, with its dimensions and effects, and how to deal with it, which has become part of the political declaration.

The virtual dialogue was inaugurated by HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde, and HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn as well as Fabrizio Hochschild Drummond, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Special Adviser on Preparations for the Seventy-Fifth United Nations Anniversary.

The participants stressed the importance of multilateral cooperation and the international system based on the system in facing many challenges facing the world in various economic, environmental and legal fields. They also underlined the importance of the global response to the corona pandemic, taking into account the economic and social impacts, as well as responding to the Secretary-General's call for a global ceasefire.

Participants also stressed that the Covid-19 pandemic underscored the great importance of multilateralism, as the lives of many will depend on how successful states are in solidarity and supporting international institutions. They agreed that this time is a time of pluralism, not a time of isolationism, and that all have a responsibility to ensure that the United Nations is strong and capable of addressing global challenges.