Sisi addresses UN role, peace in Arab region at UNGA 73

CAIRO – 25 September 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi on Tuesday said “UN’s stature and role are in dire need for boosting,” during his speech at the high-level General Debate of the 73^rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 73).

The Egyptian leader added that boosting the role and stature of the UN is deemed a basic base in respecting sovereignty and achieving a balance of interests.

He also added that Egypt is the 7^th contributors to the UN Peacekeeping Forces.

“We have to admit the existence of a disruption in the performance of the international organization, which casts serious doubts regarding its credibility for many Arab and African nations,” Sisi added.

“How can we blame an Arab citizen questioning the UN’s credibility and the values that it represents in a times that the Arab region is facing the dangers of disintegration and destruction due to terrorism waves, conflicts, and sectarian strives that drain the capabilities of the Arab world.”

Earlier on Monday, Sisi delivered a brief speech at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit held on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York.

The Egyptian President also wondered about “Palestinians and their legitimate rights to live peacefully and with dignity in an independent state that expresses their national identities.”

“The Palestinian case stands as a proof to the incapability of the international community to find a fair solution based on legitimacy and UN decisions that stipulate the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

As for the situation in Syria and Yemen, Sisi said that Egypt is in the forefront of countries that support a “peaceful solution.” “In addition, Egypt is against taking advantage of the crises in these two countries to achieve their regional ambitions and interventions.”

Sisi also called upon the international community to help rebuild Libya, especially in terms of unifying the military institution to provide a solid structure that can encounter terrorism and defend Libya.

Sisi held meetings on Sunday with U.S. politicians, President of the World Bank (WB) Jim Yong Kim, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, members of the American Chamber of Commerce and heads of global companies in United States.

Moreover, Sisi clarified that his speech comes from a unique Egyptian experience of people who exerted strenuous efforts to save their country and enforce their wills.

Sisi strongly affirmed that Egypt has a firm constitutional base for the preservation of human rights, pointing out that it achieved wide leaps, especially in the empowerment of women and youths. “Women in Egypt now occupy 25% of the country’s ministerial posts and more than 15% of the Parliament’s seats, not to mention numerous young people who serve in leading positions.”

The president’s speech before the UN affirmed the necessity of reaching peaceful solutions for international conflicts, which is considered the fundamental aim behind the creation of the United Nations. He also highlighted the “urgent need to mobilize resources to help countries emerging from conflicts to rehabilitate their institutions and reconstruction and development, but not in the form of internal interventions or a violations to their sovereignties.

“Arab’s are still reaching out for peace,… our people deserves to get this sad page in their history folded,” Sisi added.

”Egypt believes that the UN has the ability to overcome any doubts in its credibility and role through reverting back to its basic foundations, and to work in a way that achieves the aspirations of our people, with that only, the UN can regain our trust in a future that is based on peace, cooperation and respect,” the Egyptian president concluded. “Long live Egypt, long live Egypt, long live Egypt.”