Day two of UN General Assembly, it’s multilateralism

On day two of UN General Assembly’s annual debate, it’s multilateralism all the way

From trade to climate change to development and fighting diseases, world leaders mounted the podium of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday to deliver a ringing endorsement of multilateralism, singling out a strengthened UN as the prime tool for improving humanity’s lot.

Across the political spectrum, from economies large and small, representing all continents, Heads of State and Government crossed the lines of political and ideological division to join in their advocacy of a multilateral world order.

“In a global context that is increasingly fragmented, multipolar, and in constant evolution, we are convinced, in fact, that the international community needs more effective multilateralism and a United Nations that is strengthened in its role as a pillar of an international system based on peace, justice and equity,” said Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on the second day of the Assembly’ annual general debate.

From the opposite pole, President Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba declared: “The exercise of multilateralism and full respect for the principles and rules of International Law to advance towards a multipolar, democratic and equitable world, are required in order to ensure peaceful coexistence, preserve international peace and security and find lasting solutions for systemic problems.”

In many respects the leaders’ speeches were like ‘state of the nation’ reports in which they laid out a balance sheet of challenges faced and achievement attained by their individual countries, but many soon returned to the theme of the essential need for multilateralism.

“The world has slowly drifted ever more worryingly towards unilateral action,” Namibian President Hage Geingob said, stressing that this goes against the fundamental tenets of democracy upon which the UN is built and which are necessary for sustained inclusive development. “It is for this reason that multilateralism must be embraced with greater urgency.”

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo underscored the importance of multilateralism in trade. “Today, as we speak, a trade war is being stoked between the two largest economies of the world (US and China),” he said. “The consequences will affect those who have had no say, including small countries like Ghana. These events provide proof, if some were needed, that ours is an interdependent world.”

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic added her voiceto the chorus. “Multilateralism is under ever-increasing strain. This is of particular concern since the most important issues for the mankind cannot be resolved by any State singlehandedly, or in isolation. Multilateralism is indispensable,” she said, while acknowledging the need for changes in the system and warning against complacency.

For Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid “nothing is more important than truly effective multilateralism” in terms of efficiency.

Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez called for the promotion of multilateralism “in all its facets (political, economic, cultural etc.) as the best way to confront the global challenges that humanity faces.”

Meanwhile, Slovakian President Andrej Kiska acknowledged that multilateralism is not always an easy way “but it is the only sustainable one,” while President Klaus Iohannis of Romania stressed the need to reach out to younger people, civil society, journalists and business people. “We need them all for the cause of multilateralism and global leadership,” he said.

Not every speaker endorsed unalloyed multilateralism, with Polish President Andrzej Duda warning that not everyone who claims to be a proponent of multilateralism thinks of it in terms of the equality of States.

President Andrej Kiska of the Slovak Republic addresses the General Assembly. UN Photo/Cia Pak

“One can say that there is a negative multilateralism, which boils down to the concert of powers, a division into spheres of influence and the conviction that the fate of others can be decided without their participation,” he said. “Europe and Poland were often victims of this kind of multilateralism, starting from the 18th century, throughout the 19th century, to the times of the Cold War.”

He called for the positive multilateralism of equal States and free nations, not that of usurpation and hierarchy, and advocated giving weaker countries additional opportunities, including additional voting power, or additional territorial representation in decision-making bodies.

Calling for strengthened multilateralism, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa denounced current trends towards unilateralism.

“We do not understand, rather we deplore, unilateral tropism and disinvestment in international organizations,” he stressed. “They represent a political shortsightedness, which runs the risk of repeating the mistakes of almost a century ago.”

On the specific issues where multilateralism is essential King Tupou VI of Tonga welcomed the convening on the margins of the general debate of the third High-level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, noting that combatting the scourge is grossly underfunded.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta cited the current global trading situation as evidence that multilateralism is under severe strain. “Rarely has the system of trade and security that was established following the Second World War, under the aegis of the United Nations, been under greater strain. The populism and extremism unleashed at the national level has brought forward powerful constituencies that want a dismantling of the global order,” he warned.

And Palau President Tommy Remengesau spotlighted climate change in calling the General Assembly “this most important of forums of multilateralism,” citing the record-breaking cyclones that have hit the Asia-Pacific region this year. “Building the resilience of vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change must be an urgent global priority,” he stressed.

Finally, while asserting their commitment to multilateralism, many leaders, especially from Africa, called for democratizing the UN by enlarging the 15-member Security Council, the only UN body whose decisions are legally binding, to include increased representation for African and other developing countries.

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