President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that being able to address the presidency of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in our mother tongue, Dhivehi, is a testament to Maldives’ successes as a small, sovereign, island state. Recalling how the UN had debated the merits of allowing admission to a small state such as the Maldives 56-years ago, the President said that the fact that he is able to address the President of the GA in Dhivehi validated how far Maldives had come in the international arena.
President Solih thanked the global leaders for their support and trust in allowing a Maldivian to assume the prestigious office. He stated that, despite being comparatively small, the Maldives has shown its prowess in the global community and said that this has been an honor that all Maldivians can partake in. The President noted that the Maldives may be small in size, however, Maldivians are big in our rich culture and heritage, and expressed that this is a great honor for our nation.
Further in his speech, President Solih highlighted that as the world recovers from the Covid-19 menace, we must all, collectively resolve to make sure that such a catastrophe is not repeated again. Delineating on how the consequences of Covid-19 had been the same, from small island nations to the powers spanning continents, President Solih stated that it had laid bare, in the starkest of terms, that in today’s world, we are bound together. He stressed the importance of working together, in solidarity and unity, to achieve our ambitions together.
President detailed the Maldives' experience with the Covid-19 pandemic, outlining the measures taken by the government to control the virus and the catastrophic socioeconomic outcomes faced due to having to shut down our borders. He also revealed how the Maldives successfully managed the pandemic by determinedly following the instructions set by healthcare professionals.
Highlighting the urgency of the climate crisis in his address, President stated that the Maldives' are determined to not passively wait on the climate front, citing overwhelming scientific evidence that the climate emergency would be catastrophic to humanity. President Solih also advised the potential solutions, such as reaching net-zero by 2050; how global emissions needed to be reduced by 45% by 2030, and limiting warming to 1.5 degrees. He stated that the difference between 1.5 degrees and 2 degrees is a death sentence for the Maldives, noting that we already have a 1.1 degree Celsius increase in the warming of the planet.
Acknowledging that terrorism is amongst the most urgent threats affecting the world right now, President Solih has condemned terrorism in all its forms everywhere and reiterated the Maldives' steadfast commitment to work with the international community to address terrorism in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. President Solih also stated that the Maldives is not immune to the menace posed by radicalized extremists.
The President also noted how humanity is at the center of all UN principles and reiterated the UN’s role in addressing injustices, inequalities, and peacekeeping across the globe. He described the UN as hope for a world devoid of the ugliness of wars and famine; hope for equality of all peoples to prevail; hope for justice, human rights, self-determination, and democracy to reign supreme; the hope of a world where people oppressed under the yoke of colonial rule and other forms of oppression were rendered free; hope that we preserve our planet, its resources, ecosystems, and wonders for generations yet to be born.
This is the second time President Solih is addressing the UNGA. The President had delivered his first general debate statement at the 74th Session of the UNGA, in 2019. The President delivered his remarks on the third speaking slot this year; early slots are rarely accorded to smaller states.
President Solih thanked the global leaders for their support and trust in allowing a Maldivian to assume the prestigious office. He stated that, despite being comparatively small, the Maldives has shown its prowess in the global community and said that this has been an honor that all Maldivians can partake in. The President noted that the Maldives may be small in size, however, Maldivians are big in our rich culture and heritage, and expressed that this is a great honor for our nation.
Further in his speech, President Solih highlighted that as the world recovers from the Covid-19 menace, we must all, collectively resolve to make sure that such a catastrophe is not repeated again. Delineating on how the consequences of Covid-19 had been the same, from small island nations to the powers spanning continents, President Solih stated that it had laid bare, in the starkest of terms, that in today’s world, we are bound together. He stressed the importance of working together, in solidarity and unity, to achieve our ambitions together.
President detailed the Maldives' experience with the Covid-19 pandemic, outlining the measures taken by the government to control the virus and the catastrophic socioeconomic outcomes faced due to having to shut down our borders. He also revealed how the Maldives successfully managed the pandemic by determinedly following the instructions set by healthcare professionals.
Highlighting the urgency of the climate crisis in his address, President stated that the Maldives' are determined to not passively wait on the climate front, citing overwhelming scientific evidence that the climate emergency would be catastrophic to humanity. President Solih also advised the potential solutions, such as reaching net-zero by 2050; how global emissions needed to be reduced by 45% by 2030, and limiting warming to 1.5 degrees. He stated that the difference between 1.5 degrees and 2 degrees is a death sentence for the Maldives, noting that we already have a 1.1 degree Celsius increase in the warming of the planet.
Acknowledging that terrorism is amongst the most urgent threats affecting the world right now, President Solih has condemned terrorism in all its forms everywhere and reiterated the Maldives' steadfast commitment to work with the international community to address terrorism in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. President Solih also stated that the Maldives is not immune to the menace posed by radicalized extremists.
The President also noted how humanity is at the center of all UN principles and reiterated the UN’s role in addressing injustices, inequalities, and peacekeeping across the globe. He described the UN as hope for a world devoid of the ugliness of wars and famine; hope for equality of all peoples to prevail; hope for justice, human rights, self-determination, and democracy to reign supreme; the hope of a world where people oppressed under the yoke of colonial rule and other forms of oppression were rendered free; hope that we preserve our planet, its resources, ecosystems, and wonders for generations yet to be born.
This is the second time President Solih is addressing the UNGA. The President had delivered his first general debate statement at the 74th Session of the UNGA, in 2019. The President delivered his remarks on the third speaking slot this year; early slots are rarely accorded to smaller states.
