"The UN must always improve itself to conduct revitalization and efficiency reforms. The UN must be able to demonstrate that multilateralism is delivered, including during a crisis, it must be more responsive and effective in resolving various global challenges," President Jokowi stated while delivering his address at the general debate session of the 75th United Nations General Assembly.
The speech was delivered virtually and broadcasted on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube channel on Wednesday.
"We all have a responsibility to continue to strengthen the UN, so that it remains relevant and can increasingly contribute in line with the challenges of the times," Jokowi affirmed.
The president emphasized that the UN is not merely a towering structure in New York City but rather an aspiration and a shared commitment of all nations to realize world peace and prosperity for the next generations.
"Indonesia has unshakable faith in the United Nations, in multilateralism, as multilateralism is the only way that can provide equality," he affirmed.
Jokowi recalled that 75 years ago, the UN was formed to prevent another World War II from occurring again and ensuring that the world could be more peaceful, stable, and prosperous since no one stands to benefit from a war.
Victory celebrations amid the destruction were nonsensical, and being the largest economy in a sinking world too was meaningless.
"Honorable chairmen, at the 75th anniversary of the UN, we should ask whether the world we dreamed of has been achieved? I think our answer is the same, not yet. Conflicts still occur in various parts of the world," he affirmed.
President Jokowi believes that principles of the UN charter and international law were ignored, including respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.
"We are all concerned about this situation. Our concerns are magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when we should all work together to fight the pandemic, what we are seeing instead are still divisions and increasingly growing rivalries," the president reiterated.
Jokowi stressed on the need for countries in the world to unite to always apply a "win-win" approach in mutually beneficial relations between nations.
"We know that the impact of this pandemic is tremendous, both in terms of health and socio-economics. We also understand that this virus does not recognize national boundaries, no one is safe, until everyone is. If division and rivalry continue to occur, I am worried that the foundation for stability and sustainable peace will waver or even fade away," he emphasized.
This was Jokowi’s first speech since taking office as president of the Republic of Indonesia, as during the 2014-2019 period, Vice President Jusuf Kalla had presented a speech to represent Indonesia in the global forum.
Apart from President Jokowi, several ministers, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, and Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati, will also deliver speeches virtually.
EDITED BY INE (*)
