The anniversary meeting provides an opportunity to reflect on the Organization’s achievements and the evolving challenges it faces in a rapidly changing global landscape.

What: High-level plenary meeting to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations

Speakers and Segments:Musical Performance by the Met Chorus Artists and the Sing for Hope HandaHarmony Youth Chorus conducted by Tilman MichaelOpening Remarks by H.E. Ms. Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th UN General AssemblyScreening of UN80 Commemoration video - Better TogetherRemarks by H.E. Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-GeneralReflections by eminent speakers on the role of the United Nations H.E. Ms. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of LiberiaH.E. Ms. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Former Prime Minister of NorwayMs. Maria Ressa, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize LaureatePoem Recitation by Ms. Maryam Bukar Hassan, UN Global Advocate for PeaceWhen: Monday, 22 September 2025, 9 AM-10 AM
Where: General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters, New York

Streaming coverage (Live and on demand) is available in all 6 languages through UN WebTV  

Information for the Media: Please contact malu@un.org for escort to cover the event in-person.

For more information, visit the Website 

Media Contacts La Neice Collins, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 212 963 0564, M: +1 917 721 9306, Email: collins3@un.orgNick Birnback, Director of Communications for the President of the General Assembly, M +1 929 301 0761, Email: birnbackn@un.orgMariam Shaikh, Adviser/ Social and Digital Media/Media Relations, M: +1 917 361 4990, Email: mariam.shaikh@un.org  

Many of you may have seen the article in the New York Times a few days ago about the postcard sent from the UN in 1953. Alan Ball, from Idaho, sent the postcard to his family. It was lost to time, but resurfaced, 72 years later. I found it interesting that even back then this young man visited the UN on his stopover in New York. The UN was still new then, yet even then it mattered to people. We often forget, in the trenches of bureaucracy, politics and diplomacy, how much this institution matters to ordinary people. To the people like Mr. Ball – and the one million visitors who come through the doors each year. And to those in every country of the world whose lives are impacted by the work we, you, do. Ask the displaced how the work of UNHCR or IOM has mattered to them. Ask a person living with HIV/AIDS how the work of UNAIDS has mattered. Or ask the farmer in the Sahel how seeds, provided by FAO, has mattered. Every single day, you, the living legacy of this organization, affect the lives of people around the world. You defend those most vulnerable. You stand for human rights, even in the darkest days.  You champion the plight of the unseen, the unheard, and the forgotten.  On Monday we will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. This is a moment to celebrate the people who make this institution.  But it is also a moment of profound reflection on what this institution represents.  What it represented to the people of 1945, who sought refuge from the scourge of war.  What it represents to the people today, who call out for the UN to live up to its promise.  It comes at a critical moment of change and evolution within the UN itself.  As I will say in my remarks on Monday – change is necessary – but it must be built on the principles and spirit of the UN Charter.  Principles that are upheld every day by the women and men of the UN, by you.  Who have dedicated their lives  to humanitarian relief,  to peacekeeping,  to the protection of human rights,  and to sustainable development.  Who have, far too often, given those lives in service… in Iraq, in Gaza…   168 women and men lost their lives in 2024 alone standing up for the principles of our Charter.  These are the people – the heroes – who embody multilateralism in action.  It is an honour to join you in celebrating this living legacy of the United Nations.  You carry out the quiet, often thankless work, away from the limelight, yet indispensable to this Organization—to making it stronger, to make it better, together.  You are the reason we can take pride in the United Nations today, the reason why a young visitor walking through these halls may look back, eighty years from now, with pride at having once stood here. Thank you. [END]

 The United Nations in India and UNESCO have launched new guidelines to make the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal more accessible and inclusive. ‘Enhancing Universal Accessibility during Cultural Festival 2015 Edition Durga Puja in Kolkata’ are a set of standard operating procedures developed by UN in India and UNESCO after extensive consultations with festival organizers, accessibility experts and organizations of persons with disabilities and with with technical support of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. The guidelines draw on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and India’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016). They aim to position persons with disabilities not just as beneficiaries but as active partners in shaping accessibility measures. Accessibility challenges go beyond disability alone — they also affect older persons, pregnant women, and others who face barriers at different stages of life. According to India’s 2011 census, 2.2% of the population are persons with disabilities, while 8.6% are older persons. In 2021, UNESCO added Durga Puja in Kolkata to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The inscription described the festival as “the best instance of the public performance of religion and art, and a thriving ground for collaborative artists and designers." Durga Puja – which kicks off on 28 September -- breaks the divides of class, religion and ethnicities as people visit Puja pandals (structures) to admire the installations. With more accessible venues, the pandals should not only allow persons with disability to be part of the festivities but also be active participants. The guidelines, grounded in the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and aligned the United Nations Convention on Rights of people with Disabilities, offer Durga Puja committees clear, practical steps to ensure everyone can fully participate in the celebrations, including: Ensuring physical infrastructure such as pandals, ramps, and sanitary facilities are accessibleProviding accessible communication and information, including sign language, Braille, and audio formatsMaking programming inclusive to engage persons with disabilities as active participantsDeveloping emergency preparedness and safety protocols to protect festival-goersTraining volunteers to build awareness, respect, and support skillsChanging attitudes to foster inclusion and dignity in every interaction  “As we advance toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is important that the call to “leave no one behind” also resonates throughout our cultural life. When persons with disabilities join fully in festivals like Durga Puja, the celebration becomes richer and more meaningful for the entire community. I am proud that UN agencies have joined hands with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities to offer these helpful guidelines. Together we can help harness India’s truly incredible cultural heritage as a powerful force for inclusion - not just here, but globally.”Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India “Durga Puja embodies the living heritage of Bengal. To safeguard it for the future, we must also ensure it is accessible for all. This initiative brings the principles of UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into action, showing how cultural life can be both vibrant and inclusive.”Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia “When Durga Puja was inscribed on the UNESCO List, it indicated that we have a continued and shared responsibility towards the respect that has been given to us. The important key would be inclusion, community participation, expression of art and culture in different forms and also to be able to transcend divides between society and economy.” -Sri Santanu Basu IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of West Bengal UN in India and UNESCO hope that, following this year’s Durga Puja, the new guidelines will be used for other cultural and religious festivals taking place across the country. The initiative makes the case for accessibility as both a human right and a driver of community vitality and economic growth. When festivals are accessible, they enrich participation, spark stronger community bonds, and contribute to social and cultural resilience. The guidelines emphasise accessibility is good design for all – ramps that aid wheelchair users also help parents with strollers and the elderly; wayfinding signage supports both persons with disabilities and visitors unfamiliar with the area; seating benefits anyone in need of rest.

 As Durga Puja gets set to return to the streets of West Bengal this year, the launch of these guidelines calls upon puja committees, authorities, volunteers, and communities to weave accessibility into their plans and actions. This effort resonates with the global call of the SDGs to “leave no one behind.” For more information, contact:Chironjit Ganguly: c.ganguly@unesco.orgSindhuja Khajuria: s.khajuria@unesco.org

OPENING REMARKS:Secretary-General: Leaders are making their way to New York for the UN’s eightieth anniversary and high-level week of the General Assembly.Some call it the World Cup of diplomacy.  But this cannot be about scoring points -- it must be about solving problems.  There is too much at stake.We are gathering in turbulent -- even uncharted -- waters.Geopolitical divides widening, conflicts raging, impunity escalating, our planet overheating, new technologies racing ahead without guardrails, inequalities widening by the hour, and international cooperation is straining under pressures unseen in our lifetimes.But next week every country will be here -- including nearly 150 Heads of State and Government.  This is an opportunity we cannot miss.UN week offers every possibility for dialogue and mediation. Every opportunity for forging solutions. Thousands of leaders’ meetings will take place.  I will hold over 150 bilateral meetings myself.I will use every one of them to press leaders to contact each other, to speak directly with each other, to bridge divides, to reduce risks, to find solutions, to get serious.People are demanding answers and action.  Actions that match the gravity of the challenges our world faces.  Actions that meet the expectations of all those on the outside looking in.Let this be a week of solutions.For peace -- in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and beyond -- and for a pathway to a just, lasting peace in the Middle East based on a two-State solution.For climate -- with countries stepping up with ambitious new national climate action plans that keep the 1.5°C limit alive.For responsible innovation -- as we launch the Global Dialogue on AI Governance to put humanity at the centre of technological change with every country at the table.For women and girls -- with concrete plans for equality as we mark the thirtieth anniversary of the landmark Beijing conference.For financing development at a first-of-its-kind biennial summit bringing together leaders of international financial institutions and Heads of State and focused on implementing commitments on financing the Sustainable Development Goals.For a stronger United Nations -- by backing our UN80 Initiative to equip the UN for a world that no longer looks like 1945 -- or even last year.The list is long because the needs are great.  Our times demand more than posturing and promises. They demand that leaders make progress and follow through.  To honour the Charter, pursue peace, advance sustainable development, ensure human rights and confront global challenges together.The United Nations is the place.  Next week is the time.  Leaders must get serious -- and deliver. Thank you.[END] QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:Question: Thank you, Secretary-General, on behalf of UNCA for this press conference.  My question is on Gaza.  A UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, and the top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, incited these acts.  What’s your reaction on that?  And are you planning to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu next week or any other senior Israeli officials?  And if I may, in your opinion, can the US role in mediating with Israel and Qatar help in going back to the negotiating table?  Thank you so much.Secretary-General: There are many questions at the same time.  Well, as I’ve said time and time again in these and different similar circumstances, it is not in the attributions of the Secretary-General to do the legal determination of genocide.  That belongs to the [appropriate] judicial entities, namely the International Court of Justice (ICJ).  And let us be aware that at the present moment, the International Court of Justice is dealing with a case whose name is “Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip”.  Now, the fact that I have not the competence to do the legal determination of genocide doesn’t mean that I do not consider that what’s happening in Gaza, after the horrific attacks by Hamas in October two years ago, what happens in Gaza today is horrendous.  We are seeing massive destruction of neighbourhoods, now the systematic destruction of Gaza City.  We are seeing massive killing of civilians in a way that I do not remember in any conflict since I am Secretary-General.  And we are seeing dramatic obstacles to the distribution of humanitarian aid.  At a certain moment, it completely stopped.  With the consequences that the Palestinian people are suffering an horrendous situation with famine, with no access to any kind of health support and with continued displacement and imminent risk of losing their lives at any moment.  So, this is something we cannot forget, independently of the names that are given. The truth is that this is something that is morally, politically, and legally intolerable.  Now the second question was about Qatar and the United States. I believe the objective of the meeting is to strengthen the bilateral agreement on defence.  Qatar has already announced that Qatar was ready to start again the mediation.  And that mediation is absolutely vital when we see the new phase of destruction of Gaza City -- to have a ceasefire, an immediate ceasefire with immediate and unconditional release of hostages and with effective humanitarian aid being distributed.  So, let’s hope that this meeting with US will help the US put pressure on Israel for seriously accepting a negotiation. Question: Will you meet Prime Minister Netanyahu this week?Secretary-General: I will be delighted to receive Prime Minister Netanyahu if he asks for that, as I will do with any other member Head of State.  And of course, according to the rules, I will inform, if that is the case, the International Criminal Court (ICC).  But the gravity of the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories more than justifies that, if the Prime Minister of Israel wants a meeting, for me to grant it. Question: Mr. Secretary-General, you said that next week should be a week of actions and solutions to the world’s myriad conflicts, crises, and challenges.  But in an even more deeply divided and polarized world, what realistic chance for breakthrough for peace in Ukraine, Sudan, or anywhere else?  And for tackling climate change and generating more financing for the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) or for the United Nations?  Secretary-General: Well, I think this is an important opportunity in relation to all the conflicts. I’ll be meeting, hopefully, the Russian Federation delegation, the Ukrainian delegation.  I will be meeting at least the Middle East countries and some friends of Israel.  I’ll be meeting Sudan.  I will have a mediation again, meeting with the two sides of Cyprus and different other areas where we are involved, DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and many other places.  And I believe that heads of certain Governments have an opportunity as they are together here, and as most of the conflicts we have today are conflicts with a several number of actors; look at Libya, look at DRC.  This is an opportunity to bring them together, and we’ll do our best to do so. There will be a formal meeting on Somalia, and I hope that there will be several other meetings on all the other issues, and we’ll be actively engaged in promoting them in order to be able to be as close as possible to re-launch seriously the peace processes the world needs.Obviously, this is also an occasion for countries to make commitments.  I hope many will present their national determined contributions on climate, hopefully aligned with 1.5°C.  This will be the moment in which we will announce, we’ll make the invitation for candidates for the high-level independent scientific panel on artificial intelligence.  This will be an occasion for…  I hope many countries understand that it is absolutely essential to increase the funds available to developing countries in all aspects.  And this is not only through ODA (official development assistance), we know, but it is through the reform of multilateral institutions; it is through the increase of the action of multilateral development banks; it is through many innovative forms of financing that are perfectly possible, independent of the fact that the direct aid to development will be very difficult to increase with the position of the United States and also the position of other countries that have to increase or believe they have to increase their defence expenditures.  But we need to have the imagination to find many other sources of financing, and we know that this is possible.  I’ve said time and time again, if you put $1 in a project, it’s $1.  If we put $1 in the capital of a multilateral development bank, it’s $5.  So there are ways to multiply resources that are scarce, and this will be in the centre of our discussion in relation to development, the first time that we’ll be gathering not only Heads of State, but international financial institutions, G20 members to seriously look how can we overcome the present obstacles and be able to re-launch the Sustainable Development Goals.  So there are really problems.  There are really limitations, but there are ways to overcome them, and that is why this discussion is so important. Question:  Secretary-General, Sherwin Bryce-Pease, South African Broadcasting.  Good to see you, sir.  I want to return to the question of genocide in Gaza.  Navi Pillay, the Chair of the Commission of Inquiry, said the following today:  It’s our hope that this report will be read by the upper-ups, including the Secretary-General at the UN, and we hope that the facts should influence the high-level leaders at the UN to also call it what it is, a genocide.  “There is no need to wait for the ICJ to declare it a genocide.”  Human Rights Watch has declared it a genocide.  Amnesty International has declared it a genocide.  A world leading association on genocide scholars has called it a genocide. South Africa has called it a genocide. Many countries have.  Is the United Nations not now out of step from the prevailing and growing consensus that this is a genocide in Gaza?Secretary-General: The United Nations has several bodies, and the role of the Secretary-General is to be aligned with the bodies of the United Nations.  So, obviously, if that is decided by the Security Council or by the General Assembly, the Secretary-General will be abiding by those resolutions.  But until now, those resolutions were not made. Question: Thank you, Secretary-General.  Michelle Nichols from Reuters.  Thank you for the briefing.  You also hope to meet with President [Donald] Trump next week for the first time since he returned to office in January.  What do you hope to achieve during that meeting?Secretary-General:  Well, I would be delighted to meet President Trump, and the US is a central player in world affairs.  There are many public positions that both of us have, but I do believe that there are areas where our efforts can be put together.  I’ll give an example.  We talk about peace mediation.  The UN has very strong efforts in peace mediation in different parts of the world where we have people that know all the interlocutors, people that have a wide experience of the economic, social, and other root causes and the human rights problems of the countries that have a relationship of trust and confidence with some of the key actors.  But we have no carrots and no sticks.  And as we have no carrots and no sticks in a world in which we have the geopolitical divides that we have, it’s extremely difficult to make the protagonists of the present conflicts understand the need to come to peace.  Now, the United States has carrots and sticks.  So in some situations, if you are able to combine the two, I think we can have a very effective way to make sure that some peace processes at least can lead to a successful result. Question: Any particular situations that you would like to mention?Secretary-General: I mean, there are many situations around the world that are known, and in all of them, I think we should be open to find ways to join efforts.  Peace is a major objective, I believe, of both sides. Question:  Secretary-General, Benno Schwinghammer with the German press agency.  My question is about Ukraine.  As you know, President Trump and President [Vladimir] Putin met recently in Alaska.  After this, do you see any realistic path to peace in Ukraine right now?  And connected to this, President Trump is openly campaigning for the Nobel Peace Prize.  In your view, has he done enough to deserve it so far?Secretary-General:  Well, that is a question to ask to some people in Norway that deal with this issue. I am not optimistic about the short-term progress in the peace process in Ukraine.  Our position is very clear.  We need an immediate ceasefire, but a ceasefire that leads to a solution based on the UN Charter, international law, and the resolutions of the General Assembly. The positions of both sides are now largely incompatible.  And after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we have seen that the Russian Federation has resisted strongly to the idea of a ceasefire and saying that a global agreement is necessary, and we all know how difficult it is to achieve.  So I am afraid we might witness this war to go on at least for some time and to go on now with violence that is particularly dramatic, because it’s having a huge impact on civilians, which is absolutely regrettable. Question: What makes you pessimistic?  What exactly is it?Secretary-General: I’m not optimistic at the short term because I see the positions of the two sides very different.  I believe that Ukraine has a legitimate interest to preserve its territory integrity, and it’s clear that Russia is determined to something that would mean the occupation of large parts of Ukraine. Question: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary-General.  This is Biesan Abu-Kwaik with Al Jazeera Arabic.  More and more criticism is targeted towards the UN and the international community for the failure of protection of civilians in Gaza as this war approaches two years.  Today, we have seen the military operations start in Gaza City.  Is it time for the international community, for the UN, for Member States to push for a force to protect civilians in Gaza?Secretary-General: I do not think it will be possible to have a force at the present moment.  It will be rejected by Israel and then, I believe, rejected by also the United States.  And we have not the instruments for an effective protection of civilians, to the extent that 400 of our staff has been killed.  So I would like to have an immediate ceasefire and -- having an immediate ceasefire -- to have an international force able to protect civilians. This would be an objective that I would strongly cherish.  But at the present moment, it looks like Israel is determined to go up to the end and not open to a serious negotiation for a ceasefire, with the dramatic consequence from the Israeli point of view that it is also not allowing for the release of hostages that we have always said should be immediate and unconditional. So let’s be clear:  With the attack that took place in Qatar, it doesn’t look that Israel is interested in a serious negotiation for a ceasefire and release of hostages. Question:   I just have a question on Venezuela. The United States has attacked vessels from Venezuela on three occasions.  They were alleged to have been carrying drugs, and 14 people have been killed.  What do you think about the legality of these actions?  What right does the US have to do this?]Secretary-General:   We don’t have complete information yet about exactly what happened, but it is clear for us that it is absolutely essential to abide by international law in this domain.] Question:  Kris Reyes with Canadian Broadcasting.  Secretary-General, my question is also on this new UN report that finds Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.  What is your direct response to Israel’s rejection of the findings of the report? And if nothing comes out of the report, what does this say about the UN’s relevance?Secretary-General:  Well, the report is a report of an independent inquiry committee.  And I think that Israel should take it into account, and everybody should take the report into account.  And obviously, these are serious questions.  As I said, for us, it’s not for us to do the legal determination, but the report is a serious report that I believe should be carefully read, and namely by the Israeli authorities. Question:  Maryam Ramadi with Volant Media, Afghanistan International.  My question is about Afghan women and girls, who remain erased from public life under the Taliban.  Beyond statements of concern, what concrete steps will…Secretary-General: You referred to what situation? Question:  Afghanistan. As you know, Afghan women and girls remain erased from public life under the Taliban.  What concrete steps will the UN take to hold the Taliban accountable for systemic gender apartheid?  And also, if you have any comments about the snapback mechanism at the Security Council. Thank you.Secretary-General:  Well, what’s happening in Afghanistan is absolutely intolerable.  And it’s not only intolerable; it’s also stupid.  Because not to allow women and girls to participate in humanitarian aid is terribly detrimental to the whole population of Afghanistan.  We are doing everything we can directly and mobilizing the international community to make the Taliban understand that it is in the vital interest of Afghanistan that women and girls are allowed to do humanitarian work and that humanitarian aid reaches effectively women and girls in the country.  The present situation is intolerable. Question:  Is it only in humanitarian work and just about girls’ education, women being removed…?Secretary-General:  These are other aspects in which we have always been clearly in favour of…  Gender equality has always been our motto.  Of course, we understand that there is a long way to go.  But now we had a, I would say, more serious situation with the deprivation of humanitarian aid to women and girls in several situations and not allowing women and girls to provide humanitarian aid.  And this is something that is, in my opinion, totally unacceptable.And about the snapback, I think there is still time to avoid it.  My appeal to Iran and to the other Powers is to use diplomacy and to create the conditions of trust in order to be able to avoid it.  I have been in contact with both sides, of course, offering my good offices, but it all depends on the diplomatic efforts that are made in order to re-establish the trust that is needed for the snapback to be avoided. Question:  Security-General, Xu Dezhi with China Central Television.  My question is on two-State solution.Secretary-General: On? Question: On two-state solution.  Yes.  We heard recently not only right-wing officials of Israeli authority, even the Prime Minister of Israel talking about there will be no State of Palestine.  With Israel continuing its military operation and illegal settlements in West Bank as well as in Gaza, if there is no territory, where is the two-State solution? And how should the international community and the UN to preserve the two-State solution?  Thank you.Secretary-General: I think we absolutely must do everything and mobilize as much as we can the international community to make sure that the two-State solution prevails.  And the question is simple.  What is the alternative?  It’s a one State in which one people is deprived of basic rights, one State in which people [are] moved out of their land.  Is this possible in the twenty-first century?  Is this acceptable in the twenty-first century?  I think that Israel must understand that the one-State solution with the subjugation of the Palestinian people without rights is absolutely intolerable.  And so the two-State solution remains the only viable alternative to preserve peace. Without a two-State solution, there will be no peace in the Middle East and extremism will expand everywhere in the world with the consequences that I consider extremely, extremely negative. Question: Secretary-General, I’m sorry.  I’m going to raise genocide again.  You’ve explained that you cannot make a legal declaration, but you know that international law is glacial.  The Myanmar case started in 2019, and there’s still not a verdict five years later.  It’s not a dry legal question, because it’s ongoing every single day, multiple deaths caused by Israel.  So won’t history judge you harshly if you don’t declare what we can all see in front of our eyes?  Is this not what genocide looks like, Secretary-General?Secretary-General:  History will remember the fact that we were in the first line to fight for the defence of the interest of the Palestinian people.  History will remember the 400 UN members that were killed in Gaza.  History will remember all the efforts that we have made to denounce the constant violations of international law and worse, the level of death and destruction that has no parallel in my time in office. History will remember that we have been in a leadership position in defence of the rights of the Palestinian people, in the promotion of a Palestinian State.  That is what history will remember, not a question of semantics. Question:  But is this what genocide looks like, Secretary-General, even if you don’t make a legal definition?Secretary-General: Independently of the definition, the problem is not the word.  The problem is the reality.  And nobody has described this reality in a more dramatic way than the UN, and sorry to say, myself. Question: Thank you for the briefing, SG.  It’s Pamela Falk from US News and World Report.  With so many conflicts that you’re talking about and everyone’s asking you about, the UN has a bit of a credibility issue today.  It goes up.  It goes down. We’ve seen that.  It’s my twenty-fifth UNGA (United Nations General Assembly).  But what is your view of the vitality of the UN? You mentioned the bilateral meetings, so many, maybe getting everybody in one room.  But the cutbacks, all of that have to do with the fact that maybe it’s great Powers, but the UN is not solving these problems.  What’s your case for the vitality of the UN?  Thank you.Secretary-General: The UN is a lot of things.  Obviously, the UN is a Security Council, and the geopolitical divides have paralysed Security Council.  And it is the Security Council that has the primary responsibility to preserve peace and security in the world.  And for that, I’m not able to give an adequate answer to your question.  But the UN is much more than the Security Council. Question: What is it?Secretary-General: The UN is providing humanitarian aid in the world in situations that are extremely difficult, more and more difficult, but vital to save lives and vital to rescue communities.  The UN is being able to have the leadership, and I think nobody puts that into question, in the fight against climate change.  The UN has been extremely active in making sure that new technologies are put into the adequate guardrails to be a force for good.  And we just approved, as you know, are going to create the first global governance instruments in relation to artificial intelligence.  The UN is extremely active, country by country, in supporting countries in their own development process.  And if you ask Heads of State about UN country teams, they will tell you that the UN country teams are providing an excellent support to their activities.  So the UN is many things.  There is one thing I cannot solve:  the capacity of the Security Council in a world that is so dramatically divided among the big Powers to have the necessary instruments for ending impunity and for those that are complicating the different conflicts that we have and that are more and more internationalized for those to understand that there is a risk if they go on.  That that paralysis of the Security Council is a source of impunity that undermines our work, but that needs to be clarified as what it is.  It is not the UN.  It’s the Member States that, divided, do not allow the UN to work properly. Question: Secretary-General, Sylviane Zehil from L’Orient le Jour.  Secretary-General, the Security Council decided that the Lebanese army would replace UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon).  How can the UN believe that the Lebanese army can fully exercise its sovereignty in the South when Hizbullah conserves its arms and its territorial control?  Once UNIFIL leaves, who is going to document and arbitrate on the violations of the Blue Line after 2026?  Is there a risk of escalation that is going to happen?]Secretary-General:   At the moment, the most difficult thing is the conflict.  I saw that when I visited UNIFIL on the border, and I am really proud of the work that UNIFIL as a UN force has done and continues to do in Lebanon. I think it’s clear that what we’re seeing today is a very clear approach.  Israel is systematically violating the agreement by maintaining positions within Lebanon and by carrying out attacks here and there.  Hizbullah is benefiting from this to justify its existence as an armed force, and Israel is benefiting from the existence of Hizbullah as an armed force in order to maintain its violations of the ceasefire.  That’s why I feel that it’s essential that we support the Lebanese Government that has a programme that attempts to have monopoly of force in the hands of the Lebanese army, and it’s essential that Israel respect the ceasefire and abandon its positions that are located within Lebanon.] Question: Thank you, sir.  My name is Abdelhamid.  I am from the Arabic daily Al-Quds al-Arabi.  Sir, former Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the scars of the genocide in Rwanda will haunt me all my life.  Now it’s your second term, sir.  You have one year and few months left, and the world is burning.  The UN, which you had on top of it, failed the people of Palestine and Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, Myanmar, Haiti, and look around what’s going on.  You validated article 99 to the Security Council, but nothing worked.  Did you consider throwing the bomb in the arms or the laps of the Security Council members and declare resignation?  And resign as a protest for the failure of the Security Council?Secretary-General:  I think my resignation would be very much welcomed by all those that are misbehaving. And so, I will not give them that pleasure.  But I can clearly express my deep frustration with the fact that these problems that you raise are not properly solved and that the international community has not the capacity to come together to solve them. Question:  But what, after you validated article 99, what you have…  Do you have other means to influence the Security Council?Secretary-General:  I have always said that article 99 has essentially a symbolic value, and that is why I used it in the worst…  I didn’t use the article 99 on all situations.  I used it in the situation that I consider the most serious situation in relation to global peace and security, and that is the situation in Gaza.  And that is why I invoked article 99 in Gaza.  Not that I was convinced that with article 99, we would solve the problem, but it was a symbolic gesture to show how dramatically I feel the horrendous things that is happening in Gaza. Question:  Joseph Klein, Canada Free Press.  I want to turn to what I hope will be a more pleasant subject for you, the UN80 initiative. So could you please share your thoughts on any specific UN80 initiative structural reforms?  I know they’re under review in work stream three, but I’m sure you have some ideas that you would like to see, based on your two terms as Secretary-General.  For example, what is your view on consolidating separate UN human rights-related protection entities such as sexual violence and conflict, preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, and the work that the UN-Women organization is doing on violence against women, to consolidate all that into a more integrated, synergistic, enhanced single body?  Thank you.Secretary-General:  We will do a number of mergers and operations of that sort, and we will limit the number of envoys.  We will not be able to touch immediately mandates that come from, strictly, the decisions of the Security Council, which of course means that probably those mandates will not be changed, but a number of others will be changed, and we will have a reduction of the number of entities within the UN.  I’m not going to enter into details, because I will be presenting the report, the progress report, Thursday or Friday, and I will not anticipate the measures that will be proposed.  But we will see a number of significant measures. Question: Secretary-General, thank you so much for coming here today.  I’m Namo Abdullah with Rudaw Media Network from Kurdistan. You are expected to meet Syria’s president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, I believe.  Would you raise the demand of Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities, like the Druse and the Kurds, who are calling for decentralized governance in Syria?  They say they want to be in charge of their own affairs within a united Syria.  Thank you.Secretary-General:  Of course, I’ll raise these issues, and for me, it is absolutely essential to preserve the unity of Syria, of course, and the territory integrity of Syria.  But it is also absolutely essential that all communities feel that their identity is respected, and at the same time that they have full rights of participation in the country as a whole.  So this will be serious, certainly in the centre of our discussions. Question: Thank you, Secretary-General.  Georgia Garantzioti from Athens News Agency in Cyprus.  My question is for Cyprus, on Cyprus issue.  As we know, as you said, during the UN summit, you will meet both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders.  Are you still optimistic for the resumption of the talks?  Thank you.Secretary-General: I will respond again with Jean Monnet’s sentence that I used several times in this press conference: I’m not optimistic.  I’m not pessimistic.  I’m determined.  I will not give up. Question:  Hello, Marta from the Portuguese National News Agency.  Can we speak in Portuguese, or there is no translators in the room?Secretary-General:  Of course, you can speak in Portuguese. Question:  Thank you for this press conference.  Next week, we will have here various countries recognizing the Palestinian State.  Are you optimistic that this is going to lead to specific progress on the ground?  And I hope that, do you hope also that Portugal will respect this decision?]Secretary-General: I hear the Foreign Minister of Portugal saying there wouldn’t be any obstacle to Portugal recognizing Palestine as a State. I think that this meeting will be of great importance because at a time when we’re talking about possible annexations, the West Bank in particular, at a time when we are seeing this systematic destruction taking place in Gaza, it’s essential that we reaffirm the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and it’s essential that we recognize their right to have a State and that the two-State solution should be the basis for security for both peoples.  And in that respect, this meeting will be an extremely important meeting, since we know that the Palestinian State was recognized by the United Nations and is recognized as an observer State of the United Nations.  And, therefore, it’s good that the maximum number of States recognize Palestine as a country.] Question: Thank you. Secretary-General, Mercedes Gallego with the Spanish newspaper, El Correo.Secretary-General:  You can speak in Spanish, if you want. Question: I would, but perhaps my colleagues would like to listen to the question, too.  It’s again on the genocide question.  The President of the independent committee also noticed that the legality of calling it a genocide belongs to the court.  But she said we have, under the international law, the obligation to prevent genocide.  Are you prepared to at least support their recommendation to stop selling weapons to Israel, or what other way do you suggest that UN and the international community has to prevent what is ongoing?Secretary-General:  I have no weapons to sell to Israel. Question:  I know, the recommendation to…Secretary-General: I think that, as I said, this is an independent committee.  The independent committee made the report.  I think that report must be seen with attention and with adequate engagement by every State.  But obviously, that doesn’t mean that all States will follow the recommendations.  But I think the report exists.  I think that existence is something that should be taken into account by those that are formulating their policy. Question: So, do you suggest that other countries should accept those recommendations?Secretary-General:  I witnessed the position of the Government of Spain.  The Government of Spain has been in the front line of the defence of the interests of the Palestinian people, and that is something that we cherish, very positive. Question: Good afternoon, sir.  David Hammelburg, Fox News.  Monday will be the two-State solution and continuation from July.  The question I have is a legal one; 145 to 160 countries will declare Palestine an independent State.  What does that mean legally?  And the reason why I asked this question is because various UN resolutions, the Oslo Accords have clearly stated that the final solution of an independent State will be up to the two parties.  Now since the two parties are not negotiating at the moment, what does it legally mean for UN members to summarily declare Palestine as a State?  What is the legal binding?  What does the UN find in its previous resolutions?  How does that correlate with each other?Secretary-General:  Well, as I said, the UN as the General Assembly has recognized the State of Palestine as an observer in the UN.  And obviously, in that regard, the fact that a larger number of States does the same strengthens that position.  But obviously, one thing is to recognize the State of Palestine.  The other thing is the State of Palestine being able to fully exercise the rights of sovereignty, and I know that we are very far from that situation at the present moment.  And I hope that there will be a serious negotiation leading to that. Question: Thank you, Stéphane.  So good to see you again, Secretary-General.  My name is Yu from Kyodo News, Japanese news agency.  My question is about the reform of Security Council, especially about the veto. So what if you say that you are so stressed, so what do you think about the veto in terms of reforming?  Thank you.Secretary-General:  First of all, I believe the Security Council reform is something that makes full sense. The Security Council has a composition that doesn’t correspond to the world of today.  It corresponds to the world of 1945.  And that creates not only a problem of legitimacy, but a problem of efficiency.  On the other hand, we have the right of veto.  There were proposals from, namely, by France and UK, limiting the right of veto, especially in situation where we have massive violation of human rights or dramatic cases of this kind, and I see with sympathy that proposal.  But of course, it is up to Member States to look seriously into the reform of Security Council.  One thing I can tell you is that I believe I am the first Secretary-General that talks all the time about the need to reform the Security Council. And the truth is that this item that was completely taboo in the past is now in the centre of the discussions of the General Assembly.  Before, there was a committee that couldn’t even issue papers and the documents would not move from one year to another.  Now there is a committee working seriously.  And several countries have recognized, for instance, even the P5, that Africa should have the right to have a permanent member.  So I see movement.  And I would like also to see movement in relation to certain limitations in the exercise of the right to veto.  But again, this is a matter that only Member States can solve. Question: Thank you. Yeah.  Linda Fasulo for NPR, the UN.  My question is going back to Gaza.  Mr. Secretary-General, we know that Israel at this juncture does not favour a two-State solution or appears not to, but neither does Hamas, as far as I believe. What is your sense of what role Hamas will actually play in any future State?  And also, another question is, how do you believe Hamas has…  What’s your view in terms of how Hamas has conducted the war in Gaza?Secretary-General:  Well, we have been very clear condemning Hamas and the horrific attacks that Hamas did and that generated or used as a pretext, whatever you want to say, but generated this massive response by Israel.  And I sincerely believe, as I said for Lebanon, it doesn’t make sense to have a State with armed groups that are not integrated in the army of the State. And, obviously, the State of Palestine that I want -- and there is an agreement of the Palestinian Authority -- would be a disarmed State of Palestine with of course a police force, but not with an army, which means that there will be no room for armed movements within that State.Spokesman:  Adla? Question: Adla Massoud from the National.  Mr. Secretary-General, US and Israeli officials have denounced the recent recognitions of Palestine as a gift to Hamas.  Do you think…   Question: The recognitions of Palestine as a State.  Do you think the recognitions by some States risks undermining the prospects for peace?Secretary-General: I don’t think so.  First of all, it’s not a gift to Hamas, because the two-State solution is something that is not also in Hamas programme, as you know.  It is a gift to the Palestinian people that has suffered also a lot because of Hamas. Question: Thank you very much, sir.  This is Naureen Hossain with IPS News.  My question is actually about one of the high-level conference on Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.  As you may know, sir, that the UN has been at the forefront of the humanitarian response to the Rohingya refugee crisis.  It has been eight years now since nearly 1 million Muslims, Rohingyas, were forced to flee Rakhine State.  And as the conference, you know, wishes to achieve a sustainable resolution to this situation, what I would like to ask you in your own words is what do you foresee is the UN’s role in working towards that resolution that goes beyond its humanitarian response?  Thank you.Secretary-General: Well, I feel the Rohingya situation, particularly because I worked a lot with Rohingyas when I was High Commissioner for Refugees.  And I’ve witnessed how discriminated they were, probably the highest level of discrimination I’ve ever seen in the country.  And then how dramatically they were killed and their villages destroyed in the offensive of the armed forces that we had a few years ago and led to this massive movement to Bangladesh.  It is absolutely essential that the solution of the many problems that Myanmar has and there are other, as you know, that we have a solution based on return to democracy.  But not only a return to democracy, but the recognition that the Rohingyas belong to the State of Myanmar and that citizenship must be given to them, and they must have the same rights of all the other Myanmaris.  Unfortunately, as you know, the position of the Government has been not only, I mean, abolishing democracy and engaging in different conflicts with different groups, but has until now denied the status of citizenship to the Rohingyas, what is absolutely intolerable. Question: Thank you, Secretary-General.  This is Yunzhao Pan, China’s Xinhua News Agency.  I’m going to ask you a question about the four global initiatives.Secretary-General: About? Question: The global initiatives.  I know… Spokesman:  The global initiative from President Xi [Jinping].  Yeah.  Go ahead. Just ask. Question: Okay.  I know you went to Tianjin to attend this Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in early September.  And at the summit, Chinese President proposed the fourth global initiative, the global governance initiative.  I know these four global initiatives address many of the most pressing global issues.  And can you comment how these initiatives will contribute to the three fundamental pillars of the United Nations?  Thank you.Secretary-General: Well, I think that it is very important to underline that in this global initiative, there is a full respect to multilateralism.  There is full support of the UN as the central piece of multilateral institutions and a strong commitment in relation to international cooperation and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.  So, I do believe that these principles are principles that are totally compatible with UN Charter.Thank you very much.***