Tunisia

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the outset, it is my pleasure to extend to His Excellency Mr. Philemon Yang, and through him to the Republic of Cameroon, my warmest congratulations on his assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at this seventy-ninth session, wishing him success and prosperity in guiding its work, and affirming Tunisia's support for his vision of "Unity and Diversity for Peace and Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for All."

I also express to His Excellency Mr. Dennis Francis, President of the seventy-eighth session, my sincere thanks and appreciation for his successful presidency. I further renew my appreciation for the continuous efforts of the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, to restore trust in and respect for multilateral action.

Mr. President,

As much as we hold hope for achieving the necessary transformations and reforms and establishing a more peaceful, secure, just and sustainable world, through the initiatives and processes put forward within the framework of the Secretary-General's "Our Common Agenda" program and the outcomes of the Summit of the Future, we equally express our deep concern, our profound disappointment, and our condemnation of what the situation in the Middle East has come to today, where the terrible human tragedy of the Palestinian people continues. For nearly a year now, on their own land, they have been subjected to the most heinous war crimes and genocide, and every form of violation of human rights and of the values and principles upon which the United Nations was founded, at the hands of the occupying forces, without accountability or reckoning, amid a repugnant international silence and an unjustifiable moral impotence.

The failure of the international community to enforce respect for international humanitarian law, despite the measures ordered by the International Court of Justice to protect Palestinians in the Gaza Strip from the danger of genocide, places Palestinian lives in the balance. The narrative of the supremacy of human rights and humanitarian concerns, which voices have never ceased to proclaim, suddenly disappears from every platform when it comes to the Palestinian people.

The only path to a secure future for all peoples begins with belief in the equality of human lives, without discrimination or selectivity, and far from double standards. We cannot establish a new phase of multilateral action, international relations, and sustainable development on the basis of the principle of "leaving no one behind" while the tragedy of the Palestinian people continues to be ignored.

In this context, we call upon the international community to act immediately, effectively, and responsibly to salvage what can be salvaged and to stop the bloodletting of the war of extermination and starvation against Gaza, where schools, hospitals, facilities, and civilian infrastructure have been targeted, claiming the lives of more than 40,000 people. We also call upon the Security Council to break out of its state of paralysis and inaction and to fulfill its natural role in maintaining international peace and security by holding the occupying authorities accountable for the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, imposing an immediate ceasefire, halting the blatant and heinous aggression against defenseless Palestinian civilians, and preventing all schemes of forced displacement, settlement expansion, and violation of holy sites.

The war on Gaza has caused a deep rift in the conscience of humanity and has undermined peoples' trust in the ability of the international system, through its principal organs, to enforce its decisions.

Our country recalls the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024, at the request of the United Nations General Assembly, regarding the legal consequences of the policies and practices of the Zionist occupation in the occupied Palestinian territories, which affirmed the illegality of the continued presence of the occupying authority in the Palestinian territories and the necessity of halting new settlement activities and the immediate evacuation of settlements. We consider that what the Court affirmed places the international community before a test of the extent of its commitment to upholding the principle of the supremacy of international law and applying its rules to all, without exception, selectivity, or double standards.

Our country remains steadfast in its unconditional support for the right of the Palestinian people to reclaim their legitimate, inalienable rights, which are not subject to any statute of limitations, foremost among them their right to self-determination and to establish their independent, sovereign state over all of the land of Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Tunisia affirms its support for Palestine's request to obtain full membership in the United Nations, welcoming the wave of international recognition of the State of Palestine and hoping that this trend will contribute to supporting its accession to full membership without further delay.

Tunisia also renews its strongest condemnation of the aggression against brotherly Lebanon, which targets its people and threatens its security and stability.

Mr. President,

The principle of "leaving no one behind" cannot be achieved through slogans, nor can we attain the declared goals of the various ongoing processes aimed at overcoming past and present failures, unless we all genuinely embrace the will to bring about change and reform.

This requires consensus on a unified and responsible diagnosis of the deep-rooted causes of the current international system's failure to confront the world's intensifying conflicts and wars, the rising tide of extremism, terrorism, and organized crime, the worsening climate crises and disasters that threaten the very foundations of survival, and the unprecedented spread of poverty and hunger affecting millions of people. This is compounded by the growing numbers of refugees and displaced persons, widening inequality, the significant development and digital divide between North and South, and the inability of the international financial system to respond to the developmental needs of the vast majority of States.

All of these challenges are serious indicators that the existing international order has gone off course, which calls upon all of us to undertake the necessary reviews and reforms to correct this state of turmoil, chaos, and inequality.

These challenges also require the engagement of all of us—states, institutions, and peoples—in a participatory approach based on shared responsibility, respect for international law, and adherence to the purposes of the UN Charter and human rights, by everyone on an equal footing, without discrimination or politicization.

Events over the past eight decades have proven the urgent need to reform the system of international relations and to reconsider the foundations and tools of multilateral action to meet the needs of peoples, and to put an end to all the imbalances that have persisted and continue to cause numerous calamities, tragedies, and suffering for millions of people, placing the world today before undeniable existential risks that cannot continue to be dealt with using the same tools and methods, which serve only the interests of a minority of States at the expense of the vast majority.

In this context, we affirm the urgent need for the countries of the North to honor their commitments to development financing, to support efforts to address climate change, and to participate effectively in reducing poverty, supporting growth, and building resilience and sustainability in developing countries.

We also affirm the necessity of putting an end to all forms of tutelage, and to tendencies of imposing policies and dictates, and interference in the internal affairs of states, and of respecting the sovereignty, national independence, decisions, and choices of peoples, as well as their cultural and civilizational particularities, which constitute a factor of enrichment and diversity. The challenges before us cannot be confronted except through rebuilding international relations on the basis of solidarity, constructive cooperation, justice, mutual respect, and parity.

In this context, we also call for strengthening the role of the United Nations and introducing the necessary reforms to its institutions and organs in a manner that enhances the effectiveness of its performance and reinforces its credibility, foremost among them the Security Council, which has become paralyzed as a result of intensifying geostrategic conflicts.

Mr. President,

Out of its genuine belief in multilateral action and drawing upon the purposes of the UN Charter, Tunisia has engaged in all the processes and initiatives falling within the framework of the Secretary-General's program "Our Common Agenda," the Sustainable Development Summit, and the Summit of the Future, with all their outcomes, which could constitute, if mechanisms for their follow-up and implementation are put in place, a historic opportunity and an essential means of rising to challenges, reducing risks, and establishing a more secure, peaceful, and sustainable world.

In the same vein, Tunisia reaffirms the urgent need to introduce fundamental reforms to the global financial system, to review the role of international credit rating agencies, and to alleviate the burdens of debt and debt servicing on developing countries, and to redirect them toward sources of development financing, so that they may recover from the repercussions of successive global crises, the heavy cost of which they bear despite not being the main cause of them in most cases, and so that they may be able to direct their resources toward covering the essential needs of their peoples in the areas of human development.

We also call for developing the tools of international cooperation, both bilateral and multilateral, in the field of recovering assets looted abroad, in order to accelerate the pace of economic recovery and advance development, considering it a legitimate right of the affected peoples, while working to prevent the recurrence of such violations, which drain the resources of states and represent one of the most significant manifestations of corruption.

Mr. President,

The phenomenon of irregular migration, which is worsening in many regions of the world, particularly in our own geographic region of the Mediterranean basin, represents one of the clearest indicators of the weakness of global governance and the absence of political will to address the repercussions of development crises, climate change, and conflicts.

As we have affirmed on previous occasions, this multidimensional issue requires the adoption of a joint approach based on shared responsibility, bringing together all parties—countries of origin, transit, and destination—alongside international and regional organizations, to address the deep-rooted causes of this phenomenon rather than merely dealing with its consequences.

We have also called for comprehensive solutions that focus on addressing factors of vulnerability, declining school enrollment rates, and weak development programs, in a way that helps establish a new reality in countries of origin, particularly on the African continent, enabling their people to attain the foundations of a dignified life and decent work that preserves their dignity and their right to life and development, and protects them from the dangers of journeys in search of a better life on the northern shore of the Mediterranean, and from exploitation by criminal networks engaged in smuggling and human trafficking.

Our approach to dealing with irregular migration flows is clear and grounded in respect for human rights and rejection of all forms of racial discrimination and hate speech, within the framework of respect for our international commitments and national legislation. We continue our efforts, within the limits of our available capacities, to save lives, provide the necessary care and support to those entitled to it, and preserve their dignity. However, we refuse to accept covert resettlement schemes for irregular migrants. We likewise reject all attempts to politically and media-exploit the situations and suffering of migrants for political ends and to serve dubious agendas on the part of anyone.

Mr. President,

In Tunisia, we are aware of the challenges of the current phase and remain steadfastly on course in the path of reform, strengthening the pillars of democracy, the rule of law, and good governance, which underpin the fight against and prevention of corruption, and the realization of our people's aspirations for greater prosperity, well-being, and sustainable development, while adhering to the constants of our foreign policy and our international commitments, and relying on our own capacities and the human potential of our people, as well as on relations of constructive cooperation and partnership with our friends and partners on the basis of mutual benefit.

In this context, we are keen for young people, as a source of inspiration and a pillar of the future, to play their pioneering role in processes of transformative solutions and in decision-making circles. We also continue to strengthen legislative frameworks and strategic plans for the economic integration and empowerment of women and the expansion of their participation in public affairs and in all fields.

With the same determination and commitment, Tunisia continues its active engagement in all international and UN efforts aimed at strengthening security and peace at the regional and international levels, upholding the principles of international law and international humanitarian law, ending all forms of injustice and occupation and human rights violations, and achieving development for all.

In our immediate neighborhood, we affirm Tunisia's steadfast position in supporting the efforts of our Libyan brothers and sisters to overcome their differences and achieve a political settlement through constructive dialogue with the assistance of the United Nations, in a manner that preserves Libya's security and stability and strengthens its national unity. We also renew Tunisia's rejection of all forms of foreign interference in Libya's internal affairs.

In the same vein, we call for the pooling of UN and international efforts to find political solutions to the situations in Syria and Yemen, which would end the suffering of their brotherly peoples, restore security and peace to them, and preserve their sovereignty, independence, and territorial unity.

Tunisia also calls upon the Sudanese parties to halt the fighting and to resort to dialogue and peaceful means to overcome the crisis, and to restore security and stability to Sudan and put an end to the suffering of its people from the ravages of war and displacement.

With regard to the African continent, which is considered the most affected by climate change and the repercussions of global crises, terrorism, and instability, we call for greater pooling of UN and international efforts to help Africa confront the various challenges, overcome crises, and advance the processes of restoring stability and achieving security, peace, and sustainable development.

My country believes in the necessity of finding African solutions to African challenges as an approach to achieving our goal of silencing the guns by 2030. We also renew our call for the provision of UN financial and logistical support for peace operations led by the African Union, and for the necessity of continuing cooperation and coordination between UN and regional structures for "the Africa we want."

Mr. President,

The world has entered a new phase that is taking shape as a result of digital transformation and the increasing use of modern technologies in all fields. While we affirm the importance of the Global Digital Compact, we call for intensifying cooperation in the fields of technology transfer and bridging the digital divide that continues to separate North and South, so that no one is left behind.

In the same context, we call for the necessity of addressing manifestations of digital chaos, disinformation, and the criminal and illegal uses of digital technologies aimed at destabilizing societies, undermining their stability, and depleting their resources.

Mr. President,

We stand at an extremely complex juncture, owing to the challenges and dangers threatening the security and well-being of present and future generations, and the future of our planet. There is no longer room to deal with the situations of our world using the same tools and methods, as none of us can afford to reproduce the mistakes and imbalances of the past. There is no solution except through activating the values of solidarity, cooperation, and shared destiny.

Since Tunisian foreign policy and its diplomatic tools have always been characterized by optimism and pragmatism, and despite all the challenges and shocks the world is facing, Tunisia believes that the United Nations remains our sole refuge, as the seat of international legitimacy and the bearer of the hopes of the world's peoples, as we prepare to commemorate the eightieth anniversary of its founding.

Thank you for your kind attention.