Morning. Right now, a form taking a look at priorities for the United Nations and hosted by the National Press club. This event has already started. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2024] a lot of controversy on the uns role in gaza. They say they should rebuild gaza after the war ends. There are questions about the what the you and can do to bring an end to the war in ukraine and if they u. N. s government structure formed in the aftermath of world war ii needs to be reworked in the 21st century. Our guest today is president dennis francis, the president of the 78 session of the United NationsGeneral Assembly where he serves as the International Organizations chair and presiding officer. Im looking forward to hearing his thoughts on these issues and many others. Prior to his work in the United Nations, president francis was trinidad and tobagos longest serving abbasid or. Longestserving ambassador. He has a 40 year career. Is a graduate of the university of the west indies where he later taught and he is a graduate of the school of International Advanced studies at the Johns Hopkins university in d. C. After he makes his opening remarks come i have a couple of questions for him. We encourage you to suggest questions which i can add to the list. Please write them on the cards you have at your feet and hand them over. Those of you watching and listening on cspan come we were happy to accept your questions. Please email them to headliners at press. Org. Put United Nations in the subject line. We look forward to having as many as time permits. Now that housekeeping is outoftheway, president francis, welcome to the press club, the floor is yours. [applause] president francis thank you emily and good morning to you and all of our guests both in studio and online. Ms. Emily wilkin, president of the National Press club, colleague, friend, ladies and gentlemen, im am profoundly honored by your invitation to speak of the renowned National Press club come an institution with a storied legacy and longstanding commitment to journalistic excellence. I consider this not just as a headline speaker moment for me but the unique opportunity for us together to assess the current state of our world and for me to hear your invaluable perspectives on some of the issues facing us. At a time when our world which abounds with timeless possibilities, there is also mounting challenges with relentless ferocity. We need to be aware of the potential consequences and results of the situations that confront us. On the one hand, science, technology and human innovation is propelling us into a new era of promise and progress. Despite the overshadows of nationalism and the inequity in access, we have witnessed the manufacturing with lightning speed of the covid19 vaccine, demonstrating that in the face of collective threats and challenges, humanity has an enormous capacity to rally and deliver relief and outcomes even faster. Barring the accompanying challenges of cybersecurity and the downside of artificial intelligence, the Science Fiction of our childhood is therefore transforming into todays reality. On the one hand, we see a lack of unity and solidarity, leaving much of the world behind. A vast majority is mired in abject poverty, misery, strife, want and many other indignities of a bygone age. The ridge of some nascent conflicts across the globe with 35 to these concentrated in africa alone further compounds any chance for us to deliver the agenda and Paris Agreement for people on the planet. From haiti to the gaza strip, ukraine to myanmar, the sudan to afghanistan, a pleura for ration of conflicts are ablaze with a trailer death and rampant human rights abuses continuing unabated. A relentless climate of calamity is devastating our planet as evidenced by the triple crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and dilution whose impacts cut across rising sea levels and flooding. The socalled el nino effect, the drought and frequency of intensifying strife among others. To navigate this complex web of challenges in a rapidly transforming world, we must seize the opportunities and address the pressing issues that lie at the very core of our values. The u. N. Charter, the declaration on human rights among other things, the instruments that provide those foundational values and which underpin multilateralism itself form universal rights and we must start common challenges with collective solutions resolving differences transcending borders through dialogue and through International Cooperation. Despite the clear benefits of multilateralism, there is without doubt growing skepticism about clarence current global institutions include questions on the relevance of the United Nations itself. In the face of escalating geopolitical tensions, critics have highlighted the paralysis in the Security Council, crippled by deadlock and the misuse of the power as a failure by not just the council but by the United Nations organization as a whole. To address escalating conflict. Some also view the General Assembly which i am privileged to lead is ineffective, pointing out as a hindrance, the lack of legal force of its resolutions. Indeed, while we reflect on these legitimate concerns, we must also acknowledge that the institutional mechanism established in 1945 may no longer fully suffice for the challenges of 2024 and beyond. Whether foundational principles of the United Nations shall remain relevant, i believe that a candid discussion on reform is now much more urgently needed. Advocates of the you and lead multilateral system like myself as president of the General Assembly would argue that the organization and its deeds is much larger than the Security Council. Across the globe, through its specialized agencies, funds and Program Including operational activities rendered by the resident coordinated system at the country level, the United Nations offers a lifeline and hope for many hundreds of millions of people who depend on it. In the farflung corners of the globe, the United Nations is not only a staunch defender and promoter of human rights, it is also an honest broker peace as demonstrated by its deployment of its blue helmet peacekeepers in the good opportunities of peace building and preventive diplomacy. As also clearly demonstrated in the ongoing complex cases of ukraine and gaza, the General Assembly as the most universally represented entity, we are 193 Member States having an equal voice offers a unique platform for dialogue. I firmly believe that the General Assemblys resolutions carried the desire and political will on global issues. More than commonly thought. Those resolutions being a collective voice of the majority of u. N. Membership. Its adoption of revolutions in 2022 on the socalled Veto Initiative mandated the convening of a debate in the General Assembly when ever a permanent member of the Security Council cast a veto which enhances accountability and transparency enforces better collaboration between the council and the assembly. I am therefore confident by remaining anchored in the core values and tapping into our demonstrated ability for innovation and adaptation, we can inject new vigor into our most lateral systems and reaffirm its enduring relevance. Let me close by recalling that when i was elected to the presidency of the General Assembly 10 months ago, i committed to reignite the much needed trust and solidarity among Member States to achieve the 2013 agenda. Anchored on my watch was faith, prosperity, progress and stability for all. With five more months remaining in my presidency, i am steadfast in pursuing this vision to restore the diminished faith in our multilateral system. Importantly, to renew our commitment to the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. I have launched several initiatives including the recent General Assembly first ever sustainability week which i convened last month, focusing on the critical sectors of the economy such as debt, tourism, infrastructure, transport and energy. Let be laser focused on our goals as we also approach the summit of the future in september. World leaders are expected to forge a new global consensus to advance International Cooperation and address global challenges. The muchanticipated summit outcome documents are expected to be more transformative and actionable. The socalled pact of the future. Fortifying Global Governance with concrete reforms, Global Digital combat addressing the disparity and access to Digital Technology and the accompanying ethical challenges and the declaration of future generations committing us to preserve the integrity of our own environment, protect human rights and achieve peaceful society. As we look forward to the summit of the future, i invite all stakeholders including you, members of the press to join us in reaffirming that the u. N. Lead multilateral system is not only relevant but that it is dispensable. Yes, the imperative of durable deeds across the globe is under threat and its absence to achieve the 2030 agenda of the Paris Agreement among other global commitments. I urge you to reject the cynical view that we lack the power to make the difference as a United Global community. Instead, let us recognize the boundless potential of humanity to collectively address the myriad of challenges, advance progress and create a world worthy of habitation by present and future generations. I thank you and eagerly wait your questions. [applause] thank you so much. Were going to open up for questions and thank you to all of those who have already submitted questions. I will be getting somewhere from everyone coming in online. Im making sure we are getting the wide range of expert questions in. I think i want to start by asking you about something you mentioned in your remarks which is theirs current criticism of the u. N. Structure, the Security Council, the General Assembly. Im wondering if there are any efforts underway to have reforms were some changes to make those perhaps more effective and more influential and powerful . Thank you villa question, its very important. The you and is unique in many ways in the sense that the process of reform has been taking place over several years. The point at which we are now in which we five this council in particular seems unable to come to consensus on key issues, key global issues. I suppose it creates a greater sense of urgency. As everyone knows, the United Nations was established in the immediate postwar in the late 1940s so the structure that was put in place in the late 1940s are clearly outdated and need to be rethought. We witness this every day. A process is taking place and has been ongoing for some time. There are a number of formulas by which to reconfigure the United Nations. I believe they are proposers proposals on the table but are currently attracting the attention and discussion among Member States in the General Assembly. Note however that i use the descriptor, discretion, not negotiation. A formal negotiating process is yet to be launched. That issue is an issue that the Member States themselves must decide. The timing at which to enter into formal negotiations. In the meantime, a lot of useful work would lead into the formal negotiations. The various formulas for reform are under scrutiny and intense discussion. Of course, its not so easy to reform an institution that has been in existence for 80 years. And in which not all members enjoy the same privileged position. There is something called the p5 the permanent five in the Security Council which are five members who have the privilege and i want to say quickly their responsibility of the veto. I see responsibility derivatively because the Security Council acts on behalf of the General Assembly. What we been noticing is that all too often, geopolitical considerations tend to override everything else. Therefore, National Interest become almost a dominance a dominant factor in how the Security Council makes decisions. There is a need for reform and its not just the Security Council. There is also an ongoing process about revitalizing the General Assembly making it stronger more and more effective. For the system to work well you need a strong, agile Security Council but you also need a very strong fitful purpose General Assembly. We are working on both. However, whenever i give these talks, particularly in respect of the Security Council, reform is a process. Its not an event. I would be misleading you if i left you with the impression that within two or three weeks, we would awaken one monday morning there would be perfectly performed form Security Council. That will not happen. It will take some time. However you look at it, the configuration of the council will change very likely to take account of the new political dynamic of the International System. Power has been shifting from the traditional western powers. And some other parts of the world so there are several countries were now exercising influence and leverage at the global scale but who are not members of the permanent five. For example, africas one of the Fastest Growing regions in the world. They have a very large population. There is no african state represented on the council. The largest democracy in the world is 1. 4 william people billion people. They are not on the permanent five. Brazil these are all countries with ambitions. Japan, not a member of the council. This is a process that requires meticulous thought and concentration. Its not something you will have an opportunity to tinker with every other year. Whatever we decide now will very probably take us through perhaps may mid century. What we have now is 80 years. You say there are discussions going on but it hasnt moved into formal negotiations . Absolutely. Do you have a sense of a timeline . I hope it will take place within the next year. I hope it will take place very soon but that again is a decision the members will come to. Its a member driven process. As president of the General Assembly, i have no authority to interfere in negotiations themselves or to instigate until such time as the members come to a consensus on what would be in their view, the correct time to engage in that formal process, we wait. But i have to say in the context of what is going on globally, there is increased pressure to accelerate the initiation of former negotiations because the perception raab is among nine members that the sigurd account is not serving as the way it was intended and is falling short of its mandate of maintaining International Peace and security. We also had a question from the audience most agencies are located in g7 countries and as the u. S. Urges more countries to move outside of the council. Those were decisions made by the council ship. The location of a u. N. Agency is a matter that is voted upon. The fact that most of the g7 countries would have met, that the government of those countries would have offered them as candidates, they may well have been in the path contending other contending candidates and there would have been election. Were some process by which new members can be chosen. This is what many people do not fully appreciate. The u. N. Works by consensus. Decisionmaking represents the overwhelming majority of states. In terms of how that decision is implemented. Everyone has a single vote and therefore, if a country what i should say is so that people do not get the wrong impression. I recently visited the United Nations system in nairobi, kenya. If the headquarters of the environmentally leakers leaders of programs. There are many programs there. Some other agencies are setting up offices there as well. It is not correct to leave you with the impression that they are only in g7. There is one in nairobi, kenya. Good clarification there. I wanted to move into a couple of questions regarding gaza. Given the ongoing conflict in gaza, do you think the uns inability to get a