President Aoun delivers Lebanon’s speech marking UN’s 75th anniversary, Calls on world to help Lebanon secure safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland 22 Sep 2020 Lebanon - President Michel Aoun asserted Lebanese attachment to the noble principles of the United Nations, its charter, and to the noble goals it aspires to in the interest of the peoples of the world, calling for the introduction of necessary reforms on the way that this international institution operates. The President also called to double efforts in helping needy countries for a better future. President Aoun praised the support and assistance provided by the UN, and friendly countries, in addressing the huge repercussions of the Beirut Port explosion and recovering from the economic-financial crisis, calling on the world to help Lebanon secure the safe return of displaced Syrians to their homeland, “Because Lebanon is suffering from the brunt of the unprecedented crises that burden his shoulders. Lebanon will not be able to continue hosting the largest number of refugees in the world, relative to its population”. In addition, the President stressed that difficulties will not deter Lebanon from pursuing its positive role at the international level, and its constructive interaction with the UN and within the International Community. Stances of the President of the Republic came during a speech delivered yesterday, via video technology, on the occasion of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, which was organized in the UN General Assembly Hall, in New York. Speech of President Aoun: “Your Excellences’, We commemorate today the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, remotely due to the repercussions imposed by the Covid-19 virus, leaving their deep marks on all of us at all levels. As one of the fifty States which participated in the foundation of the United Nations in 1945 in San Francisco, and one of those which contributed to the drafting of the Human Rights Charter in 1948, Lebanon seizes this opportunity to reiterate its attachment to the United Nations' supreme principles and Charter, as well as the noble objectives it aspires to in favor of the peoples of the world. The Declaration that we all agreed upon for this occasion highlighted the aspirations and achievements of the United Nations, as well as some disappointments regarding unfulfilled dreams and hopes, which requires action to introduce the necessary reforms to the modus operandi of this international institution, and to double the efforts to help needy countries for a better future. There is no doubt that Lebanon, throughout the numerous crises that have stormed it, has found in the United Nations a stability supporting factor through the UNIFIL, and a partner in development through its organs operating in my country. As I laud the support and backup provided by this organization and friendly countries to address the tremendous fallout of the Beirut Port explosion, and recover from the economic and financial crisis, I call on the world to help us secure the safe return of the Syrian displaced to their homes because Lebanon which succumbs to the burden of unprecedented crises that weigh heavily upon it, will not be able to keep hosting the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Ladies and gentlemen, Despite all the suffering, as co-founder of the United Nations and twice a non-permanent member of the Security Council, having adopted a decision last year to contribute – although symbolically in the beginning - to peacekeeping forces, and having launched an initiative to establish the “Academy for human Encounters and Dialogue” which earned UN support last year through Resolution 73/344, Lebanon affirms that hardships will not keep it from pursuing its positive role at the international scene, and its constructive interaction with the United Nations and within the international community. Thank you”.—Presidency Press Office |
