UNITED NATIONS – Acknowledging “a long road ahead” on the United Nationsambitious agenda, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed on Tuesday“the historic leadership of the state of Palestine” as the new Chairman ofthe Group of 77 (developing countries).
“Palestine and its citizens have first-hand experience of some of the mostchallenging and dramatic global issues we face” Guterres said in hisremarks at the annual ceremony for handover of the rotating Chairmanship ofthe G77.
Egypt was the previous chair of the bloc, a coalition of 134 developingcountries, along with China.
Taking charge of Group of 77, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas slammedIsrael’s occupation of the state of Palestine, and condemned ‘terrorism inall its forms’.
In a speech at the UN headquarters in New York, Abbas called the task ofleading the Group of 77 “a great responsibility.”
“I am pleased to take over today the chairmanship of the Group of 77 onbehalf of the Palestinian people and the State of Palestine,” he said,addressing the bloc. “It is a great responsibility that the State ofPalestine will bear with complete humility, sincerity and dedication.”
The decision to elect Palestine as 2019 Chair of the G77 was taken inSeptember 2018 by the foreign ministers of the Groups’ member States.
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A month later, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution that enabledPalestine – a non-member Observer State at the world body – additionalprivileges and rights, such participating in international conferences heldunder its auspices, for the duration of its role as G77 Chair.
“You are well-placed to take up the chairmanship of this important group ofcountries,” Secretary-General Guterres said on Monday.
As multilateralism continues to come under “intense pressure from manysides”, the UN chief underscored the importance of the G77 and China’scontinued support.
“The Group of 77 and China has demonstrated strong leadership throughout2018 and proved once again to be a central force in demonstrating thatmultilateralism is the only way to address our shared challenges,” Guterressaid.
