, in the context of the growth of geopolitical tension, Southeast Asia plays a “vital role in the introduction of bridges of mutual understanding” around the world. This was stated by UN Secretary General Antoniu Guterrish, speaking on Thursday in Jakarta, the press service of the organization reports.
According to the head of the UN, the international community is now faced with a number of difficult tests, including an extraordinary climatic situation, a global crisis of the cost of life, raging in many regions of the planet armed conflicts, growing poverty, hunger and inequality.
GUTERRASH noted that under these conditions the activities of the Association of Southeast Asia (ASEAN) “in the instigation of bridges of mutual understanding” is difficult to overestimate, since the world becomes more and more multipolar and requires strong international institutions based on the principles of justice, solidarity and universality.
During his speech, Antoniu Guterres turned to the most intact crisis in the region – the situation in Myanmar, where in February 2021 the military overthrew the democratically elected government and now continue to carry out repressions against their political opponents.
“Cruel violence, growing poverty and systematic repressions destroy the hopes for the return of Myanmar to democracy, – said the head of the UN.” More than a million representatives of the Rohinge nationality are still in the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, the conditions for Their safe, voluntary and worthy return to their homes has not yet been created. “
Speaking about the climatic crisis, the UN Secretary General noted that the ASEAN states are one of the richest regions in the world from the point of view of biological diversity and, at the same time, the most vulnerable in the face of natural disasters.
According to Antoniu Guterris, the international community still has time to limit the worst consequences of climate change and achieve the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming.
The head of the UN stated that ASEAN has unique opportunities to become a leader in the field of global, stable, fair, inclusive and equal transition to net energy, but this must be acted more decisively.
GUTERRASH called for the intensification of the efforts to realize the goals in the field of sustainable development in Southeast Asia, including allocating funding in the amount of $ 500 billion per year for these purposes.