New York, 22 September 2024 (MIA) – President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, who is heading a Macedonian delegation to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) in New York, is to address on Sunday the high-level event Summit of the Future, to be held under the theme "Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow" at the UN headquarters, bringing together heads of states and governments. 

The Summit of the Future is aimed at bolstering global cooperation among member states, which is ever more important but difficult to achieve amid an atmosphere of mistrust and using outdated structures that no longer reflect today's political and economic realities. 

A Pact for the Future is to be declared at the Summit but, according to diplomatic sources, it is uncertain whether the document will be adopted today due to disagreements with parts of its content by Russia and six other countries, MIA reports from New York. Negotiations over the content of the document continued overnight, so it is uncertain what will happen today at this high-level meeting at the UN.   

Each chapter of the UN Pact for the Future has concrete proposals focusing on human rights, gender and sustainable development. It is organized in five main chapters, namely sustainable development and financing for development, international peace and security, science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation, youth and future generations, and transforming global governance. The pact includes among other declarations of intent to reform the UN Security Council, but this seems unlikely to happen.  

The document calls on members states to strengthen the protection of civilians in armed conflict, redouble efforts to end impunity and ensure accountability for atrocity crimes and other gross violations, such as the use of starvation of civilians as a method of war and gender-based violence, enable unimpeded humanitarian access and assistance, end hunger and eliminate food insecurity, act to achieve the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons, revitalize the role of the United Nations in the field of disarmament, adapt peace operations to better respond to existing challenges and new realities, among other.  

In terms of international peace and security, the document points to the need to promote cooperation and understanding between member states, defuse tensions,
seek pacific settlement of disputes and resolve conflicts. 

In addition, the document covers the protection of women, countering terrorism, addressing climate change and environmental protection, science, digitization and new technologies, young people, their future and participation in decision-making, etc.

The pact also includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations as annexes. 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres had called for ambitious reforms to the United Nations and other international organisations in order to make the international community fairer and better able to act in the face of multiple crises and wars. 

Intensive security measures are in place as top leaders and officials gather in New York for the UNGA 79, as well as due to the large number of tourists visiting the city. 

President Siljanovska Davkova is to address on Thursday the general debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly convened under the theme "Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations".

Siljanovska Davkova will take part in the annual meeting of the UNGA Platform of Women Leaders event exploring the importance of women’s equal participation in decision-making in ensuring peace, socio-economic opportunities, sustainable development and human dignity. At the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden, Siljanovska Davkova will also participate in a summit of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.

The Macedonian delegation also includes Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski and Deputy PM and Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Izet Mexhiti.  

Siljanovska Davkova, Mucunski and Mexhiti on Saturday visited a mosque in the framework of the "Debar" civil community in Freehold, New Jersey, which unites citizens from the Debar area.

Siljanovska Davkova said the time is coming when things will change and it should be so.

"I am proud that I am visiting a church and now a mosque on the same day, and the message is clear, what we need is to understand each other, respect each other's religion and cooperate. The messages of the Quran and the Bible are actually the same. The basis of ethics and morality are there. I'm here for the first time, but it won't be the last," said the President. 

Previously on Saturday, President Siljanovska Davkova visited the Macedonian Orthodox Church "St. Nicholas" in Totowa, New Jersey, where she attended a liturgy of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God. 

Photo: Archive/MIA