Newly adopted Pact for the Future at UNGA: Biya drums immediate action for effective implementation.

Biya’s appeal was echoed by the Minister of External Relations, MINREX, H.E Mbella Mbella.

Mbella Mbella was speaking on behalf of President Biya, September 22, as dozens of Heads of State and Government, assembled for the adoption of the Pact for the Future. 

This was at the ongoing 79^th General Assembly of the United Nations, UNGA. The Pact, adopted without a vote, has been described as a blueprint for the future to tackle wars, environmental threats and technological challenges facing humanity. 

It covers a broad range of themes including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance.

On behalf of President Biya, the Minister of External Relations congratulated all parties involved in the negotiations for overcoming differences to reach a consensus.

“Indeed, the negotiations were long and arduous, but in the end we came through,” Mbella Mbella stated, adding that world leaders have “once again, demonstrated that real political will and a strong sense of public interest can help us achieve our goals”. 

The member of government was categorical that for the “Pact to be effectively implemented, we need to act without delay, thanks to renewed political will”.  

Minister Mbella Mbella said the just adopted Pact for the Future “is a real gamble for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations”.

He said thanks to the guidelines laid down, the objectives set and, above all, the concrete actions prescribed, the Pact seems to be “the right means to lead us towards the future we all want, and for which we have defined in a clear and unambiguous manner a few years ago”. 

The minister cited issues related to “safeguarding of the planet and humankind, the eradication of poverty, shared prosperity, and the need to leave no one behind”.

Mbella Mbella said the challenges faced are increasingly numerous and complex, above all globalized. 

“Science and technology have provided us with the most effective tools for achieving ever-increasing levels of progress. Let's make the most of these tools in unity, solidarity and active humanity!” he stated on behalf of President Biya. 

During the adoption, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, described the adoption of the pact as a landmark move.  He added that is a “step-change towards more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism”.

As reported by Aljazeera, the adoption of the pact, faced a brief delay when Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Vershinin, introduced an amendment, emphasising the “principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states”.

The media organ added that Russia’s objections were backed by allies Belarus, North Korea, Iran, Nicaragua and Syria, but its amendment was overwhelmingly dismissed in a motion to take no action.

The pact and its annexes – a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations – are nonbinding. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3239 of Tuesday September 24, 2024