Joe Biden's speech at the UN General Assembly sessionThanks!
Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, my colleagues, heads of State, the world has been going through huge upheavals over the past year - a growing food crisis, unprecedented heat, floods and drought, COVID-19, inflation and a brutal unnecessary armed conflict — a conflict that, let's face it, one person decided to unleash.
Let's be frank — a permanent member of the UN Security Council has sent troops into a neighboring country in an attempt to erase this sovereign state from the map.
Russia has unceremoniously violated the basic principles of the UN Charter. There is nothing more important than an unequivocal ban on the forcible seizure by a country of the territory of a neighboring state.
Just today, President Putin again made outright threats to use nuclear weapons against Europe, demonstrating reckless disregard for the obligations provided for by the non-proliferation regime.
Now Russia has announced partial mobilization for participation in the battles. In addition, the Kremlin is going to hold fictitious referendums, trying to annex parts of the territory of Ukraine, which is a very serious violation of the UN Charter.
The world must understand what these outrageous actions represent. Putin says he had to act because Russia was threatened. But no one threatened Russia, and no one except Russia sought this conflict.
In fact, we warned that this conflict would happen, and together with many of you, we tried to prevent it.
The true purpose can be unmistakably understood from the words of Putin himself. Shortly before the invasion, he claimed, I quote, that "Ukraine was created by Russia" and that "it never had a genuine statehood."
And now we see the shelling of schools, railway stations, hospitals in Ukrainian centers of centuries-old history and culture, where we observe even more horrific evidence of atrocities, atrocities and war crimes of Russia. Mass graves discovered in Raisins. According to those who extracted them from the ground, there are traces of torture on the bodies.
The purpose of this war is to deprive Ukraine of the right to exist as a state. Everything is simple and clear. And the right of Ukraine to exist as a people. Whoever you are, wherever you live, whatever you believe in, it should make your blood run cold.
Therefore, representatives of 141 countries of the General Assembly came together to unequivocally condemn Russia's military operation in Ukraine. The United States has sent significant military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and is providing it with direct economic support — more than $ 25 billion to date.
In addition, our allies and partners around the world have become more active. And today, more than 40 countries, whose representatives are here, are sending billions of their money and equipment to help Ukraine protect itself.
At the same time, the United States is working closely with our allies and partners to make Russia pay for its actions, prevent an attack on NATO territory, and hold Russia accountable.
Because if countries can pursue their imperial ambitions with impunity, then we endanger everything that this organization stands for. Everything.
Every victory won on the battlefield was won thanks to the courageous Ukrainian soldiers. But last year the world was also put to the test, and we did not hesitate.
We chose freedom. We have chosen sovereignty. We have chosen the principles that each signatory to the UN Charter adheres to. We supported Ukraine
Like you, the United States wants this conflict to end on the terms of justice, on the terms that we all accepted and signed: it is impossible to seize the territory of the country by force. The only country preventing this is Russia.
Therefore, we — each of us who is a member of this organization, who are determined to defend the principles and beliefs that we are committed to defending as members of the UN — must be convinced, confident and unshakable in our determination.
Ukraine has the same rights as other sovereign states. We will show solidarity with Ukraine. We will stand in solidarity against Russian aggression. And period.
Now it's no secret that in the struggle between democracy and autocracy, the United States — and I, as president — defend the concept of our world based on democratic values.
The United States is determined to defend and strengthen democracy at home and around the world. Because, in my opinion, democracy remains humanity's greatest tool for solving modern problems.
We are cooperating with the "Seven" countries and like-minded states to prove that democracies can meet people's expectations and act for the benefit not only of their citizens, but also of the rest of the world.
But today, when this meeting is taking place, the UN Charter — the very foundation of a stable and fair rules—based order - is being attacked by those who want to destroy it or change it in their own political interests.
And the UN Charter was signed not only by the democratic countries of the world, it was agreed with the citizens of dozens of countries with completely different histories and ideologies, united in their commitment to the cause of peace.
As President Truman said in 1945, the UN Charter, I quote, is "proof that countries, like people, can declare their differences, can perceive them as they are, and then can find common views, a common position to adhere to."
This common position was so simple, so fundamental, that today 193 of you — 193 Member States - willingly accepted its principles. And upholding these principles of the UN Charter is the task of every responsible member state of the organization.
I do not accept the use of violence and war to conquer countries or expand borders through bloodshed.
To resist the global policy of fear and coercion, to protect the sovereign rights of small States on a par with the rights of larger ones, to adhere to basic principles such as freedom of navigation, respect for international law and arms control — regardless of what other areas we may disagree on, this is a common position that we must adhere to.
If you are committed to building a solid foundation for the benefit of every country in the world, then the United States is ready to cooperate with you.
I also believe that it is time to expand this organization so that it can respond more effectively to the needs of the modern world.
The members of the UN Security Council, including the United States, must consistently support and defend the UN Charter and refrain from using the veto, except in rare, emergency situations, so that this body, as before, is authoritative and effective.
That is why the United States also supports an increase in the number of both permanent and non-permanent representatives in the Council. This means permanent membership for those countries that we have long supported, and permanent membership for the countries of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The United States takes this vital work very seriously. In each region, we have been looking for new, constructive ways to interact with partners to promote common interests. From the development of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) in the Indo-Pacific region and the signing of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection at the Summit of the Americas to participation in the historic meeting of nine Arab leaders with the aim of creating conditions for strengthening peace and increasing integration in the Middle East and holding a Summit of US and African Leaders in December this year.
As I said last year, the United States is ushering in an era of relentless diplomatic work to solve problems that are most important to people's lives — the lives of all people. This is the fight against the climate crisis, as the previous speaker spoke about, strengthening global health security, providing food for the world — the whole world.
This has become a priority for us. And a year later, we are fulfilling this promise.
Since the day I took office as President, we have launched an ambitious climate action program. We joined the Paris Agreement, held large-scale climate summits, and assisted in reaching the most important agreements at the COP26 conference. And we helped direct two-thirds of global GDP to limit warming to 1.5C.
And now, here in the United States, I have signed a historic law that implies the biggest and most important commitment to combat climate change that we have ever made in the entire history of our country: to allocate $369 billion to combat climate change. We are talking about tens of billions of dollars in the form of new investments in offshore wind and solar energy, a significant increase in the number of environmentally friendly vehicles, increased energy efficiency, and support for environmentally friendly production.
According to the estimates of our Department of Energy, this new law will reduce the amount of emissions in the United States by one gigaton per year by 2030 and at the same time open a new era of growth of the economy based on clean energy.
Our investments will also help reduce the costs of developing clean energy technologies not only in the United States, but also around the world. This is a global breakthrough that will change the situation around the world — and soon enough. We don't have much time.
We all know that we are already living in a climate crisis. No one seems to doubt this after the past year. While this meeting is taking place, most of Pakistan is still under water, he needs help. At the same time, an unprecedented drought is raging in the Horn of Africa.
Families have to make the hardest choice, deciding which child to feed, and doubting whether they will survive.
This is the price that people have to pay for climate change. And it is not decreasing, but growing.
Therefore, as I announced last year, in order to fulfill our global commitment, my administration, together with our Congress, are deciding on the allocation of more than $11 billion a year for international financing of the climate program. This will help low-income countries meet their climate targets and ensure an appropriate energy transition.
The main part of this work will be our PREPARE program, which will help half a billion people, and especially vulnerable countries, adapt to the effects of climate change and increase their ability to withstand adverse conditions.
The need for this is very great. I would like this to be the moment when we find the desire and firm intention to reverse the wave of climate devastation and, for the sake of preserving our planet, create a sustainable, nature-saving economy based on environmentally friendly energy.
As for global health, we have sent more than 620 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 116 countries around the world, and we have an additional amount to meet the needs of different countries — and all this is free, free of charge.
We work closely with the G20 countries and other states. In addition, the United States was among the initiators of making changes when creating a fundamentally new fund at the World Bank to prevent pandemics, ensure preparedness and take measures.
At the same time, we continue to move forward in solving the still urgent global health problems.
Later today, I will host the Seventh Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. With bipartisan support in our Congress, I promised to allocate up to $6 billion for these purposes.
Therefore, I look forward to welcoming the participants of the historic conference, vying with each other to make charitable contributions, which will result in one of the largest global health fundraising campaigns in history.
In addition, we are closely engaged in solving the food crisis. At a time when 193 million people around the world are experiencing acute food shortages — their number has jumped by 40 million in a year — today I am announcing the allocation of another 2.9 billion US dollars this year alone for humanitarian assistance to save lives and ensure food security.
Meanwhile, Russia is spreading disinformation, trying to suggest that the cause of the crisis — the food crisis — are sanctions imposed by many countries of the world for its aggressive actions against Ukraine.
Therefore, I would like to clarify something, to make it completely clear: our sanctions completely and unequivocally allow Russia to export food and fertilizers. Without any restrictions. The situation with food shortages is aggravated by a special military operation conducted by Russia, and only Russia can put an end to it.
I am grateful for the work that is being done here at the UN, including your leadership, Mr. Secretary General, to create a mechanism for exporting grain from the Black Sea ports of Ukraine, which Russia has blocked for several months, and we must make sure that its validity period is extended.
We firmly believe in the need to provide food to the whole world. Therefore, the United States is the world's largest sponsor of the World Food Program, allocating funds that make up more than 40% of its budget.
We provide the main support to UNICEF activities to provide food to children around the world.
And to solve the larger problem of food shortages, the United States proposed the Call to Action program: the roadmap for overcoming the global food crisis, which has already been supported by more than 100 Member States.
In June, the Seven countries announced the allocation of more than $ 4.5 billion to improve food security around the world.
As part of the Agency for International Development's "Feed the Future" initiative, the United States is expanding innovative ways to deliver drought- and heat-resistant seeds to farmers who need them, while simultaneously distributing fertilizers and increasing their efficiency so that farmers can use them in smaller quantities and at the same time get higher yields.
And we call on all countries to refrain from imposing a ban on the export of food or the accumulation of grain, taking into account the suffering of so many people. Because in any country in the world, no matter what else separates us, if parents can't feed their children, everything else doesn't matter.
Looking into the future, we and our partners strive to update and develop roadmaps to solve the new problems facing us in the 21st century.
Together with the European Union, we have created the Trade and Technology Council in such a way that the development and identification of key technologies are carried out in such a way that it benefits everyone.
Together with our partners and through the UN, we support and consolidate the norms of responsibility — responsible state behavior in cyberspace and work to bring to justice those who use cyber attacks to create a threat to international peace and security.
Together with partners in North and South America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region, we are working to create a new economic ecosystem in which each country will have equal chances, and economic growth will be sustainable and collaborative.
Therefore, the United States supports the introduction of a global minimum corporate tax rate. And we will strive to ensure that it is introduced in such a way that large corporations pay their fair share everywhere.
This idea was also the basis of the Indo-Pacific Economic Agreement, which the United States, together with 13 other Indo-Pacific countries, started implementing this year. We work with our partners in ASEAN and the Pacific Islands to support the prospects of the most important Indo-Pacific region, which is free and open, interconnected and prosperous, safe and sustainable.
Together with partners from all over the world, we are working to ensure reliable supply chains that protect everyone from coercion or domination and ensure that no country can use energy as a weapon.
And at a time when Russia's special military operation is destabilizing the global economy, we also call on major global creditors, including countries outside the Paris Club, to openly discuss the issue of debt relief to low-income countries in order to prevent the emergence of larger economic and political crises around the world.
Instead of infrastructure projects that generate huge debts without providing the promised benefits, I propose to meet the huge infrastructure needs that exist on a global scale with transparent investments, that is, high-level projects that protect the rights of workers and the environment, focused on the needs of the society they serve, and not on the depositor.
Therefore, the United States, together with other partners in the "Seven", launched a Partnership in the field of global infrastructure and investment. As part of this partnership, we want to attract investments totaling $600 billion by 2027.
Dozens of projects are already under implementation: the industrial production of vaccines in Senegal, the creation of solar power plants in Angola as part of the energy transition, the construction of the first of its kind small modular nuclear power plant in Romania.
These are investments that will ensure profits not only for these countries, but for everyone. To solve global problems such as climate change, the United States is ready to cooperate with all countries, including our competitors. Climate diplomacy is not a help, not a favor to the United States or any other country, and the rejection of it harms the whole world.
I would like to speak directly about the rivalry between the United States and China. As we cope with changing geopolitical trends, America will behave like a reasonable leader. We do not seek conflict. We do not seek a cold war. We are not asking any country to choose between the United States and some other partner.
But the United States will resolutely spread our vision of a free, open, secure and prosperous world and what we can offer to the people of the countries. These are investments aimed not at strengthening their dependence, but at easing their burdens and helping countries become self-sufficient, partnerships that do not entail political obligations. Because we know that our own success — each of our success becomes greater when other countries also achieve success.
When people have the opportunity to live with dignity and develop their talents, everyone wins. Following the highest goals of this organization is crucial for this: strengthening peace and security for everyone and everywhere.
The United States will not waver and will not give up its positions in its unwavering determination to confront and stop the ongoing terrorist threats to our world. And in striving for a peaceful resolution of conflicts, we will start with diplomacy.
We strive to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
We remain committed to our "one China" policy, thanks to which we have been able to prevent conflicts for four decades. And we continue to oppose unilateral changes to the status quo by either side.
We support the African Union-led peace process aimed at ending the fighting in Ethiopia and restoring security for all its people.
In Venezuela, where more than 6 million people have been forced to leave the country as a result of years of political oppression, we urge dialogue under the leadership of Caracas and a return to free and fair elections.
We continue to provide support to our neighboring country Haiti, as it is under the conditions of terror by bandit groups provoked by some political forces, and a serious humanitarian crisis.
And we call on the whole world to do the same. We still have a lot to do.
We will continue to support the truce in Yemen, reached through the mediation of the UN, thanks to which precious peaceful months have come for people suffering from years of war.
As before, we will advocate for lasting peace through negotiations between the Jewish and democratic State of Israel and the Palestinian people. The United States takes Israel's security seriously and is true to its obligations. And period. And the agreed two-State solution remains, in our opinion, the best way to ensure the security and prosperity of Israel in the future and to give the Palestinians the State to which they are entitled. Both sides must fully respect the equal rights of their citizens, both of these peoples are equally free, independent and have dignity.
I would also like to urge all countries to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime through diplomacy. Regardless of what else is happening in the world, the United States is ready to take the most important arms control measures. There can be no winners in a nuclear war, and it cannot be unleashed in any case.
The five permanent members of the Security Council recently, in January, reaffirmed their commitment to this principle. But today we are seeing alarming trends. Russia rejected the ideals of non-proliferation adopted by all other countries at the 10th NPT Review Conference.
And, as I have already said, she is again making irresponsible threats to use nuclear weapons. China is conducting an unprecedented and alarming nuclear buildup in the absence of any transparency.
Despite our attempts to start serious and consistent diplomatic work, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea continues to grossly violate the terms of UN sanctions.
If Tehran fulfills its obligations, the United States is ready for a mutual return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but at the same time Washington clearly states: we will not allow Iran to become the owner of nuclear weapons.
I still believe that the best way to achieve this result is through diplomacy. The nuclear nonproliferation regime is one of the greatest successes of this organization. We cannot allow the world to take a step back now, nor can we turn a blind eye to human rights violations.
Perhaps the exceptional achievement of this organization is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which represents the benchmark by which our predecessors urged us to evaluate ourselves.
In 1948, they made it clear that human rights are the foundation of everything we strive to achieve. However, today, in 2022, fundamental freedoms are under threat in all parts of the world. From the violations in Xinjiang detailed in the recently published reports of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the horrific bullying and violence against democratic activists and ethnic minorities by the military regime in Burma to the increased repression of women and girls by the Taliban* in Afghanistan.
And today we show solidarity with the brave citizens and brave women of Iran, who are right now demonstrating in defense of their fundamental rights.
But here's what I know: the future will belong to those countries that will fully unlock the potential of their populations, where women and girls will be able to enjoy equal rights, including basic reproductive rights, and make a comprehensive contribution to building a stronger economy and a more stable society. Where representatives of religious and ethnic minorities will be able to live their lives without harassment and contribute to the structure of their communities. Where representatives of the LGBTQ+ community live and love freely without being subjected to violence. Where citizens can ask questions to their leaders and criticize them without fear of reprisals.
The United States will always promote respect for human rights and promote the values enshrined in the UN Charter in our own country and around the world.
I would like to conclude with the following words: this organization, guided by the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is essentially an expression of undaunted hope.
I want to repeat these words: it is an expression of undaunted hope.
Think about the foresight of those first delegates who took on a seemingly impossible task when the world was still smouldering with fires.
Think about how divided the peoples of the world must have felt when they were gripped by a new grief for the millions of dead, when the horrors of the Holocaust were exposed, the purpose of which was mass murder.
They had every right to think only about the worst that is in humanity. But they reached out to what was best in all of us and sought to build something better: lasting peace, relations based on mutual recognition of the rights and customs of States, equal rights for every member of the human race, cooperation for the progress of all mankind.
My fellow leaders, the challenges we face today are indeed great, but our opportunities are greater than they are. And our dedication and dedication should be even greater.
Therefore, let's unite to once again declare our unquestionable determination that the peoples of the world are still united, that we defend the values of the UN Charter, that we still believe that if we cooperate, we can turn the arc of history towards a freer and fairer world for all our children although none of us could do it to the full extent.
We are not passive witnesses of history, we are its creators.
We can — we must — do this for ourselves and our future, for the sake of humanity.
Thank you for your patience, for listening to me. I really appreciate it. May the Lord bless you all. (Applause)_____________________________________________________________
* Members of the terrorist organization "Taliban Movement", which is banned in Russia — Approx.
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