Romania’s President at the United Nations

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis attended the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, where he emphasized the importance of international order based on rules.

Mihai Pelin, 22.09.2021, 13:50

Democratic values and international order, the restrictions imposed in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and the situation in Afghanistan were among the topics approached by President Klaus Iohannis in his address to the UN General Assembly in New York, on Tuesday. It was the first time since the onset of the pandemic that heads of state and government attended the UN session in person.

The Covid-19 pandemic, in spite of having impacted all aspects of life, has also offered opportunities for adjustment, Iohannis said in his speech. He also said an innovative approach is needed to simultaneously deal with numerous interdependent challenges such as health, demographic change, migration, limited resources, climate change and the loss of biodiversity, extreme poverty and hunger. Romania strongly believes that democratic values and international order based on rules, grounded in the UN principles, are vital for a safer and better future, President Iohannis said. The pandemic also showed us that we need to find ways to rebuild better and greener, reengage in the construction of sustainable economies and of resilient, fair and inclusive societies that leave no one behind, the head of state also said.

Talking about Afghanistan, Iohannis said that the most pressing problem is the safe evacuation of the Afghans who want to leave that country, which is even more difficult in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. In his opinion, it is vital to make sure that human rights are respected and that humanitarian aid can be granted.

President Iohannis also said that significant and safe internet access must be ensured, cyber security enhanced and responsible behaviour in the cyber space promoted. He also approached the issue of hate speech and disinformation in the digital space. He reminded, in the context, that Romania hosts the European Centre for Cyber Security which he believes it will improve research in terms of resilience and cyber security across the EU.

Also on Tuesday, Klaus Iohannis laid wreaths and held a moment’s silence in memory of the victims of the September 11 attacks, at the monument built on the site of the former twin towers at the World Trade Centre, where five Romanian-born Americans died 20 years ago. The names of the over 2,600 victims are inscribed on the bronze parapet surrounding the monument. On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four passenger planes. Two of them were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, a third plane hit the Pentagon and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. (EE)