Acceptance Speech by H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák upon His Election as President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly

　　米罗斯拉夫·莱恰克先生阁下当选72届联大主席时的致辞

　　31 May 2017

　　2017年5月31日

　　Your Excellency, Peter Thomson, President of the General Assembly,

　　Your Excellency, António Guterres, Secretary-General,

　　Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

　　尊敬的大会主席彼得·汤姆森阁下，

　　尊敬的秘书长安东尼奥·古特雷斯阁下，

　　各位阁下、尊敬的各位代表，

　　Before I begin, I would like to join and support the statement of President Thomson condemning in the strongest terms the horrible attack in Kabul (31 May 2017). There is no justification for such horrific violence.

　　在我开始发言之前，我谨与其他人一道，支持汤姆森主席的发言，最为强烈地谴责发生在喀布尔的可怕袭击事件。没有任何理由可为这种恐怖暴力开脱。

　　Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

　　各位阁下、尊敬的各位代表，

　　First of all, thank you very much.

　　首先，我要感谢你们。

　　I am truly delighted to be elected as President of the seventy-second session of the United Nations General Assembly. It is my greatest honour to have earned your support. I do feel truly privileged to have the opportunity to serve you throughout the next session.

　　我非常高兴当选为大会第七十二届会议主席。我极为荣幸地得到大会的支持，有机会在下一届会议期间为其服务实为我的殊荣。

　　I have been a professional diplomat all my life, serving with passion and commitment both Slovakia and the international community. I have fostered my belief in respect, honesty and dignity, rules, dialogue and search for compromise.

　　我做了一生的职业外交官，凭借激情与承诺为斯洛伐克和国际社会服务。我始终相信尊重、诚实与尊严、规则、对话以及寻求妥协。

　　Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to meet many of you in person. Thus, earning your trust today means not only professional but also personal responsibility.

　　在我的职业生涯中，我幸运地遇到许多在此与会的代表。为此，今天赢得大会的信任意味着，我担负的不仅是一种职业责任，而且也是一种个人责任。

　　It is the first time Slovakia has been entrusted with this role. I am very grateful for the support at home – from the President, the Government and the people. My country has always been strongly committed to multilateralism with the United Nations at the centre of it. And, over the years, we have contributed to a wide range of UN activities – through the work in the main UN organs, participation in peacekeeping operations or delivery of humanitarian or development assistance.

　　这是斯洛伐克首次被赋予这一职务。我非常感谢来自我国总统、政府以及人民的支持。我的国家始终坚定地致力于以联合国为核心的多边主义。多年来，我们通过在联合国各主要机关的工作和参加维持和平行动或者提供人道主义和发展援助等方式，为联合国的一系列广泛活动做出贡献。

　　Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　各位阁下、女士们、先生们，

　　During my tenure, I want to pay due attention to all three UN pillars. And I intend to work on the following six priorities, not necessarily in this order:

　　在我的任期中，我想适当关注联合国所有三个支柱。我打算就以下六个优先事项展开工作。

　　First of all, I want to draw the attention of Member States to people. That is why I suggest to focus on people – to strive for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet.

　　首先，我吁请各会员国以人为本，在一个可持续的星球上努力使人人享有和平与体面的生活。

　　I do believe we can do more to bring the United Nations closer to the world’s citizens. Nations around the globe continue to have high hopes of the United Nations. It is a key task for the General Assembly, as the most representative organ, to step up its efforts. It should make a real difference in the lives of ordinary people.

　　我确实认为，我们能够做得更多，以拉近联合国与世界各族人民之间的距离。世界各国继续对联合国寄予厚望。对于大会这个最具代表性的机关来说，加大工作力度是它的一项关键任务。它应该给普通百姓的生活带来真正的变化。

　　Secondly, I wish to highlight the importance of prevention and mediation in sustaining peace. I share this priority with Secretary-General Guterres, as I have always been a strong proponent of preventive diplomacy. Past efforts and existing UN opportunities on sustaining peace will be addressed at the already-mandated high-level meeting in April 2018.

　　第二，我谨强调预防和调解在保持和平中的重要性。我赞同古特雷斯秘书长的这一优先事项，因为我始终是预防外交的大力提倡者。在已授权的2018年4月份的高级别会议上，将处理联合国过去所做的工作和现有的保持和平方面的各种机遇。

　　My next priority will be migration. The consultative process of the Global Compact for Migration will shift into intergovernmental negotiations. Migration is not a short-term seasonal and regional problem. It is a very complex global and generational issue that needs true worldwide attention.

　　第三，我想侧重于移徙问题。关于安全、有序和正规移徙的全球契约的磋商进程将转入政府间谈判。移徙不是一个短期的季节性或区域性问题。它是需要世界各地关注的非常复杂的全球性和跨代问题。

　　I will also take a closer look at the Sustainable Development Goals and climate. We need to keep political momentum. I will follow up on work of President Thomson and support Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed in her efforts. More should be done to address inequalities and explore ways to help mainly Least Developed Countries and small island developing States.

　　第四，我还将更加细致地审视可持续发展目标和气候问题。我们必需保持政治势头。我将继续汤姆森主席的工作，支持常务副秘书长阿米纳·穆罕默德的工作。应该做出更多努力来处理各种不平等，探索各种方式以帮助最不发达国家和小岛屿发展中国家。

　　In this regard, I feel encouraged by commitments of Member States as well as the current leadership of this esteemed body. Activities such as next week’s conference on oceans go in the right direction, in terms of both substance and timing.

　　我为各会员国和大会这个广受敬重机关的现任领导层在这方面的承诺感到鼓舞。从内容与时机上说，下周的海洋大会等活动是朝着正确方向迈出的步骤。

　　My fifth focus will be on human rights as an overarching principle guiding my work. There is no peace and development without respect for dignity and fundamental rights. Continued support for equality, including equal opportunities for genders, will remain high in my activities.

　　第五，尊重人权这项总体原则将指导我的工作。没有对尊严与基本权利的尊重，就不可能有和平与发展。因此，我将继续把倡导平等、包括男女机会平等作为一个首要的优先事项。

　　The principle of equal representation will be respected also in terms of composition of my team. In this regard, I will continue the dialogue with you. I strongly wish to reach both gender and geographical balance in the Office of the President of the General Assembly.

　　平等代表权的原则也将反映在我的团队组成上。在这方面，我将积极参与这一对话。我十分希望在大会主席办公室实现性别和地域平衡。

　　And number six – it is quality – especially in terms of mandated events. I will not bring any new initiatives that may put an additional burden, mainly on smaller States. I would rather like to see the agenda in clusters and streamlined with concrete results.

　　第六个优先事项是工作质量，特别是就授权大会开展的活动而言。我不会提出任何可能主要给较小国家带来额外负担的新倡议。我更希望看到议程被分成专题组并对其进行精简，取得切实成果。

　　Mr. President, Secretary General, Excellencies,

　　主席先生、秘书长先生、各位阁下，

　　The Presidency of the General Assembly is an increasingly demanding position. In preparing for my post, I consulted broadly with Member States and other stakeholders.

　　大会主席这个职位的要求越来越高。在为出任这一职务作准备时，我广泛征求了会员国和其它利益攸关方的意见。

　　It is our common goal to create a stronger UN able to better meet all expectations. I will facilitate a constructive, informed and open interaction among Member States and with you, Mr. Secretary-General. I stand ready to consult your reform initiatives in the areas of peace and security, development and management.

　　我们的共同目标是打造一个更强有力，能够满足所有期望的联合国。我将推动会员国之间和与秘书长之间的建设性、知情和公开互动交流。我愿意为秘书长在和平与安全、发展和管理等领域的改革举措提供意见。

　　In search for deeper change of our organization, we must strengthen the trust between the UN and membership as well as the major groups. Many Member States feel that we need tangible progress on the UN reform agenda and revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. I will do all I can to support this effort.

　　为求更深入地改变本组织，我们必须加强联合国与会员国，以及主要集团之间的信任。许多会员国觉得，我们需要在联合国改革议程和振兴大会工作方面取得切实进展。

　　我将竭尽所能支持这一努力。

　　Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　各位阁下、女士们、先生们，

　　It is vital to make further strides towards improving the efficiency and role of the General Assembly. I share the view that this is both a technical and political issue. By far, the most widely mentioned UN reform topic is the reform of the UN Security Council. There is a high degree of accord that it is time to transform the Security Council into a twenty-first century body. I intend to work closely and consult widely with you on how to push forward the agreement our leaders made at the 2005 World Summit.

　　必须进一步向提高大会效率和加强大会作用方向迈进。我赞同这个看法，即这既是一个技术问题，又是一个政治问题。

　　最广泛提及的联合国改革议题是安全理事会改革。高度一致的意见认为，现在是时候把安全理事会转变为一个21世纪机构了。我打算在如何推进我们各国领导人在2005年世界领导人会议上达成的协议问题上与会员国紧密合作，广泛磋商。

　　Mr. Secretary-General, Dear Antonio,

　　秘书长先生，亲爱的安东尼奥，

　　Let me thank you for being here with us today. It is not an easy time to be heading the world’s leading international organization. Your steadfast commitment in taking the UN mandate forward is very much appreciated and needed.

　　请允许我感谢秘书长今天与会。此时担任全世界这个最重要国际组织的领头人并非易事。我们十分赞赏秘书长坚定致力于推进联合国的任务授权，这也是十分必要的。

　　Mr. President, Dear Peter,

　　主席先生，亲爱的彼得，

　　I wish to express my special gratitude to you for your outstanding cooperation, advice and guidance. You are a committed leader in many areas but especially on the promotion of implementation of the SDGs. Your dedication to strengthen the continuity and the institutional memory of the Office of the President of the General Assembly has been exceptional. You and everyone on your team has been so helpful in getting ready for my presidency. Without your generosity and good will the transition would be much more complicated. And until September, let me assure you of my firm support to your ongoing efforts.

　　我要特别感谢你出色的合作、建议和指导。你在许多领域都是一个坚定的领导人，在促进执行可持续发展目标方面尤其如此。你非同凡响，致力于加强大会主席办公室的延续性和机构记忆。

　　你和你团队中的每一个人在为我担任主席作准备方面都提供了很大帮助。如果没有你的慷慨和善意，过渡会复杂得多。主席先生，请允许我向你保证，我将坚定支持你继续做出努力，直至今年9月。

　　Mr. President, Secretary General, Excellencies,

　　主席先生、秘书长先生、各位阁下，

　　I wish to thank you once again for the opportunity to serve you. I will do my utmost to represent you to the best of my abilities. I look forward to collaborating closely with all of you very much focusing on pragmatic and practical issues. I pledge to represent each country as an honest broker in a fair and open manner. And I want all Member States to have a sense of belonging and equal relevance.

　　我谨再次感谢会员国给我机会为它们服务。我将竭尽全力代表它们。我期待与所有会员国紧密协作，特别着力于务实和实际问题。我保证作为一个忠实的调解人，以公平和开放的态度来代表每一个国家，我希望所有会员国有一种归属感和同样受重视的感觉。

　　Thank you for your attention.

　　感谢大家。