Doha, December 22 (QNA) - HE President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly Dr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande underlined that ten years are sufficient to implement the Sustainable Developments Goals 2030, stressing that the State of Qatar plays a pivotal role in all axes of these goals and has achieved a lot, not only with regard to the commitment to support the United Nations organizations, but also by laying the foundations for supporting other countries and helping many countries and civil society institutions in need.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Tijjani noted the difficulties facing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the most important is financing. Therefore, each country must implement its obligations and evaluate its role.

On Qatar's role in supporting the United Nations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Tijjani said that everyone recognizes Qatar's pivotal role in implementing all axes to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and it always help the United Nations and all the international community institutions and has significant contributions in weak and poor countries.

He noted that he is in constant contact with officials in the State of Qatar, and has discussed during the last days a number of issues on collective cooperation and concerted efforts, because the challenges facing the world are complex and sensitive.

He explained that his discussions with the Qatari officials touched on many issues, such as terrorism and climate change, and focused on means to support and unite efforts to address the various challenges.

HE the President of the UN General Assembly thanked the State of Qatar for its unlimited support for the United Nations in an ideal and significant way in education and other fields.

Commenting on his participation in the Doha Forum 2019 recently, Dr. Tijjani said that this major global event is a platform to discuss and address world issues, and represents a contribution by the State of Qatar to planning and working together in order to discuss the challenges facing humanity.

He noted that this significant event includes political discussions and brings together experts, specialists and academics from all over the world, as well as dignitaries, political leaders and policymakers, and this is one of the most important elements of exchanging experiences, knowledge and sharing ideas for the benefit of the international community as a whole.

On the Gulf crisis, the blockade of Qatar and the role of the United Nations in resolving such disputes that hinder the march of the international community towards cooperation, development and partnership to confront the major challenges, Dr. Tijjani described the crisis as a "brotherly problem" that does not benefit any of the parties, expressing his hope that the efforts being exerted would succeed in resolving the conflict as soon as possible.

He highlighted the statements of HE Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani and HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and believed that the situation is now much better than before.

He added that the United Nations was very clear since the beginning that this crisis and all other differences should be resolved through dialogue.

Regarding the United Nations position on the attacks on Gaza and the repeated Israeli aggressions on the Strip, Dr. Tijjani said that the issue of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is very old and it is sad that it cannot be resolved till now, noting that the United Nations seeks to take a decision that supports the efforts to find a solution through which peace and security can be established in the region, which is not easy but still the goal of the United Nations.

He stressed that the UN General Assembly is committed to its position in supporting the two-state solution and providing all kinds of assistance to solve this conflict.

HE Dr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande said in his interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the main issues he is working on are implementing what can help achieve and support the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, that were agreed upon in 2015, with a focus on specific elements in these goals such as security; peace; justice; poverty and hunger eradication (zero hunger); and taking special measures on climate change and the quality and comprehensiveness of education. He is doing well in those areas, he said.

HE UN General Assembly President stressed that education is everything, and it is the cornerstone. The effective access to it is a right to everyone everywhere, especially women, the poor and persons with disabilities.

He warned that climate change is a threat that affects all, as there are countries that are at risk of disappearing as a result of global warming.

To avoid this, he said, "It is not just for governments, but civil society and institutions, to launch initiatives and strengthen partnerships.

"I think if we had carried out development operations in the places of conflict, we would not have reached the current situation in these areas," he added, noting that sustainable development goals are interconnected and support each other. "If we mitigate conflicts, we will have achieved these goals. And if we organize the scope of inclusive governance and strengthen democracy and popular participation in governance, we can reduce conflicts and achieve the sustainable development goals."

HE Dr. Tijjani emphasized the importance of evaluating all the problems facing the world in a correct and accurate manner and following up what countries have done and what they have not, as well as determining the reasons for success and failure, so that the next 10 years would be very sufficient to achieve these goals. He pointed out that the most important problems the United Nations faces is means of finance to reach these goals, indicating that there are other problems, but the most important of which is funding.

On reforming the United Nations, he said that the reform process is not new, but rather a long time ago. The discussions are ongoing on reforming the General Assembly and the Security Council and will not stop. Two ambassadors have been appointed to follow the reform process, and they are working seriously in these tracks, he said. The reform program is very difficult, but it is proceeding "and is being done one step at a time, and there is progress in this regard.

His Excellency highlighted the importance of UN in providing security and support for many parties. As it is a human-dependent organization, it might have not been perfect in some situations and might have followed a slow pace in decision-making, however, broadly, it provided very important norms, gathered humanity, coordinated its efforts, and contributed to the exchange of ideas, information and knowledge.

In risk situations, the United Nations was supportive for the weak and the marginalized, regardless of their colors, nationalities, and the societies in which they live. It established many important principles for humankind such as ending slavery; and empowering women, and sought to address global issues such as climate change and taking collective measures to curb those trying to declare war on others and combat terrorism and the various pests that must be addressed collectively.

Despite its shortcomings, the United Nations lifts people from poverty and increases their chances of education and awareness. Therefore, even those who question this system cannot give up or withdraw from it. (QNA)