all, god bless you. [applause] >> on behalf of the general assembly, i wish to thank the president of the republic of turkey. right i regret you stay seated. -- i request you stay seated. >> of the new united nations general secretary addressed of the body for the first time tuesday at the opening of the general assembly. he focused the majority of his

remarks on the growing tensions with the north korean government. this is 25 minutes. >> good morning. the third general meeting of the general assembly is called to order. in accordance with the decision taken 15 september 2017, the general assembly will hear a presentation by the secretary-general and his report on the work of the organization, and agenda item 110. i now give the floor to the secretary-general of the united nations, his excellency antonio guterres.

mr. guterres: mr. president and the general assembly, distinguished governments, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, i think you've really trust you have placed in me to serve the world's people. we the people and the united nations facing great challenge. gentlemen, i think you've really trust you have placed in me to serve the world's people. our world is in trouble. people are hurting and angry. they see insecurity rising come and equality growing, conflict spreading, and climate changing. the global economy is increasingly integrated, but our sense of global community may be disintegrating. societies are fragmented, political discourse is polarized, and trust within and among countries is being driven down by those who demonize and

divide. we are a world in pieces. we need to be a world at peace. i strongly believe that together we can build piece. we can restore trust and create a better world for all. excellencies, i will focus today on seven tests that stand in our way. for each, the dangers are all too clear, yet for each, if we act is truly united nations, we can find answers. first the nuclear peril. the use of nuclear weapons should be unthinkable. even the threat of their use can never be condoned, but today global anxieties about nuclear weapons are at the highest level since the end of the cold war. the fear is not abstract.

millions of people live under a shadow of dread cast by the provocative nuclear and missile test of the democratic people's republic of korea. within the dprk itself, those are suffering hunger and the loss of their human rights. i can then that unequivocally -- i condemned that unequivocally. last week's unanimous adoption of resolution 2375 tightened sanctions and sends a clear message regarding the country's international obligations. international obligations. i appeal to the council to maintain its unity. only that unity can lead to the denuclearization of the korean peninsula, and as the resolution recognizes, creates an opportunity for diplomatic engagement to resolve the

crisis. when tensions rise, so does the chance at miscalculation. fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings. the solution must be political, and this is a time for statesmanship. we must not sleepwalk our way into war. more broadly, all countries must show greater commitment to the universal goal of a world without nuclear weapons, and the nuclear weapon states have a special responsibility to lead. there is an urgent need to promote disarmament and preserve the gains made in these directions. these goals are linked. progress on one and will generate progress on the other.

let me turn to the global threat of terrorism. nothing justifies terrorism. no cause, no grievance. terrorism continues to take a rising toll of death and devastation. it is destroying societies, destabilizing regions, and diverting energy from more productive pursuits. national and multilateral counterterrorist efforts have reclaimed territories, prevented attacks, and saved lives, but we need to intensify this work. stronger international cooperation remains crucial against terrorism. i am grateful to the general assembly for approving one of my first reform initiatives, the establishment of the u.n. office of counterterrorism. next year i intend to convene the first ever gathering of

heads of counterterrorism agencies of member states to forge a new international counterterrorism partnership, but it is not enough to fight terrorists on the battlefield or to deny them funds. we must do more to address the root of radicalization, including real and perceived injustices, and levels of unemployment and grievances among young people. community leaders have a duty to stand up against hatred and serve as models of tolerance and moderation. together we need to make full use of any u.n. instruments and expand our efforts to support the survivors. but the experience has also shown that hard crackdowns and heavy-handed approaches are counterproductive. as soon as we believe violations of human rights and democratic freedoms are necessary to win the fight, we might have lost

the war. excellencies, we are all shocked by the dramatic escalation of tensions in myanmar. a vicious circle of persecution, discrimination, radicalization, and violent repression has left more than 400,000 desperate people to flee, putting regional stability at risk. i take note of their intention to take direct omissions of the advisory committee that were shared. let me emphasize again, the authorities in myanmar must end the military operations, allow unhindered access, and recognize

the right of refugees to return in safety and dignity. they must also address the grievances of those who have been left unresolved for far too long. excellencies, no one is winning today's wars. from syria to yemen, afghanistan and elsewhere, only political solutions can bring peace. we should have no illusions. we will not be able to eradicate terrorism if you do not resolve the conflicts creating violent extremism. last week i announced the creation of a high-level advisory board on mediation. the united nations is forging global partnerships with key organizations such as the african union, european union,

the league of arab states, and the organization of islamic corporation. we continue to strengthen and modernize peacekeeping, protecting civilians, and saving lives around the world. since taking office i have sought to bring together the parties in conflict, as well as those that have influence on them. i am particularly hopeful about tomorrow's meeting on libya. last month i visited israel and palestine. we must not let stagnation in the peace process lead to escalation. we must restore the hopes of the people, and the two state solution remains the only way forward, and it must be pursued urgently. excellencies, i must be frank. into many cases, the warring parties believe war is the answer.

they may speak of a willingness to compromise, but their actions often betray a thirst for outright military victory at any cost. violation of humanitarian law is rampant. civilians are paying the highest price. they face systematic violence and oppression. i have seen in my country and in my years at the united nations that it is possible to move from war to peace, and from dictatorship to democracy. let us push ahead with a surge in diplomacy today and a leap in conflict resolution for tomorrow. fourth, climate change puts our hopes in jeopardy. last year was the hottest ever, and the past decade has been the hottest on record. average global temperature keeps climbing.

glaciers are receding. permafrost is declining. millions of people are at risk from rising seas and other climate disruptions. the number of natural disasters has quadrupled since 1970. the united states, followed by china, india, the philippines, indonesia have experienced the most disasters since 1995, more than 1600, or one every five days. by sending solidarity with the people of the caribbean and the united states, we have just suffered through the august lesson category five storm ever recorded, and maria is already

on its way. we should not link any single weather event with climate change, but scientists are clear that such extreme weather is precisely what their models predict will be the new normal of a warming world. we have had to update our language describe what is happening. we now talk of mega-hurricanes, superstorms. it is time to get off of the path of suicidal emissions. we know enough today to enact historic agreements. i commend those cities for setting bold targets, and i welcomed the initiative's of thousands of private enterprises on a clean, green future. energy markets feel that green business is good business. the falling cost every nobles is one of the most encouraging stories on the planet today. so is the growing evidence -- the falling cost every nobles is the falling cost of renewables

is one of the most encouraging stories on the planet today. the facts are clear. solutions are staring us in the face. leadership needs to catch up. [speaking in french] >> growing inequality undermines the social contract. the expansion of trade and technological advances of a spectacular nature have brought amazing results. so many behind been able to get out of extreme poverty than ever before. more and more people today are living longer and better lives, but progress is not fair. we see disparities in income, equality of opportunity, and

access to the results of innovation and technology. there are regions and communities that are far away from these waves of growth, left to their resources in their parts of the world, and this exclusion has a price. exclusion, alienation, and instability. from these waves of growth, left to their resources in their but we have a plan to change course and bring about fair globalization, and that plan is the 2030 agenda. ladies and gentlemen, half of our world is female. half of our world is under 25 years old. we can't wait for the sustainable development goals. -- goals before we address the issue of women and the energy of

young people, and we know how quickly we need to move. we know that with billions in assets, it is not money we are lacking. what we need is wisdom. we need to use the tools, plans, and resources we already have to bring about sustainable development that will benefit everyone. this is an objective in itself, but it is also our best instrument to prevent conflict. ladies and gentlemen -- [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, innovation is something that we must address. technology will continue to be

at the heart of shared technology, but innovation, as essential as it is for technology, can have unforeseen consequences. threats to cyber security are on the increase. internet war is increasingly out in the open. it is increasingly able to disturb relations between states and destroy hundreds of structures of modern life. progress in cyberspace certainly should give people more freedom, but the dark web is showing that some people use this potential to harm others and serve themselves. artificial intelligence is something that can stimulate development and improve living conditions in a spectacular fashion, but it can also have a dramatic effect on worklife and global society and the very social fabric of society. genetic engineering is now becoming a reality, but it has

given rise to unresolved new ethical dilemmas unless it is dealt with in a responsible way. this progress could cause incalculable damage. ladies and gentlemen, governments and international organizations are quite simply not prepared for this new situation. the traditional forms of regulating affairs are no longer valid. clearly these kinds of trends require a new strategic thinking, a new ethical way of thinking and regulating these require a new strategic affairs. the united nations is prepared to be a forum where member states, civil society, and the economic world can meet together to discuss the way forward that will benefit everyone.

mr. guterres: excellencies, finally i want to talk about human mobility, which i do not perceive as a threat even if some do. i see it as a challenge that if properly managed, can help bring the world together. let us be clear, we do not only face the refugee crisis. we also face a crisis of solidarity. every country has the right to control its own borders, but it must be done in a way that protects the rights of people on the move. instead of closed doors and open hostility, we need to reestablish the integrity of the refugee protection regime and the simple decency of human compassion. with a truly global sharing of responsibility, the number of refugees we face can be managed, but too many states have not risen to the moment. i commend those countries that have showed admirable hospitality to those displaced

people. we need to do more to support that. [applause] and we also need to do more to face the challenges of migration. the truth is the majority of migrants move in a well ordered fashion, making positive contributions to their own countries. it is when migrants move in -- most especially risk for migrants themselves exposed to perilous journeys. migration has always been with us, and climate change, demographic instability, growing inequalities, as well as unmet needs in labor markets, means it is here to stay. the answer is effective international cooperation in

managing migration to ensure that its benefits are most widely distributed and that the human rights of all concerned are properly protected. from my experience, i can assure you that most people preferred to realize that, but we must work together. we must be oriented in a way to make sure that they can do so. migration should be an option, not a necessity. we also need a much stronger commitment of the international community to crack down on human traffickers and protect their victims. but let's be clear, we will not end the pressure on the mediterranean and elsewhere without creating more opportunities for regular migration. these will benefit migrants and countries alike. i myself am a migrant, as are

many of you in this room. but no one expected me to risk my life on a leaky boat or cross a desert in the back of a truck to find employment outside my country of birth. safe migration cannot be limited to the global elite. refugees -- [applause] mr. guterres: refugees, displaced persons, and migrants are not the problem. the problem lies in conflict, piercing fusion, -- conflict, persecution, and poverty. the way refugees and migrants have been stereotyped and scapegoated in search of electoral gain. in today's world, all societies are becoming multicultural, multiethnic, and multi-region.

this must be seen as a richness, not as a threat. to make diversity a success come of all people must feel their identities are respected and that they have a stake in the community as a whole. excellencies, we need to reform our world, and i am committed to reforming the united nations. together we have embarked on a coverage of reform effort to build a u.n. development system to support states, to safeguard people's piece and security, and to advance those goals instead of hindering them. we have launched a new center for preventing sexual exploitation. excellencies, we are here to serve, to relieve the suffering of we the peoples, and to help fill their dreams.

we come from different corners of the world. our cultures, religions, and traditions vary widely. at time there are competing interests among us. at times there is even open conflict. that is exactly why we need the united nations, and why multilateralism is today more important than ever. we call ourselves the international community. we must act as one because only together as united nations can we fulfill the promise of the charter and advanced human dignity for all. thank you. [speaking in foreign languages] [applause]

>> i thank the secretary-general of the united nations for his presentation. >> wednesday, a confirmation hearing for president trump neil gorsuchsent on the 10th circuit court. we have live coverage as -- kenny and eastern on c-span, on the website or streaming live on this c-span radio app. at u.s.y, a panel looks refugee resettlement policy. we all live with the heritage foundation starting at noon eastern on c-span two. and streaming on our free c-span radio app. navy secretary richard spencer and chief of naval operations admiral john richerson testified tuesday about the recent ship incidents that killed 17 sailors