Speaking at the general debate of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined that in a global world, all our countries, large and small, must share responsibility for the future.
Speaking at the general debate of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined that in a global world, all our countries, large and small, must share responsibility for the future.
Addressing the international community, the President highlighted environmental, security and gender issues. She drew the UN's attention to the Lithuania's initiative to have a resolution on sea-dumped chemical weapons and ammunition, and invited the countries cooperate more actively in exchanging information on the dangers posed by the problem.
The President also called for particular focus on gender equality issues. European Union activities such as the European Institute for Gender Equality based in Lithuania, the President said, could serve as a lead to other regions. The President invited everyone to explore new ideas and share good practices at the high-level meeting on gender equality issues to be held within the framework of the Community of Democracies under the Lithuanian Presidency in Vilnius next year.
“Gender equality issues are rarely associated with overcoming the economic crisis or stopping climate change. However, it has been estimated that the elimination of gender discrimination in the labor market could increase the GDP by as much as 30 percent. Let us all put all our efforts together to eradicate intolerance and discrimination,” the President said.
The President also invited all countries to contribute as much as they can to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
“Lithuania has limited resources. However, we supplied humanitarian aid to Haiti, Pakistan, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, and other countries. We have engaged in such difficult initiatives as the training of national security forces of Afghanistan. Working together with the people of Ghor Province in Afghanistan Lithuania has funded a number of community-based education programs, built nineteen schools which have opened-up their doors also for girls, founded the first public library in the province's capital of Chaghcharan. That is our modest contribution, but it works. I am sure - each time we implement a concrete project, we move closer to achieving our global objectives,” the President said at the UN General Assembly.