Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, in New York; Credit: ME

As reported by the Ministry of State, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden travelled to New York from Friday 20 to Monday 23 September 2024 to participate in the Summit of the Future ahead of the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

In the presence of Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, the Prime Minister participated in the opening of the Summit of the Future, which aims to find a new consensus at the international level for more effective multilateral cooperation.

The summit saw the adoption of a Pact for the Future, after months of negotiations, a pact that will act as a compass for future actions within the framework of the United Nations. For Luxembourg's Prime Minister, this implies respect for international law and fundamental human rights and placing UN values  once again at the centre of joint efforts, noted the ministry.

In his first address to the UNGA as Prime Minister, Luc Frieden stressed that it is a feeling of mutual trust that must guide common actions, more than the words on which States have agreed.

"No country, regardless of its size, is able to meet the challenges that arise on its own," he stated. "The international order based on the rule of law is in crisis" and "flagrant violations of the [UN] Charter and international humanitarian law are increasing," he added.

To achieve this, the Prime Minister said we must "move from words to action on United Nations reform". This includes making the Security Council "more representative, more effective and more accountable to all Member States".

Together with Prince Guillaume, Prime Minister Frieden and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel attended a reception at the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg to meet with the Luxembourgish community based in and around New York.

Moreover, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. He also met with the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

(L-R: Prince Guillaume; Prime Minister Luc Frieden; Credit: ME)