General Assembly President stresses global partnership to address economic crisis

The President of the General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, has underlined the need for international partnerships to tackle the global financial crisis as the world’s economies become increasingly complex and mutually interdependent.

“Major issues are no longer contained within borders, what affects one nation affects us all,” said Mr. Al-Nasser when he chaired an informal plenary meeting at the Assembly yesterday to discuss next week’s summit of the G-20, the group comprising the world’s largest economies.

“Tackling the crisis therefore can only be accomplished through a united global partnership, based on open dialogue and close collaboration,” he said, adding that the Assembly must lead the consolidation of that partnership given its significance at the centre of global decision-making.

“This Assembly must continue to encourage dialogue and cooperation with all key stakeholders, Member States, international financial institutions, regional organizations, the private sector, civil society and influential informal groups, such as the Group of 20,” Mr. Al-Nasser told the plenary, held ahead of the G-20 Summit in Cannes, France, on 3-4 November.

He said the Assembly has been working to improve complementarities and mutual reinforcement between its deliberations and those of the G-20, and he intends to convene an informal meeting of the Assembly after the G-20 summit for the United Nations body to be briefed on its outcome.