VP Jusuf Kalla: UN May Become Obsolete sans Reformation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla, or popularly known as JK, said during his speech at the 73rd UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters, New York, United States, that reformation was necessary for the United Nations to stem today's challenges that had increasingly become more complex.

JK underlined the society needed the United Nations to be responsive, responsible, and credible. “Otherwise, the UN will be obsolete in coping with the needs and challenges of today and tomorrow,” said the vice president on Thursday, September 27.

JK said the UN should demonstrate genuine leadership, which was commonly perceived as a superpower belonging to superheroes. However, he added, the world did not need to seek such superheroes like the Avengers or the Justice League. “We in this room are global leaders. Collectively, we have the strength of superheroes,” he remarked. 

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JK went on to say that the role of leaders was vital amid the world's complex challenges, including social instabilities and conflicts, extreme poverty and equality, zero-sum thinking and narrow nationalism, as well as the violation of democracy and human rights.

The genuine and responsible leadership, he added, was expected to usher in peace and prosperity to the community. According to JK, every leader must start from their respective regions and establish partnerships with others to pursue this goal.

JK also touched on the UN commitment to securing world's peace, which would be questioned if the UN failed to resolve the Palestinian-Israel conflict. “Indonesia will not remain silent against a country that destroys the territorial integrity of other countries,” he asserted.

VINDRY FLORENTIN