Published on: 2026-09-18
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 18, 2026 UN
Khalilur Rahman became the President of the UN General Assembly during a period he himself calls a “crisis of trust.”
An experienced diplomat from Bangladesh, the country’s Foreign Minister who also served many years at the United Nations, stated that the priority of his one-year chairmanship at the 81st session of the General Assembly will be restoring trust in the UN.
He keeps returning to this topic, recalling the optimism at the time of the founding of the UN in 1945 and pointing to the gulf between the expectations of the member states then and the organization’s results today.
On the eve of the High-Level Week — the main event in the UN calendar and the largest summit of world leaders — Rahman gave an interview to the UN News Service. He spoke about what the transformation of the Organization should look like in practice, why artificial intelligence has become an unprecedented challenge for the UN, and which lessons from his work on overcoming the Rohingya crisis he intends to apply in his new position.
He also responded to skeptics who consider the General Assembly powerless in the face of the Security Council, which is paralyzed by disagreements.
UN News Service: The High-Level Week is currently underway. What are your expectations, and what do you think world leaders should take back to their countries upon its conclusion?
UNGA: High-Level Week is the brightest manifestation of how uniquely consolidating the United Nations is. It is a rare opportunity to hear firsthand the opinions of those who govern states: how they see the global and regional situation, the state of affairs in their own countries, and what exactly they expect from the UN.
What interests me most is what they will say about restoring trust in the organization. This is a key focus of my chairmanship. I have made this topic central and want to rely on their opinion as a guide in my further work.
UN News Service: Restoring trust is the cornerstone of your program. What does it look like in practice, and by what criteria will you evaluate success?
HR: Let’s go back to 1945, to the origins of our Organization. In Yalta, Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill held meetings over the course of eight days. Besides resolving issues related to ending the war, they conceived the creation of a global organization whose main goal was to prevent the recurrence of conflicts like the two world wars.
When the creation of the UN was officially announced in San Francisco, the delegates gave a standing ovation. This outburst expressed the hope that the UN would be able to ensure peace.
And I am glad to note that over the past eight decades, we have managed to avoid a large-scale global conflict. The states not represented at the negotiating table back then have freed themselves from colonial dependence and formed a strong system for development assistance within the framework of the UN.
However, we have not been able to prevent many local conflicts, and progress in the field of development has often been too slow. We must make every effort to ensure that the Security Council works cohesively and fulfills the tasks assigned to it.
UN News Service Security Council Meeting.
In neither of these two key areas have the expectations of the international community been fully met. This generates disappointment and a feeling that the UN is not fulfilling its tasks, which, in turn, undermines trust in the Organization.
Human rights deserve a separate mention — our third most important direction: only four percent of the total expenses are allocated to it. We have made significant progress, but there is still much to be done.
We need to actively work on all three fronts to restore the trust that the Organization enjoyed at the time of its creation. This is a colossal task that requires joint efforts from all member states and stakeholders.
UN News Service: You emphasized that it is not 1945 now and the world has moved far forward. What key change would you highlight?
AI: Artificial Intelligence. It can become a powerful driver for development; however, according to the bleak forecasts of some prominent figures, it also poses a serious threat to humanity.
We must not artificially slow down innovation – this process cannot be stopped. However, it is very important to establish clear “safety frameworks” so that technological progress serves the benefit of people rather than harms them.
And this task is not only for governments, but also for everyone directly involved in the development and implementation of these technologies. All these communities must be engaged in discussions and decision-making so that we can find a safe path in which AI will work for the benefit of humanity.
UN News Service: Critics argue that the General Assembly resolutions carry only moral weight and have no real power, while actual authority lies with the Security Council, whose work is often blocked by vetoes. What is your response to this?
HR: If the Assembly were useless, the High-Level Week simply wouldn’t exist, and heads of state wouldn’t come here. There is unquestionably practical benefit. The main thing I see is the huge unifying potential of a platform on which the entire world is represented. There is nothing like it anywhere else on the planet.
Diplomacy does not always take place openly. The Assembly provides heads of state and government with a secure environment to discuss the most complex issues and seek compromises. It is also an authoritative way to obtain information directly from those who govern our societies.
I am convinced that the Assembly will continue to play a key role in shaping international norms and determining the common vector of the work of the world community.
UN News Service: You were directly involved in resolving the Rohingya crisis. What lessons from this experience will you apply in your work as President of the General Assembly?
HR: This is a terrible humanitarian tragedy: people were attacked, their homes bombed, villages burned, and they were expelled by their own compatriots. Pregnant women had their abdomens cut open and children were thrown into the fire…
But at the same time, I saw their incredible resilience, will to live, and desire to return home. When the Secretary-General visited Cox’s Bazar last year, over 100,000 refugees gathered in the evening during Ramadan to share a meal with him. Each of them held a poster saying: “We want to go home.”
The lesson I have learned from this is simple: violence does not solve any problem. It only delays its resolution and worsens the consequences. Only the path of dialogue and negotiations, only joint work can help us find a way out.
That is exactly why I value the potential of the Assembly so highly – a place where leaders gather at the highest level in a safe environment to collectively determine the way forward.
UN News Service: Looking back on the last day of your presidency, what would you be most proud of?
HR: Today I told my team: I am not looking at today. I am looking at the day when I will pass the Chair’s gavel to my successor. If I manage to help the member states agree on the necessary reform of the Organization, ensure its financial sustainability, and accelerate the practical implementation of decisions on the ground — if there is any progress on any of these points, I will pass this gavel with a clear conscience.
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