Presiding officers, Excellencies, Fellow Delegates,

Keeping in mind the primary purpose of the establishment of the United Nations, Mauritius would like to emphasize that international peace and security should remain on the top of the UN Agenda. Therefore Mauritius would firstly like to express our solidarity to the Government and people of Ukraine.

Today threats to security encompass much broader scope than ever before. And Mauritius is also facing threats, serious threats considering security. And this threat is an existential one.

Extreme weather conditions, storms, droughts, typhoons and floods are all consequences of climate change. Inability to address these conditions affects everyday life of small islands and presents a threat to the very survival of our states! We are experiencing constant temperature and sea level rise while rainfall has decreased. These conditions are also threatening already vulnerable economies of small island developing states! Consequences of climate change can be devastating for all of us!

Our security is in the hands of international community; it is in your hands. Therefore Mauritius would like to stress the importance of establishing a new regime addressing developmental and environmental concerns. Vulnerabilities of small islands - because of open economies, small size and dependency on international trade - demand special treatments. The new regime should help the most vulnerable but it should also promote sustainable development and make it more available for all. Together we must find globally acceptable solution!

Another threat to the international security is noted, taking form of inter-ethnic disputes. Voices of people should be heard without discrimination and their basic rights practiced. As written in the Universal declaration of human rights, rights of ALL people should be respected globally. Diversity is what makes our planet beautiful. In Mauritius each ethnic group is represented in the national parliament, different religions are practiced; several languages used and ethnic groups coexist. And we are proud to say that this has never caused

any violence in our state. An internationally accepted resolution would guarantee that minorities around the world would enjoy similar atmosphere.

Mauritius also acknowledges that like humans, animals too have rights and that there is a need to preserve diverse flora and fauna. We can assure diversity with special protection of endangered species that are commonly used for fur.

To conclude, we have to keep in mind that there will never be an ideal solution which would satisfy us all. But we, the representatives of our respective countries, have to be able to look beyond these obstacles and move forward to a better and safer place for all.

Thank you.