Mayors of Eurasia Presented Video Messages on #UN75

From 15 to 30 September, 2020, at headquarters of the r due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only one representative of each UN member state participates in the event in person. Most sessions, as many interventions of leaders of countries, take place online.

UN members have adopted the declaration dedicated to the organization’s 75^th anniversary. In addition to traditional points, the document addresses the issue of the coronavirus pandemic, from which states agreed to learn lessons to take them into account in case of future possible crises.

“We will be prepared. The COVID-19 pandemic caught us off-guard. It has served as a wake-up call for improving our preparedness for not only health related crises, but also other challenges and crises”, it is mentioned in the text of the declaration on the occasion of the 75^th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations.

Signatories to the Declaration undertake to modernize UN so that the organization would be more in line with today’s realities. Besides, they agreed to develop cooperation in the field of digitalization. The document states the need to protect the planet and protect human rights.

Upon the request of Secretary General of UN Antonio Guterres, UCLG has prepared the Global Report on the vision of local and regional governments on the theme “The Future We Want by 2045”. This report includes opinions of mayors from all over the world on what life will be in the year marking the 100^th anniversary of UN.

Members of UCLG-Eurasia have presented their vision in the Report that has been submitted to the UCLG Presidency, UN and UN-Habitat. Moreover, mayors of such cities like Almetevsk, Volgograd, Kazan, Kirov, Comrat, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, Tiraspol, and Ulyanovsk have prepared their video messages on the occasion of UN 75^th anniversary.

“Thanks to United Nations Organization, world peace and understanding in all countries of our planet have been maintained for many decades. This is achieved through the implementation of joint projects of international organizations of intermunicipal cooperation actively engaging with the UN such as the United Cities and Local Governments World Organization”, - marked Vitaly Likhachev, Mayor of Volgograd.

Anatoly Lokot, Mayor of Novosibirsk underlined the importance of historical memory: “And a hundred years later, we should not forget at what price the Great Victory in 1945 that brought peace to the world was won”.

“We have to get rid of monocentricity, to develop suburban areas, including through knowledge-based industries”, - said Zinaida Neyarokhina, Mayor of Rostov-on-Don.

Sergey Eremin, Mayor of Krasnoyarsk wished that the virtual world would not replace live communication in the future. He stressed that “it is extremely important that virtual communications do not impede the development of active citizens’ community. The community that builds on the energy of live communication within the space of the city”. 

A possible solution to the problem of poverty was proposed by Ilya Nozechkin, Chairman of the Ulyanovsk City Duma: “In my opinion, it is necessary to apply a strategic analysis and a strategic approach at international and national levels specifically to education as today many people invest in the profession that does not serve them well. This means that people do not achieve self-actualization and do not earn the income that ensures the well-being of their families”.

Sergei Anastasov, Mayor of Comrat municipality believes that, “first of all, the minimum living conditions for people all over the world should be provided”. He also suggested making every effort to solve environmental problems in order to preserve the planet for future generations.

lsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan, President of UCLG-Eurasia, made an important proposal to improve global governance: “The importance of municipalities must be reflected in the UN structure. We propose to include in the UN structure a new body consisting of representatives of local and regional authorities and defending their interests".

Elena Kovaleva, Mayor of Kirov highlighted that “only having consolidated our efforts, it will be possible to solve global problems. Cities should help and support each other in order to ensure a decent future for people."

An optimistic forecast for the future was presented by Timur Nagumanov, Head of Almetyevsk Municipal District of the Republic of Tatarstan. He thinks that “the most important is that there should be more positive aspects and no global conflicts and disasters. With everything else, I believe that we will be able to handle”.

Tiraspol also presented a kind vision of the future: “We are the future. This is our treasure. Fruits. The sun. To remember what is valuable. Faces. To be the first. Movement. To work anywhere. We have everything for the future. To appreciate. To dream. To love. To live. We are the future».

The video composed of messages from Eurasian mayors is available on YouTube and on the website dedicated to the UN’s 75^th anniversary 

22.09.2020

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