Prime Minister Xavier Bettel at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly

On September 21, Xavier Bettel attended a reception hosted by the President of the United States Joe Biden. The Prime Minister took the opportunity to reiterate Luxembourg's commitment to the deep friendship with the United States rooted in shared history and values.

On September 22, Xavier Bettel attended the unveiling of the newly renovated oculus window of the Ramath Orah Congregation. The ceremony was marked by the remembrance of Rabbi Robert Serebrenik who transferred more than 2,000 Jews out of the country during the Nazi occupation of Luxembourg and who, together with 61 Jewish refugees from Luxembourg, founded the Ramath Orah congregation in 1942 in Manhattan.

In his address to the General Assembly on September 23, Xavier Bettel highlighted the plethora of geopolitical challenges we currently face. In particular, he condemned the Russian Federation's unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine and called on the Russian Federation to immediately end the war.

He encouraged the international community to maintain its solidarity with the Ukrainian people and stressed how essential it is that the international community acts in unity and keeps its faith in multilateral solutions.

Xavier Bettel also stressed that Luxembourg remains firmly committed to its policy of contributing 1% of its gross national income (GNI) to official development assistance (ODA). International climate finance, which has been increased to 220 million euros until 2025, is additional to ODA. The fight against climate change, whose central objective, as set up by the Paris Agreement, is to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, remains a priority for the Grand Duchy.

Finally, the Prime Minister recalled Luxembourg's strong commitment to the defense of human rights, a commitment that the country strives to honor every day as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council between 2022-2024.

On the sidelines of the General Assembly, Xavier Bettel had bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, and the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres.

During these meetings, the Prime Minister once again called for concerted action based on the rules-based international order and reiterated Luxembourg's commitment to the UN Charter.

Finally, Xavier Bettel participated in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque of James V. Forrestal, the first owner of the building that is now the House of Luxembourg in New York. This ceremony was attended by Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Karen Donfried, and members of the family of James Forrestal.