By Noela EBOB BISONG
United States President, Joe Biden has said the interest of a people/nation is and should be placed above that of its leader. In his fourth and last remarks at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly UNGA in New York last September 24, the outgoing US president who is closing his first term as president said, “I’ve made the preservation of democracy the central cause of my presidency.”
Per the Constitution of the United States, Biden had the competence to seek a second mandate, but he declined and handed the baton to his Vice President, Kamala Harris on the Democratic Party ticket. Kamala Harris is in a political duel with former Republican President, Donald Trump.
Speaking at the 79th UNGA, Biden, after presenting his political contributions in US politics and the States’ efforts and activities around the globe especially in conflict resolution, health care, climate change and technology, said, “This summer, I faced a decision whether to seek a second term as president. It was a difficult decision. Being president has been the honor of my life. There is so much more I want to get done. But as much as I love the job, I love my country more. I decided, after 50 years of public service, it’s time for a new generation of leadership to take my nation forward.”
Biden said, “My fellow leaders, let us never forget, some things are more important than staying in power. It’s your people, it’s your people that matter the most. Never forget, we are here to serve the people, not the other way around. Because the future will be won by those who unleash the full potential of their people to breathe free, to think freely, to innovate, to educate, to live and love openly without fear”, he said.
The US leader maintained that, “That’s the soul of democracy. It does not belong to any one country. I’ve seen it all around the world in the brave men and women who ended apartheid, brought down the Berlin Wall, fight today for freedom and justice and dignity.”
Aside democracy, Biden also spoke on the need to end the wars plaguing countries around the world. He said, “People need more than the absence of war. They need the chance to live in dignity. They need to be protected from the ravages of climate change, hunger, and disease.”
On health, he mentioned that “We must now move quickly to face mpox outbreak in Africa. We are prepared to commit $500 million to help African countries prevent and respond to mpox and to donate 1 million doses of mpox vaccine now. We call on our partners to match our pledge and make this a billion-dollar commitment to the people of Africa.”
Biden said, “Beyond the core necessities of food and health, the United States, the G7, and our partners have embarked on an ambitious initiative to mobilize and deliver significant financing to the developing world. We are working to help countries build out their infrastructure, to clean energy transition, to their digital transformation to lay new economic foundations for a prosperous future.”
He said, “We must build a stronger, more effective, and more inclusive United Nations. The U.N. needs to adapt to bring in new voices and new perspectives. That’s why we support reforming and expanding the membership of the U.N. Security Council…And the Security Council, like the U.N. itself, needs to get back to the job of making peace; of brokering deals to end wars and suffering”.