September 8, 2022
Singapore – Small countries dominate the top 10 when ranking countries with the highest per capita income, best education system, most competitive economy, least corrupt society and best gender equality .
Norway won the most medals at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
And at the Tokyo Olympics, 113 out of a total of 340 medals were won by athletes from 25 small countries and regions.
Ambassador Tommy Coe on Wednesday gave these examples of how a small country of less than 10 million people has outgrown their weight, proving that size is not destiny.
They have shown that it is possible to overcome the size handicap and achieve great success.
It contains 40 essays by 46 authors from 29 small countries. They include Bhutan’s concept of Gross National Happiness, Costa Rica’s leadership in environmental protection, and Qatar’s contribution to building the world’s best airline.
“The world treats small countries as second-class citizens,” said Professor Koh, noting that there are many groups on the world stage for big powers, but few for small ones.
This is why in 1992 Singapore’s Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Chu Tai Su, spearheaded the establishment of the Forum for Small States (FOSS). I will be 30 years old this year.
Over the years, FOSS has grown from its original 16 members to 108 members, representing a majority of the members of the United Nations, said Professor Koh at the launch at the National Library on Victoria Street. I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Chew for his support.
The number of members gave the group clout and bargaining power, and their mutual support enabled high-caliber candidates from smaller nations to defeat less prominent candidates from larger nations in United Nations elections, Professor Koh said. pointed out.
He cited how Singapore’s Darren Tan won the vote to be appointed Executive Director of the World Intellectual Property Organization in 2020.
Ireland’s ambassador to Singapore, Sarah McGrath, who was deputizing for former Irish President Mary Robinson, said Ireland would win a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2021/2022, with the support of a small fellow country. It also helped secure enough votes to win one of the
Former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mrs. Robinson wrote one of the two forewords to this book.
Another was written by President Halima Yacoub. President Halima Yacoub hoped the book would provide useful insight into how small states have worked together to overcome challenges.
McGrath said FOSS serves as a reminder that small states are not in the minority. “We are more than half the membership of the United Nations and our voices need to be heard.”
Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Albert Chua said in a speech that the book contains many great examples of small nations finding niches and making useful contributions to the international agenda, from politics to the economy to the arts and culture. I said that it is.
He called on small nations to spare no efforts to protect the United Nations and the multilateral system, and called for a rules-based order in which all nations had an equal voice and disputes were resolved peacefully in accordance with international law. said to be the most prosperous.
Small states also need to amplify their collective voices and work together to take their concerns into account in multilateral processes, adding that in a complex and challenging global environment it is even more important for small states to come together. I was.
Smaller countries can also dominate in niche areas, he added, noting that one of the challenges for Singapore is to always think about how it can bring value to the world. .
“Because of our size and constraints, smaller states have had to work harder and smarter to overcome our situation,” he said.
“Small countries could not afford to tip the windmill and had to be pragmatic, take the world as it was, stay agile and adapt quickly to stay relevant,” he added. .
Photo: STBOOKS.SG
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