The 36th plenary meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. Before we proceed to the item on our agenda, it is my sad duty to pay tribute to the memory of the late King of Thailand, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away on Thursday, 13th of October, 2016.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I’d like to request the representative of Thailand to convey our condolences to the government and the people of Thailand and to the family of His Majesty the King.

Secretary General, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. This morning, we meet to pay tribute to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand who passed away on 13th of October, 2016. His late Majesty the King reigned for 70 years, making him one of the longest serving monarchs in human history. He was revered by his people and admired throughout the world for his grace dignity and humility and steadfast dedication to his country and people.

At his coronation, he declared we shall reign with righteousness for the benefits and happiness of the Siamese people. It was the commitment he worked tirelessly to fulfill throughout his life. The King was beloved as the people’s King and through thousands of development projects that he initiated over his lifetime he led a profound social and economic transformation across the country, significantly improving the livelihoods and well being of the Thai people. The King was also a force for peace and unity within Thailand and the broader region and was a strong supporter of the multilateral system.

His achievements throughout his life led to numerous awards from the United Nations and beyond including the United Nations development program’s first human development lifetime achievement award in 2006. The King was also a committed environmentalist. He played a leading role in the promotion of soil science and conservation and was a leader in sustainable land resource management.Under the King’s leadership, Thailand raised global awareness of the importance of soil as a resource for poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, sustainable development and security.

In 2013, the General Assembly recognized these efforts by designating 5th of December, the same day as the King’s birthday, World Soil Day, as well as 2015 as the International Year of Soils. His Majesty was one of the most venerated global leaders of our time. His profound legacy to the people, the nation of Thailand, and the world at large will always be remembered.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I extend our most sincere condolences to the government, the Royal Family, and the people of Thailand as we mourn His Majesty the King’s passing. Our hearts and thoughts are with the people of Thailand at this time. I now request the General Assembly to rise and observe a minute of silence in memory of the late King.