The Ethiopian News Agency reported that President Taye Atske-Selassie addressed the general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on 24 September. "Despite these tremendous achievements, Mr. President, we have come to recognize that our efforts to build a strong economy cannot generate a sustained development without reliable and dependable access to the sea," he said. He added that maritime access "can be managed for the common benefit and progress of all countries in the region". On Security Council reform, he asked how a world "with the right conscience" could "justify the denial of 1.6 billion Africans the right to equal representation", describing it as a generational quest for truth and morality. He did not name any neighbouring country in the remarks as reported.