Statement by   H.E. Ambassador Ali BAHREINI Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva And Vice Convener of the Council of Representatives  before 26th Council of Representatives of South Center Geneva, 23 April 2026 ***** بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم   Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, At the outset, I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the members of the Council for their valued trust and for re-electing me as Vice Convener of the South Center. I also would like to congratulate Thabo MBEKI for his reelection as the Convener of the Center. I reaffirm my commitment to working closely with all members to advance our shared objectives and strengthen the role of the South Centre in addressing the priorities of developing countries. The South Centre, as an intergovernmental policy research and analysis institution, remains the essential intellectual pillar of the Global South, dedicated to promoting our common interests while respecting our immense diversity. Reflecting on the past year, we have seen a remarkable output of high-level policy papers that have provided developing nations with the necessary tools to navigate an increasingly fragmented multilateral system. The Center contributions have been very important in shaping a unified position among our countries in order to better address the common concerns of global south. While thanking Executive Director CORREA and his team for their tireless efforts in the course of the year, we appreciate the Centre’s valuable and sustained technical support and assistance  across a wide range of critical areas, including intellectual property, health, trade and development, as well as its continued engagement in advancing policy discussions and supporting developing countries, all of which have played an important role in promoting more balanced, inclusive, and development-oriented international frameworks and strengthening the voice and interests of the Global South in multilateral processes. We invite the Center to continue its constructive and impactful engagement in the aforementioned areas, while also giving due consideration to emerging fields of interest. Dear colleagues Looking toward the next year, the South Centre should direct its research toward the most important developments in international arena including emerging frontiers of inequality, technological governance, and effects of the armed attack on the development of the countries. In an increasingly contested global environment, the Centre has an important role to play in producing analysis that supports developing countries, strengthens multilateral fairness, and protects the policy space needed for sustainable development. Its upcoming research agenda should therefore focus on issues that are not only timely, but also central to the ability of the Global South to participate in and shape international norms. First, on Global AI Governance and Data Sovereignty, the South Centre should examine how emerging artificial intelligence frameworks can be made more inclusive, transparent, and development-oriented. This work should aim to prevent digital colonialism, where data and technological power become concentrated in the hands of a few, while developing countries are left as passive consumers rather than active shapers of digital transformation. The Centre should also emphasize the importance of data sovereignty, ensuring that nations retain the right to govern, protect, and benefit from their own data resources in ways that support national development, innovation, and public interest. Second, the South Centre should deepen its work on the digital divide, which continues to widen inequalities between countries. Research in this area should assess the structural barriers that prevent many developing nations from accessing digital infrastructure, connectivity, skills, and advanced technologies on equal terms. The Centre should also explore how unequal access to digital tools affects education, employment, trade, public services, and participation in global economic life, while identifying practical policy options to close these gaps in a way that is equitable and sustainable. Third, the Right to Development in the context of military attacks is another topic which deserves greater attention. Addressing this topic should provide robust legal and policy analysis of the consequences of aggression against civilian infrastructure, particularly health and educational facilities, on the long-term development prospects of Southern nations. The Centre’s work in this area would help reaffirm that development cannot be separated from peace, security, and respect for international law. Finally, we must address the persistent and unlawful application of unilateral coercive measures, which function as tools of economic warfare and run counter to the principles of the UN Charter. Their impact is especially severe for developing countries, where such measures obstruct access to finance, technology, trade, and essential imports, thereby undermining economic stability, social welfare, and long-term national development. In this sense, UCMs do not merely create political pressure; they directly weaken the conditions necessary for the realization of the right to development. The Centre should continue its rigorous analysis of UCMs and their human rights and development impacts. By sustaining this work, the Centre can help build stronger international understanding of the harmful effects of coercive measures and support efforts to defend the sovereignty and development prospects of affected countries. In conclusion, let us reaffirm our unwavering commitment to South-South cooperation as the cornerstone of our collective progress and resilience. Our true strength resides in our unity, solidarity, and shared determination to advance the common interests of developing nations in the face of global challenges. By steadfastly supporting the South Centre’s mission through enhanced resources, strategic partnerships, and active engagement, we empower the Global South not merely to participate in the world of tomorrow, but to actively shape its rules, norms, and opportunities in a manner that reflects equity, justice, and sustainable development for all. Thank you. ---