(Resumed) Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the UN-centered international system - Security Council, 10159th meeting

Yes.
The 10,159th meeting of the Security Council is resumed.
I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than three minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously.
The flashing light on the microphone will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after three minutes.
I now give the floor to the representative of Morocco.
Mr.
president, I wish first and foremost to congratulate China on the organisation of this debate, which is of tremendous importance.
We wish to congratulate China on its presidency of the Security Council this month.
I also wish to thank Mr.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary general of the United Nations, for his elucidating briefing.
Mr.
president, the charter of the United Nations remains the bedrock for international law, and it establishes a normative, clear framework which is rooted in the universal and fundamental principles which enshrine, inter alia, the sovereign equality of Member states, respect for their territorial integrity and national sovereignty, and a prohibition on the use of force and peaceful dispute resolution.
The Kingdom of Morocco reaffirms in this regard our unstinting commitment to international law, the primacy of the charter of the United Nations, as well as an international order based on clear rules which are coherently applied.
The Kingdom of Morocco underscores the overriding need to respect the territorial integrity and national unity of member states These principles cannot be interpreted in a loose manner and or cherry picked.
This is necessary for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Regional peace and security and international peace and security are also need to be upheld in this way.
The Kingdom of Morocco.
Furthermore, attaches particular significance to peaceful dispute resolution, as has been set out in chapter six of the charter of the United Nations, which stipulates in article three a number of means to that end, specifically negotiation and mediation.
Morocco is firmly persuaded of this.
As is reflected in our action.
We are proactive contributor to peace operations This has been the case for decades, and we have been assiduously engaged in numerous mediation processes in Africa, and the Kingdom of Morocco has made these principles the bedrock, not merely.
This is not merely rhetoric, but this is action and commitments which we honour.
This includes the principle of non-interference in domestic affairs of member States, and this is a critical pillar for international stability and security, and a prerequisite for respect for national sovereignty, improvement of trust amongst member states, as well as the prevention of any manipulation which is liable to jeopardise international peace and security.
Mr.
president, in an international context that is characterised by mushrooming challenges, enhanced international cooperation remains of paramount importance No lasting response to contemporary challenges can be provided.
Whether this includes challenges of terrorism, climate change, food insecurity debt or humanitarian crises.
No lasting solution can be designed outside of multilateralism that is meaningful, robust and respectful of the sovereignty of states.
This cooperation needs to be guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the charter, and it needs to be geared towards the attainment of tangible results for the advancement of peace, security, sustainable development and human dignity.
Mr.
president, the charter of the United Nations is the and the international legal toolbox which emanates from this codified into the conduct of international relations today.
In the face of proliferating crises and heightened tensions, the.
There is that there are legal norms which are available But they need to be meaningfully implemented to tackle these challenges.
And this is the way for rule of law to provide for stability, conflict prevention, and the maintenance of international peace and security.
In this regard, reform of the UN Security Council is a key need vis a vis enhancement of the credibility, the representativity and effectiveness of the multilateral system.
The Council can only fully shoulder its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, if it better reflects the realities of the contemporary world.
The Kingdom of Morocco reaffirms our support for comprehensive and balanced reform of the Security Council reform that would usher in greater, more transparent and more democratic representation where all member states, particularly African states, can be represented.
To conclude, we fully align ourselves with this call and we reaffirm our unstinting commitment to rule of law, respect for the charter of the United Nations, and the primacy of law in countering in conflict resolution, peaceful dispute resolution, good neighbourly relations, and respect for the territorial integrity and national unity of Member States.
For the achievement of a world where peace, stability and international security reign.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of Morocco for the statement and I'll give the floor to the representative of next time.
Thank you so much for the floor, Mr.
President.
Mr.
president, the road to a stronger international system with the United Nations at its centre lies in the consistent and innovative implementation of its purposes and principles, as laid out in article one and two of our charter.
Since its entry into force in 1945, the charter has stood the test of time, allowing for adaptation to contemporary challenges without the need for amendments to substantive provisions.
Guided by its three interconnected pillars and peace and security, development and human rights anchored in the rule of law, member states must advance the charter through consistent implementation and innovative action within its framework.
Article 2.4 is the foundation of the modern international legal order.
Writing in conjunction with the other paragraphs in article two, it makes clear that sovereign equality expressed through membership in this organization is the legal basis to ban illegal war making and promote the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
In recent years, we have witnessed a dangerous erosion of respect for article 2.4, another important element to help enforce article 2.4 is accountability, particularly through the International Criminal Court and its jurisdiction over the crime of aggression, which should be expanded and brought into line with the same jurisdictional reach the court has over the other three core crimes.
The charter makes it clear under which circumstances the use of force by one state against another is permitted under international law.
Enforcement action authorised by the Security Council under chapter seven and Self-Defence under article 51.
The insufficient application of article 51 due to States inconsistent implementation and lack of practice in the Security Council undermines our common interest in developing friendly relations among nations in accordance with the purposes and principles of the charter.
We also believe that it is necessary for the Security Council to apply in full article 27.3 of the charter, according to which a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting in decisions under chapter six.
In line with the commitment we have all made in the pact of the future.
Mr.
president, in our view, the answer to current challenges impacting on the purpose and principles of the charter does not lie in its revision, as the charter itself is not a problem but our biggest asset.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I thank the Minister for the statement, and I'll give the floor to the representative of Bulgaria.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Bulgaria aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the European Union and would like to make the following points in national capacity.
Bulgaria welcomes the initiative of China to convene the open debate on the significance of the multilateral cooperation and the upholding the purposes and principles of the UN charter.
We also acknowledge the insightful report and remarks by the Secretary General already delivered.
Bulgaria is committed to the renewed and effective multilateralism aimed at advancing international peace and security, and shares the view that the United Nations must adapt to the current dynamics of international relations and further prove its relevance by preventing and mitigating current and evolving crises.
I would like to recall in this regard that to maintain relevance.
This organisation should commit to genuine and deep reform, and unity offers a great opportunity to realign mandates and political priorities.
At times when Multipolarity is frequently cited as an emerging framework for today's world, and multilateralism is tested in an unprecedented way, Bulgaria chooses to reconfirm its commitment to the UN charter as the foundation of the multilateral system, uphold international law, step up, fight against impunity and denounces act of aggression and violations of human rights were were, wherever they occur.
The principles enshrined in the UN charter cannot be negotiated or compromised, or its provisions must be implemented with consistency, transparency and in full.
As UN member states agreed by consensus in the pact of the future.
The pact contains many elements which, if implemented, should better enable the Council to deliver on its mandate and work more closely with the General Assembly on matters of international peace and security as envisaged envisioned by the drafters of the charter.
When the Council fails to deliver on its fundamental responsibility, a revitalized General Assembly must step in and strengthen its role in maintaining international peace and security.
In this regard, the Assembly for Peace Digital Handbook not only offers a review of the Assembly's past practice in addressing such issues, but could also serve as an inspirational tool to enhance interaction between the two organs.
A good next step in this direction should would be advancing the implementation of the initiative, including through concrete measures to be adopted following the Battery Initiative debate.
As the council is getting increasingly divided over the core reasons of the situation, the appropriateness of a draft resolution on how to respond to a crisis, it should step up its efforts to prevent them.
Close cooperation with the General Assembly, Ecosoc and the Peacebuilding Commission would strengthen early warning and response.
The Council should encourage the continued use of the Secretary-General's good Offices, including through relevant envoys and coordination mechanisms to support mediation efforts and facilitate dialogue among the parties concerned.
Mr.
president, in closing, the UN charter already provides the Council with the means to carry out its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
What is now required, and what we must collectively commit to, is the resolve to use means is an effective and consistent manner.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Bulgaria for the statement, and I will give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
What the compassionate, the merciful.
We thank China for convening this timely, high level open debate.
Mr.
president, the United Nations was founded on the solemn determination to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war through an international legal order grounded in the UN charter.
At the core of that order lies the cardinal principle prohibition of threats or use of force, as enshrined in article two of the charter, together with peremptory norm prohibiting aggression.
Yet today this principle are increasingly undermined by unilateralism, coercive and unlawful measures, double standards and persistent disregard for international law by certain states.
Foremost among them the United States.
Recent unlawful and aggressive action undertaken by the United States against Venezuela, Iran and now Cuba reflect a dangerous and continuing pattern of coercion, intimidation and interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states in blatant violation of the purposes and principles of the UN charter.
No nation should assume that it will remain immune from the far reaching consequences of such unlawful and destructive policies and practices which threaten the sovereignty, independence and stability of all states and endanger international peace and security.
Mr.
president, we speak from direct and painful experience.
In June 2025 and again on 28th February.
Iran was subjected to unlawful act of aggression by United States and Israeli regime in a blatant violation of UN charter, international law and international humanitarian law.
The aggressive, deliberately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure, causing numerous civilian casualties, including women and children, and killing more than 168 students and teachers in a missile strike against a girls school in Minab.
These attacks inflicted severe humanitarian suffering and extensive economic damage.
Regrettably, the Security Council was remained silent and indifferent in the face of such heinous war crimes and grave violations of international humanitarian law.
Mr.
president, aggression must not be condemned, regardless of the perpetrators.
Violation of international humanitarian law must be addressed.
Impartiality The Security Council must not be instrumentalised to advance narrow political gender agendas or shield certain states from accountability.
No member, regardless of its political or military power, should be permitted to place itself above the law, abuse its position to shield unlawful acts from accountability, or exploit international institutions, or to legitimize violations of the charter and international law.
Mr.
president, during the first day of discussions, certain speakers have ignored the root causes of the current situation in the region and around the Strait of Hormuz, while seeking to deflect responsibility and unfairly shift the blame onto Iran.
They have also disregarded their own role in assisting and enabling aggression against Iran by placing their territory, airspace and facilities at the disposal of aggressors.
We reject these unfounded claims.
Iran's actions are lawful and consistent with international law.
Iran could not allow such a critical waterway to be used as a corridor for hostile action and military aggression against its sovereignty, territory and vital interests.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the statement, and I will give the floor to the representative of Japan.
Thank you, Mr.
President As competition among nations has become more intense and complex, a free and open international order based on the rule of law is being severely shaken and multilateralism is facing significant challenges.
It is now.
It is now more important than ever for member states to join forces rather than remain divided within the UN, as Japan has repeatedly stated, the rule of law is the fundamental principle underpinning multilateralism.
The importance of upholding the UN Charter's vision for international peace and security, and respecting Charter's purposes and principles cannot be overemphasized.
Japan reiterates that any attempt to acquire territory by force must never be tolerated.
It should be also underscored that we must cooperate with one another to confront serious violations of the principles of the charter.
In this regard, Japan is convinced that the Friendly Relations Declaration, adopted in 1970 after overcoming serious divisions among member States through persistent dialogue, serves as a basis for uniting today's increasingly divided international community Furthermore, Japan emphasizes the role of international judicial institutions such as ICJ, ICC, and uterus in reinforcing the rule of law in the international community and in substantiating norms and principles under international law.
In this regard, only 75 states have made a declaration under article 362 of the ICJ statute on the acceptance of its compulsory jurisdiction.
Japan calls for member states who have not yet done so, to make this declaration, which contributes to strengthen the role of international judicial institutions and clearly testifies to a strong commitment to the rule of law for international judicial bodies to function effectively.
It is essential that all nations accept their rulings and implement them in good faith.
Once a state accepts the jurisdiction of judicial bodies through treaty or declaration, even if a ruling is unfavorable it is impermissible to ignore it.
It must be emphasized that if legally binding judgments and awards are not followed, the rule of law will be reduced to nothing more than a slogan.
Mr.
president, as Russia has made a grand statement against Japan, I would like to clarify a couple of points.
First of all, regarding article 107 of the charter, the resolution 50/52 adopted by an overall overwhelming majority in 1995, recognises the clause as obsolete, and the resolution 61 adopted by consensus, resolved to delete references to enemy states from the charter.
Japan's consistent contribution to international peace and stability as a peace loving nation are widely recognised.
Japan has been always faithful to the charter and upheld international law based on the principle of the rule of law.
Japan's efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities and, in response to an increasingly severe security environment and are not directed against any specific country, Japan has consistently maintained an exclusively defense oriented policy under its constitution.
Russia is continuing its aggression against Ukraine in violation of the charter.
It is ridiculous to criticize such defense posture.
Japan's defense posture as militaristic It is even more so a state continuing its own military aggression in clear violation of the charter.
Mr.
president, this year marks the 70th anniversary of Japan's membership in the UN.
Japan remains committed to upholding multilateralism with the UN at its core and strengthened the UN system, including the Security Council.
Reform Japan will continue contributing actively and constructively to resolving challenges facing the international community.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Japan for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Sweden President.
It is my honor to speak on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and my own country, Sweden.
Five countries of Nordic group.
On respect for sovereign equality and territorial integrity, as well as the duty to resolve disputes through peaceful means but bad faith, conflict and contempt for international law by some states are weakening the institutions we built for this purpose.
Human rights and gender equality face a severe pushback.
In many countries, geopolitical tension is increasing.
The number of armed conflict is growing, affecting civilians around the world.
In Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon, Myanmar and many other conflict zones, millions are suffering while we gather here.
Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine, bringing suffering, death and destruction.
Impunity is not an option.
A special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and an international claims commission are being established.
These mechanisms are concrete examples of how we deliver on principles and purposes of the UN charter today, even when the Security Council is unable to act and they mark groundbreaking steps towards ensuring accountability for the blatant violation of international law that Russia's aggression represents, and reparation for the damage inflicted on the victims.
Mr.
president, adherence to the Human charter is the best guarantor of international peace and stability, benefiting all countries.
At the same time some reform is necessary to ensure the UN's central role in international affairs.
The Nordic countries remain steadfast supporters of unity.
The initiative must be a moment of renewal for the benefit of the people it serves.
We see UNHCR as an opportunity to strengthen the UN's impact across all three pillars, including when it comes to respect for international law.
Furthermore, the time for reform of this council is now more than ever, the world needs the Security Council that is more accountable, more transparent, more representative, more effective.
We support a geographically balanced expansion of the Security Council, including by adding permanent and non-permanent seats.
We also call on all council members to fully implement and adhere to all provisions of the charter as they relate to the decision making process in the Security Council, including article 27.3 Mr.
president, the Nordic countries will continue defending strong institutions and international law, including the UN charter.
Our choice is clear we choose the United Nations.
I thank the representative of Sweden for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Slovakia.
Thank you very much, Mr.
President, and thank you for convening this debate.
I alive, I align myself with the statement delivered by the European Union.
Mr.
president, in recent years, the international community has witnessed serious violations of fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the UN charter.
This has often been accompanied by inability of the Security Council to respond effectively.
Slovakia, therefore, appealed to all member states to uphold the UN charter and adhere to all its principles without selective applications.
Other principles, such as the prohibition of the threat of the use of force, the peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity are essential for safeguarding our collective security.
We commend those Security Council members, often small states elected for two year terms that defend the core principles of the United Nations.
We also stress the need for a comprehensive reform of the Security Council.
In this regard, we welcome the initiative of Liechtenstein, as it was a few minutes ago, mentioned by distinguished colleague of Liechtenstein and the core group of States aimed at ensuring the consistent implementation of article 27, three of the UN charter.
Mr.
president, the principles of our cooperation remain valid, but the multilateral system and the UN must evolve to become more inclusive and responsive.
The pact for the future and the UN initiative are important steps towards these objectives, and Slovakia strongly supports those two initiatives.
UN depends not only on the political will of its members, but also on adequate financial backing.
Therefore, a political solution to the current financial crisis must be found urgently.
Let me conclude, Mr.
President, by reaffirming that Slovakia will continue to advocate for multilateralism, respect for international law and cooperation through a strong and effective uncentered international system.
Thank you very much for your attention.
I thank the representative of Slovakia for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Estonia.
President, I thank Chinese Presidency for convening this timely meeting and the Secretary General for his briefing.
Estonia aligns itself with a statement of European Union.
Let me add few elements in my national capacity.
The world around us has changed profoundly.
International law based multilateral order is under growing pressure.
Conflicts are multiplying, and trust in multilateral cooperation is being tested.
Yet it is precisely in such times that we must hold even more firmly to our core values, to international law, and to the principles of the UN charter.
These are not abstract ideals.
They are the foundation of global peace and security, as well as stability and cooperation between states.
I would like to make three points today.
First, international law protects small states from the rule of force.
In a world where might is right, the sovereignty and independence of states would depend on their military strength or economic influence.
Survival of small states would always be under threat.
The UN charter establishes clear principle.
All states, regardless of their size, are sovereign and equal.
All states regardless of their size, are sovereign and equal.
This gives small states a voice and a rightful expectation that international rules apply equally to everyone.
For countries like Estonia, this principle is not abstract, it is existential.
Second, international rules must not only exist, they must be enforced.
Principles on paper are not good enough.
Rules must be respected, defended and applied consistently, not selectively.
Violations of international law must be called out, and the violators need to face the consequences.
Political, financial and judicial if called for.
As history has shown us, an aggressor unpunished returns for more.
Third, the Security Council, the body entrusted with a primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, needs to start taking its responsibilities seriously.
The council too often fails to act due to geopolitical ambitions of the key players and massive misuse of veto power.
The Security Council has to improve its working methods, implement all the initiatives to limit the misuse of the veto including the French Mexican Initiative and Act Code of Conduct.
Full and consistent implementation of all provisions of the charter need to be assured, notably with regard to article 27 of the UN charter, which stipulates that a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting in the Security Council.
Honourable colleagues, if we want to revert the decline of a political relevance of a Security Council and the UN more generally, we collectively need to finally stop Russia's brutal drones and missiles attacks on Ukraine.
What happened on the night of 24th of May in Ukraine, in Kyiv should never happen again.
How can the Security Council be taken seriously when a permanent member of the council the Russian Federation, after more than four years of its aggression against Ukraine, still manages to reach new levels of escalation and brutality, carrying out one of the largest attacks, including using nuclear capable or ethnic against Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The Security Council, the UN membership, need to respond to that resolutely and firmly.
Russia should be collectively forced to peace in Ukraine.
President, at a time when the challenges facing the United Nations are immense, we are approaching a pivotal moment.
The selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General.
This person, this person will have an important role in restoring the credibility of the UN.
It is therefore essential that the next Secretary General be someone with an impeccable track record on international law, human rights and the principles of the UN charter.
President Estonia believes firmly in international law based multilateral order.
Our security depends on whether international law remains strong and binding.
If the UN charter is upheld and international law applied equally to all states, a fairer and safer world remains within reach for both large and small nations.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Estonia for the statement.
And now give the floor to Her Excellency, Mr.
Heather Samson, chargé d'Affaires AD interim of the European Union delegation to the UN.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
And I thank the Chinese presidency for convening this meeting.
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states.
The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia, as well as Andorra and San Marino.
Align themselves with this statement.
Over the past 80 years, the purposes and principles of the UN charter have underpinned the global order and served as the foundational framework of international relations.
Today's world is marked by intensifying geopolitical rivalry.
We are witnessing the unprovoked use of force against sovereign nations and violations of international humanitarian law.
Drivers of conflict are multiplying, including widespread violations of international human rights law, the weaponisation of food and water, climate change, and persisting inequalities.
In such uncertain and unpredictable times, the charter of the United Nations and international law in general continues to serve as guidance to steer our action.
It's our compass in times of division.
It navigates us through crisis, respecting the purposes and principles of the charter, including those of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Political independence and self-determination is a choice we have to make every day.
These principles cannot be negotiated or compromised when violations of international law occur, they must entail accountability.
In the context of the security and stability of the European continent, for any peace in Ukraine to be just lasting and comprehensive, it must uphold the principles of the UN charter and international law.
President, the EU will remain a predictable, reliable and credible partner of the UN, committed to finding global solutions to common challenges, including through the implementation of the pact for the future.
Together with our partners, we are supporting the Sg's UN aid Initiative towards a more effective, cost efficient and responsive UN capable of delivering effectively across the three pillars.
At the heart of this effort lies the UN's peace and security architecture.
As the central pillar of the collective security system established under the charter, the Security Council has for eight decades held the principal responsibility for safeguarding international peace and security.
The EU supports a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council towards making it more effective, inclusive, transparent, democratic and accountable and better reflecting today's realities by strengthening the voice of underrepresented regions.
The EU supports the French-mexican initiative aimed at restricting the use of the veto in case of mass atrocities, as well as the veto initiative to trigger a General Assembly debate in case of a veto.
We underline the particular responsibility that the council's permanent members bear, and stressed that the focus on prevention and peace building are crucial means in dealing with crises effectively and sustainably.
In this context, the EU also commenced the work of the General Assembly in matters pertinent to international peace and stresses the need to continue enhancing ways in which the General Assembly can further contribute to strengthening the UN peace and security architecture.
We also reiterate our strong support for the International Court of Justice, and recall that the ICJ orders and judgments are binding for the parties to the dispute.
The EU will continue to work with the UN to address global peace and security challenges with focus on conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding and crisis management, as per the EU UN Strategic Partnership on Peace and Security.
President, the EU remains committed to peace, to justice, human rights and a future where respect for the UN charter is not just words on paper, but a living reality for all.
And I thank you.
I thank Miss Samsung for her statement.
I now give the floor to Namibia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Your Excellencies, Namibia takes the floor with a profound sense of principle.
At a time when the very foundations of the United Nations Charter are being tested.
For us, the charter is more than just a symbolism or aspiration.
It is a binding covenant that enshrines the sovereign equality of states, the right of peoples to self-determination, and the obligation to uphold international law without fear or favour, shaped by our own history of resisting, of resisting colonialism, apartheid and illegal occupation, Namibia remains steadfast in his view that the credibility of the United Nations depends on the consistent, universal and non-selective application of its principles.
It is therefore with deep conviction conviction that we reaffirm that the charter must remain the cornerstone of global governance.
Today, we are confronted with the troubling reality.
The rules based international order is increasingly undermined by selective implementation of international law, double standards and the erosion of multilateralism.
Commitments are upheld when convenient and disregarded when politically expedient.
This inconsistency has weakened trust amongst nations, fuelled grievances and diminished the integrity of the United Nations itself.
We are also witnessing an increasingly fragmented international landscape, driven by the mounting reliance on unilateral actions and the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of states that further erodes the foundations of international peace and security.
This trend is compounded by the continued disregard for the implementation of our own United Nations resolutions.
We reiterate that disputes must be resolved through dialogue, negotiation and peaceful means, not through coercion or confrontation, as we witness today.
Since 1992, the General Assembly has the most representative and democratic organ has, year after year, overwhelmingly demanded the lifting of the inhumane embargo against Cuba so that the country may fully realise the rights and opportunities denied to its people for for far too long.
However, these resolutions remain unheeded.
Such persistent non-compliance sends a troubling signal that collectively agreed decisions can be disregarded at will.
When international peace and security are managed selectively, UN resolutions are applied inconsistently.
Fragmentation deepens, divisions widen and the prospect of durable, inclusive solutions diminishes.
Namibia firmly believes that restoring confidence in the United Nations requires renewed commitment not only to its principles and purposes, but also to the full and faithful implementation of its decisions Mr.
president, Namibia cannot remain silent on the continuing plight of the Palestinian people who endure prolonged occupation, displacement, violence, denial of their fundamental rights and genocide The principles of the charter, including the right to self-determination, respect for human dignity and the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force must equally must apply equally to all peoples.
A just and lasting solution cannot be achieved without accountability and the consistent application of international law.
To this end, we express our unwavering solidarity with all the peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation.
Decolonisation remains unfinished.
UN business and the continued existence of such situations stands in direct contradiction to the Charter's promise of freedom and equality for all nations and peoples.
We are equally concerned by the continued use of unilateral force, coercive measures imposed outside the framework of the United Nations.
Such measures often have devastating humanitarian consequences, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations while undermining the sovereignty and economic and social stability of affected nations.
Namibia reaffirms that sanctions must not be applied in accordance with the charter through multilateral processes and with full respect for international law.
Finally, Mr.
President, as we if we are to strengthen the Uncentered international system then reform is not optional.
It is imperative, including a comprehensive reform of this Council.
We must reject unilateralism and resist attempts to reshape the international system along narrow or exclusionary lines.
Let us work collaboratively to rebuild the future grounded in solidarity, mutual respect, equality, and the protection of human rights for all people.
I thank you.
I thank Namibia for the statement.
I now give the floor to Romania.
Thank you very much, Mr.
President.
Romania lies to the EU statement.
Mr.
president international law and the foundational tenets of international cooperation represent the most genuine reflection of multilateral action within the with the UN at its core, the multilateral architecture developed after the Second World War stands among the most ambitious undertakings in the history of the global governance.
We must protect it and further strengthen it for eight decades The charter and the.
And the interdependent system of rules and norms developed around it have shaped the interaction between nations, however imperfect the results.
It remains a tested and proven instrument, the most effective safeguard against generalised human suffering, destruction and impunity.
Today, the charter retains its weight not out of inertia, but because it is indispensable for ensuring the checks and balances for the international community.
As the UN looks to its ninth decade of existence, its challenge is not a shortage of reform ideas, but a lack of implementing the commitments embodied in the charter and the risk of losing its constitutional compass.
The foundational principles of the charter must therefore be reaffirmed to guide the organisation forward.
Romania is a firm believer in multilateralism and for that reason, a strong supporter of the unity Initiative and reform agenda, which provides us with the opportunity to take to make the multilateral system more efficient and more resilient.
Mr.
president, we must speak frankly.
Syria's violations, among them acts of aggression and breaches of territorial integrity, are taking place with disquieting frequency and in conditions of impunity.
Russia's full scale scale war of aggression against Ukraine, now entering its fifth year, constitutes a blatant violation of the rules based order.
And it poses an existential threat not only to Ukraine and to European security, but also represents a direct assault upon the very foundations of this organisation.
Looking further east, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran to unhindered maritime traffic must be a shared priority considering its compounding effects.
Romania supports all efforts aimed at designing a lasting solution to restoring freedom of navigation in the Hormuz Strait, as promoted by transatlantic allies and regional partners.
This demands of the council and of the wider membership, a sustained effort to look beyond narrow, politically motivated narratives and to return to the instruments provided by the charter itself.
Romania welcomes the supports mechanisms that drive inclusivity and enhance ownership, such as the veto initiative.
We see value in further enabling the General Assembly to discharge its complementary role in matters of international peace and security.
Whenever this council finds itself unable to act.
President, a decades of global transformation have given rise to challenges.
The drafters of the charter could scarcely have anticipated.
Cyber attacks, disinformation, climate change, pandemics and hybrid warfare.
Resilient and enduring multilateralism depends on our collective capacity to restore and maintain trust in its role on the global stage, with the charter as its normative compass.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank Romania for the statement, and I give the floor to Sierra Leone.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Sierra Leone, thanks to the Chinese presidency for convening this timely, high level open debate of the United Nations Security Council.
We also thank the Secretary-General for his important briefing.
Mr.
president, we meet at a moment of profound consequence.
The multilateral system, based on international law with the United Nations at the centre is not merely in transition.
In many respects, it is under attack and perhaps experiencing a rupture.
The prohibition on the threat or use of force, the sovereign equality of state, territorial integrity, political independence and the peaceful settlement of dispute.
Fundamental principles entrenched in UN charter are being tested across regions.
Our response, however, must not be to surrender.
It must be a renewal of our commitment to the UN charter and the multilateral system, with the United Nations at the centre.
To international law and to the rule of law that binds power to principles.
For Sierra Leone, this commitment is not abstract It is a living framework that helped guide our transition from conflict to peace.
It is therefore from both conviction and experience that we affirm the centrality of the international law based, uncentered multilateral system as a cornerstone of global stability.
Yet this system and the trust embedded therewith is weakened when the charter principles are applied selectively or disregarded blatantly.
Where rules restrain some but not others, legitimacy erodes.
Where compliance becomes optional.
Legality gives way to coercion, reaffirms that all states, without exception, must respect the charter, comply with international law and refrain from unilateral actions that circumvent multilateral processes.
In view of the foregoing, Sierra Leone emphasizes four points.
First, we must reinvigorate respect for the international rule of law.
The council's authority is consequential, but it is not unlimited.
It must be exercised within the charter and in conformity with international law.
You must turn.
Action must be protected, not politicised.
Civilians must never be treated as instruments of war.
Accountability is not an obstacle to peace.
It is a foundation of durable peace.
We therefore underscore the importance of cooperation with the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and other lawful accountability mechanisms.
Second, strengthening the UN charter system requires reform that is both principled and practical.
The path to the future provides the political compass.
While UN 80 initiative must serve as an operational vehicle for a stronger, more responsive United Nations reform must remain balanced across peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.
Efficiency must not become a substitute for mandates delivery.
Third, the system must reflect contemporary realities.
The Security Council cannot carry the responsibilities of the present with the composition of the past.
Africa's under-representation remains a historic injustice.
Colonial farms the common African position, as articulated in the Consensus and Declaration on Security Council reform and Africa's demand for not less than two permanent seats, with only perogative and privileges of permanent membership, including the veto if it continues to exist, and two additional non-permanent seats to redress the historical injustice.
Fourth, we must bridge the gap between early warning and early action prevention, mediation, peace building and partnerships with regional and subregional organisations, particularly the African Union, under chapter eight of the charter, must be strengthened.
Sustainable peace is impossible without sustainable development, poverty, inequality, climate change, food insecurity and exclusion continue to drive conflict.
A stronger United Nations must deliver more effectively on the ground and ensure that no country is left behind.
Mr.
president, the UN charter remains our best framework for collective security, but its promise will endure only if we defend it with consistency, courage and restraint.
We must reject double standards, the rule of force, and reaffirm the force of law.
Therefore, stand firmly in solidarity with all member states, fully committed to a just, inclusive and revitalised multilateral system, one that truly reflects the aspirations of all peoples and delivers on the promise of the charter.
And I thank you.
I thank Sierra Leone for the statement, and I'll give the floor to Spain.
President.
President, we'd like to thank China for convening this open debate at a particularly important time for the multilateral system and for the upholding of the universal principles of the charter.
The UN has made it possible to build a rules based international order, also based on human rights cooperation and dialogue and defending.
This is a collective responsibility.
We are seeing a worrying erosion of the universal principles of the charter.
The proliferation and prolongation of armed conflicts, calling into question international law, the use of force, as well as disinformation campaigns directed against the UN, all jeopardise the very foundations of the multilateral system.
Spain is in favour of more and better multilateralism.
We think that the only response to global challenges must go through strengthening the multilateral system based on international law and the charter, with the UN at its centre, to safeguard the authority and integrity of the charter, we must ensure that it is consistently applied in all contexts, regardless of the circumstances.
Spain advocates for the implementation of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Spain condemns violations of international law wherever they may occur, be it in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan and elsewhere.
That is why we call for urgent action from the international community to address these.
This phenomenon.
President, defending multilateralism with the UN at its heart also means equipping it with effective tools to respond to new challenges.
We are fully in favour of the pact of the future, which puts the prevention of conflict at the heart of multilateral work, and we are in favour of reforming the system to strengthen its transparency.
Prevention remains the most effective tool to uphold international peace and security.
That is why Spain is in favour of a comprehensive approach based on the defence of human rights, respecting the rule of law, promoting sustainable development and gender equality.
Our foreign policy prioritizes preventive diplomacy, dialogue and supporting inclusive political processes with tools such as our humanitarian diplomacy strategy.
President, to respond better to global threats and to fulfil its responsibilities under the charter, the Security Council must also be reformed.
Spain is in favour of a more inclusive, representative, democratic, transparent and effective Security Council, broadening the category of non-permanent members and limiting the veto with a view to eliminating it.
In line with the position of the UFC group.
Only a more inclusive council with greater accountability can restore member states, trust in the council and respond adequately to the expectations of the international community vis a vis compliance with the charter itself.
President Spain will continue to work for a more inclusive, stronger UN.
We are convinced that multilateralism is the best guarantee to uphold peace, security and stability throughout the world.
In spite of the challenges.
It is not the time to weaken multilateralism, it is the time to renew it and strengthen it with collective commitment and responsibility.
Thank you.
Thank Spain for the statement.
I now give the floor to Armenia Mr.
president, at the outset, I would like to extend our gratitude to the presidency of China in the UN Security Council.
For convening today's open debate to reconfirm commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN charter.
More than 80 years after the founding of the United Nations and the adoption of the UN charter, its purposes and principles remain the foundation of the international order.
Yet the world continues to face devastating armed conflicts.
Gross violation of humanitarian and human rights law, hybrid attacks and disinformation campaigns, the illicit use of new technologies and artificial intelligence is a crisis multiplier.
At a time of growing geopolitical tensions and declining trust, it is.
It is essential to reaffirm the core principles of the charter of the United Nations, including sovereign equality, respect for the territorial integrity and political independence of states, the non-use of force or threat of force under the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.
In this context, preserving the credibility, effectiveness, and central role of the United Nations as the principal forum for multilateral dialogue and collective action remains essential to address current and emerging global challenges and ensure that the organisation remains inclusive and responsive to all Member states.
Mr.
president, in the pact for future UN Member States reaffirmed commitment to act in accordance with international law, including the charter of the United Nations and its purposes and principles.
In light of growing mistrust and fragmentation, the peoples of the United Nations Need a multilateral system capable of delivering effectively across the three pillars peace and security, development and human rights.
In this regard, the role of the Secretary General as the guardian of the charter and a voice for preventive diplomacy remains particularly important, especially at the time when the United Nations is called to adapt more effectively to evolving global challenges.
We believe that the UN aid initiative, if pursued in an inclusive and transparent manner with the meaningful engagement of all member states can contribute to strengthening the effectiveness, coherence and responsiveness of the organisation.
Mr.
president, we stress the importance of full and unconditional compliance by all Member States with international humanitarian law.
The timely and efficient response of the Security Council is crucial to address the suffering of civilian populations caught in conflict.
The United Nations needs to invest more in prevention to this end.
Education for peace remains important in promoting mutual respect, tolerance, and human rights while countering violence and hate.
In this regard, Armenia has initiated the UN General Assembly resolution entitled education for peace with the View to consolidate global efforts to fully unlock the potential of education in advancing peace, non-violence and inclusive societies.
Summing up, Armenia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the purposes and principles of the charter of the United Nations.
At a time of growing instability, the Security Council must continue to uphold its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security through preventive diplomacy and acting in a consistent, credible and non-selective manner in accordance with international law.
Strengthening trust in multilateralism and the United Nations remain essential for advancing peace, security, sustainable development and human rights for all, and for preserving an international order based on cooperation, justice and the rule of law.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Armenia for the statement, and I will give the floor to the representative of Singapore.
Thank you very much, Mr.
President.
We join others in thanking the presidency of China for convening this very important and timely debate.
We live in a time of significant geopolitical turbulence and unrest around the world.
Civilians in conflict situations continue to pay a terrible price, while the humanitarian and economic impacts of these conflicts ripple through the international community.
There is an urgent need to ensure that the UN and the wider multilateral system continues to serve the purposes and principles, and the peoples for which they were created to prevent wars, to promote cooperation, to foster growth and sustainable development.
Allow me to offer Singapore's perspectives on this topic.
First, the UN charter must remain our North Star.
As UN Member States, we have all committed to upholding the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity and adherence to international law.
Over the last 80 years, this has created the necessary conditions for international trade development and the governance of the global commons.
However, we have seen an unmistakable erosion of the charter principles in recent times.
Blatant disregard for sovereignty and territorial integrity is on the rise.
While there have been egregious and repeated violations of international law, including international humanitarian law.
It is crucial that we continue to safeguard these core principles as the UN evolves to deal with the increasingly complex challenges facing the world today.
Secondly, we must strengthen the frameworks and institutions that underpin the rules based multilateral system For example, the International Court of Justice ICJ, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, plays an essential role in upholding international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Other UN bodies, such as the International Maritime Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation, continue to set international standards for maritime and aviation safety and security, and they provide the foundational consensus based frameworks that allow supply chains, goods and people to move across the globe.
We should thus ensure that the UN and its institutions receive adequate funding and the necessary political support, so that they continue to carry out the important work that promote global stability, connectivity and development.
Third, despite its imperfections, the UN remains the only universal body that is best placed to address problems of the global commons and deal with issues such as cybersecurity, climate change, emerging technologies and artificial intelligence.
These transboundary challenges demand a renewed multilateralism that is agile, inclusive and fit for the future.
In doing so, the UN must act holistically across its three pillars peace and security, sustainable development and human rights, which are interlinked and mutually reinforcing.
In this regard, we must implement the collective commitments we have made in the pact for the future Our blueprint of priorities and actions that will take the UN into the future.
The ongoing reform efforts under the auspices of the UN 80 initiative must also continue beyond the current decade, so that the UN remains effective, efficient and fit for purpose to serve the needs and aspirations of Member States.
I thank you very much.
I thank the representative of Singapore for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Ethiopia.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Let me begin by congratulating you on China's presidency of the Security Council for the month of May.
We commend China for convening this high level open debate at a time when the international community is facing complex challenges with regard to global peace and security.
Mr.
president, the United Nations Charter, born from the devastation of the Second World War and the failure of the League of Nations, has, at its core, the vision of saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war.
It is also anchored on upholding sovereign equality, promoting human rights, and building a cooperative international order based on agreed rules.
While a lot has been achieved in the past 80 years, we stand at a moment when our common vision is facing, facing serious strain.
All the pillars of the United Nations, namely peace and security, development and human rights, are interlinked.
Threats against sovereignty and equality create discontent and feed into instability.
The charter links peace and with development and human dignity.
Sustainable peace requires, among others, reducing extreme inequality and alleviating poverty.
Supporting the efforts of member states for sustainable development, protecting human dignity and rights, strengthening state institutions as well as ensuring food, health and energy security, should continue to be our shared responsibility.
Ignoring these issues exacerbates conditions that give rise to conflict, violent extremism and instability.
Mr.
president, safeguarding the achievements of the post-World War two order does not necessarily mean defending every aspect of the status quo.
It should rather mean preserving the foundational principles and adapt to the current realities.
Africa, for instance, continues to implement Security Council resolutions while often lacking equitable decision making power or meaningful representation in the United Nations Security Council.
We are at a point where Africa has right, rightful representation in the permanent and non-permanent categories of the Council cannot be delayed any further.
These realities, however, signify a call for equity and reform of the UN, not to abandon it altogether.
We must build inclusive institutions that restore trust and enhance accountability in addressing global challenges.
The UN should remain a valuable platform for its members to utilise diplomacy as a primary tool to resolve differences.
It should remain a trusted platform to advance shared global interests.
They own often works most effectively when coordinating with regional bodies like the African Union.
Regional organisations can also provide local knowledge and legitimacy, as well as operational support to UN missions.
Mr.
president, Ethiopia, long a champion of collective security and a founding member of the UN, continues to play an active role in the UN system.
We have a long history of participating in UN peacekeeping operations, reaffirming our commitment to multilateral cooperation in the service of peace.
These efforts are more sustainable and impactful when they are backed up with steadfast support of the international community.
Ethiopia strongly believes that upholding the UN charter lies in the fact that no alternative system has offered a more legitimate or more universally accepted framework for managing the collective interests of humanity.
Therefore, as member States, our primary obligation today is to defend the charter's principles and to adapt its institutions to the realities of the 21st century.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of Ethiopia for the statement, and I will give the floor to the representative of Nigeria.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Nigeria thanks the Chinese Presidency for convening this debate.
We also thank the Secretary General for his informative briefing.
The authority of the charter and the authority of this Council rests on the same foundation.
Both depend on the equal application of the charter and on the equal representation of all regions in the institutions that apply to it.
Mr.
president equal representation must be at the centre of efforts to restore equality in this hallowed chamber.
The.
The architecture of this Council was designed for a membership of 51 States.
It remains largely unrevised for a membership of 193.
Africa, a continent with 54 member states remains absent from the permanent membership of the principal organ of collective security.
A council so constituted will continue to struggle for moral authority and legitimacy.
Nigeria reaffirms the common African position, as articulated in the consensus and the third declaration.
We reiterate our request for expansion of not less than two permanent seats for Africa.
With all the prerogatives and privileges of current permanent membership, including the right of veto.
For as long as the veto exists, together with five non-permanent seats, we renew our call for the intergovernmental negotiation to commence text based negotiations based on a consolidated model within a defined time frame.
Mr.
president, the credibility of this organisation is diminished when the threat or use of force is condemned with vigour in some cases, and met with restraint in others.
Sadly, we continue to observe a pattern where territorial integrity is defended in some cases and qualified in others.
While the judgments of the principal judicial organ, the ICJ, are treated as authoritative in some matters and resisted in others.
Conflicts in the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Sudan have engaged the council only after delays not visited on situations of comparative or of comparable gravity elsewhere.
These patterns must be acknowledged and addressed effectively.
The Council must recalibrate its strategies for addressing global threats and challenges, including the security dimensions of climate change, terrorism financing and the illicit financial flows that sustain armed groups in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.
It must redouble efforts to counter maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and other affected regions, and the emerging governance challenges posed by artificial intelligence and the malicious use of cyber capabilities.
In truth, these matters do not displace traditional questions of international peace and security.
They compound them.
This is why the council's tools must keep pace with the challenges it is mandated to address.
Our experiences as a long standing contributor to the UN peacekeeping and a partner in the regional security architecture of West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin, highlight the effectiveness of regional collaboration.
Without adequate and predictable financing, regional mechanisms will continue to perform below expectation.
In this regard, Nigeria calls for the full implementation of the financing commitments contained in the pact for the future and the implementation of resolution 2719 for for African Union peace support operations on a case by case basis.
We stand ready to engage constructively in efforts to uphold the principles and purposes of the United Nations.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank the representative of Nigeria for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Belarus.
Mr.
president, we wish to thank the People's Republic of China for having convened this high level meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations, and we warmly welcome to New York, His Excellency, Mr.
Juan E, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.
Belarus wholeheartedly supports the objectives of this goal, and we embrace the position set out previously by the People's Republic of China.
Presently, the international system is undergoing an unprecedented endurance test.
Tragically, reports continuously suffer about bloodletting and this includes in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
And these are commonplace occurrences.
They are not isolated incidents.
Principles of multilateralism in international relations are utterly being disregarded.
Armed conflict, political struggles between the great powers of the world.
This information warfare and overt persecution of inconvenient countries are clear examples thereof.
The disarmament and non-proliferation mechanisms are being undermined, and this is creating a situation where we are approaching a world and a threshold beyond which the nuclear threat looms large on the horizon.
Several days ago, we bore witness to the collapse of attempts to adopt a final document at the 11th NPT Review Conference and under present day military political circumstances, the achievement of the key objective of the NPT namely general and complete disarmament, is an objective that is hard to achieve and indeed completely unrealistic.
And the use and threat of force and achieve needs to be renounced and equal and indivisible.
Security needs to be provided for.
Under these circumstances, strict compliance with the purposes and principles of the UN charter plays an important role as does respect for international law, not the rules based order.
We are participant in the Group of friends in defence of the UN charter.
We wholeheartedly support its operations.
We welcome the establishment at the initiative of the Group of the International Day Against Unilateral Coercive Measures and the conduct last year of the corresponding commemorations at the General Assembly.
We continue to support international efforts to eradicate unilateralism and coercive measures as cudgels of international relations, which clearly inflict nefarious consequences on the entire international relations system, undermining stability and sustainable development.
We firmly reaffirm the principles of equality of states, non-interference in domestic affairs, and peaceful dispute resolution.
Sanctions and circumvention of the charter need to be done away with.
As a phenomenon, we stand in solidarity with those countries who have fallen victim to such policies.
We stress the need to immediately lift all restrictive measures and to lift the economic and financial blockade against Cuba.
Belarus is contributing to strengthening peace, sustainable development and international cooperation on word.
But indeed we are proactively advancing the idea of re rekindling wide ranging international dialogue on rebuilding confidence, building security and cooperation in Eurasia on the basis of multipolarity and multilateralism.
The result of these efforts was the joint Belarusian-russian initiative, with the participation of many Eurasian states, an omnibus document on the Eurasian Charter for diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st century.
We invite partners to join this initiative and to support the charter.
Belarus A rejects a policies of force and domination.
We reject attempts to rewrite international rules unilaterally for certain select states.
This represents a direct threat to multilateralism, which the UN must uphold.
We stand ready to engage in mutually beneficial and respectful cooperation with all states.
Thank you for your attention.
Thank you.
I thank the Minister for Belarus for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative for Brunei Darussalam, Rahim.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Brunei congratulates China on its presidency of the Security Council this month.
Mr.
president, the charter remains a solid foundation for international cooperation, peace and security.
And for more than eight decades, it has guided relations among states and provided the framework through which disputes may be resolved peacefully and collectively.
However, as we know, there are growing challenges, including the gap between principle and practice, whether in cases including prolonged occupation, the obstruction of humanitarian access or the use of force in violation of article two.
Bracket four.
When states fail to comply with the obligations under the charter and international law and no accountability follows, it perpetuates a dangerous cycle of violation, undermining not only the authority of the charter itself, but the credibility of the Security Council.
If international law is to remain meaningful, it must be applied consistently.
We, therefore call upon the Security Council to uphold the mandate entrusted to it, act with unity and resolve, and not allow procedural paralysis to become a shield for impunity.
Brunei also supports efforts to make the council more representative, transparent and accountable, including initiatives to limit the use of veto towards its eventual elimination and mechanisms that strengthen accountability, such as the uniting for peace resolution and the veto initiative.
Structural reforms, however, must be accompanied by genuine political will among all council members to act in the spirit of solidarity, the charter demands.
Ultimately, the council's authority rests not only on its institutional structure, but on the commitment of its members to act in the interest of international peace and security.
Mr.
president, the charter does not ask states to surrender their sovereignty.
Rather, it asks them to exercise it responsibly, in accordance with international law, in concert with others and within an agreed normative framework that promotes peace, stability and mutual respect.
And as a member of Asean, Brunei firmly believes that regional organisations play an important, complementary role in advancing the purposes and principles of the charter.
The Asean Leaders Declaration on Upholding Multilateralism and the Asean UN Plan of Action reflect ASEAN's commitment to translating global principles into concrete regional cooperation on peacekeeping, health, climate and digital governance.
For example, Asean does not seek to replace the UN It complements its serving as a stronger regional pillar within the broader multilateral framework.
And consistent with this approach, Brunei remains committed to concrete multilateral engagement through our participation in UN peacekeeping engagement, peacekeeping engagement in treaty bodies and our support for the pack of the future.
We will continue to advocate for consistent and principled application of international law.
Mr.
president, Brunei firmly believes that a uncentered international system remains essential to advancing peace and cooperation.
While recent demand global.
While recent global developments have tested the resilience of multilateralism, they have not diminished its importance or necessity.
A strengthened UN system cannot be built through declarations alone.
It requires adequate financing for UN institutions, robust treaty compliance mechanisms and a general assembly empowered to act meaningfully when the council is unable to do so.
The principles of the charter must equally remain relevant to emerging challenges, including cyberspace, artificial intelligence, and climate security.
These are not aspirational goals.
They are structural requirements.
If the multilateral system is to remain credible and responsive, and for Brunei, that remains fundamental and is the foundation of our confidence in the rules based international order.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Brunei Darussalam for the statement.
I now give the floor to Timor-Leste.
Mr.
president, I thank China for convening this timely and important debate.
The United Nations was established with a singular, defining mission to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and to uphold international peace and security as enshrined in the charter.
Born from the devastation devastation of global conflict, it was designed to ensure that dialogue, law and collective action would prevail over force Timor-Leste stands as a living testament to the power, necessity and enduring promise of the United Nations.
Our own path to independence was made possible through principled multilateralism and respect for international law.
Today, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to safeguarding that foundation a strengthened, united nation anchored in the charter, must remain at the centre of the international system.
The charter is both historical and binding legal framework.
Its core principles, which are sovereignty, equality territorial integrity and peaceful settlement of disputes are not optional.
Their erosion threatens all states, particularly small and developing nations for Timor-Leste.
International law is not abstract.
It is our first line of defence.
We therefore underscore the obligation of all member states to resolve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the UN convention on the law of the sea.
Selective application of these norms undermines the system's credibility and risks normalising instability.
Mr.
president, we meet at a moment of heightened geopolitical tension.
Division among major powers risks weakening the very mechanisms designed to preserve peace.
History reminds us that the founders of this organization, 1945, chose cooperation over confrontation and law over force.
That choice must guide us still.
Reviving that founding spirit requires renewed commitment to multilateralism, restraint, and dialogue.
The United Nations was not created because agreement was guaranteed, but because.
But this.
Because this agreement was inevitable.
It provides the indispensable framework for managing disputes without escalation.
At the same time, we must be candid.
The effectiveness of this system depends on the political will of its members, especially those entrusted with primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
Mr.
president, in this context, Timor-Leste offers the following recommendations.
First, we call for all for a renewed commitment by all Member States to fully respect and implement the charter, including the obligation to refrain from the threat of use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any nation.
Second, we urge the Security Council to enhance its unity and effectiveness, particularly in situations where divisions hinder timely actions.
The credibility of this body depends on its ability to act decisively in the in the face of of threats of peace.
Third, we emphasise the importance of strengthening preventive diplomacy, mediation and early warning mechanisms, including by adequately resourcing the Secretary General's good office, good offices.
Fourth, we call for sustained support to U.N.
peacekeeping operations, including predictable funding, clear mandates and strengthened partnership with regional organisations.
Finally, we reaffirm the importance of international law, including the law of the sea, as framework for the peaceful solutions of dispute and equitable management for shared resources.
Mr.
president, the United Nations is not a perfect institution, but it remains indispensable.
It is the cornerstone of a rule based international order and primary safeguard against a return to the world governed by power alone.
As we navigate the increasingly complex and uncertain global landscape, we must not weaken this system.
Instead, we must strengthen it, strengthen it through commitment, consistency, and collective responsibility.
Let us act not only in the interest of our nations, but in the interest of humanity as a whole We have the charter.
We have the institution.
What we require now is political will.
I thank you.
Can I thank the representative of Timor-Leste for the statement? I now give the floor to Guyana.
Mr.
president, I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the 14 member States of the Caribbean community Caricom, Caricom.
Thanks to the Chinese Presidency for convening this important and timely debate and offers the following perspectives.
First, Caricom remains a firm believer in multilateralism and in the United Nations as the epicentre of the multilateral system.
The vision for the United Nations to be the vehicle through which nations would practice peaceful coexistence, friendly cooperation, dialogue and diplomacy is a vision that Caricom still shares with many member states.
We therefore urge a collective recommitment to this vision and a collective disavowal of all actions that mitigate against it.
These include measures inimical to the growth of small states economies.
Second, the charter of the United Nations is the blueprint for world peace.
If faithfully implemented, the generations to come will never know war and will thrive in peace and progress.
Unfortunately, there is a growing proclivity to disregard international law, including the UN charter, thus undermining prospects for world peace.
An examination of most conflicts situation today reveals this.
Human rights atrocities, humanitarian crisis aggression and violations of state sovereignty and the principle of sovereign equality are some of the manifestations of this disregard for international law and the charter.
The Security Council has a critical role to play in response to these illegalities, which are threats to international peace and security.
Further, Caricom stresses that any situation that threatens international peace and security is also a threat to development.
Since development cannot be sustained in insecurity, we therefore urge the Council to intensify its efforts to address all threats to global peace, including new and emerging threats such as climate change and artificial intelligence.
Third, we must not normalise sidelining the United Nations in favour of unsustainable unilateral initiatives.
This undermines the centrality of the organisation in international affairs and reduces its influence.
The Security Council itself must ensure that it does not unwittingly contribute to such endeavours.
This approach also effectively shuts out the voice of the majority of member states in shaping responses to global crises.
Caricom urges that we eschew this approach and recommit to upholding the United Nations as the centre of the international system.
As small states.
Consistent application of international law and the UN charter is the bedrock for our security and survival.
Mr.
president, dear colleagues, members of the Council, allow me to conclude by underscoring Caricom's firm commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations as contained in the charter, to a rules based international system and to multilateralism as the foundation for world peace.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Guyana for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Chile.
President.
President, we'd like to thank China for convening this timely debate.
We'd also like to express our thanks to the Foreign Affairs Minister, His Excellency Wang Yi, and the Secretary General, His Excellency Antonio Guterres for their valuable contributions to this discussion.
Chile reaffirms its historic commitment to the UN charter, to international law and to a rules based international order rules applicable to all member states Equally, for Chile, the defence of sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence of states, noninterference in state's internal affairs, and the peaceful settlement of disputes are essential pillars of peaceful coexistence.
The credibility of the international system hinges precisely on these principles being applied consistently, universally and in a non-selective manner.
President against a backdrop marked by prolonged armed conflicts, increasing geopolitical tensions, the expansion of transnational organized crime, and attacks on critical infrastructure, the UN charter remains the fundamental framework to address current challenges to international peace and security.
Multilateralism remains the indispensable tool at a time of increasing international uncertainty.
We believe that beefing up the international system focused on the UN requires, first and foremost, full adherence with international obligations contained within the charter.
This means prioritising dialogue and diplomacy, rejecting the use or the threat of use of force which would contravene international law, and respecting the competences and mandates of the main bodies of the UN.
Similarly, strengthening the multilateral system requires more effective, more transparent and more representative international institutions representative of today's realities.
Chile has consistently supported the need to carry out a root and branch reform of the council so as to improve its legitimacy, its representativeness, effectiveness and capacity to act.
Now this is added to the imperious need to revise the structure of the organisation at other levels too.
President, the credibility of the international system also depends on our collective ability to ensure accountability and to ensure effective compliance with international law and obligations from the charter.
Without this, it will be difficult to preserve trust from our states and societies in multilateral institutions.
The United Nations is facing significant questions today, but also huge expectations.
The answer should not be to weaken multilateralism, but rather to strengthen it through tangible results.
Greater compliance with the charter, and genuine commitment from member states to international cooperation.
Lastly, president, I would like to stress that Chile's foreign policy under the under President Katz will remain to prioritise serious, responsible diplomacy focused on the United Nations Charter at its centre.
We cannot accept an international order in which force takes primacy over the law.
That is why we will continue to support an international system that gives priority to dialogue rather than confrontation, cooperation rather than fragmentation and law over force.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of Chile for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Mozambique.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Mr.
president, allow me to begin by thanking the People's Republic of China for convening this high level debate and for consistently reminding the Council of the need to preserve UN charter reform, global governance and multilateralism at a time of profound uncertainty.
Mr.
president, the global order founded on the UN charter is increasingly under strain.
We face interconnected crises, eroding multilateralism rising conflicts, economic fragmentation, widening inequality, technological divides, selective application of international law, and worsening climate crisis.
The institutions expected to uphold global order are becoming less responsible and effective, sometimes perceived as sources of injustice rather than solutions.
History teaches us that the grave consequences when law and the collective responsibility collapse, when might prevails over.
Right.
The main question before us, therefore, is what must we do to uphold the UN's founding principles and rebuild a fair, inclusive and effective system of global governance? Mr.
president, global governance does not require abandonment.
It requires renewal.
In this connection, Mozambique proposed four essential pillars.
First, international law and the UN charter must remain the cornerstone of international order.
Respect for sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity, non-interference, equality among states must continue to guide international relations.
Second, the United Nations must continue as the principal institution of global governance and operating transparently, equitably and responsibly.
Third, the Security Council.
Comprehensive reform is imperative.
Africa and other underrepresented regions must be granted fairer representation.
Africa's legitimate aspiration, as articulated in the EU Consensus and Assured declaration, calling for no fewer than two permanent seats and two additional non-permanent seats must be fully addressed.
Fourth urgent financial architecture reform is essential.
The global South faces structural disadvantages.
We need meaningful reforms ensuring greater voice and equitable participation for developing countries.
Trade, debt and development financing must serve shared prosperity, not dependency.
Mr.
president, the right to development is likewise inseparable from respect for the purposes and principles of the charter.
For far too long, structural imbalances in the international financial architecture have constrained the ability of developing countries to direct their resources towards sustainable development and SDG implementation.
We also believe that stronger regional cooperation must anchor a resilient multilateral order.
Africa's experience has consistently demonstrated that solutions devised closer to the challenges are often the most legitimate, sustainable and effective.
In this regard, we encourage the United Nations system to deepen its partnerships with regional and subregional organisations, including the African Union, to ensure that the voice of developing regions are heard and meaningfully shaped by the decisions that affect their futures.
And finally, Mr.
President, Mozambique reaffirms its unwavering commitment to multilateralism and reiterates its readiness to engage constructively in strengthening a more just, inclusive and effective system of global governance grounded in international law and the UN charter.
The challenges are formidable, but our responsibility is clear.
Preserve what works, reform what doesn't, and build what missing.
Ensuring global governance and multilateralism serves a whole humanity, not just the powerful few.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of Mozambique for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Nepal.
Thank you.
Mr.
President.
First of all, I thank the Presidency of China for convening this timely and important debate.
I also thank the Secretary-General for his insightful briefing and remarks Mr.
president, for over eight decades, the UN charter has remained a fundamental legal instrument to forge multilateral cooperation, safeguard global peace and collective security, and advance our shared pursuit of justice, human dignity and sustainable development.
The charter reflects humanity's collective resolve to save the succeeding generations from the scourge of war, and constitutes the bedrock for a more just, inclusive, peaceful and rule based international system.
Its purposes and principles such as sovereign equality, peaceful settlement of disputes, good faith, implementation of legal obligations, and refraining from threat or use of force remain as relevant today as they were at the founding of the UN.
Mr.
president, today the international community is facing mounting challenges emanating, particularly from deepening conflicts, climate catastrophes, widening economic inequalities, digital divide, supply chain disruptions and emerging technologies.
At the same time, trust in multilateral institutions is eroding, while violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, are increasingly becoming the norm.
As a responsible member of the UN, Nepal has always remained committed to abiding by the UN charter, upholding international law, safeguarding global peace and security, and promoting human dignity and sustainable development.
Our foreign policy is deeply anchored in UN charter, International law Nonalignment principles of peaceful coexistence and norms of global peace.
In this context, Nepal firmly believes that strengthening multilateralism with the UN at its core is not merely desirable, it is indispensable.
In this slide.
Mr.
president, let me underscore a few points.
First, we must reaffirm the primacy of the UN charter as the cornerstone of a just, inclusive, stable and rule based international system without exception or selectivity.
Second, the Security Council must enhance its credibility and effectiveness in responding to evolving global challenges.
As the primary body responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.
The Council must act with greater, greater unity, transparency, accountability and impartiality.
We must be mindful that the Security Council's failure in safeguarding international peace and security, and full compliance with international law risks undermining the credibility of the entire UN system.
Third, we need a more reformed and revitalised UN system that empowers all nations, especially the most vulnerable, to participate meaningfully in shaping and upholding global norms.
A more representative, transparent and democratic U.N.
system is essential to ensure legitimacy and make it fit for purpose in addressing contemporary global realities.
In this regard, Nepal views the UN initiative as a timely opportunity to foster institutional efficiency coherence and renewed trust in the UN system.
Fourth, the fulfilment of international obligations in good faith remains central to maintaining the integrity of the international system.
Selective adherence to international law erodes trust and weakens the very foundations of multilateral cooperation.
Fifth reinforcing global solidarity, harmony and cooperation, and promoting dialogue.
Mutual respect, trust and peaceful coexistence are fundamental to delivering on the pledges of the charter.
In line with chapter six of the charter, the international community should prioritise peaceful settlement of disputes over confrontation.
Diplomacy and peace must always be given a chance.
Lastly, as enshrined in the charter, we must promote international cooperation to address development challenges including poverty, inequality, food insecurity, climate change and public health crises.
We must also enhance cooperation within the framework of the United Nations to bridge the digital divide and ensure that emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, are developed and used responsibly and inclusively.
In closing, Mr.
President, the the UN embodies a beacon of hope for peace, justice, human dignity, and shared prosperity.
Nepal remains firmly committed to safeguarding the rule of law in international system.
With the UN at its core, Nepal stands steadfast to work closely with the UN membership and all partners to build a more just, inclusive and rule based international system grounded in the charter, leaving no one behind.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Nepal for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Mauritania.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Allow us at the outset to thank China for their relentless efforts and the leadership of the Council during this month, and also for convening this important high level debate to discuss multilateralism.
After 80 years of establishing the UN We thank the Briefers for their valuable contributions.
80 years have passed since the charter became effective, 80 years that witnessed a lot of developments, successes and challenges alike.
It is a period where the organisation has proved its effectiveness at the most difficult times, and helped avert a catastrophe for humanity.
As was said once by the late Secretary General Hammarskjöld, Mauritania, we joined on the 27th of October 1961, one year after we established our independence.
On the 27th of November 1966.
Decades of engaging in multilateral action whereby Mauritania fully observed and respected the principles and purposes of the UN charter in close cooperation with all peace loving nations to enshrine a peace and security around the world, to respect sovereignty and non-interference in domestic affairs, and to protect and promote human rights.
These efforts were demonstrated in our effective participation in peacekeeping operations.
My country, which is proud of its ongoing contributions to safeguarding international peace and security and accelerate the achievement of socio economic development, the respect of human rights and dignity.
We seize this opportunity, this open debate opportunity to discuss together the future of the UN in the light of the urgent need to strengthen the collective security system, and that the international system remains based on the UN.
Mr.
president, the many challenges that face our world today requires us to look at the future with great caution.
Given the increasing number of armed conflicts and the heated arms race that we witnessed today, this requires the organisation to develop a preventive diplomacy, instruments and peace building efforts with a radical transformation also in the peacekeeping mandates.
This requires a provision of adequate resources.
Despite the crisis, the financial crisis that the UN is facing.
On the other hand, achieving social and economic development remains one of the main pillars of the work of the UN.
As we approach 2030, we see that it is important to take stock of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda by deducting the lessons learned and prepare for the period beyond 2030.
That will bring more challenges Given the dwindling financial resources.
Mr.
president, the challenges to sustainable development require an urgent, uh, establishment of an international order that is more equitable and more just by expanding and reforming the instruments of the working methods of the Security Council as well, and empower all regions, particularly the African continent, to have permanent seats in the council and to have a more a bigger role in global decision making and in issues of international peace and security.
In conclusion, Mr.
President, we will continue to work effectively and in compliance with the principles and purposes of the UN charter.
And we will always be, as always, a member that can be relied on in safeguarding international peace and security.
To accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable and Economic Development Goals, to preserve the human dignity and human rights.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank Mauritania for the statement, and I will give the floor to the representative of the United Arab Emirates.
Mr.
president, I would like to thank China for convening this important open debate and for its commitment to strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation.
I also wish to express my appreciation to Secretary General Guterres for his briefing.
Mr.
president, eight decades after the international community came together in pursuit of peace and a shared international order, effectively rejecting the doctrine of might makes right, the UN charter remains our primary shield against global disorder and the bedrock of international cooperation.
It is our firm belief that long term stability and prosperity cannot be built under conditions of permanent confrontation or ideological extremism, but rather through dialogue and de-escalation.
Yet for too long, one state in our region has exploited its neighbours goodwill by continuing its destabilising behaviour, including its sponsorship of armed proxies.
The result has been the creation of a dangerous culture of impunity and a perpetual cycle of escalation.
Over the last three months, the United Arab Emirates has faced unlawful and unprovoked attacks by Iran targeting our civilian infrastructure, including commercial ports, airports, energy infrastructure and communications networks.
Additionally, Iran's obstruction of the Strait of Hormuz, in violation of international law, has threatened maritime security while holding the global economy hostage.
Freedom of navigation is a cornerstone of international law, and this council has a duty to protect it.
Last week, regional escalations reached a perilous threshold when a terrorist drone attack launched from Iraqi territory targeted the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE.
The UAE reserves its full and inherent right to protect its territory and population in accordance with international law.
As this council underscored earlier this week, the attack on Baraka constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, and the UAE appreciates the council's swift condemnation of this act.
Mr.
president, the credibility of our international system depends on whether we are prepared to uphold its rules when they are violated.
In this regard, three areas require particular attention.
First, the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure must be unequivocally condemned as a serious violation of international law.
Such attacks must never be normalised.
Second, states must be held accountable for acts of aggression.
This includes attacks carried out through proxy networks.
Finally, the council must ensure the full and consistent implementation of its resolutions.
Failure to do so erodes this council's authority.
In conclusion, Mr.
President, the UAE remains committed to a future based on stability and shared prosperity But lasting peace cannot coexist with impunity, which undermines the fundamental principles enshrined in the UN charter.
We therefore call on the Security Council to uphold its responsibilities and act with the necessary resolve for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the UAE for the statement.
And now give the floor to the representative of Cyprus.
Mr.
President.
We thank the presidency of the People's Republic of China for convening this timely debate.
We also wish to express our appreciation to the Secretary General for his insightful briefing.
Cyprus aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union and its member states, and would like to add some remarks in its national capacity.
Mr.
president, the UN charter emerged from the devastation of the Second World War as a collective commitment to prevent future generations from the scourge of war, and to build an international order based on sovereign equality, peaceful coexistence and respect for international law.
Decades later, the charter remains the cornerstone of the multilateral system and the indispensable foundation for international peace and security.
Today, however, the international community faces an increasingly complex and volatile landscape.
Armed conflicts are proliferating, humanitarian needs continue to rise, climate change and sea level rise pose existential threats to many states.
Maritime security and freedom of navigation are increasingly challenged, while rapid technological developments are advancing faster than international governance, frameworks can adapt.
These challenges cannot be addressed through unilateralism or selective approaches.
They require effective multilateralism firmly centred on the United Nations.
In this regard, we must strengthen preventive diplomacy, peace building efforts, support resilient and accountable state institutions, and make fuller use of the tools provided under chapter six of the charter.
We must also uphold and effectively implement the International Treaty Framework, including Enclos and the UN climate regime.
Mr.
president, the principles of the charter remain as relevant today as they were in 1945.
Respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence cannot be applied selectively or conditionally.
No sustainable peace can be achieved through military aggression, foreign occupation or the creation of fait accompli.
Cyprus breaks from its own experience.
For more than 50 years, my country has continued to face the consequences of illegal foreign military invasion and ongoing occupation in violation of the charter and relevant Security Council resolutions.
Our experience demonstrates why consistency in the application of international law is essential.
Security Council resolutions cannot be treated a la carte, nor can violations of international law become normalised simply through the passage of time.
Equally important is respect for the authority of international judicial institutions.
Under article 94 of the charter, states are obliged to comply in good faith with the decisions of the International Court of Justice.
International humanitarian law must likewise be respected in all armed conflicts, and accountability for violations must remain central to the credibility of the international system.
Strengthening the Uncentered international system also requires a more effective and credible Security Council.
Greater emphasis should be placed on prevention, transparency and consistent action.
Mr.
president, eight decades after its adoption, the charter remains our shared point of reference in an increasingly uncertain world.
Preserving its authority and credibility requires collective political will and a genuine commitment to the principles we have all undertaken to uphold for Cyprus.
These principles are not abstract concepts.
They are essential safeguards for peace, justice, sovereignty and international stability.
I thank you, I thank Cyprus for the statement, and I will give the floor to the representative of Canada.
Mr.
president, Canada appreciates the opportunity provided by China to reflect on the enduring importance of the United Nations during today's open debate.
As a founding member of the United Nations, Canada has long believed that multilateral cooperation is the bedrock of international peace and security.
In the current, increasingly complex international environment, this continues to be true.
Earlier this year, Canada's prime minister observed that the global context in which we operate has become more uncertain, marked by tensions and competing interests.
At the same time, he emphasized that cooperation remains not only possible, but necessary.
Allow me to reiterate from the Prime Minister's remarks that a world of fortresses will be poorer, more fragile and less sustainable.
He also affirmed that we should not be blinded to the fact that the power of legitimacy, integrity and rules will remain strong if we choose to wield it together.
The United Nations is founded on principles that have guided international cooperation for decades.
Sovereign equality, respect for international law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Monsieur le président Mr.
president, these principles for Canada are constitute a critical guiding light when it comes to traversing difficult periods such as the era we are experiencing today.
So force the rules of a force on coherent application thereof, and the trust that all members of the UN place therein and on the way that these rules are respected in practice.
Therefore, the multilateral commitment of Canada is rooted both in principle, in principle and in pragmatism.
Here at the heart of international diplomacy, there is a need for patience, respect for diverging viewpoints, and for assiduous efforts to be undertaken to enhance the institutions that we count upon.
This includes support for discussions underway.
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Visant a guarantor.
To ensure that the Security Council is in a position to deliver upon its main mandate for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Thanks to a more representative, inclusive, transparent, effective, efficient, democratic and responsible body, Canada furthermore underscores the important need to take the human dimension of conflict into account the protection of civilians, promotion of human rights, specifically gender equality, as well as encouragement of the participation of women and young people in efforts undertaken all contributes to the achievement of more sustainable and more inclusive results.
At a time when international cooperation is being put to the test.
Canada remains determined to collaborate in a constructive way with all partners.
We believe that sustained dialogue respect for international law and cooperation remain the most reliable ways to surmount the present day challenges which we face.
Canada will continue to uphold the norms, criteria and principles of the United Nations through its three fundamental mandates in a decisive, resolute, coherent way, with full respect for the responsibility that is shared by all Member states.
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I thank the residue of Canada for the statement, and I'll give the floor to the representative of Poland.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Outset.
I would like to express our appreciation to China for convening this important debate at a time when we are all witnessing an increasing disregard for international law and for the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
Mr.
president, regrettably, it must be noted that since the open debate held under the Chinese presidency in February 2025 on this very topic, a number of states participating in today's discussion have themselves been victims of violations of the charter and of fundamental principles of international law This includes my country.
In recent months, Poland has been experienced violations of its airspace through the intrusions of the drone type objects originating from Russia.
Our critical infrastructure has been targeted by a hybrid and cyber attacks attributed to the same source.
In the face of such violations, our response must not be to weaken or revise the principles that guide us.
On the contrary, we should adhere them to the even more firmly the framework established after the Second World War, born of the immense human suffering, remains despite its imperfections.
Far more just and stable than any alternative based on great power, rivalry, or the notions of the spheres of influence.
What we urgently need is not a new order, but better enforcement of the rules we already have.
No system can function effectively without accountability.
We must ensure that violations of international law, particularly breaches of the prohibitions of the threat of use of force, carry consequences.
This is essential to preserving the credibility of the entire system.
Mr.
president, the international judicial institutions play a vital role in this regard.
This is why Poland strongly supports the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, holding senior political and military leaders accountable for decisions to wage an illegal war of aggression is not only a matter of justice, it is a necessary step towards deterrence.
At the same time, the Security Council itself requires our urgent attention as the body entrusted with maintaining international peace and security.
It cannot remain paralysed in the face of major crises.
Importantly, the charter already provides tools that could improve the council's effectiveness.
Article 273 of the United Nations Charter calls on members to abstain from voting in situations where they are parties to the dispute.
Applying this principle would significantly enhance the council's ability to act, including to act against the aggression in our own.
In my own region.
Mr.
president, preserving the principles of the charter is dispensable.
Any effort to reform the international system must take place strictly within the framework of the charter and existing institutions.
We should resist attempts to marginalise these structures or replace them with alternative arrangements to risk empowering only the strongest.
One of the wisest and most essential foundations of our system is the principle of sovereign equality of states.
It must be.
It must guide our actions.
Mr.
president, to conclude one more hopeful note while.
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Okay, so to conclude, that's surely one of the more.
On a more hopeful note, that's more.
Even more important.
While we often hear stark warnings that the international order founded on the principles enshrined in the UN charter is collapsing, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of international community continues to respect these principles and remain committed to living in accordance with them.
Trusting others, including the very members of this Council, to do the same.
And I thank you.
I thank the representative of Poland for the statement, and I'll give the floor to the representative of Ireland.
Ireland thanks China for convening this important debate and aligns with the statement delivered by the European Union.
The UN charter and the United Nations lie at the heart of Ireland's foreign policy and our engagement with the world.
Since joining the UN over 70 years ago, Ireland has consistently championed the rule of law in international affairs and the protection of human rights.
The UN charter is the bedrock of these principles enshrining fundamental human rights and the dignity and worth of every person, upholding the equal rights of all nations, large and small, respecting obligations under international law and promoting social progress, freedom and better standards of life for all.
Since the founding of this organisation, the collective commitment of Member States to these principles has improved the lives of countless communities across the globe.
Human rights have been enshrined and protected.
Social progress, including access to health care and education, has been advanced.
UN peacekeeping missions continue to support countries under transition from conflict to peace.
However, we must acknowledge that in today's world, the promise of the charter can feel far from being delivered, and the multilateralism multilateral system itself is increasingly under strain.
Today's geopolitical context is marked by uncertainty, growing fragmentation, contestation of universal norms and the gravest violations of international law as well as the erosion of trust in the ability of multilateral institutions to respond.
It is Ireland's strong belief that when multilateralism is being challenged, it is in our collective interest to redouble our support for the rules based order with the UN charter at its core.
Ultimately, the credibility of the international system does not depend on the strength of our words, but on consistency of our actions.
Members of this Council carry a particular duty and responsibility under the charter to maintain international peace and security.
That responsibility must be exercised promptly and effectively.
We must all redouble our efforts to ensure respect for the principles of the UN charter, for International Law and for Human Rights.
President, you have asked how we can uphold the Uncentered international system and support the UN's central role in international affairs.
First, let us recognise the most basic measure of support is for all Member States, without exception, to pay their mandatory dues in full and on time.
The UN Reform Initiative provides an opportunity to move towards a more agile, effective responsive and cost efficient UN capable of delivering meaningfully across all three pillars in order to deliver effectively on the promise of the UN charter.
Conflict prevention and peace building must be at the heart of our collective efforts, and as we look to the future of this organisation, the values and principles of the UN charter must also guide the selection of future leadership, particularly the next Secretary-General.
President, now is the time to take practical steps to support the UN and its mission wholeheartedly and unequivocally, and to stoutly defend UN principles we have all committed to uphold.
I thank you.
I thank the Minister from Ireland for the statement, and I'll give the floor to the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Mr.
president, excellencies, at the outset, the Lao PDR would like to congratulate the People's Republic of China on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May, and welcome His Excellency Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, to this Council.
We also commend the Presidency of China for convening this timely and important open debate.
Mr.
president, the charter of the United Nations is not only a founding document of the UN, but it is a vital safeguard, a guarantee that all nations, regardless of size, economic weight or geographic circumstances, stand equal before international law.
Its principles and sovereign of sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes and refraining from the threat or use of force are indispensable norms governing international relations, and the integrity must be upheld without exception.
The Lao PDR recognises that the purposes and principles of the UN charter are facing significant tests in the current international environment.
As we continue to witness increasing unilateral measures and armed confrontations which undermine the conditions necessary for peace, security and sustainable development, and threaten credibility and coherence of the multilateral system that all nations depend upon.
We therefore, call on all Member States to honour their obligations under the charter in good faith, and to resolve disputes and conflicts through dialogue and peaceful means, in accordance with the UN charter and international law, the Lao PDR reaffirms its steadfast commitment to multilateralism and the Uncentered international system founded on the UN charter and governed by international law and pursues a foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship and cooperation, which reflects our conviction to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN charter and international law, and to contribute to a peaceful, just and equitable world.
We believe that lasting peace is inseparable from respect for sovereign equality, non-interference and the equitable participation of all states in the international system.
The United Nations shall continue to provide an irreplaceable platform through which all states can defend their sovereignty, amplify their voices, and participate meaningfully in decisions that shape our common future.
To conclude, let us recommit ourselves in word and in deed to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, so that this institution remains a force for peace, security and development for generations to come.
I thank you.
I thank the Lao People's Democratic Republic for the statement.
And I'll give the floor to the representative of Maldives.
Thank you, president.
I thank the People's Republic of China, president of the Council, for convening this important open debate.
The UN charter was written amid the rubble of war.
It came from a world that had seen power without restraint and aggression, rewarded with impunity.
A world that learned what happened when institutions failed to stop war and collective security collapses.
It promised that sovereignty would be protected, that all states, large and small, would have equal rights.
Under the charter, that disputes would be settled peacefully.
That force would not decide the fate of peoples.
For the Maldives, the charter is our first line of defence.
It says no state is too small to matter, and no power is too great to be bound by law.
Today, the echoes of that world are hard to ignore.
Trust is weakening the threat and the and the use of force are becoming normal again.
War and conquest, and indeed the threat of conquest have become tools of power.
Those who speak are.
Those who speak out are met with threats, pressure, and coercion.
We are.
Law should speak.
Silence is demanded.
Economic turmoil and fragmentation are disrupting supply chains.
Food, fuel and borrowing costs are on the rise for small island developing states like the Maldives.
These shocks affect our tourism, our trade, energy, food security and livelihoods.
The turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz shows how instability in one key sea lane of communication can play a small economies under under strain.
For us, peace and security are.
Economic development and human concerns.
Without respect for charter, small island developing states are exposed to power without accountability and impunity, without consequences.
This council must remember and not repeat the mistakes of history.
Civilians have been killed without consequences.
Each unanswered violations lowers the threshold for the next.
The Middle East and the Horn of Africa are warnings.
So is the pool of narrow national gains and isolationism.
When grave crises meet paralysis, this council loses credibility.
And so do so.
So does the multilateral system it represents.
Multilateralism is being pushed aside, institutions built, restraint power are bypassed, weakened or even ignored.
When this council cannot act, grave crisis damage does not remain in this chamber It reaches every state that depends on law for protection.
The mall is therefore calls on all UN member states, especially those in this Council, to defend the charter through conduct, consistency and accountability.
Reject conquest, protect civilians, and refuse impunity.
I thank you.
Thank motives for the statement and I give the floor to Ecuador Senor Presidente.
Presidente.
Ecuador reaffirms.
The UN charter.
Its purposes and principles are the foundation of the international order.
That is why we would like to thank China for convening this open debate on a topic that is the very essence of multilateralism.
We'd also like to thank His Excellency Wang Yi, Foreign Affairs Minister, for presiding over this meeting.
President, colleagues, today we are facing a complex context the persistence of conflicts, increasing mistrust between states, dysfunction of global governance and the selective implementation of international law have all weakened the multilateral system.
That is why my delegation would like to stress three fundamental priorities to address this.
First of all, we need to re-establish trust in the system.
This means unwavering respect for the UN charter, the sovereign equality of states, non-interference in states, internal affairs, territorial integrity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Cannot be applied selectively.
That is the only way we can preserve the authority and integrity of the charter.
Secondly, we must bolster effective multilateralism, which can harmonise national interests with the international common good.
A lack of coordination has hindered the collective response to traditional and emerging challenges, such as transnational organised crime, which threatens states stability and international security.
It is also important to realise the link between peace and development, particularly through the implementation of the 2030 agenda as the Foundation for sustainable Peace.
That is where focused cooperation, which respects state sovereignty and is based on the realities of each nation, is critical to address the challenges that the international community is facing.
Thirdly, we must strengthen the Security Council's authority and effectiveness.
To do this, we must overcome divisions, prioritise prevention, dialogue and political solutions, and make headway towards a realistic reform that makes the council more democratic representative, transparent and effective.
Permanent members have a particular responsibility.
In this task.
And the statements that we've heard in this meeting allow us to maintain a degree of hope that we will be able to get beyond the current divisions.
President, history shows that confrontation leads to instability, while cooperation makes it possible to build lasting solutions.
Preserving the achievements of the international order, order and avoiding regression is a shared responsibility.
The UN remains the central forum for dialogue between states, particularly for developing states.
Its strength will depend on the real commitment that states show to the principles of the charter and to collective action.
Lastly, I would like to reiterate Ecuador's belief in international law, particularly the UN charter, its purposes and principles, and multilateralism.
There is no alternative to upholding the charter and to adhering to it in its entirety.
Only in this way, with genuine political will can we offer peoples of the world a fairer, more stable international order geared towards people's well-being.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of Ecuador for the statement.
And now give the floor to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Senor Presidente.
Presidente, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela welcomes the decision by China to convene this high level, open debate at a time of particular importance for multilateralism and for the future, not just of peace and security, but also the very organization of the United Nations.
President Venezuela reiterates its unwavering commitment to the United Nations Charter and to its purposes and principles that have been codified jointly over the last eight decades.
These are not abstract notions.
They are legally binding obligations for all members of the international community.
President, the international community today is going through a multidimensional crisis characterized by polarization, geopolitical tensions, an erosion of multilateralism, and double standards.
In this context, the trend to undermine international law and to prevail and to prioritise unilateral measures is deeply concerning.
We're also seeing increasing the increasing use of practices that lie in the face of the UN charter and only deepens divisions between nations, and does not make it possible for us to build consensus to address shared challenges.
We need to put an end to these practices, which undermine states ability to achieve sustainable development President, this organization remains the most universal, representative and legitimate platform for dialogue between sovereign states.
The crucial role of the United Nations in global governance must see it address the challenges of the 21st century in an effective way to meet the expectations of the people who are called upon to serve.
Multilateralism is a practical necessity.
Only genuine multilateral cooperation rooted in mutual respect, solidarity and dialogue can provide sustainable solutions to the common problems that humanity is facing.
That is why Venezuela, faithful to the principles of our peaceful diplomacy, calls for dialogue, de-escalation, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Fully adhering to the UN charter.
Universality, universality, credibility, and effectiveness of these principles requires that they be applied consistently without any kind of selectivity.
President.
Reforms to improve global governance must preserve the multilateral, inclusive and intergovernmental nature of the United Nations and broaden the voice and participation of developing countries.
A fairer, more democratic, more equal international order requires genuine respect for the sovereign equality between states, and we must make headway on crucial issues for the world, such as reforming the international financial architecture and this body so that we can put an end to the historic injustices that persist.
The future of humanity must be built based on cooperation and not on confrontation.
On solidarity.
Not domination.
Dialogue.
Not coercion.
We conclude by calling on all responsible members of the international community to reaffirm their commitments to the founding charter of the UN, and to work together to bring about a strengthened, revitalized United Nations system.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
I now give the floor to Ukraine.
Mr.
president, my delegation thanks China for convening this timely debate on upholding the principles of the UN charter, which are now under existential threat.
Allow me to recall a historical fact that is too often overlooked.
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, though not a fully sovereign state in 1945, was among the founding members of the United Nations.
That was not an act of generosity.
The international community recognized the immense sacrifice that the Ukrainian people had made in contributing to the victory over Nazism in Europe.
Ukraine was among those nations that suffered the most devastating human losses during the Second World War.
Nearly 10 million Ukrainians have lost their lives.
Therefore, for us Ukrainians, the principles enshrined in the UN charter are not abstract concepts written on paper.
They are part of a legacy paid for with millions of our lives.
That is the reason why defending the charter, safeguarding its principles and preserving the rule based international order is a sacred duty for Ukraine.
It is the duty we owe to this and future generations who deserve to live in a world where aggression is punished and not rewarded.
Mr.
president just on Tuesday, in this very chamber, we once again heard the representative of Russia deliver a familiar fairy tale about Moscow's alleged commitment to the principles of the UN charter.
The real problem, however, is that while these sweet words may sound appealing in this hall, the reality tells us a completely different story.
Russia may pay lip service to the principles of the UN charter here in New York, while at the same time tramping these very principles under foot in Ukraine.
Every single day and every single night, Russia rides roughshod over the very charter it falsely claims to defend.
Russia does so with bloody boots of its soldiers on Ukrainian soil through deadly missiles destroying Ukrainian cities, hitting hospitals and schools through drones hunting civilians on the streets like in a human safari, through forceful abduction of Ukrainian children, systematic torture and sexual violence, and through the ongoing attempts to erase the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a fellow member state.
Mr.
president, the level of hypocrisy and cynicism of Russia we are witnessing today has reached truly staggering proportions.
The member states of the United Nations should no longer ignore this glaring gap between the sugar coated declarations we still hear from Russia and its barbaric nature and brutal reality we see on the ground in Ukraine.
The uncomfortable truth is that for years, Russia is attempting to rewrite borders by force.
Like in the medieval ages, Russia has been feverishly constructing a parallel reality that seeks to displace and substitute the very principles of the UN charter, which Moscow saw, hypocritically pretends to uphold.
In that distorted, parallel reality that Mr.
Putin tries to create, aggression is rebranded as self-defence.
Occupation as liberation and grave violations of international law as retaliation.
Russia is peddling an alternative vision of international relations, one where might makes right, where force prevails over law, and where sovereign nations are denied the right to determine their own future.
Mr.
president among the most dangerous notions that Russia has been propagating is the perverse concept of the so-called legitimate security interests as a justification for its barbaric war of aggression against Ukraine, and now, even as a possible foundation for future peace process.
I would respectfully ask the members of this council, could anyone of you point me to a single provision of the UN charter, where this deeply flawed notion appears, yet regrettably, this highly explosive, distorted concept is resonating among some members of the United Nations.
And that is precisely where the real danger lies, because once we begin to accept the idea that a powerful state may override the territorial integrity of its neighbour in pursuit of the so-called security interests, we are no longer defending the charter.
We are dismantling it step by step, principle by principle, brick by brick.
Mr.
president, this raises a fundamental question what concretely must the member States do to stop this undisguised erosion, this gradual hollowing out of the UN charter by Russia and its proxies? We must finally address the elephant in the room Russia's blatant abuse of its veto power holding the Security Council hostage.
No one shall be allowed to misuse its privileged status as a licence to act with impunity.
It is an open secret that Russia has hijacked the status of a permanent member of the Security Council on highly questionable legal grounds.
Russia has demonstrated that it is unworthy of this responsibility.
It is time for the UN member states to finally show Russia a red card and deprive it from this unearned privilege.
We know it is not going to be an easy way, but it is inevitable.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Ukraine for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Sri Lanka.
Mr.
president, Sri Lanka appreciates the Chinese presidency for convening this important and timely debate on upholding the purposes and principles of the charter of the United Nations and strengthening the UN centred international system.
We also thank the Secretary-General for his briefing.
The world has changed in significant ways since delegates gathered in San Francisco in 1945.
Yet the charter of the United Nations remains an indispensable foundation for relations among nations.
For 80 years, the principles of the charter have provided the bedrock for international peace and security, sovereign equality, cooperation and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Much attention is rightly given to the consequences when charter principles are disregarded.
But let us also remember why this system matters in the first place, and what all of us gain when it works.
Respect for international law and the charter creates the stability and predictability upon which the international community depends.
It facilitates trade and economic development, supports cooperation among nations, strengthens the protection of human rights, and reduces the risk of conflict and misunderstanding.
This international order benefits all countries and helps create the conditions in which societies and individuals can grow, function and thrive.
Mr.
president, universal and consistent application of charter principles to all situations and all states equally is essential for the integrity of the international legal order.
The charter must guide our actions in all circumstances, including during periods of tension or uncertainty.
For developing countries, peace and stability remain essential for development, food security, trade and the well-being of our citizens.
When conflicts escalate and international law is disregarded or in breach, the consequences extend across the globe.
Countries geographically distant from cities.
Crises still face rising food and energy prices, disrupted trade and supply chains, economic uncertainty and setbacks to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Today's interconnected challenges remind us that peace security and development are deeply intertwined.
In a period of growing geopolitical division, recommitment to the charter and to multilateral cooperation is the key.
If all nations are to prosper alongside one another, this requires renewed commitment to dialogue, diplomacy and the central role of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security.
We do not need to reinvent what we already have.
We just need the political will to follow our collective principles.
As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, Sri Lanka reiterates its support for a more effective, representative and responsive United Nations that remains anchored in the charter and capable of addressing the challenges of our time.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Sri Lanka for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Senegal.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Senegal wishes to thank you for having organised this debate.
We are taking the floor today with three deep convictions.
The first conviction is that the the fact that the the international relations environment has been undermined.
Their geopolitical rivalries, interventions and proliferating crises and a manifest crisis of conflicts.
And this is a consequence of a of international peace and security, which is being undermined insofar as the system is unable to act to counter flagrant and egregious violations of United Nations principles.
The second conviction is that the in the entwined nature of of crises and the persistence of social economic inequality, impunity and indifference, political marginalization and institutional marginalization have been characterizing the international system.
The third conviction is that the world today, more than ever before, the world needs a United Nations that is credible and reformed, which embodies the very essence of multilateralism namely, a common heritage of humankind, the common destiny of humanity, and the shared destiny requires that these crises be met with an opportunity and opportunity to build a more inclusive, fairer, more effective and efficient and resolutely centered, UN centered system of international relations.
And on that basis, we wish to share the following as our contribution to the debate.
Our first point is as follows.
The credibility of the international system hinges on universal, coherent application of international law.
Rules that are only applicable to certain parties are liable to become tools.
Weapons.
Actually the norms and mechanisms already exist, and.
And there's a need.
The challenge is to meaningful incoherently implement them and to address the developing challenges in order to meet them.
Uh, any initiative to reform the United Nations needs to be based on the core principles of the United Nations.
There's no need to recall the fact that these principles, following a war that horrified humanity, these principles should serve as a moral beacon, a force for peace the guardian of international law, a catalyst for sustainable development and to benefit humanity.
This is why there is a need to rekindle the spirit of effectiveness, collaboration and solidarity for the United Nations to continue to embody hope in collective responsibility in light of major crises which will continue to shake humanity.
Third point in a more effective efficient international system also hinges on enhancement and modernization of the UN, and this includes reform of the Security Council, revitalization of the work of the General Assembly.
Fourth point reform of global political governance is something which is of paramount importance given the glaring present day gaps with various impacts felt throughout.
And turning to my last point, yesterday, we marked the day of Africa, and this was an opportunity to advocate for, uh for, uh, for the United Nations for regional organizations, specifically the African Union and the importance of their efforts.
History has taught us with the cost of millions of lives, the cost of disaster, and the importance of solidarity among nations in order to build a lasting bulwark against violence, against injustice, which which, uh, which counters forgetfulness, forgetfulness of the victims of violence, of the victims of disasters and pandemics.
There's a need to consider the vulnerability of humankind in the face of climate change as well.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of Senegal for the statement.
I now give the floor to Montenegro.
Mr.
president Montenegro aligns itself with the EU statement and would like to add a few remarks in its national capacity for Montenegro.
Upholding the purposes and the principles of the UN charter is not merely a diplomatic exercise.
It is the foundation of the rules based international order.
Its underlying tenets respect for territorial integrity, the sovereign equality of all member states, and the prohibition of the threat or use of force are being severely tested today.
We see this most acutely in Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, which needs to end with a just comprehensive and lasting peace in line with the charter and the international law.
The world is facing devastating conflicts, growing polarization serious human rights violations deep economic inequalities, and the corrosive rise of disinformation.
Climate change poses an existential threat, while the widening digital and technological gap further fuels divisions.
This is why, now, more than ever, we need to recommit ourselves to the founding principles of our organisation and its charter.
We must remember that shared values, dialogue and multilateral cooperation brought us together in the first place, despite its shortcomings.
The UN has been and still is indispensable to the world.
To uphold the charter, we must also strengthen the Uncentered international system.
Fragmented responses are inadequate for tackling the interconnected changes.
Crisis of our time.
Montenegro supports efforts to make the UN more agile, transparent and fit for the geopolitical realities of the 21st century.
This includes championing comprehensive reforms across all pillars, with the implementation of the pact for the future and the UN Aid Initiative.
Mr.
president, at a time of deepening divisions and growing mistrust among nations, consistent and universal application of the charter is essential.
The principles of the charter cannot be applied selectively.
Their credibility depends on equal respect for international law and peaceful settlement of disputes in all situations.
Preventive diplomacy, dialogue and mediation have to remain at the centre of our collective efforts to maintain international peace and security.
The Security Council must be paralysed as today it is unable to act as its primary guardian, considering reconsidering and redefining the use of veto is essential to restoring council's moral and political credibility.
Montenegro remains steadfast in its support for global peace and justice, where respect for the UN charter and the international law is upheld without exception.
I thank you.
And I thank Montenegro for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Angola Mr.
president, distinguished members of the Security Council Excellencies, I congratulate the People's Republic of China on its able leadership of the Security Council and for convening this important meeting.
This debate takes place at a pivotal moment in international relations.
Multilateralism is under growing pressure.
International law and humanitarian principles are increasingly being.
Challenges.
The authority of the Security Council and the credibility of the United Nations are being tested.
Mr.
president, allow me to make three brief points.
First, respect for UN charter and international law.
The UN charter remains the foundation of the international order and of the collective security system.
Its principles sovereign equality, territorial integrity and the peaceful settlement of disputes must be applied universally and without selectivity.
In fact, selective interpretation of international norms weakens trust among nations and undermines multilateral cooperation.
Angola reaffirms its opposition to unilateral coercive measures which are contrary to international law and the principles governing the peaceful relations among states In line with the positions of regional and continental organisations such as the Southern African Development Community, Sadc and the African Union.
Regarding Zimbabwe, as well as numerous General Assembly resolutions concerning Cuba.
We must prioritise multilateralism over unilateralism, dialogue over confrontation and collective responsibility over isolated actions.
Second, strengthening the UN centre international system, the United Nations must adequately equipped to respond to present and emerging challenges while remaining faithful to his founding mandate.
All disputes must be resolved through peaceful means in accordance with the charter.
No state should unlawfully interfere in international affairs of another sovereign nation.
At the same time, accountability mechanism must be strengthened to ensure that violations of international law do not go unpunished.
Third, reforming the Security Council comprehensive reform of the Security Council remains essential in order to achieve a more democratic and equitable global governance structure capable of responding more effectively to new and emerging peace and security challenges.
Such council's reform must address Africa's under-representation as a matter of historical justice and recognise it as a special case.
Based on 2005 resolution, a consensus and assertive declaration which called for two permanent seats and two additional non-permanent seats for Africa.
The council must also act with unity, credibility and shared responsibility.
The use of the veto should be guided by accountability and restraint, especially in situations involving grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Enhanced cooperation between permanent and elected members is also crucial to restoring confidence in the council's effectiveness.
Mr.
president, Africa's security landscape is becoming increasingly complex, driven by non-state armed groups, regional tensions and humanitarian crises.
Addressing these challenges requires national leadership, regional ownership and sustainable international support.
Angolan remains firmly committed to conflict prevention and the pursuit of peaceful solutions across the African continent.
In this regard, Angola will host an African Union Summit on Peace and Security from 1st to 2nd August 2026 under the initiative of His Excellency José Manuel Goncalves Lorenzo, president of the Republic, with the aim of promoting practical commitments towards peace, stability and sustainable development in Africa.
Finally, we reaffirm our conviction that the UN charter is not merely an historical document.
It is a shared pact for peaceful coexistence among nations, and it must continue to guide our collective action.
I thank you, Angela.
I thank Angola for the statement.
I now give the floor to Burkina Faso.
Mr.
president.
Mr.
president, ladies and gentlemen, members of the Security Council.
It is an honour and a great responsibility to take the fourth floor on behalf of the peoples of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger, uh, who have united in the Alliance of the States of the Sahel.
We applaud the Chinese presidency of the Security Council.
We applaud their initiative of having inscribed on the agenda of today's meeting a question which is deeply relevant, that of respect for the purposes and principles of the charter of the United Nations and upholding the international system centered on the United Nations.
Mr.
president, in 1945 the peoples of the world gambled on peace.
They entrusted the United Nations with a sacred mission to save them from the scourge of war.
80 years have elapsed.
Conflicts are proliferating, they are intensifying, and civilian populations are paying the highest price.
The bitter reality is that our shared organisation is far from having fulfilled the founding promise.
And yet the founding principles of the charter remain deeply relevant.
Article two thereof represents the bedrock of the sovereign equality of all states, of the peaceful resolution of disputes and the prohibition on the use of force threat of force.
And yet it is not the charter that has failed What has failed is a political will of certain parties to comply therewith.
The facts are before us and they are devastating.
The sovereign equality of states is merely are merely empty words for the benefit of those who are most powerful.
Brute force has now once again become the norm.
The charter of the United Nations is becoming in is being manipulated.
The charter is brandished when it is seen to be.
When it appears to be useful to certain parties and disregarded when it gets in the way.
The provisions thereof related to human rights, basic freedoms and developments are subject to selective application based on whether a concerned state enters or does not enter into the strategic calculations being made by the Great Powers.
The promise of peace, development and respect for human rights are enshrined in the charter and they are betrayed.
Promise betrayed by the inaction.
Uh, in the face of the action of certain parties and illegal interventionism against others, betrayed by the ideals of fraternity amongst sovereign nations who are called upon together to build a world of shared progress.
How can we not denounce in this chamber the cynicism of those who brandish the charter as they seek to legitimize illegal actions, while at the same time running roughshod over it when their interests so demand in the Sahel, we were the direct victims of this overt support for terrorist groups, hidden financing for spoilers, plundering of natural resources propaganda campaigns orchestrated to discredit sovereign states who dared to say no.
The Alliance of the States of the Sahel denounces and condemns in the strongest terms this action, this action, which is redolent of acknowledged neocolonialism, which flies in the face of all of the provisions of the charter.
In the face of these actions which undermine the very foundation of the United Nations, in which compromise irrevocably international peace and security, now is not the time for statements of principle.
Now is the time for action.
There is a need to end colonialist.
Indecent, colonialist moves through profound reform of the Security Council, as well as through actions to ensure compliance with the charter of the United Nations.
In this context of abandonment and international hypocrisy, the peoples of the Sahel have chosen to rise up.
We have rejected resignation at Under the leadership of Their Excellencies, Captain Ibrahim Tahir, president general of the Army.
Goita, president of the Transition of Mali, and General Abu Rahaman Tijani, president of the Republic of Niger.
Under these great men's leadership, our populations have exercised their most fundamental sovereign right that of ourselves, determining our future in the spirit of dignity and responsibility.
Heads of state of the Alliance have established their actions by pooling efforts in order to provide for the safety and security of the peoples of the Sahel, while at the same time creating conditions for sustainable development to be attained in our states.
The Alliance of the States of the Sahel also demands that the United Nations live.
At the same time, we call for meaningful multilateralism anchored in the United Nations system and rooted in strict compliance with the charter multilateralism that places humanity above geopolitical interests, which works for peace, security and justice for all peoples.
Barring none.
Multilateralism, which resolutely promotes dialogue which prohibits the use of force in which categorically condemns terrorism, as well as all of those who finance, or what terrorism, provide terrorists with weapons or provide support for propaganda in the Sahel and elsewhere.
This multilateralism requires bold reform.
There's a need to restore the authority of the General Assembly.
The General Assembly, which is both the most representative And most democratic body of our organization.
There's a need to provide the General Assembly with the means to to surmount the deadlocks that have been engendered by the politicized nature of the Security Council.
The UN aid initiative marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and provides a historic opportunity to reshape our organization on fair, more inclusive foundations, which genuinely help to benefit all peoples of the world.
The Alliance of States of the Sahel is and will remain engaged in building a just and equitable multilateral system.
We are standing upright.
We are sovereign, we are determined, and we extend our hand to all of those who embrace with us the ideal of a world where sovereignty and dignity of each state, regardless of its size, are respected without any conditions.
Thank you.
I thank Burkina Faso for the statement, and I'll give the floor to the representative of Burundi.
Merci, monsieur.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Mr.
president, I wish to take this opportunity, first and foremost, to thank the presidency of the Security Council for having organized this open debate, this debate on enhancement of international cooperation in the face of growing challenges threatening international peace and security.
As our world is faced with growing concerns more than ever before, it is necessary now to reaffirm our commitment to the purposes and the principles which are enshrined in the charter of the United Nations.
The charter is not merely a historical document, it remains the historical and moral bedrock of our international order.
Today, we are bearing witness to the proliferation of armed crises or worsening political divides, rising tensions which undermine trust amongst nations in a number of regions in the world.
Civilian populations continue to pay the highest price for conflict, instability and international conflict.
In light of these alarming challenges, there is a need for us to avoid any temptations towards selectivity in the application of international law.
The principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference and peaceful dispute resolution must be respected in a universal and coherent manner.
No country must be above the rules that we together established.
Burundi firmly believes that dialogue and preventive diplomacy are the most effective means for conflict prevention.
The best way to facilitate lasting solutions, military responses, or force based approaches will not generate lasting peace.
Mr.
president, the multilateral system is undergoing a crisis of trust right now.
And yet these imperfections notwithstanding, the United Nations organization remains the most inclusive and legitimate body that the international community has when it comes to tackling global challenges, we call for a renewed commitment to meaningful multilateralism based on solidarity, mutual respect, and collective responsibility.
The Security Council must be in a position to operate with greater unity, credibility and impartiality in order to effectively tackle contemporary crises.
In that vein, discussions about Security Council reform remain vital, balanced and inclusive reform will contribute to greater representativity and the legitimacy of this body within an international context that has been profoundly changed needs to be upheld.
We wish to reaffirm our shared African position, as set out in the Eswatini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, which call for a just and equitable representation of Africa within the Security Council, including through the attribution of permanent seats to Africa with all of the relevant prerogatives and privileges, as well as two additional non-permanent seats.
Mr.
president, beyond armed conflict, the international community is also facing transnational major challenges.
The consequences of climate change, pandemics, food insecurity, forced displacements of peoples, as well as risks linked to new technologies.
None of these challenges can be resolved in an isolated way with silos.
We need to pull our efforts together.
There needs to be solidarity, not division, mutual trust and not a realistic approaches.
To conclude, we wish to reaffirm our unstinting commitment to the charter and the international order rooted in law, justice and the sovereign equality of states.
Burundi stands ready to work with all member states in order to promote more robust, more equitable, more effective multilateralism for the benefit and advancement of peace, security and sustainable development for present and succeeding generations.
Thank you.
I thank Burundi for the statement, and I'll give the floor to His Excellency, Mr.
Mohamed Ahmed Idriss, permanent observer of the AU to the UN.
Thank you very much, Mr.
President.
Mr.
president, excellencies, distinguished delegates, allow me to congratulate the People's Republic of China for its able leadership of the Security Council.
During the month of May 2026.
The African continent continues to bear the brunt of complex security crises, from devastating conflicts and the world's largest humanitarian challenges to the persistent threats of terrorism, foreign interference and external destabilization across the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.
At a time of geopolitical contestations, today's debate on the maintenance of international peace and security must recognise that the international system, as currently structured, is not only under a strain, it is facing a crisis of legitimacy that threatens the very foundations of the UN charter for Africa.
The core principles and the purposes of the United Nations, such as sovereign equality, prohibition of force and the peaceful settlement of disputes, are not abstract legal concepts.
They are the shields that protect the weak from the whims of the strong.
Yet as we look at the global landscape in 2026, we see a world where these principles are applied selectively and where the rule of law is often replaced by the rule of power.
To strengthen the Uncentered system, we must move away from the double standards that have eroded global trust.
The violation of international law must be met with the same vigour and the same commitment to justice.
Mr.
president, the African Union remains steadfast in its commitment to the UN charter, to international law and to the multilateral system.
This commitment is not contingent on convenience, but it is enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the African Union itself, which reaffirms adherence to the principles of the UN charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Africa seeks to contribute to its enhancement towards UN that is more democratic, more inclusive and more effective.
A Security Council without permanent African representation lacks the moral and political authority to address the challenges of our time.
If we are to uphold the charter, we must first ensure that we, the peoples.
In its preamble, truly includes the voices of all of us.
We call as well for an accelerated reform of the international financial architecture to reflect the realities and address the challenges of a fragile peace and security pillar, coupled with a lagging developmental pillar.
Mr.
president, noting that African Union theme of the year 2026 is assuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems, we must recognise that the maintenance of peace and now includes environmental survival Upholding the UN charter in the 21st century means protecting the right of every human being to a livable planet.
Mr.
president, to conclude, Africa remains a committed partner of the United Nations.
We defend the multilateral system and seek to strengthen it.
Let this be the starting point for a renewed contract among nations, one in which the UN charter serves not only as a tool of geopolitical.
And one which the United Nations Charter serves not as a tool of geopolitical leverage, but as a shared blueprint for a dignified future for all.
I thank you very much.
I thank Mr.
Idris for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Croatia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We also thank you for convening this timely debate.
And we align.
Croatia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union.
I would like to add some remarks in my national capacity.
The United Nations Charter is facing one of its most serious tests since 1945.
Respect for its principles has eroded over many years, and the Russian Federation's full scale invasion of Ukraine marked a sharp escalation, directly violating the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the prohibition of the use of force.
This trend affects far more than one conflict.
The credibility of the charter and the authority of this organisation are increasingly questioned when violations go unanswered, confidence in international law weakens and the international community's ability to preserve peace diminishes.
Smaller states feel this most acutely, as the charter remains their essential guarantee of sovereign equality and legal protection.
The impact is visible across the broader UN agenda, as the sustainable development cannot advance amid instability and coercion, human rights protections weaken when fundamental norms are selectively applied or openly ignored.
Peace development and human rights were designed as a mutually reinforcing pillars.
Weakening one undermines the other's.
Yet the charter is more than a legal document.
It is a strategic vision for international relations based on rules, cooperation, and collective responsibility.
It reflects a multi-generational effort to build a safer and more predictable world, not only for those who drafted it, but for those who will inherit it.
Reaffirming support for the charter is therefore not enough We need more operational and measurable approaches that strengthen compliance.
This includes better implementation of internal legal obligations, international legal obligations greater transparency around actions affecting charter principles, and more consistent standards in areas such as human rights reporting, humanitarian access and civilian protection.
The UN aid reform is central to adopting UN institutions, especially the Security Council, to preserve its legitimacy, relevance and effectiveness.
At the same time the United Nations must be equipped to address emerging challenges including cyber threats, disinformation, AI enabled risks and the growing link between climate and security.
Our reputation takes decades to build and moments to lose.
The same is true for the authority of the charter and the credibility of the United Nations.
Preserving both requires determination, consistency, and the political will to defend the principles on which this organisation was founded.
It also depends on our collective ability to adapt its institutions to today's realities.
Croatia remains committed to constructive engagement in this effort.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Croatia for the statement, and I will give the floor to the representative of Uzbekistan.
Distinguished President of Security Council.
Dear colleagues, at the outset, I would like to thank the Presidency of China for convening this important meeting dedicated to upholding the purposes and principles of charter of the United Nations.
We also express our appreciation to the Security General for his continued efforts to strengthen multilateralism and promote dialogue and cooperation among member states.
Today, the international community is facing a rapidly changing and increasingly complex global environment.
We are witnessing growing geopolitical tensions, escalating conflicts, crisis of trust and the weakening of international institutions.
Under these circumstances, preserving the purposes and principles of charter of the United Nations as universal foundation of the modern international order is a particular of importance.
We are convinced that any attempts to replace international law with the logic of force, bloc confrontation, and unilateral approaches undermines the foundations of global stability It is essential to consistently strengthen the culture of dialogue, mutual respect, and the search for compromise solutions.
In this regard, preventive diplomacy acquires special significance as a key instrument for preventing conflicts and crises.
We consider it fundamentally important to ensure the consistent and universal application of international law, without double standards or selective approaches.
Trust in the international system is only possible through equal treatment of all states.
Strict adherence to the UN charter and rejection of the politicisation of international legal mechanisms.
In this context, particular concern is caused by the ongoing conflicts and crisis in various regions of the world.
We emphasise the old dispute and disagreement should be resolved exclusively through political and diplomatic means, in accordance with the purposes and principles of charter of the United Nations.
President of Uzbekistan, His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev, consistently advocates strengthening the central coordinating role of the United Nations in international affairs.
Today, the organisation has no alternative as a universal platform for collectively addressing issues of peace, security, human rights and sustainable development.
We support the efforts of the Secretary-General within the framework of the UN initiative and the implementation of the pact of the future, aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and authority of the organisation.
Uzbekistan reaffirms its commitment to strengthening multilateralism international law as a central role of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Uzbekistan for the statement.
I now give the floor to the to the representative of Tajikistan.
Mr.
President.
At the outset, I wish to thank the People's Republic of China for convening this timely and important high level open debate.
And to commend you, Mr.
President, for your leadership in steering the Council's work during the month of May.
We also thank the Secretary-General for his valuable briefing.
Mr.
president, the theme of today's debate goes to the heart of the multilateral system.
At a time when the international community faces profound turbulence and uncertainty.
The purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter remain our collective anchor.
They embody the universal aspiration for peace, justice and cooperation that guided the founders of this organisation eight decades ago.
Today, however, these principles are increasingly challenged ongoing conflicts, widening geopolitical divides and the erosion of trust among nations threaten the very foundations of the multilateral system.
For Tajikistan, a small, mountainous and landlocked developing country, the charter's guarantees sovereign equality, territorial integrity non-interference and the peaceful settlement of disputes are indispensable.
We therefore attach the highest importance to strengthening the Uncentered international system and ensuring that the charter is upheld consistently, impartially and without double standards.
In this context, the further strengthening of equitable cooperation between small and large states is regarded as an important and timely step.
Mr.
president, we agree that Security Council must remain united and effective in fulfilling its primary responsibility.
Strengthening its authority requires genuine dialogue, mutual respect, and a steadfast commitment to a collective action.
The council's ability to respond to global threats depends fundamentally on its unity, and on its consistent adherence to the principles that underpin the United Nations centered international system.
At the same time, peace and security cannot be sustained without addressing the structural drivers of instability.
In this regard, allow me to note that as we meet today, Tajikistan is hosting the fourth Dushanbe Conference on the International Decade for Action Water for Sustainable Development.
The convening of this global gathering at this very moment underscores the growing recognition that water scarcity climate impacts, and environmental degradation are increasingly linked to peace, security and development.
Mr.
president, in the spirit of strengthening the foundations of peace, Tajikistan, together with Bahrain and Singapore, is currently advancing in the General Assembly.
A draft resolution on the International Decade of Strengthening of Peace for future generations.
This initiative reflects our conviction that peace must be cultivated proactively through prevention, education, dialogue and sustained international cooperation.
We believe this initiative complements the objectives of today's debate and contributes to a more resilient and cooperative international environment.
In this period, we kindly invite all Member States to support and co-sponsor this resolution.
Mr.
president, the challenges before us are significant, but they are not insurmountable.
Upholding the UN charter, strengthening multilateralism, and reinforcing the Uncentered international system are essential to ensuring that future generations inherit a world defined by peace, stability and shared prosperity Tajikistan reaffirms its commitment to working constructively with all member states to advance these goals.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Tajikistan for the statement, and I'll give the floor to the representative of the Dominican Republic.
Mr.
president, the Dominican Republic would like to thank China for convening this open debate on a matter that is of particular importance for the international community.
We also recognise the opportunity that this exchange provides for us to reaffirm our collective commitment to the principles that led to the establishment of the United Nations, and that remain essential to uphold international peace and security.
As a founding member of the UN, the Dominican Republic has consistently been in favor of a strong political commitment to multilateralism, to upholding international law, and to strengthening the rules based international order.
This reflects our commitment to the principles enshrined in the UN charter, and it also reflects an opportunity that we have to voice our support for these principles.
80 years, years since the adoption of the charter.
We should recognise that this document was born from or from the generation that had experienced the horrors of the Second World War It was a shared vision based on respect for state sovereignty, for the peaceful settlement of disputes and cooperation between nations for the Dominican Republic.
These principles remain fully valid, and they remain critical to ensure a fairer, more stable and more predictable international relations, particularly for smaller member states whose security and development depend on full respect for international law and multilateralism.
President, the current international context presents significant challenges for the multilateral system.
We are concerned to see the persistence of armed conflicts, the increase in geopolitical tensions, international polarisation and the increasing mistrust between states, as we're also seeing complex global threats, including food insecurity, climate change, the humanitarian crises and the economic impact as a result of conflicts that require collective, coordinated responses.
We therefore believe it is critical to preserve and strengthen the international system based on the United Nations at its heart.
Defending the UN charter is not just a legal or political responsibility.
It is also a moral commitment to current and future generations.
We must preserve the achievements since the Second World War, and we must continue to work together to avoid any kind of regression that would threaten international peace and security.
We also call on all member states to renew their commitments to multilateralism, to international cooperation and mutual respect.
The current challenges cannot be addressed from isolation or confrontation Only by working together and showing solidarity and opting for dialogue can we make headway and build sustainable solutions and ensure that we have a more peaceful, fairer international order? President, my delegation reiterates its firm support for the United Nations and the central role of the UN in global governance.
We also reiterate our availability to continue contributing actively to international efforts geared towards upholding peace, sustainable development, respect for international law and cooperation between nations.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of the Dominican Republic for the statement, and I'll give the floor to the representative of Fiji.
Mr.
president, Fiji congratulates the People's Republic of China on its presidency of the Security Council and thank the Secretary General and all briefers for their important contributions.
Mr.
president, the United Nations was born from the ruins of a catastrophic war and the solemn resolve of nations, large and small, never to repeat the devastation for small island states like Fiji.
The charter is not merely aspirational, it is our shared.
It is the guarantee that our voice carries weight in international affairs, not because of the size of our economy or the reach of our military, but because we are equal members of the institution under the rule of law.
We are gathered at a moment of profound stress upon that system.
Fiji's position is principled and consistent.
The UN charter applies universally and without exception.
Article two four is not a variable standard.
Unilateral actions that contravene the charter wherever they occur, weaken the system that protects us all, and most acutely, those with the least power to defend themselves.
Mr.
president, it is against this global backdrop that the Pacific regions contribution to the Charter's purposes and the principles deserve to be heard in this chamber.
The Pacific leaders have unanimously adopted the Ocean of Peace declaration championed by Prime Minister of Fiji.
This is a solemn affirmation that the Pacific Ocean, the largest on earth covering one third of the planet's surface, shall be a space of peace, cooperation, environmental stewardship and the rule of law.
This declaration rests on principles that mirror the very foundations of the charter, the peaceful resolution of disputes respect for sovereignty, and the sovereign rights under UN clause.
The rejection of militarisation and coercive conduct in shared maritime spaces, and the centrality of multilateral cooperation.
It is precisely the kind of regional arrangement envisioned under chapter eight of the charter.
Nations with shared geography and shared stakes in stability, building peace from the ground up.
We call upon the Security Council to formally recognise and support this initiative.
A peaceful Pacific Ocean is not a parochial interest.
It is a global strategic asset.
When Pacific leaders declare it an ocean of peace, they are performing an act of genuine multilateral service, offering a framework for the peaceful management of what could otherwise become a theatre of dangerous strategic competition Mr.
president, as we mark the United Nations 80th anniversary the UN 80 reform process offers a genuine opportunity to better honour the charter's promise.
Fiji supports reforms that make this council more representative, transparent and accountable that strengthen the General Assembly's role and that ensure that voices of the world's most vulnerable are heard in the decisions that determine their futures.
Fiji reaffirms its unconditional commitment to this institution and to the charter upon which it is founded.
The strength of the United Nations lies not in the size of its member States, but in the sincerity of their commitment to its principles.
Fiji brings that sincerity forged through decades of peacekeeping service, and asks in return only that the system we serve continue to stand for something worth serving.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of Fiji for the statement.
There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.
The meeting is adjourned.