UNSC meeting: Multilateral cooperation for peace and security

The United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Effective Multilateralism

The United Nations Security Council convened an open debate on effective multilateralism, addressing the challenges and opportunities in building a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order. The session brought together representatives from numerous member states, who discussed a wide range of topics related to global governance, international cooperation, and the role of the United Nations in the 21st century.

The State of Multilateralism and Global Challenges

Speakers widely acknowledged that the current international system faces significant challenges. Many, including representatives from Venezuela, India, and Saudi Arabia, argued that the post-Cold War unipolar world order is giving way to a multipolar reality. This shift has been accompanied by increased geopolitical tensions, erosion of trust between nations, and a weakening of established international norms and institutions.

The Russian Federation criticized what it termed as US hegemony and NATO expansion, while Western nations, including the United States and France, accused Russia of undermining the international order through its actions in Ukraine. This discord highlighted the deep divisions within the international community and the challenges facing multilateral cooperation.

Several countries, including Bolivia and Ethiopia, emphasized that current global challenges, such as climate change, pandemics, and economic instability, require collective solutions that no single nation can address alone. The interconnectedness of peace, security, sustainable development, and human rights was a recurring theme, with Nepal and others stressing the need for a holistic approach to global issues.

Reform of the United Nations and Global Governance Structures

A significant portion of the debate focused on the need for comprehensive reform of global governance structures, particularly the United Nations Security Council. Countries from various regions, including India, Brazil, and South Africa, called for changes to make the Council more representative, transparent, and effective.

African nations, represented by speakers such as Ghana and Ethiopia, emphasized the need for permanent African representation on the Security Council, citing the continent’s significant presence on the Council’s agenda. Similarly, Latin American countries advocated for increased representation from their region.

Several speakers, including those from France and Japan, supported expanding both permanent and non-permanent categories of Council membership. However, there were divergent views on the use of veto power, with some calling for its limitation or abolition, while others defended its role in the Council’s functioning.

Beyond the Security Council, many countries called for broader UN system reforms. The Philippines and others advocated for strengthening the role of the General Assembly and enhancing the effectiveness of other UN bodies. There were also calls to reform international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank to better address the needs of developing countries.

Upholding International Law and the UN Charter

Numerous speakers, including those from Turkey, Switzerland, and Guyana, emphasized the critical importance of adhering to international law and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. They argued that these foundations are essential for maintaining global peace and security, and for fostering trust among nations.

However, several countries, including Cuba and Iran, criticized what they perceived as selective application of international law by powerful nations. They called for a more consistent and equitable approach to implementing UN resolutions and international agreements.

The debate also touched on the concept of sovereignty and non-intervention, with many speakers stressing the importance of respecting these principles. At the same time, there was recognition of the need to balance sovereignty with global responsibilities, particularly in addressing transnational challenges.

Inclusive and Equitable Multilateralism

A recurring theme throughout the debate was the need for more inclusive and equitable multilateralism. Developing countries, particularly those from the Global South, called for greater representation and voice in international decision-making processes.

The Non-Aligned Movement, represented by Uganda, advocated for strengthening multilateral decision-making processes and opposed unilateral coercive measures. Many speakers emphasized the importance of South-South cooperation and regional partnerships in addressing global challenges.

Several countries, including Malta and Thailand, highlighted the need for increased participation of women, youth, and civil society in multilateral processes. They argued that such inclusion is essential for creating more effective and representative global governance structures.

Addressing Emerging Global Threats

The debate also focused on new and emerging threats to international peace and security. Countries like Guyana and Slovenia emphasized the need to adapt multilateral approaches to address challenges such as climate change, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and global health crises.

Many speakers stressed the importance of preventive diplomacy and peaceful conflict resolution. There were calls for increased investment in conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding efforts, with several countries emphasizing the role of regional organizations in these areas.

The link between sustainable development and global security was frequently highlighted, with many speakers, including those from Bangladesh and Mozambique, emphasizing the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a means of addressing root causes of conflict and instability.

Conclusion: The Future of Multilateralism

The open debate revealed a broad consensus on the importance of multilateralism in addressing global challenges, despite disagreements on specific issues and approaches. Many speakers, including those from China and Indonesia, emphasized that there is no alternative to multilateral cooperation in today’s interconnected world.

However, the session also highlighted the significant obstacles facing effective multilateralism, including geopolitical tensions, unilateral actions by powerful states, and the need for comprehensive reforms of global governance structures.

As the international community looks toward the future, including the upcoming Summit of the Future mentioned by several speakers, there is a clear recognition of the need to reinvigorate and adapt multilateral institutions to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The debate underscored the ongoing commitment of many nations to work towards a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order, even as they grapple with the complexities of an evolving global landscape.

President – Russian Federation:
The 9,686th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is maintenance of international peace and security, multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order. I see no objection. The agenda is adopted. I would like to warmly welcome the distinguished high-level representatives present in the Security Council chamber. Your presence today underscores the importance of the subject matter under discussion. In accordance with Rule 37 of the Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the representatives of Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, the plurinational state of Bolivia, Mexico, Hungary, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Vietnam, Ghana, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Kuwait, Cuba, the Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, the United Emirates, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Uganda, Philippines, Chile, Ethiopia, and South Africa to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the invite the head of the delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of Item 2 of the agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to Document S-2024-537, a letter dated July 9, 2024, from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, addressed to the Secretary General, transmitting a concept paper on the item under consideration. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Ladies and gentlemen, Your Excellencies, today the very foundations of the international legal order, strategic stability, and the UN-centric system of global politics are being put to the test. It will be impossible to resolve the conflicts that are multiplying without getting to their root causes and restoring faith in our ability to join forces for the common good and justice for all. Let us be frank. Not all states represented in this room recognize the key principle of the UN Charter, the sovereign equality of all states. The United States has long, through the words of its presidents, declared its own exceptionalism. This also applies to Washington’s attitude towards its allies, from whom it demands unquestioning obedience even to the detriment of their national interests. Rule America – that is the essence of the notorious rule-based order, which is a direct threat to multilateralism in international law. The most important components of international law, the UN Charter, and the decisions of our Council are interpreted by the collective West in a perverse and selective manner, depending on what instructions are handed down. handed down from the White House. And many Security Council resolutions are outright ignored. These include Resolution 2202, which endorsed the Minsk agreements on Ukraine, and Resolution 1031, which endorsed the Dayton agreement on peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the basis of the principle of equal rights for the three constituent peoples and two entities. The sabotage of resolutions on the Middle East can be discussed endlessly. It suffices to mention Anthony Blinken’s statement in an interview with CNN in February 2021 in response to a question about what he thinks about the decision of the previous U.S. administration to recognize the Syrian Golan Heights as belonging to Israel. And I will refresh your memory for those of you who may have forgotten. In response to that question, the Secretary of State said, leaving aside the question of legality, from a practical standpoint, the Golan Heights are very important to Israel’s security, end of quote. And this, in spite of the fact that UN Security Council Resolution 497, which remains in force and which we are all very familiar with, qualifies Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights as illegal. However, according to those very rules, we should, to quote Anthony Blinken, leave aside the question of legality. And of course, everyone remembers the statement of U.S. Permanent Representative regarding the fact that Resolution 2728 of March 25th demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is not legally binding. In other words, these American rules are more important than Article 25 of the UN Charter. In the last century, George Orwell and his story Animal Farm already presaged the essence of this rule-based order. I quote, all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others, end of quote. If you fulfill and obey the will of the hegemon, you’re permitted to to do anything you wish, but if you dare defend your national interests, you will be declared a pariah and sanctioned. Washington’s hegemonic policy has not changed for decades. Every Euro-Atlantic security arrangement, without exception, has been based on ensuring U.S. dominance. This has included the subjugation of Europe and the containment of Russia. The main role in this was assigned to NATO, which eventually subjugated the European Union, which was presumably created for Europeans, and shamelessly privatized OECD institutions in flagrant violation of the Helsinki Final Act. The reckless expansion of NATO, despite repeated warnings from Moscow over many years, also provoked the Ukrainian crisis, starting with the coup d’etat organized by Washington in February 2014 in order to establish full control over Ukraine, with a view to preparing an offensive against Russia with the help of the neo-Nazi regime brought to power. When Poroshenko and then Zelensky were waging war against their own citizens in the Donbas and were destroying Russian education, Russian culture, Russian media, and the Russian language in general through their legislation and were banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, no one in the West batted an eye, nor did they demand that their wards in Kiev observe decency and refrain from violating international conventions on the right of national minorities or the very constitution of Ukraine itself, which also contains these demands. It was precisely to eliminate threats to Russia’s security and to protect those people who considered themselves part of Russian culture and who live on lands that had been settled by their ancestors for centuries in order to save them from legislative and even physical extermination that the special military operation was launched. It is telling that even now, when multiple initiatives on a Ukrainian settlement are being put forward. Few people remember Kiev’s violation of human rights and the rights of national minorities. None of these initiatives include these aspects. Only recently did EU documents on the beginning of negotiations regarding Ukraine’s accession formulate a demand to this end, mainly due to Hungary’s principled position. However, Brussels’ actual capacity and desire to influence the Kiev regime is questionable. We call on all those who are genuinely interested in overcoming the crisis in Ukraine to ensure that their proposals take into account the key issue of the right of national minorities, all minorities without exception. Silence on this issue devalues peace initiatives and the racist policy of Mr. Zelenskyy receives de facto approval. It is typical that 10 years ago in 2014, Zelenskyy said, if the people in the east of Ukraine and Crimea want to speak Russian, let them be, leave them alone, let them speak Russian legally. Language will never divide our homelands, end of quote. Since then, the US has successfully reeducated him and as early as 2021, Zelensky in one of his interviews demanded that those who feel a sense of affinity with Russian culture get out and go to Russia for the future of their own children and grandchildren. I appeal to the masters of the Ukrainian regime, make sure that it complies with Article 1.3 of the UN Charter, which guarantees the fundamental rights and freedoms of all people without distinction of race, sex, language, or religion. Dear colleagues, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is not content with the war that it has unleashed against Russia through the hands of the unlawful authorities in Kiev, nor is it content with the entire OSCE. space. Having dismantled the fundamental agreements in the area of arms control, the U.S. continues to ramp up confrontation. Recently, at the summit in Washington, the leaders of NATO countries reiterated their claim to a leading role not only in the Euro-Atlantic region but in the Asia-Pacific region as well. The proclaimed intention is that NATO is continuing to be guided by the goal of protecting the territory of its member states, but in order to do this, they allegedly need to spread the alliance’s dominance on the entire Eurasian continent and adjacent water. The military infrastructure of NATO is advancing into the Pacific region with the obvious goal of undermining the ASEAN-centric architecture, which for many decades was built on the basis of the principles of equality, recognition of mutual interests, and consensus. To replace the inclusive mechanisms around ASEAN, the U.S. and its allies are building closed confrontational blocs such as AUKUS and other quartets and trios. Recently, the deputy head of Pentagon, Mr. Hicks, stated that the U.S. and their allies must prepare for protracted wars, and not only in Europe. That is the end of the quote. In order to contain Russia, China, and other countries whose independent policies are seen as a challenge to its hegemony, the West is aggressively dismantling the global system that was originally built based on its models. Washington has done everything to blow up, including literally by organizing terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines, the foundations of mutually beneficial energy cooperation between Russia, Germany, and Europe as a whole. At the time, Berlin remained silent, but today we see another embarrassing period for Germany whose leadership has unquestioningly complied with the U.S. in order to place U.S. medium-range missiles on its territory. Olaf Schwarz said very ingeniously that the U.S. has decided to place high-precision offensive weapons systems in Germany, and this is a good decision. And amidst all this, Mr. Kirby spoke – the expert on media spoke on behalf of the U.S. to say, we’re not seeking to unleash a third world war. This would have horrific consequences for the European consequence – continent. A Freudian slip, as they say. Washington is convinced that if a new global war were to take place, it would be their European allies and not the U.S. who would suffer. If that’s the analysis on which Biden’s administration’s strategy is based, this is a very dangerous illusion. And Europeans must become aware of the suicidal role that has been assigned to us. Americans are holding the entire West at gunpoint and expanding their trade and economic war with those they see as undesirable, having unleashed an unprecedented campaign of unilateral course of measures that are hitting Europe first and are leading to a fragmentation of the world economy. The countries of the global South Asia, Africa, and Latin America are suffering from the neocolonial practices of the West. Illegal sanctions, multiple protection measures, restrictions on access to leading technologies are counter to true multilateralism and create serious obstacles to achieving the 2030 agenda. Where are all those attributes of the free market, where the United States and its allies taught – that they taught everyone to follow? Market economy, fair competition, viability of private property, presumption of innocence, free movement of people, goods, and capital – all that has been jettisoned. Geopolitics has buried the once-sacred laws of the market for the West. Recently, we heard public demands from the officials of the United States, the European Union aimed at China to reduce excess production in high-tech sectors because the West has started losing its long advantages in that area. Today instead of market principles, we have the same rules. Colleagues, the actions of the United States and their allies are impeding international cooperation and the building of a more just world. They’re taking entire countries and regions as hostages, are not allowing peoples to fulfill their sovereign rights enshrined in the UN Charter, distracting from the necessary joint efforts to regulate conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, and other regions, and reducing global inequality, eliminating terrorism, drug trafficking, and famine, and other problems. Of course, I believe that with good faith it’s possible to resolve these matters. In order to stop development following a negative scenario, we want to discuss steps in order to restore trust and stabilize the international situation. First of all, we need to deal with the root causes of the crisis that have unfolded in Europe. Conditions for establishing a stable peace in Ukraine have been set out by President Putin. I won’t repeat them. A political diplomatic solution must be accompanied by concrete steps to eliminate threats to the Russian Federation coming from the Western Euro-Atlantic direction. By agreeing to mutual guarantees and agreements, it will be necessary to take into account new geostrategic realities on the Eurasian continent, where continental architecture is being formed that is truly equal and indivisible. With risks falling behind from this objective historical process, we are ready to seek a balance of interest. Secondly, restoring regional and global balance of forces. must be accompanied by active efforts to eliminate injustice in the global economy. In a multi-polar world, there should not be any monopolies in monetary regulation, trade or technology. The overwhelming majority of members of the international community share this view. It’s very important to reform as soon as possible the Bretton Woods institutions and the WTO. Their activities should reflect the true weight of non-Western centers of development and growth. Thirdly, significant and qualitative changes must take place in other institutions of global governance if we want them to work for the benefit of all. First of all, this applies to our organization, which up to now, in spite of everything, continues to be the embodiment of multilateralism and has a unique universal legitimacy and recognized broad range of authority. An important step to restoring the effectiveness of the UN would be a confirmation by all its members of their commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, not selectively but in their fullness and interdependence, about which form this kind of re-confirmation could take place. We could think together. An important work is being done by the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter, established at the initiative of Venezuela. We invite all countries that still believe in the rule of international law to join this work. A key aspect of reforms of the UN must be changing the makeup of the Security Council, although this by itself will not lead to productive work unless there is a basic agreement on the methods of work among its permanent members. This thought, nevertheless, does not invalidate the need to eliminate geographic and geopolitical imbalances in the Security Council, where there is clear over-representation of the countries of the collective West today. What’s been needed for a long time is to achieve a broad agreement on concrete parameters of reform, which will strengthen representation of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It’s also important to implement changes in the staffing policy of the Secretariat to eliminate the over-representation of nationals of the West and their subservient nations in the administrative structures of the organization. And the Secretary General and his staff, of course, must adhere strictly to the principles of impartiality and neutrality, as demanded by Article 100 of the Charter, which we are constantly reminding of. To strengthen the multilateralism in international relations must be done through other multilateral organizations, including the G20, in which is represented most of the global majority and Western states. The mandate of the G20 is strictly limited to economics and development, so it’s very important that a substantive dialogue on this platform does not include short-sighted attempts to introduce geopolitical topics. An increasingly important role, based on the principles of the UN Charter, is played by BRICS and the Shanghai Organization for Cooperation. It includes countries that represent various regions and civilizations that are cooperating on the basis of equality, mutual respect, consensus, and mutual compromise. This is the global standard of multilateral cooperation with the participation of major powers. Of practical importance for multilateralism are such regional entities as the CIS, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Euro-Asian Economic Community, ACN, the League of Arab States, African Union, and CELAC. We see as an important task to develop multiple and diverse contacts between them, including with the support of the UN. The Russian Presidency, the Council, will devote a topic on its agenda to the Eurasian regional organizations. Colleagues, speaking at the Parliamentary Forum of the BRICS on the 9th of July in St. Petersburg, Vladimir Putin said that the formation of a world order that reflects a real balance of forces is a complex and, in many ways, a painful process, end of quote. on this topic, we believe, must be developed without devolving into pointless polemics. They should be based on… on a sound analysis of all the range of factors. First and foremost, it’s important to restore professional diplomacy, culture of dialogue, the ability to hear and to listen, maintain channels of crisis communication. Depending on whether politicians and diplomats can formulate something like a vision of the future, millions of lives will depend on them, whether our world will be multilateral and just depends on member states. The foundation is the Charter of the United Nations. If everyone follows its letter and spirit, then the United Nations is capable of overcoming current divergences and to reach a common denominator on most issues. The end of history did not take place. Let’s work together in the interest of the beginning of history of true multilateralism that reflects all the richness of the cultural and civilizational diversity of the peoples of the world. I invite everyone to a frank discussion. Of course, it has to be an honest one. Thank you very much. I resume my function as the President of the Council, and I now give the floor to Federal Counselor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, His Excellency Mr. Ignazio Cassis.

Switzerland:
Mr. President, Excellencies, dear colleagues, a more just, more democratic, and more sustainable world order is one that places freedom at its heart. Yet history shows us that there is no such thing as absolute freedom, while freedom is essential for living in society, it is only guaranteed when it is protected by rules, rules of principle, rules of law. The right to freedom cannot exist without duty and responsibility. More than 75 years ago, when we adopted the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we drew lessons from the history of the first half of the 20th century, and particularly the two world wars. These universal standards made it possible to build a world in which the force of law would eventually prevail over the law of force. And it is in particular the prohibition of the use of force, a genuine paradigm shift in international law, when the world previously believed in the idea of a just war, that was placed at the heart of our Charter. Since the adoption of the Charter, we, the peoples of the United Nations, have stone by stone built the foundations of our universal commitments, and we have tried, together, to build a better world, one with less poverty, controlled epidemics, humanitarian assistance for those in need. Many of us were bathed in an optimism fueled by the spirit of never again. When the Berlin Wall came down, we believed that the ideals based on the principle of the Charter would take hold once and for all. But we must admit that we have not been able to stay the course. Our optimism clashed against the merciless wall of realism. And yet, we know that history is not linear, and that human beings have an unfortunate tendency to repeat the same mistakes, protectionism, nationalism. Symptoms of this global malaise illustrate a gigantic lack of trust between humans. Wars, poverty, misinformation, and geopolitical visions that are difficult to reconcile are gaining ground all over the world. Ukraine, for example, has been devastated by military aggression for over two years in flagrant violation of the Charter. For more than a year, Sudan has once again been in the grip of a civil war. And ladies and gentlemen, 75 years of multilateral engagement have yet to bring peace to the Middle East. Yes, multilateralism is ailing. If the United Nations seems too weak to us today, it is because it reflects the too little willingness on the part of all member states to obey the law of duty that they have voluntarily subjected themselves to. We must regain the momentum that has held our community together for so long. Mr. President, in May 2023, in this very chamber, I chaired a debate on the role of trust between states. Trust is a key element if this Council is to fulfill its mandate. To build trust, we need to seek out more dialogue, especially when there are divisions. Seeking out and creating dialogue sometimes requires creativity and risk-taking. When we organized an international conference on peace in Ukraine a month ago, our aim was precisely to build trust through dialogue. dialogue. In Switzerland, for two days, around a hundred delegations discussed possible paths to peace. By no means did we all agree on these paths to peace, but we tried to establish a basis of trust on which to move forward. And we are providing a forum for other discussions such as the one currently taking place on Sudan under the auspices of the UN Geneva or the one that took place earlier in the context of Yemen. As the depository of the Geneva Convention, Switzerland is ready to shoulder its responsibilities to achieve a world order based on humanitarian law. As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions next month, and I hope to welcome you all to Switzerland for this important commemoration, it is high time to reaffirm the universal validity of international humanitarian law. At the end of October, Switzerland will host the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva. Under the motto, Managing Uncertainty, Strengthening Humanity, the aim of this conference is to improve humanitarian response through effective dialogue. Ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, faced with an increase in wars and the systematic use of violence, we need to believe in respect for international humanitarian law. While trust can be created through dialogue, it can also be created through a change of perspective. As a doctor by training, I believe Given science and scientific diplomacy, I am convinced that science can help strengthen the efficiency of our work. An approach based on scientifically established facts also strengthens mutual trust. It makes it possible to anticipate risks and opportunities for peace. During our Presidency of the Council in October of this year, we will be proposing a meeting on the potential of science diplomacy. Dear colleagues, it is up to us, the members of this Council, to live up to the responsibility that we have been entrusted, whether by the General Assembly or by the history of our common humanity. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank His Excellency, Mr. Ignazio Cassis, and I give the floor to the Director of the Department of Multilateral and Global Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Ambassador to the Caribbean Community of Guyana, His Excellency, Mr. George Talbot.

Guyana:
Mr. President, Excellencies, I thank the Russian Federation for convening today’s open debate. And welcome the opportunity for collective introspection and frank assessment of multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order. In Guyana’s view, such an order is exactly what was envisaged when the United Nations Charter was crafted. The critical ingredients can be found in the preamble to the Charter, a world free from the scourge of war, one where there is respect for fundamental human rights and the dignity and worth of the human person. and women and nations large and small enjoy equal rights, where there is justice and respect for international law and the obligations flowing therefrom, and a world that fosters for all peoples better standards of life and larger freedom. The United Nations Charter, embodying as it does the fundamental principles of the multilateral ethos, has served as a framework and guide for the achievement of these objectives. It enjoins a sense of common purpose, a spirit of solidarity, and of inclusion. No country or people is to be left behind. As sovereign equals, every state deserves a seat at the table of global discourse. Each voice needs to be heard and respected, and each contribution valued. In the words of Guyana’s most celebrated poet, Martin Carter, I quote, all are involved, all are consumed, unquote. Small developing countries such as my own attach the highest value to an effective, democratic, responsive, and inclusive multilateral system, and to the primacy of the rule of international law. Our security, our very survival, depends on this. In working to adapt the global architecture to the demands of the 21st century, the enduring relevance and validity of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter cannot be overstated. However, too often are they honored in the breach. It is incumbent on the Security Council, charged with the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and by extension its member states, to be exemplary in their adherence to the Charter and to eschew any conduct that is inimical to the Council’s mandate. But no state is exempt in this regard. States must therefore hold themselves and each other to the highest standards of performance and accountability in observance of the Charter and international law. Mr. President, as we have seen in the cases of Ukraine and Gaza, breaches of the peace can have consequences well beyond the immediate theater of operations. The Security Council must take active cognizance of these realities and, in concert with the broader international community and regional organizations, be more proactive in addressing the drivers of conflict. Greater attention to prevention and to the pacific settlement of disputes, as provided in Chapter 6 of the Charter, is imperative. Parties to disputes must be persuaded to seek solutions utilizing the means outlined in Article 33 of the Charter, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and judicial settlement. Too often is there recourse to the threat or use of force. The result is an increasing number of armed conflicts in our world today that continue to destroy lives. and threaten the future of states. This is compounded by a lack of respect for international humanitarian law. In reaffirming the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, we cannot turn a blind eye to egregious violations. Members of the Security Council should not be among those undermining the judicial institutions of the United Nations so crucial to ensuring respect for the rule of law and promoting accountability. Mr. President, the thrust towards a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order will of necessity entail institutional reform, not least of the Security Council, arguably the least representative of global institutions. The Council must be made more representative, democratic, and accountable. For Guyana, no reform would be complete without enhanced participation of small states, who for the most part are a force for peace and principle. Moreover, the multidimensional and interlocking threats and challenges of today require greater cooperation, complementarity, and coherence of effort across UN organs, international machinery, and member states. We must broaden our frame of reference and expand our toolkit to deal with the new threats that have evolved, such as those posed by climate change, cyberattacks, AI, disease, etc. Likewise, in the use of available resources to better address interlinked pursuits, such as between prevention and peace-building, and development and poverty eradication. Just a fraction of the vast resources dedicated to implements of war and destruction would more than suffice for the fight against poverty, or hunger, or disease, or the combat of climate change, indeed, for the promotion of sustainable peace in our world. Finally, on the question of trust among member states, within the Security Council, or wherever, this question is not new, nor is the answer. Trust is ultimately based on performance, the honoring of commitments, the assumption of responsibilities, the discharge of obligations. It is fostered by promoting real understanding and dialogue. Across the multitude of commitments, undertakings, and obligations, whether in the UN Charter, the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, or in the many other instruments, resolutions, and declarations adopted by these United Nations, or beyond, a credibility gap exists that must be closed. I end, Mr. President, as the Charter begins. We the peoples. Their trust, their hopes, their aspirations, their expectations are ultimately what matters most. It must be acknowledged that the adversarial nature of contemporary politics makes it impossible to fulfill our global commitments and meet the expectations of our people. States must. demonstrate by their actions that they are reliable and trustworthy partners committed to working together for the greater good of all. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank His Excellency Mr. Talbot for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Algeria.

Algeria:
Mr. President, Excellencies, first I thank Russia for organizing this open debate, and I thank His Excellency Sergey Lavrov for coming from Moscow to chair this important meeting. Excellencies, this debate is very timely, timely because our Council continues to struggle to find solutions to too many conflicts and crises, including in Palestine, where genocide is being committed as we speak. I hope this debate will help our Council to be more effective and less polarized. Mr. President, multilateral cooperation is not something new. There were instances of multilateralism through military alliances, treaties, and trade routes in the Mediterranean region and elsewhere during ancient times. While this may not fit the modern definition of multilateral cooperation, it illustrates the idea of various entities coming together for common purposes. Today we cannot imagine a world without multilateral cooperation. It is essential for addressing complex global issues that no single country can solve alone. It also allows governments to pool resources, share knowledge, and develop joint solutions. As Council members, This is precisely what we try to do every time we enter this chamber. Mr. President, multilateral cooperation faces multiple challenges. This requires the UN to adapt to emerging realities with multiple centers of power and to enhance its role in establishing a just, democratic, and sustainable international order. My delegation firmly believes that reforming the Security Council would increase the legitimacy of this UN organ. In this regard, expanding the Council’s membership and prioritizing the historical injustice done to Africa will be a millstone. The open debate that will be held next month under the Sierra Leone presidency will allow us to discuss this issue further. In the meantime, the IGN’s contribution to the Pact of the Future is an important step in the right direction. We thank the IGN’s co-chairs, the Permanent Representatives of Austria and Kuwait. Mr. President, regarding the opportunities we should not miss, first and foremost, we have the 2030 Agenda. It represents a universal framework that addresses poverty, environmental degradation, and economic inequalities. And let’s not forget that this agenda calls for the full realization of the right to self-determination of people living under colonial and foreign occupation. With less than one-fifth of the target on track, the world is failing to deliver on the SDG’s promise. Urgent action is needed. Excellencies, Algeria believes that to reestablish an atmosphere of trust in the UN and in… In particular, with this Council, we require more efforts to foster mutual respect, transparency, inclusivity, and openness. To that end, we must abide by and prioritize diplomacy and dialogue, transparency, mutual understanding, peaceful settlement of disputes. We also need to give priority to conflict prevention and peacebuilding by addressing the root causes. Last but not least, we need to uphold international law and the UN Charter as guiding principles. We must ensure that the Council’s decisions and actions adhere to these principles and contribute to global peace and stability. Our compass shall be avoiding the selective application of international law. Dear colleagues, as the Summit of the Future approaches, let’s work to make this event a real Summit of the Future, not a Summit of the Past. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Algeria for her statement, and I give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.

United Kingdom:
Thank you, President. The world of 2024 looks very different to the world of 1945, but the challenges we face are no less stark. More countries globally are engaged in conflicts than at any time since the Second World War. We are facing a climate crisis, and scientific and technological breakthroughs are raising new questions which we need to answer. A UN fit for the 21st century is vital to meet these challenges. I’d like to make three points. First, we need reinvigorated systems that are more inclusive and more responsive to deliver on these important priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals and international financial architecture reform. That is why the UK is committed to making a success of the Summit of the Future in September and realising its potential to set a new ambitious course for the UN. We also recognise that members sitting around this table need to be more representative of the world today, and that is why we have long supported Security Council reform. Second, we need to ensure that this Council delivers on its mandate to uphold international peace and security. We regret that recent Council resolutions 2735 and 2736, calling for a ceasefire deal in Gaza and de-escalation in and around al-Fasha in Sudan, have yet to be fully implemented. We call on all parties to do their utmost to see these resolutions implemented to prevent further human suffering. We as Council members also have a responsibility to uphold our own commitments. It is therefore vital that the Russian government stops sourcing weapons from DPRK in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and stops its attempts to disrupt UN work in Africa, including by stopping Russian proxies’ targeted actions against MINUSCA. Third, we must defend the UN Charter. President, while you tell us how you believe the world order can become more just, democratic and sustainable. Your military is systematically bombing civilians in Ukraine in an unprovoked war of aggression and in flagrant violation of the UN Charter. What is just about trying to annex another country’s land? What is democratic about trying to subjugate another country’s people? What is sustainable about waging a war that has killed or injured over 500,000 of your own people? The war in Ukraine is a stark reminder of what kind of world order Russia really wants. A world where might is right and powerful countries can bully and invade others with impunity. The UK will not accept such a world. We will continue to stand staunchly behind Ukraine. We will support its aspiration for a just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter and international law and its demand for accountability. We will continue to be a tireless advocate for effective multilateralism and for the principles at the heart of the UN Charter. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of the United Kingdom and I give the floor to the representative of Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone:
Thank you Mr. President. I thank you for convening this timely debate on multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order. Sierra Leone welcomes the debate not only in view of the forthcoming 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the most essential multilateral institution of our time, but also because it offers the opportunity to rethink and reshape our cooperation framework on the basis of equity, democracy, and sustainability. Today more than ever, our collective efforts are essential in navigating the complexities of our interconnected world. The challenges we face, ranging from climate change to global health crisis, from conflict to economic inequalities, are beyond the capacity of any single nation to resolve. We demand a robust, coordinated, and inclusive multilateral approach. Currently, the 193 member states of the United Nations, from diverse regions and cultures, evoke a strong statement of recognition by member states of the importance of the multilateral system founded on international law to safeguard the sovereignty and independence of state and to advance and defend common and critical interests. We should therefore resolve to use this unity in diversity to achieve the purposes of the organization to maintain international peace and security, promote and protect fundamental human rights, and cooperate to achieve sustainable development. Presently, we are, however, challenged to generate innovative ideas and credible mechanisms that will bring all conflict to a peaceful end, maintain peace and security, promote social progress, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, and secure better standards of life for humanity. We have limited options, or any other alternative, other than to strengthen multilateralism based on the UN Charter and international law to address these challenges. This Council should, in this regard, reflect on reform measures that will reinforce our collective obligation to uphold the purposes and principles upon which our organization was founded as enshrined in the UN Charter. We cannot champion a just, democratic, and sustainable world when Africa, a continent on which more than half of the discussions of the Security Council are based, remains excluded in the permanent category and underrepresented in the non-permanent category in the organ with primary responsibility and binding decision powers on matters of international peace and security. The historical injustice against Africa must be addressed, and we look forward to the debate on this important issue during Sierra Leone’s presidency of the Security Council in August. There is a binding commitment to build a global society that is more just, inclusive, and equal than the one we live in today. Accordingly, we must be committed to supporting and facilitating multilateral cooperation in the interests of a just, democratic, and sustainable world, with the United Nations at the center. Therefore, respecting the prohibition on the use of force, preserving and strengthening the values of peaceful settlement of dispute, upholding the dignity of humanity and meaningful sustainable economic development through international cooperation as enshrined in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and reaffirmed in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are essential to promote and support the three pillars of the United Nations. Mr. President, on the basis of the foregoing, let me highlight four key points. First and importantly, a just world requires an unwavering commitment to the rule of law. Respect for and upholding international law and the rule of law at the international level is a scenic one none. As it is self-evident that for multilateralism to be sustained and strengthened, it is imperative that states abide by the obligations under the UN Charter and international law, eschewing selective application of the law. To strengthen multilateralism through international law and the rule of law, states are also urged to use or continue to use international courts, in particular the International Court of Justice, as a potential tool to address shared interests of international concern. This could be seen as the application of international law to multilateralism, thereby ensuring justice and accountability in solving legal disputes. The judicial settlement of disputes, in a way, is giving expression to Article 2, Paragraph 3, and Article 33 of the UN Charter, and reinforcing the rule of international law. Secondly, a democratic world order should be centered around the principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusive participation. Democracy is not merely a system of governance, but a foundation upon which the principle of sovereign equality of states rests. Support for democratic practices and transparent processes at the international level allows for inclusive participation and ownership, and thereby putting an end to the paradigm of inequality, inequities, as well as safeguarding against the erosion of the democratic tenet of sovereign equality. It is imperative for pluralism to be reinforced, allowing for the voices of all actors in international relations to be heard. Thirdly, we acknowledge a society Sustainability is the bedrock of a world order that promises longevity and prosperity for future generations. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change provide us the blueprint. Additionally, the Summit of the Future affords us the opportunity at the highest level to outline an ambitious agenda, not only to forge a new international consensus, but also to establish a new global agreement on multilateral solutions with a commitment to deliver a better present and safeguard the future. We must thus accelerate our efforts to combat climate change, promote sustainable development, and protect our planet’s biodiversity. This includes fostering innovation in green technologies, enhancing global cooperation on environmental issues, meaningful capacity development and transfer of technology, and ensuring that economic growth does not come at the expense of our planet’s health. Fourthly, it is imperative to highlight the role of the Bretton Woods institutions, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in creating a just, fair and sustainable world. These institutions were established to promote international economic cooperation and stability. However, as the global economic landscape has evolved, so too must these institutions. They must ensure that their policies and practices are aligned with the principles of equity, sustainability, and democratic governance. They must assist states and governments to deliver on their social contracts. Their programs must not drive a wedge between citizens and their governments, as is abating tensions that may exist. A pressing issue that requires our immediate attention is the burden of debt on developing nations. Many countries are trapped in a cycle of debt that stifles their development prospects and exacerbates poverty and inequality. Debt cancellation and comprehensive debt treatment are not just economic necessities, but must

President – Russian Federation:

Sierra Leone:
means to address some of the root causes of conflicts. By providing debt relief, we enable these nations to invest in health, education, infrastructure, and sustainable development, thereby fostering global stability and prosperity. Debt sustainability should be a cornerstone of a multilateral effort. We must work towards a fair and transparent international sovereign lending and debt architecture that prevents future debt crisis and ensure that borrowing is managed responsibly. This includes promoting responsible lending and borrowing practices, enhancing debt transparency, and developing mechanisms for fair and orderly debt restructuring. Mr. President, in pursuit of these goals, multilateralism is our most powerful tool. The United Nations, with its unique legitimacy and convening power, must be at the forefront of fostering international cooperation. We must reform and reinvigorate our multilateral institutions to be more effective, representative, and responsive to the needs of all member states. This includes addressing disparities in global governance structures and ensuring equitable representation for developing countries, especially Africa. Our collective resolve to enhance our multilateral cooperation must be the immediate necessity. Our inaction will have a debilitating effect on the dignity of humanity. In that regard, Sierra Leone reiterated commitment to the principles, ideals, and objectives of the UN Charter. In closing, Mr. President, let me say that the challenges of our times are formidable, but they are not insurmountable. By embracing multilateral cooperation, we can create a world that is more just, democratic, and sustainable. Let us reaffirm our commitment to these principles and work together to build a future that reflects the highest aspiration of humanity. I thank you.

Korea:
Thank you, Mr. President. It is significant and surreal that this meeting on multilateralism and the world order was convened as the signature event of the Russian presidency of the Security Council. As the country has been providing us with an almost painful amount of food for thought on this subject, with frustration from the intractable conflicts, violence, and threats to international peace and security persisting around the world, such as the war in Ukraine, the Gaza crisis, and TPRK’s repeated violations of Security Council resolutions, it is often argued that the UN and multilateralism have become futile. It is truly frustrating that in practice the UN indeed was designed to be powerless in case a permanent member of the Security Council used force in violation of the UN Charter and is determined to get away with it. However, this does not mean that we should give up on the UN or multilateralism. Dear colleagues, even without binding decisions, the United Nations, in particular the Security Council, still provides a valuable platform to exchange views among member states and construct the right narrative for the international community. The United Nations can serve as a megaphone that sends out clear messages toward the global audience that the violation of the UN Charter by any member state is unacceptable, thereby ultimately thwarting the ambitions of violators and guiding us in the right direction. In our view, this enduring multilateral diplomatic space is even more relevant in the deepening skepticism and chaos we face today. Against this backdrop, I would like to highlight the following points. First, diversity must be fostered in a manner that promotes universal values in addressing global challenges. It is critical to respect different histories, cultures, levels of economic development, and different political systems. We should always earnestly listen to each other and deepen our mutual understanding. However, we should also be reminded that we are, after all, the same kind, one humanity, even amid conflicts, wars, and extreme hate towards one another. The essence of the humanity we share transcends all other differences in culture, politics, and history. Likewise, fundamental and universal values are non-negotiable and must be upheld under any circumstances. For instance, the reported public execution of dozens of teenage students in North Korea last week for watching South Korean dramas and the sentencing of hard labor to North Koreans for preparing their meal with bottled rice the South Korean NGOs sent over for humanitarian purposes are simply intolerable. Such brutal acts by the regime cannot and must not be explained or understood in terms of any diversity or differences in governance. It makes no sense to preach diversity while undermining our shared universal values. Second, we should preserve and effectively utilize the multilateral tools that the UN has developed for decades and are now at our disposal. Among many, UN peace operations remain an essential component in the continuum of UN responses to maintain peace and security. We strongly call for full support for these missions, both in terms of mandates and resources, to better protect civilians, prevent conflicts, establish the rule of law, and promote human rights. As mentioned in the Secretary General’s new agenda for peace, the UN Security Council sanctions regime also remains an important UN charter instrument to address threats to international peace and security. Sanctions should be more targeted and effective, minimizing unintended humanitarian impacts. At the same time, we need to ensure that sanctions measures are effective enough to achieve their intended goal, bearing in mind that every sanctions regime has its own history and background. Undermining sanctions regimes without good reasons or for self-serving purposes, including the monitoring mechanism, can only further complicate and destabilize situations. In this connection, Russia has a single-handed dissolution with a panel of experts on DPRK sanctions. in April demonstrated how grave violations of Security Council resolutions by a permanent member, such as the trading of arms with North Korea, can result in the destruction of an indispensable Security Council institution. One lie leads to another, and one crime leads to another. Colleagues, this brings us to my next point, that accountability for decisions and agreements must be ensured. The concept note for today’s meeting asks us whether the international order should be founded on a polycentric or a unipolar paradigm. But in our view, this question is about how we analyze an existing phenomenon, not a matter of choice. Whether we are living in a multipolar world or not, what matters is that we realize sustaining peace from it. We have seen the consequences of the multipolar order, or rather disorder, of the 1920s and 30s. It is our common goal not to let such history repeat itself. One way to achieve this goal is to ensure that the United Nations outperform the League of Nations and stick to the rules and principles that we have agreed upon as much as possible, including the UN Charter and the Security Council resolutions. This is what we can choose. These rules should be applied to everyone in a fair and consistent manner. It must also be made clear the consequences it will follow for violators, rather than allowing impunity. Only then can the rule of law be established. In particular, it is paramount that the prime principles of the UN Charter, such as the non-use of force, respect for other nations’ sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the promotion of human rights, are upheld in every corner of the world without leaving any vacuum. There are no so-called legitimate concerns that justify violation of these basic principles. Colleagues, as we look ahead to the summit of the future, we do not want our present to be remembered by future generations as a dark year of multilateralism. Instead, let it be known as a key juncture when we overcame the criticism of futility against multilateralism with tenacious joint efforts to promote our shared universal values. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of the Republic of Korea, and I give the floor to the United States.

United States:
Thank you, Mr. President. The United States welcomes the opportunity to come together to discuss this serious matter of international peace and security and multilateral cooperation, even if it was convened by a council member that has shown time and time again that it doesn’t take this matter seriously. In fact, as I listened to the Russian representative’s statement, I thought I was in the wrong room because this seemed to be a session whining about the United States and the West, and I hardly heard the word multilateralism mentioned. Colleagues, as you all know, member states are invited to donate artwork to the United Nations, and these official gifts are meant to epitomize the ideals of the United Nations, the values outlined in its charter. You may all ask, why am I mentioning this? Well, beyond this chamber, at the easternmost edge of the United Nations North Lawn, is Russia’s gift, presented in 1959. It’s a bronze statue of a man beating his sword into a plowshare, transforming a weapon of war into a tool for the common good, prioritizing food security and agricultural prosperity over destruction. And so it’s ironic that today, the very country that erected this statute, this statement of the UN’s ideals. is now actively engaged in a war of aggression against its neighbor. A war that has weaponized food, worsening food insecurity not only for Ukrainians but for tens of millions of hungry people around the world. A war that has severely damaged Ukraine’s power production, threatening to leave hundreds of thousands in the cold this winter. A war that has killed thousands of innocent people including dozens just last week at a pediatric hospital in Kiev. A war that has facilitated the unlawful transfer of thousands upon thousands of people from their homes including children. And a war that has caused Moscow to result to nuclear brinksmanship and to violate international sanctions obligations. Of course Russia’s abhorrent behavior began well before its full-scale invasion in 2022. In particular Putin has treated human beings as bargaining chips and continue to do so to this day. I think about the family and friends of Trevor Reed and Brittany Greiner and Evan Grishkevich and Paul Whelan as well as others. People detained for doing their jobs or even just being in the wrong place at the wrong time and used as human pawns. Last year this council had the privilege of being joined by Paul’s sister Elizabeth in the public gallery and I asked Minister Lavrov to consider her unimaginable pain having gone four years without seeing her brother. To look into her eyes and see her suffering. Today over 2,000 days since he last saw his family Paul remains locked up in a Russian penal colony and so Minister Lavrov I want to look into your eyes while you look into your phone and say we will not rest until Paul and Evan come home. And Russia has ceased this barbaric practice of holding human pawns once and for all. And that is a promise. Colleagues, it is clear the hypocrisy displayed on the UN’s North Lawn by a nation that has chosen to beat plowshares into swords is only matched by the hypocrisy it has displayed in this very Council today and every day. Today we gather under the guise of embracing and improving multilateralism, of recommitting to international law, and yet as we speak, Russia continues to erode confidence in our institutions while willfully and flagrantly violating the core tenets of the United Nations Charter – territorial integrity, respect for human rights, international cooperation. These are our values, the shared principles every single one of us agreed to uphold, and they have provided the basis of the United Nations’ greatest triumphs. Our shared principles have helped us forestall nuclear proliferation and prevent mass atrocities. They have helped us forge peace after years of strife and provide desperately needed humanitarian aid to those in need. Now let me be clear, I’m not starry-eyed. The United Nations isn’t perfect. It reflects a deeply imperfect world, one filled with conflict and contradiction. The debates we have in this room exist beyond it too, and yet this institution endures. Multilateralism endures because we need it to endure. We need an effective United Nations to tackle the kind of borderless challenges that affect us all. More than that, the United Nations endures because people and nations continue to see its promise. And even in the darkest moments of the past few years, those people, those nations have offered glimmers of hope. Moments in which multilateralism won out over isolationism, hope over cynicism. And I think about the global response to Russian aggression in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion. A hundred forty-three UN member states came together to affirm Ukraine’s territorial integrity. integrity, and sovereignty. Time and time again, the vast majority of this Council has spoken out against Russia’s illegal, unprovoked, unnecessary war, and against all those who enable it. And in multilateral fora across the globe, including at last month’s Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland, leaders have committed to Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, reform, and modernization. To good-faith negotiations toward a just and lasting peace, consistent with the principles of the UN Charter. In all of these efforts, the United States has been inspired by the extraordinary courage and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. Extraordinary citizens willing to risk everything to protect the values they hold dear – democracy and justice, equality and humanity, peace and security. The very values we all have the privilege – in fact, the responsibility – to fight for here in this Chamber. Colleagues, the United Nations needs reform, not a wrecking ball, and certainly not one accompanied by mealy-mouthed calls for cooperation, but rather meaningful and positive evolution, real action, real change, to make this body as effective, efficient, and inclusive as possible. And so, in the face of Russia’s divisive rhetoric, attacks on international architecture, we all help shape and flagrant violations in Ukraine and all around the world. Those of us committed to progress both within this institution and beyond it can do more. In fact, we must do more. For our part, the United States is committed to modernizing and strengthening this institution and the multilateral system more broadly to better reflect the priorities of all member states, including developing countries. Whether it’s working with shareholders of multilateral development banks to address economic barriers. areas to achieving the SDGs, are championing efforts to reform the Security Council itself, fostering accountability and transparency, and ensuring this body incorporates geographically diverse perspectives, including permanent representation from the global south. It’s why I conducted a wide-ranging set of conversations on council reform, a listening tour with member states, reform groups, regional groupings, and other institutional systems, and why we will continue to engage widely to ensure this body is fit for the 21st century. Creating this change and upholding the rules-based international order as defined by the Charter aren’t mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they are mutually reinforcing. And so, as we work to reform multilateral systems, we will uphold our commitment to the international community, from the UN Charter to other treaties and conventions, international humanitarian law, to World Trade Organization rules. Not, as my Russian counterpart might argue, to keep other nations down, but rather to help them build up, to ensure that everyone plays by the rules, and that the rules are fair to everyone, including the developing nations that have for far too long been used and abused by Russia. To that end, we will champion fundamental universal human rights at the very core of that international order – freedom of belief and religion, expression, and peaceful assembly, no matter who you are or where you were born, what you own, or how you pray. We will steadfastly pursue a peaceful resolution to conflicts around the world, while working around the clock to promote diplomacy, to expand and accelerate humanitarian efforts, to aid in reconstruction, to not only respond to the crisis of today, but work to prevent them. And we will renew our commitment to achieve the sustainable development goals – to heal the climate, to end poverty and hunger, to fight corruption, to sow equity and justice where it is under assault – to achieve the kind of monumental change only we can as a united global community. Colleagues, this is our charge. This is the moment the United Nations was designed to meet. And so we must rally behind the UN Charter and its fundamental principles of sovereignty, of territorial integrity, of peace and security. We must embrace multilateralism for what it is, not a politically expedient buzzword, but a means of achieving real progress on the issues that affect us all. And finally, we must turn swords into plowshares, conflict into common good, and together create a more peaceful, prosperous world for us all. Thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of the United States for the very eloquent statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Malta.

Malta:
Thank you, President. International law and the UN Charter, underpinned by respect for all fundamental human rights, are the bedrock of multilateralism. They form the essential tenets for diplomacy and international relations. We must remain committed to all fundamental principles of international law, emphasizing that these principles should be seen as complementary, rather than conflicting. During times of unprecedented global challenges, it is imperative that we uphold them even more veminently. Conflicts have escalated, both in intensity and in volume, with the emergence of various risk factors and threat multipliers. This includes climate change, which exacerbates various challenges such as the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the reduction of food supplies, and the subsequent escalation of conflicts. Human rights are increasingly being curtailed and violated, and inequities are rising. This further enhances the importance of multilateral cooperation, which is crucial for effectively addressing such global challenges. Malta remains dedicated to multilateralism, based on international law and the UN Charter, to address these challenges. We reiterate that in these times, enhanced cooperation between multilateral organizations and international – at international and regional level, with the UN at the core of its work, is essential. This system must continue to evolve to answer to today’s challenges. It is fundamental that such an evolution safeguards and facilitates the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in order to promote gender transformative actions and agreements. President, we believe that the summit of the future presents a critical opportunity for all states to recommit to multilateralism based on a good-faith interpretation of international law and the UN Charter, with the UN at its centre. Peace and security, sustainable development and adherence to human rights are intrinsically linked. We must therefore accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, promote and defend the universality and indivisibility of human rights within the UN system, while remaining committed to strengthening transitional justice and accountability for serious violations and abuses of human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law. Malta therefore remains a strong advocate for the integrity, independence and functionality of the UN human rights mechanisms, as well as a steadfast supporter of the International Criminal Court and other international judicial mechanisms. We cannot have peace and security without adherence to the entirety of international law and the UN Charter. In this regard, we must point out the continued blatant disregard shown by the Russian Federation for international law and the UN Charter in their unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine. This illegal aggression has caused death and injury to hundreds of thousands, including many civilians, grave violations against children, destruction of civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, and caused worldwide food shortages. On this occasion, we again urge the Russian Federation to immediately and unconditionally withdraw its military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, and to turn to dialogue and diplomacy as the tools which can bring stability to the region. In closing, multilateralism based on international law and the UN Charter, with respect for fundamental human rights, is the only way to rise to today’s global challenges. Malta remains committed to working towards this goal. Thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Malta for her statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.

Japan:
Mr. President, no single country can single-handedly solve today’s various complex global challenges that fellow Council members already lined up. We need a collective multilateral response, and the UN must be at the heart of it. Multilateralism functions only when member states work together based on mutual trust and cooperation. Given the diverse views and positions of each country on various issues, what unites us is our shared collective commitment to the fundamental principles of international law, including the UN Charter. It is a tragic irony and blatant hypocrisy that this debate is being organized under the presidency of Russia, focusing on how multilateralism should work better. On one hand, in the concept of note of this open debate, Russia emphasizes, for example, the importance of ensuring commitment to the purposes of principles of the UN Charter, the need to re-establish the atmosphere of trust and dialogue, concern about the increase and the escalation of the use of force on the areas of conflict, and need to ensure equal and indivisible security for all. On the other hand, its aggression against Ukraine goes against all of the above, clearly breaching Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which are core values of international law. The unprovoked war of aggression against a sovereign state by a permanent member of the Security Council is outright defiance of the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions, including those on North Korea, and constitutes a threat to global peace and security. The relentless use of threat of use of the veto that has accompanied this aggression has blocked the Council from making decisions and taking corrective actions, paralyzing and discrediting. the Council when the world needs it most to fulfill its responsibility? How can Russia criticize others’ selective approach on applying international law and imposing arbitrary measures, while at the same time violating the very international law it says it is committed to whenever it wants? Indeed, there is no country with a flawless historical record in its foreign policy. All of us should squarely face this reality and be humble about it. However, whatever blame Russia tries to put on others, it will never legitimize or distract the world’s attention from Russia’s unlawful conducts on Ukraine’s situation. As shown by the General Assembly resolutions related to Ukraine, the overwhelming majority of the membership understands who is to blame. Russia must first and foremost withdraw all its troops and equipment from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders immediately and unconditionally. We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the peacefully established status of territories by force or coercion anywhere in the world, and reaffirm the acquisition of territory by force is prohibited by international law. We need to strengthen the UN, which is the center of multilateral cooperation. In particular, we need an early reform of the Security Council to reflect current realities rather than those of 80 years ago. Increasing representation of unrepresented and underrepresented regions is crucial. At the same time, Council membership is not a privilege but a sole responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security on behalf of the entire UN membership. The Summit of the Future is an epoch-making opportunity to take stock of what we, the Member States, have discussed so far. on security council reform, and to show to the world a way forward with a sense of urgency. We have no doubt the UN continues to be the largest, most legitimate, and most indispensable international body in which to discuss, debate the most critical issues of the world. The future of the UN solely depends upon us. We have much to do. Let us do it legitimately. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Japan for her statement, and I give the floor to the representative of France.

France:
Mr. President, after the Second World War, the United Nations Charter established an international order in service of peace based on sovereign equality of states, a respect for international law, the non-use of force, and peaceful resolution of disputes. The Security Council has a responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. In the service of this ambition, we acknowledge only one method, multilateralism. In other words, the development of collective universal rules to which we all choose to adhere in order to allow for the emergence of a more just, more democratic, and more sustainable world. Russia cannot ardently advocate for such a world order while at the same time trampling on the fundamental principles of multilateralism. Similar to a arsonist fireman, it calls for a more just global order while it increases violations of the Charter and imperils our system of collective security. While the Charter bans the use of force except for legitimate self-defense, unauthorization of this council, Russia has used illegally force against Georgia in 2011. in 2008, against Crimea and the Donbass in 2014, and it is conducting a large-scale aggression since Ukraine – against Ukraine for the past two years. It continues to violate, frolagorantly, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and violating the rules established by the Charter, to which we believe we’re all attached, including in this Council. It rides roughshod over international humanitarian law by deliberately targeting civilians at hospitals. It systematically targets Ukrainian energy and food-producing infrastructure, depriving intentionally Ukrainian civilians of essential needs. It disregards international human rights and international human rights law by deporting Ukrainian children and employing systematic use of torture. This has been confirmed by the International Commission of Inquiry and the UN Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. Ukraine claims to strengthen multilateral cooperation but violates the sanctions regimes against North Korea and Iran by sourcing weapons and munitions from these two countries. It also disregards the orders of the International Court of Justice, which demanded, starting in March 2022, that it suspend its military operations in Ukraine. Lastly, it ignores the resolutions of the General Assembly, which condemned unequivocally the violations of the Charter and called for an immediate end of its aggression, as well as the withdrawal of its troops from Ukraine. The defense of an effective multilateralism is, of course, essential to confront global challenges. Our responses to the security, climate, sanitary, technological challenges can only be collective ones. France is in favor of expansion of the Security Council and its two category of members, permanent and non-permanent. In Mexico, we have advocated for limiting the use of the veto to strengthen the capacity of the Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities. France is mobilized to implement. implement the Sustainable Development Goals, and we have taken concrete action for the climate by establishing a timetable for ending the use of fossil fuels, and we will host together with Costa Rica a UN conference on the ocean in 2025. We continue to call for fighting against poverty together. That is the meaning of the Paris Pact for people and the planet. France supports initiatives in favor of inclusive multilateralism, whether in the framework of the Summit of the Future or in the area of digital governance. In conclusion, Mr. President, allow me to recall that Russia was a founding member of this organization. Russia was also in the past in the camp of multilateralism. It is clearly no longer a member of that camp. It must, without further ado, do what is necessary to once again respect its rules and principles. Thank you very much.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of France for her statement, and I give the floor to the representative of China.

China:
Thank you, President. China appreciates the Russian initiative to convene this open debate. I welcome Foreign Minister Lavrov to the Council to preside over today’s meeting. To build a just, democratic, and a sustainable international order is humanity’s common pursuit. In 1945, in order to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, our forefathers upholding the spirit of multilateralism established on the ruins of the Second World War the most universal representative and authoritative international organization, that’s the United Nations. The UN Charter, laying down the cornerstone of the modern international order and establishing the basic norms of contemporary international relations, is an embodiment of our noble ideal of working towards a just and a reasonable international order. Since then, a large number of countries have emerged from waves of national independence and liberation. Seventy years ago, in the face of the shadow of the Cold War and a divided world, how to realize the common ideals enshrined in the UN Charter was a question facing the world. To answer this and echoing the trend of the time, the Chinese leaders put forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, namely mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence is an embodiment of the spirit of the Charter and have forged the basic norms of international relations that countries, large or small, or weak, whether coming from East or West, should treat each other with mutual respect and equality. These principles also constitute an important ideological basis for making the international order more just and equitable. Since the dawn of the 21st century, humanity has continued its exploration for a just and equitable international order at the present. The international landscape is increasingly defined by bloc politics, the world economy is facing anti-globalization onslaught, and the international governance is getting ever more fragmented. Humanity is once again faced with the historical choice of where to go from here. President Xi Jinping’s proposal of building a community of common future for humanity was put forward with the aim of better carrying forward the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the Five Principles of Coexistence under the new circumstances. China believes that in order to promote the building of a more just and equitable international order, efforts should be made in the following six areas. First, we must uphold sovereign equality. Every country should be able to find its own place and play its role in the multipolar system. jointly to promote a multi-polar world in an equal and orderly manner. Second, we must adhere to mutual respect, take care of each other’s vital interests and major concerns, respect the path of development mode of system independently chosen by the people of each country and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. Third, we must build common security based on the natural law of indivisibility of security, settle disputes through dialogue and resolve differences through consultation in order to build a more balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture. Fourth, we must promote common development by promoting inclusive economic globalization, accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and striving to achieve the goal of not letting any country or anyone behind. Fifth, we must uphold justice, safeguard the authority of the United Nations and international law, advocate a global governance based on joint consultation and collaboration and benefit sharing and enhance the representation and voice of the developing countries. Sixth, we must embrace openness and inclusiveness, promote equal dialogue, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, foster mutual understanding and kinship among peoples and promote the common values of all humanity. President, in today’s chaotic world, discourse on the international order covers a full range of opinions with some obvious truths being willfully distorted while certain spacious arguments gaining currency. In light of the theme of today’s debate, I wish to make the following points. First, we often hear the talk about a rules-based international order by some countries. But what kind of rules are we talking about? talking about, and who are the rule makers? No one has given us a clear and a precise answer. In fact, the so-called rules-based international order advocated by some is really intended to create another system outside the existing system of international law and to seek legitimacy for double standards and exceptions. I would like to emphasize that there is only one order in the world, and that is the international order based on international law. There is only one set of rules, and they are the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. There is no room for ambiguity on matters of principle, and positions must be clearly staked out. It is time that vague concepts that confuse the public, regardless of its variety, be put to rest. Second, against the backdrop of the crisis in Ukraine and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, countries are highly concerned about international common security, and many peace-loving countries and people are working tirelessly to bring peace. However, NATO, a regional military bloc left over from the Cold War, has been seeking to expand its sphere of influence, stopping at nothing to create false narratives, pouring oil on the fire wherever they go, stirring up confrontation between camps, and even resort to shifting the blame to countries outside the region to frame them on the issue of Ukraine, which is just the opposite of what the international community is doing in terms of persuading and promoting peace and negotiation. History has unparalleled proof that wherever NATO’s dark hand extends to, turmoil and chaos will ensue. China hereby advises NATO and other countries in question to have a soul-searching and a self-inspection and stop being the troublemakers who jeopardize common security at the expense of others. Third, common development and common security are mutually reinforcing. They are the foundation of a sound international order in which development is the master key to solving all problems. A just and equitable international order cannot be built on the basis of the developed countries getting ever richer, while the developing countries remaining locked in poverty and the lack of development in the long run. We must respond to the general trend of the collective rise of the global south and make substantive strides in such areas as reform of the international financial architecture and artificial intelligence governance so as to help and empower the developing countries to catch up. International countries have inappropriately broadened the concept of national security by building small yards and high walls and indiscriminately imposed unilateral measures to disrupt the global production and supply chain, which will ultimately lead to a situation of no winners, whether bilaterally or multilaterally. We must resolutely resist such erroneous practices. President, this year and next, the United Nations will usher in such important agendas as the Summit of the Future and the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the UN. We must seize these important historical opportunities and make joint efforts to bring the international community more closer under the flag of the United Nations, practice genuine multilateralism, and make unremitting efforts to build a just, democratic, and sustainable international order. Thank you, President.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of China for her statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Slovenia.

Slovenia:
Thank you, Mr. President. As we are meeting to discuss preparedness of our multilateral system for the contemporary challenges, I would like to start with the timeless words of the second UN Secretary General, Dag Hammarskjöld, and it goes, the United Nations was not created to bring us to heaven, but to save us from hell. Unfortunately, we seem to be moving more in direction of the latter. We live in a world of dark statistics, with the highest number of ongoing conflicts, the highest number of casualties among civilians, among children, humanitarian and medical workers. among journalists. Conflicts have driven number of forcibly displaced people to record high. We live in time of hunger and protection crisis. Women, children, and older persons bear the largest burden. Climate change, water scarcity, and pollution are adding pressure on the communities around the globe. This dark trend is not a consequence of an outdated multilateral system, but rather a consequence of erosion of respect for its principles by some UN member states, including, regrettably, by a member of the Security Council. We are witnessing flagrant violation of the UN Charter with Russian aggression in Ukraine. Appalling violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law are causing immense suffering of civilians in Gaza, in Sudan, in Ukraine, and elsewhere. We are facing blatant disregard for the Security Council resolutions and its sanctions in Sudan, in Gaza, DRC, and DPRK, to name a few. The problem is not in multilateral system built around the UN. The problem is that the international order, based on power of rules, is being pushed out by rules of power. We can’t and we don’t need to agree on every issue on the agenda of the Security Council, but we need to share a basic foundation of effective multilateralism, which, according to our conviction, should be respect for the UN Charter and international law. No ifs, no ands, and no buts. As a minimum, this means peaceful settlement of disputes, refraining from the threat or use of force against territorial integrity of other countries, and it means protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in times of war. We are not experiencing the crisis of multilateralism, but rather a crisis of political will. To make us comply and respect the international legal system, we have all built and committed to. The world finds itself in a crisis of trust, a trust in the system and a trust in each other. Therefore, the question before us should not be whether we need a new multilateral system, but rather how we can restore political will and trust to strengthen the one we have diligently built for decades. Every condition for rebuilding trust is full respect and compliance with the principles of the UN Charter. We strongly believe we should reaffirm our collective commitment to the established international legal system by upholding the UN Charter as the core stone of our multilateral system. Through the codification of the international law and its progressive development, we should strengthen compliance mechanisms and accountability to ensure member states’ adherence to their international obligations. The inclusive UN system needs to stay a living mechanism, ready to adapt to new realities and challenges of the modern time. We must achieve progress in the process of its revitalization and reform. The upcoming Summit for the Future presents excellent opportunity in this regard. The UN Charter has stood the test of time, proving its relevance through many challenges of the past eight decades. It continues to deserve, above all, our full and unconditioned respect for its purposes and principles. It is on us now to effectively use the existing tools provided by the UN Charter and the international law and make our common future less daunting. Thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Slovenia and I give the floor to the representative of Ecuador.

Ecuador:
Thank you, Mr. President. I’m grateful to the Russian Federation for convening this debate on a topic that is central to global governance. governance that complements discussions on multilateralism organized in previous years. In spite of having – eight decades almost have passed since we adopted the UN Charter in favor of a more peaceful and prosperous world, today the world is seeing the largest number of conflicts since the Second World War, which has led to 2 billion people – that is a quarter of all of humanity – living in places affected by war and violence, which highlights the fact that the Charter is not being implemented and has exposed multilateralism to an existential crisis. Ecuador is convinced that good faith among states is the foundation for restoring trust, which is the cornerstone of an effective representative and cooperative multilateralism. This is because no matter how powerful a country is, no country can confront alone transnational challenges such as a climate crisis, pandemics, terrorism, smuggling and trafficking of persons, of weapons, munitions, and drugs. All this constitutes fuel for transnational organized crime. Or confronting the risks associated with new technologies, among so many other challenges that only a revitalized multilateral cooperation can confront, we must reaffirm the commitment to respect the principles enshrined in the Charter and further strengthen the Declaration on Principles referring to relations of friendship and cooperation among states, favoring human rights, prevention and peaceful solution of disputes, sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity of states, and the noninterference in internal affairs. The permanent members of this Council have a special responsibility to preserve the principles and values on which the multilateral system has been built, and to prevent their further weakening without furthering or favoring their geopolitical interests, because individual action has a decisive impact on the operation and image of the Security Council as a collegiate body. Given the current atmosphere of criticism of the UN due to geostrategic fragmentation, this atmosphere conceals historic successes of the organization, such as its contribution to the process of decolonization and the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, promoting economic and social progress, respect for human rights, and management of the global humanitarian system. Also recently, the UN has demonstrated that it can contribute to filling some of the vacuums that persist in global governance, such as, for example, the adoption of the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction last June. Nevertheless, we cannot and we must not lower our guard, because it’s necessary to inject a greater dynamism in various processes that are underway, and endeavor to persevere so that the multilateral architecture adapts itself to new realities, giving priority to the needs of the developing world. The first thing we must acknowledge is the existence of a pending debt with regard to reforming the Security Council. Europe continues to support an ambitious and realistic reform without any new vetoes or privileges in perpetuity, a reform that was confined to a model of democracy based on the principles of rotation, accountability, that reflects the reality and diversity of the contemporary world. However, the greatest debt that the international community has is not to have acknowledged and acted on the inherent nexus between peace and development that requires a reform of the global multilateral architecture, which includes in particular international financial institutions, which in their current structure do not respond to the urgent needs of the global south. This is not a recent wish. Just a few months ago, we marked the 50th anniversary of the Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order, whose principles recall the need to improve the coherence and consistency of the international monetary, financial, and commercial systems, as well as the urgency of addressing the asymmetry that has affected development prospects of countries of the global south. Such reforms require particular relevance for the implementation of the Agenda 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a transformative vision for economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Investments in development and shared prosperity are fundamental for the maintenance of peace and development, and access to financing, capacity building, technology transfer to developing countries depend on the implementation of this agenda. I would like to conclude by quoting the words of Dag Hammarskjöld in the General Assembly on the 3rd of October, 1953, in the morning of the General Assembly. He said, it’s not the Soviet Union or, indeed, any big power who need the United Nations for their protection. It’s all of the others. In this sense, the organization is, first of all, their organization, and I deeply believe the wisdom which they will be able to use it and guide it. Mr. President, Excellencies, colleagues, as we prepare to celebrate the summit of the future this coming September, Ecuador believes that we need to approach it as another opportunity to demonstrate that multilateral cooperation is the best instrument to confront global challenges, that this implicit appeal for those who most need it to use the organization to leave no one behind is still as valid as ever. Thank you very much.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Ecuador and I give the floor to the representative of Mozambique.

Mozambique:
Mr. President, Mozambique highly commends the initiative of the Russian Federation for convening this open debate under the theme multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order. The theme and discussion today offers a unique opportunity for council members to revisit the charter, the legal instrument that binds us together around this horseshoe table and beyond. This is a golden opportunity for us to exchange thoughts and views on how best our collective actions can be energized and channeled to build a more just, peaceful, democratic, and sustainable world order in the current challenging times. We hold the view that the United Nations was born essentially as a multilateral body aimed at guaranteeing that the system of collective security enshrined in the Charter works for the benefit of all humankind. As a matter of fact, Article 1, Paragraph 4 defines as one of the purposes of the United Nations to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of common ends. It is our understanding that chief among these common ends is the maintenance of international peace and security. On many occasions, as Council members and as members of the United Nations at large, we have committed ourselves to this multilateralism that is embedded in the letter and the spirit of the Charter. Therefore, harmonizing our actions for international peace and security means above all that both in the Security Council and in the General Assembly, we need, in fact, we must speak with one voice and act with one purpose in upholding the purposes and principles of the Charter. We, as Mozambique, have always believed in the organization as a locus of understanding between nations, as a fundamental instrument for prevention, a prevention, in the words of the Charter, to save the succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Since the inception of our statehood, we have embraced this framework. of multilateral cooperation based on the principle of sovereign equality of the United Nations membership. We have welcomed the end of Cold War in the years 89 and 90. We viewed this event not as a victory of one rival over the other, but as a new and fresh departure to build a just, democratic, and sustainable world order in the interest not just of the West or of the East, but of the entire humankind. That vision, that spirit, and that courage for dialogue and mutual understanding was, in our view, the correct way to thread. Mr. President, we believe the center of the world should be and should continue to be the United Nations. That is to say, the status must be guided at all times by the charter of the United Nations, by the tenets of international law. Our common yardstick in that respect should be the degree to which each nation – how each nation behaves in regard to international law. We have always advocated multilateralism with inclusivity. We have supported, in every way, the United Nations. every instance, efforts to create a peaceful and sustainable world order where the needs and priorities of the developing and least developed countries are taken into account. We recall that that was the purpose behind our effort for the establishment of a new international economic order in the 70s. That is, we believe, what we aspire to materialize today with the SDGs, that pledge that no one should be left behind. The SDGs thus translate faithfully what the Charter aptly phrased as the determination to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. In the context of building an effective multilateralism, Mozambique reiterates the call on the need for security council reform, a reform that must take into account the African common position based on the Zuluini consensus and the SIRT declaration. This will allow the council to be more inclusive, fair, just, and democratic in the discharge of its duties under the Charter at the service of the entire humankind. Mr. President, the current global security challenges require concerted efforts and a reinforced role of cooperation. Those challenges include interstate wars, interstate conflicts, terrorists, violent extremists, transnational organizations. crime, proliferation of weapons, limited peacekeeping capacity, and financing, among others. We are certain that global problems demand global responses. Therefore, a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order must be anchored on a cooperation where relations among nations are constructive and robust, and are based on respect for the principle of equal rights of states and the self-determination of peoples. I thank you, Mr. President.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Mozambique, and I give the floor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.

Hungary:
Dear colleagues, first of all, thank you so much for the opportunity to speak at the Security Council in the age of dangers, as there are around 30 countries in the world which have been suffering from armed conflicts nowadays. I’m representing a country, I hope European Union colleagues paid attention, I’m representing a country, Hungary, which has been living in the shadow of a war for two and a half years now. And we have been confronted with the direct consequences of this war. We have received more than a million refugees. We have been faced with war inflation. And we had to pay tremendously high energy prices. So I can tell you, colleagues, that a war looks totally different from the neighbourhood compared to an ocean away. Thousands of people are dying, a country is under destruction, and this is the daily experience. But there’s a long-term risk as well, a long-term risk of the world being divided into blocks again. And here comes our historic experience, a country coming from Central Europe. We know it very well from our historic experience that in case there’s no chance for a civilized cooperation between East and West, we lose on it. And we don’t want to lose again. Dear colleagues, I’ve been in this position for almost 10 years now, the longest serving currently in the European Union. And I have to tell you that I have participated on a number of events, a number of meetings in the European Union in these last 10 years, when we discussed the issue of armed conflicts and wars far away of Europe. And what was the European position always? Urging the parties of the war, of that given war, to give up the battlefield solution, to sit around the negotiating table, to go for peace, negotiate with each other, look for the diplomatic solution. And what is the position now when there’s a war going on in Europe? Totally different. And not only totally different, but the word peace, the word negotiation, if it is being used by someone, is being stigmatized immediately. We very well know the expressions, spies, Trojan horse, friends of whoever. So, you know, very, very bad approach. The legitimacy… of diplomacy is basically being debated. For us, diplomacy is not only talking to those with whom you agree 100 percent. This is not diplomacy. This is something totally different. Diplomacy is about talking to everyone, even to those with whom you do not agree on major issues. That’s an achievement. That’s an achievement. The last two and a half years have proved clearly in our neighborhood that there is no battlefield solution for the war in Ukraine. We have to give back the legitimacy for diplomacy. And I have to tell you, colleagues, this is not only unacceptable, but scandalous, really scandalous, that a country is being stigmatized in the 21st century just because arguing in favor of a diplomatic solution, a country is being stigmatized just because using channels of communication to talk to those with whom there might be lack of common understanding on major issues. This is totally unacceptable and scandalous. Here we are in New York, at the headquarters of the United Nations. United Nations has not been established to be a platform for like-minded countries. There are other organizations for that. The UN has been established to give a platform for those who do not agree with each other, who are in a hostile relationship with each other, who are at war with each other, to talk to each other, to talk to each other. Therefore, I think over-politicization of the UN organizations is unacceptable. And it is equally unacceptable to restrict countries from negotiate with those with whoever they want to, especially in the framework of the United Nations. Well, some of you might have heard about the fact that Hungary has taken over the presidency of the European Union as of 1st of July. of you might have heard about that it doesn’t make everybody happy in Europe, but, you know, we are now being under very heavy attacks, political attacks, of those European politicians who are representing a pro-war position. But I have to tell you that such kind of attacks will give us further encouragement to continue our peace mission, and we will continue our peace mission, because we are living in the shadow of a war for two and a half years, and we want peace instead of war. And only peace will make Europe great again. But in order to make Europe great again, we have to make Europe peaceful again. Thank you so much.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank His Excellency Mr. Szijjártó, and I now give the floor to Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency Mr. Ali Bagheri.

Iran:
In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, the most merciful. Mr. President, at the outset, I would like to congratulate the Russian Federation for assuming the presidency of the Security Council and organizing this timely initiative. Effective multilateralism is essential for ensuring international peace and security. We stress the importance of these initiatives in highlighting the need for multilateralism and underscoring the harmful consequences of selfish unilateralism. As a founding member of the United Nations, the Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its commitment to effective multilateralism grounded in international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. Allow me, Mr. President, to take this opportune occasion to share a few thoughts on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Number one, the United Nations was created not only to save the succeeding generations from this course of war, but also to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, among others. These and other lofty purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter could only be achieved through multilateral cooperation. Unilateralism is antagonistic both to peace and to justice. Number two, sovereign equality of states is the basic tenet of the United Nations system. This is based on the core principle of self-determination of every nation, according to which they are entitled to decide their own identity. The prohibition of the use of threats of force and peaceful settlement of disputes, as well as non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries, are all purpose to protect sovereign nations from foreign aggression and to secure friendly relations among them. Unilateralism negates the United Nations’ basic tenets and fundamental principles. Unilateralism is an invitation to injustice, confrontation, and war. Number three, the United Nations, as the greatest symbol of multilateralism, is exposed to woes of unilateralism. Regrettably, the Security Council has been abused by certain permanent members for their self-centredness. political or strategic agendas. On the one hand, they have leveraged the Council to exert pressure on other independent sovereign states and paralyzed the same body from taking any acts to stop aggression and breach of the peace by their allies. Again, a very outstanding example is the United States’ decades-long vetoing of any meaningful decision to stop the Israeli regime’s persistent genocide against Palestinians and its frequent aggressions against nations of the region. I wish to emphasize that Iran’s support to and solidarity with the resistance groups in the region is legitimate under international law and aims to end aggression and occupation in our region. Resistance in itself serves as a response to unilateralism and the biased support extended to the Israeli occupying regime, which is committing acts of genocide in Gaza and Palestine. Number four, multilateralism entails respect for the division of mandates among UN organs. The Security Council’s encroachment on issues behind its mandate risks the integrity of the Charter as an international treaty. According to Article 25 of the Charter, the Council’s power is not limitless or arbitrary. It cannot override customary international law and international treaties. The unjust resolutions imposed against Iran during 2006-2010 based on unfounded claims by the United States about Iran’s peaceful nuclear program were in clear violation of Iran’s rights under MPT and at the cost of my people’s fundamental human rights. Those responsible for these unlawful sanctions cannot evade accountability for the suffering inflicted on my people. So they cannot evade responsibility in this regard. Number five. Unilateral coercive measures in the form of extraterritorial sanctions still continue to showcase a blunt, inhumane manifestation of radical unilateralism. The United States and its Western allies that reinforce those sanctions must be held accountable for untold sufferings, death, and destruction they have caused on the targeted nations, including my own people. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, the Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently demonstrated its commitment to multilateralism, with a clear example being its constructive contribution to the conclusion of the JCPOA. This successful multilateral initiative addressed an unwarranted crisis and unfounded concern from the West regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, aiming to lift the illegal and unjust sanctions imposed on the Iranian nation. However, this multilateral process encountered a significant challenge due to the unilateral actions of the United States and its allies. The U.S. unilateral and unlawful withdrawal from the agreement exemplified unilateralism in the international arena, causing harm to all parties involved. Importantly important, Iran’s good-neighborliness policy highlights the importance of multilateralism in resolving common concerns and challenges. In these contexts, Iran pursues regional dialogue and cooperation to create an environment where resources can be devoted to the progress and development of the region for the benefit of all. Strengthening partnerships and cooperation for collective security and sustainable development in the region will be the cornerstone of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s foreign policy. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the new approach and foreign policy of the President-elect of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which focuses on strengthening multilateralism in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law. His Excellency, Dr. Pazishkian, the President-elect of the Islamic Republic of Iran recently outlined his primary foreign policy strategy, which aims to open new horizons and foster friendly relations with other nations based on dialogue, cooperation, equality, and mutual respect. This strategy places particular importance on neighboring countries and the broader region, as well as on maintaining constructive relations with other states. Mr. President, as Mr. Secretary General has underlined, global challenges could be solved only through respect for international law, adherence to global commitments, and adoption of appropriate frameworks of multilateral governance. The Islamic Republic of Iran echoes this call and welcomes any initiatives to further promote respect for international law. Multilateralism is key in this regard. We believe this is the only way to establish a safe, just, and free Iran. an inclusive environment where all nations can enjoy sustainable peace and development. Thank you for your attention.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank His Excellency, Mr. Bagheri, and I give the floor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, His Excellency, Mr.Abdullah Ali Al Yahya.

Kuwait:
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Your Excellency, Minister Zergey Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the friendly country of the Russian Federation, President of the Security Council, Your Excellency, peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you. At the outset, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, and your friendly country on your presidency of the Security Council for this month. We hope that your presidency will contribute to the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security, and that your efforts will translate the visions and aspirations of all peoples of the world in order to support the effort for stability and the basis for international interaction in our foreign relations. I would also like to wish to express our appreciation for your convening of this first-of-its-kind meeting to engage all in a direct and constructive dialogue in order to assess the existing international order, study all the dimensions, and push for achieving aspirations of all the peoples of the world. Mr. President, as the eighth decade since the establishment of the UN and the entry into force of its Charter draws to a close, we reaffirm the importance of the international community’s renewed commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter, which is the cornerstone of joint international action and the basis for strengthening international cooperation in line with the changes and ramifications witnessed in the world over the past years, thus enabling us to face international challenges through creative and innovative policies that keep pace with changes and ensure a favorable environment for our relations, work, and international cooperation. In spite of all those challenges and obstacles facing the work of our ancient organization, the UN remains the most accepted a credible and legitimate international multilateral mechanism in the field of joint international action. Its charter and its principles and purposes remain a clear framework and a main point of reference for defining and developing relations among nations and states and a solid basis for our joint action. Hence, now more than ever, we need to review our assessments and priorities to strengthen all the means aimed at developing our common action. The State of Kuwait renews its call for the reform of the Security Council as one of the main pillars of the comprehensive reform process of the UN. The State of Kuwait also supports all efforts to achieve a comprehensive and genuine reform of the Security Council so that it may be more capable and effective in facing our current challenges in a more representative, transparent, impartial, and credible manner. Mr. President, the political, humanitarian, and health crises that the world has witnessed over the past two decades, as well as crises in food and energy security, the challenges of climate change, the spread of poverty, the threats to international peace and security, and the achievement of development goals – all these crises and other transboundary crises have served as a severe test for our multilateral world order. They have made clear the urgent need for strong, effective world order based on partnership and solidarity at the international level, based on the fundamental values and principles of multilateralism as regulated by international law and international UN legislation that we have all accepted. In light of global challenges that require concerted efforts to address them, small states must play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges as a necessity. In this context, we also count on developed states to play a leading role that contributes to the creation of a more equitable and balanced partnership and to fulfill their agreed upon commitments in support of the development in the least developed countries through technology transfer, debt relief, including ODA. the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as take into consideration the development variables in order for developing states to not be left behind, especially in the global mainstream, particularly those facing special situations within the framework of new development and financing partnerships consistent with national priorities. In closing, I would like once again to commend your cooperation and that of the permanent mission of the Russian Federation to the UN in conducting the work of the Security Council for this month. We hope that these discussions will continue on the reform of the current world order so that it would be more stable, sustainable, just in the long term. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank His Excellency Mr. Al-Yahya for his statement, and I give floor to the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belarus, His Excellency Mr. Yury Ambrazevich .

Belarus:
Mr. President, distinguished members of the Security Council, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to congratulate the Russian Federation on its presidency and wish it success in fulfilling this extremely important role in multilateral diplomacy. We would like to note the exceptional importance of the topic of today’s discussion. Indeed, next year the world will be marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the bloodiest and most devastating conflict in human history. The witnesses of that war and the great minds of that era, when they created the United Nations Charter as a document that embodied the ideals of universal engagement, solidarity, and respect for the sovereign equality of states, as a document that reflected the ideals of truly shared responsibility and indivisible security, as an instrument for multilateral inclusive solutions to global problems, when they created it they could not have imagined that the long journey of their ideals from a de facto bipolar world through a moment of unipolarity and towards a future of multipolarity would leave us today not only to the minimization of multilateralism and international affairs, but also to the brink of a third world war. The desire to maintain its hegemony, the unwillingness to recognize the legitimate security interests and concerns of its neighbors and other actors, the pursuit of unilateral advantages in access to resources, and the desire to take unfair advantage of its dominant economic position have led the West, seemingly intoxicated by the euphoria of its unipolar moment and its elites, to an outcome that it seems it hadn’t predicted itself. The West was not able to spearhead multilateralism as a true leader might have done. Instead, Western elites attempted to maximize their advantages to exploit others. And resistance to this has led to increased tensions across the world. to a rise in conflicts, to the deterioration of the international security architecture, of confidence-building measures of arms control, it has led to confrontation to a greater or lesser degree with a part of the international community and even to war in Europe. We are witnessing Western elites’ conscious rejection – Western elites represented by NATO – conscious rejection of multilateralism in addressing crises and their reliance on confrontation with those who have they identified as competitors, adversaries, and threats. Moreover, we’re witnessing not just the West’s rejection of multilateralism, but its rejection of bilateral international cooperation. Instead, the West is choosing to force others to engage on terms it imposes and rules it imposes. Just consider the veritable war unleashed by Poland on the boulder with Belarus against migrants from the South, with dozens killed and hundreds maimed by Polish security forces. Yet despite our persistent proposals, Warsaw has completely refused to cooperate with Minsk through legal assistance and border management tools, while knowing perfectly well that only joint efforts will allow to effectively fight against criminals exploiting unfortunate migrants who are on their way from their home countries to Western Europe and primarily to Germany. Or take Lithuania’s deliberate ban on the transit of Belarusian fertilizers through Lithuanian ports to African and Asian countries, or Vilnius’s rejection of Minsk’s willingness to arrange transit of Ukrainian green to those same countries. We should also mention EU member states’ ban on flights to the Republic of Belarus in this list is the first, second, third, and fourth, not directed not only against Belarus but also against the interests of many other states and ordinary people. We can cite many more examples of this. One gets the impression that while still being globally involved in the international agenda, European states are increasingly limiting themselves and depriving themselves of instruments of influence. Is this not a rejection of multilateralism, the focus on unipolar actions and one-sided benefits and dictating one’s own rules? This is the root of the problems of today’s world. This trend, however, is countered to what we see in Greater Eurasia, which is a unifying agenda in a number of formats, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Union, ASEAN, and other regional associations operating in this area. These associations are not directed against someone. They’re not directed against the West, but as has already been noted, it is the West itself that is unwilling to cooperate with them. Recognizing this situation, last year Belarus organized a high-level international conference on Eurasian security, reality, and prospects in a transforming world in Minsk. In addition to our peace efforts to achieve the Minsk agreements, and in addition to our unifying initiatives in order to build a new security architecture in Europe entitled Helsinki 2 on the global topic of Eurasia. On the global spirit of a security dialogue in the spirit of San Francisco, at the Minsk Conference last year, Belarus launched a discussion on building an equal and indivisible Eurasian security architecture. It is revealing that the overwhelming number of Western states who were invited ignored that invitation. It seems that true multilateralism will be revived among truly like-minded people and participants. During that conference, Belarus put forward an initiative to develop a European Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st century. We envision this charter as a unifying document which will formulate the parameters and principles for the functioning of security architecture in Eurasia, as well as a strategic vision of multipolarity and multilateralism of the revitalized system of international relations perhaps not only in Eurasia but in the whole world. For us, these principles are clear and evident. They are, above all, reliance on international law, strict observance of the principle of the divisibility of security, respect for the diversity of the development paths of all states, equal cooperation of all members of the international community, enhancing the role of the UN, making full use of regional associations, organizations, and integration mechanisms, and, of course, returning to a truly effective multilateral cooperation. Further discussions on this topic will be held at the second Minsk conference on Eurasian security at the end of October and beginning of November of 2024. I thank you for your attention.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank His Excellency Mr. Ambrazevich for his statement, and I now give the floor to to the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, His Excellency, Mr. Jalichandra.

Thailand:
Mr. President, I would like to thank the Russian Federation for organizing this meeting. Thailand welcomes this open debate because we are committed to multilateralism. I wish to make four points as follows. First, the increasing number of conflicts worldwide require a more inclusive, resilient, and effective multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core. The lack of inclusive and transparent discussions often leads to differing perception and mistrust. Diplomacy and dialogue are key to avoid further confrontation and escalation of violence. The United Nations’ convening power should be leveraged to bring all sides together to work on sustainable and peaceful solutions. The forthcoming summit of the future will be an opportunity for all states to redesign the UN that is capable of addressing current and future global challenges. Second, to ensure that multilateralism with the United Nations at its core will continue to be relevant, the reform of United Nations, particularly the Security Council, is important. The Council should be reformed in such a way that reflects broader geographical representation, cross-regional balance, and greater representation of developing countries. But a more representative Council is not enough. How the Security Council makes its decisions is also important. Thailand shares the view of the majority of the United Nations member states that a veto right. is not a privilege, but an international responsibility. At a very minimum, all members of the Security Council should agree to refrain from blocking any draft resolution intended to prevent or stop mass atrocities. At the same time, countries should work on improving the Council working methods and increasing stakeholders’ participation in the Council’s meeting, which are low-hanging fruits. Third, it is important for the United Nations to work in close partnership with international financial institutions, regional organizations, and institutions, and other key stakeholders. A deeper look into Chapter Eight of the Charter of the United Nations on regional arrangements could be beneficial in order to achieve sustainable peace and stability in any conflict-affected area. Close dialogue and engagement with affected countries and regional are crucial. The role of women in peace and security should also be emphasized. It is important to promote a woman’s leadership and their participation in decision-making process. Member states should continue to work together to advance the women, peace, and security agenda. Fourth, peace and security cannot be considered in silo. It is essential for the United Nations to take a holistic approach and strengthen the complementarities between peace, sustainable development, and human security. Peace and sustainable development are two sides of the same coin, with one reinforcing the other. To achieve this, all bodies within the United Nations system should work. together in sync. The work of the Security Council, the General Assembly, the ECOSOC, and all specialized agencies should be more closely coordinated. In conclusion, multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core, remains a vital platform for diplomacy and the pursuance of friendly relations among states. But the United Nations can only be as effective as its members. Therefore, we need to reaffirm our commitment to multilateralism and work together to make it strong, because a more just, democratic, sustainable world order cannot be achieved without the United Nations. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank His Excellency, Minister Jalichandra, for his statement. I would just like to remind all speakers on the need to limit their statements to three minutes so that the Council could complete its work on time. After three minutes, the light will begin to blink on the microphone indicating they need to complete this statement. I now give the floor to Serbia.

Serbia:
Mr. President, the world of today is faced with numerous and serious challenges that necessitate close cooperation by us all, as well as responsibility in quest for proper and applicable answers. Serbia considers productive multilateralism is both necessary and achievable if we demonstrate readiness for common engagement in spirit of cooperation, compromise, and flexibility. My country’s foreign policy efforts at a global level cooperation with our partners in Europe and in region have we aim and a making of contribution through the constructive approach to achievement of all our common goals. Mr. President, world situation is characterized by numerous and complex issues, multi-dimensional and interconnected crisis and conflicts, solution of which is possible only through common and sincere efforts within multilateral framework. Serbia believes that multilateralism is the best approach in a current geopolitical situation since it implies equitable participation by states, respects for diversity and harmonization of interest of all with the aim of finding long-term sustainable solutions. In current circumstances of a crisis of multilateralism, conflicts in many parts of the world and dealing with the global challenges, respects for international law and principle of United Nations Charter continue to be imperative. If we want to preserve existing international order and the foundations of development of each and every society, my country calls for intensification of efforts for overcoming differences and solving world conflicts through dialogue and full respect for United Nations Charter and international law. We emphasize deeply and share our painful lives lost in conflicts around the world, including tragic events in the Middle East and in Ukraine. We are convinced in our constructive dialogue that only constructive dialogue and diplomatic solutions can lead to peace. All conflicts are resolved at negotiation table and there is no valuable alternative for it. United Nations is based on a common principle. and norms that supposedly guidelines for international community. If we step away from guidelines, we are bound to end in vicious circle of selective justice. Serbia respects territorial integrity of all United Nations member states. Accordingly, we expect that other member states respect territorial integrity of Republic of Serbia under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999. Activities of Serbia aimed at preserving its territorial integrity and sovereignty reflects its efforts to uphold principles of international law, United Nations Charter, and in the case of my country, legally binding United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, which guarantees its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are convinced that digital space abounds in a possible, therefore, we need to promote open, free, global, stable, and safe cyberspace in which human rights, freedoms, and rule of law are fully implemented. Our task is to make sure that digital transformation functions for everyone and that accessible, sensible interlinkage and digital inclusions are achieved. We believe that implementation of sustainable development goals within 2030 Agenda represents substantial component of global efforts in domain of hereditation of poverty and hunger, greater employment, especially among young people, economic growth, greater inclusivity and improvement of quality of education system and health protection, climate change and preservation of planet for future generation, as well as achievement of full… gender equality and respects of human rights. We trust and believe that economic and social development as key development goals of contemporary society cannot be achieved if we fail to resolutely confront other challenges of today, complexity of which overcomes capacity of individual countries or regions. Serbia conducts independent foreign policy based primarily on preserving national and state interests, yet respecting all along basic principles of international law. This is why a consistent implementation of all these principles that we agreed upon a long time ago is a key guarantor of global peace and security. Therefore, we should not abandon our effort to promote universality of basic principles of United Nations Charter, irrespective of continuity suffering of consequences of their selective implementation. It is of paramount importance that majority of United Nations member states refuse to accept implementation of double standards. In that context, we are very thankful for all these who support Serbia’s effort to maintain its own sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are in engagement that transparency and confidence building certain safety and security, improve sustainability and continue to better confidence and understanding among the states and peoples. I want to believe that upcoming summit of the future will open a new charter in which we shall renew mutual confidence and achieve greater understanding and solidarity, creating prospects for safer and better future. again to Serbia’s full commitment to values of multilateralism contained in the United Nations Charter. It is important that we continue to work together to redefine and harmonize multilateralism with contemporary multipolar world in order to respond in appropriate way to current as well as future crises and challenges. Thank you, Mr. President.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank Serbia for your statement, and once again I want to remind all speakers of the need to limit your statements to three minutes so that the Council can complete its work on time. After three minutes, you’ll see a light begin to flash on the microphone of the speaker indicating that it’s time to complete your statement. Now I give the floor to Morocco.

Morocco:
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Allow me to first of all congratulate you on convening this open debate under your presidency, which is another opportunity for UN member states to reaffirm their full and constant commitment to promoting multilateralism towards a more just, prosperous, and fair world. Order and justice are essential. They are two faces of the same coin. A global world order without justice is impossible, but it’s also essential to respect the UN Charter. Otherwise, peace will not be sustainable. The establishment of a new world order that answers – that reflects the aspirations of the peoples of the world requires good governance so that our common actions are in harmony with our international commitments. With this in mind, it is crucial to ensure a fair representation of national and collective interests of states that promote their participation in the international decision-making so that their disputes are resolved equitably in the framework of international law. Furthermore, a just international order requires true opportunities for socioeconomic development of member states without leaving anyone on the sidelines as part of sustainable development for all. Mr. President, the holding of the Summit of the Future in September will be a milestone for multilateralism. The implementation of the engagements that derive from it will be an opportunity for renewed and revitalized multilateralism based on the UN system that promotes international cooperation to confront the challenges that we face in particular in the climate, energy, security sphere, as well as violent extremism and terrorism. The Kingdom of Morocco would like to highlight the need to continue efforts to reenergize the General Assembly and reform the Security Council so that it continues to be in harmony with current challenges. We have an opportunity before us to reaffirm our attachment to the UN, to take the opportunity for the UN as a bastion of multilateralism through respect of national sovereignty, territorial integrity of states, good neighborly relations, noninterference in internal affairs of states, and peaceful resolution of disputes. The Kingdom of Morocco advocates in favor of an effective, inclusive, and preventive and cooperative multilateralism, which works towards solidarity among states for the achievement of the three pillars of the UN peace, security, development, and human rights. On this point, South-South cooperation, in particular with African countries, is a fundamental pillar of Moroccan foreign policy, in line with the guidelines of His Majesty Mohammed VI. The multilateralism to which we aspire is a multilateralism. of intercultural, inter-civilizational, and inter-religious and intergenerational dialogue. Lastly, to conclude, I would like to reaffirm that the Kingdom of Morocco will remain an active and responsible partner, respecting the principles of the UN Charter and the achievement of its goals. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Morocco for your statement, and I give the floor to Egypt.

Egypt:
Mr. President, I convey to you the greetings of the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Dr. Badr Abdel-Ati, who unfortunately was not able to come to this meeting due to previous commitments. I thank you for organizing this open debate that addresses an issue that is of paramount importance, especially as we’re approaching the summit of the future, which at its core is about the future of the United Nations and the multilateral global order. We are now at a crossroads. We have to address the shortcomings that have marred the multilateral system on which our world today is based. It is evident that the international system that was established in the wake of the Second World War is no longer able to respond to the needs and complexities of a world that is rapidly changing, no longer fit for a present and a future that is moving steadily towards multipolarity, where the countries of the south are playing an ever more important role. The security and geopolitical challenges, the prevailing polarization politically, in addition to economic challenges, climate change, and other challenges, all these factors should prompt us to work together more effectively towards an international system that is capable to respond to the needs of today. In this context, we have to pose certain questions and find answers that maybe will help us become more aware and fathom the needs of the world. The world is expecting a lot from this organization, from the international system, especially the new generations that grew up in a very different world. I would like to address briefly two important aspects. It is very important to closely examine those two aspects if we are to find solutions to make the multilateral system more just, democratic, and sustainable. One, the developments that we’ve seen in the Middle East over the past 10 months prove that our world today needs new arrangements for collective security that reflects the reality and that makes the UN more responsive to the current political and security challenges. In this Council, we speak a lot of the Charter of the United Nations, the importance of the charter, the importance of adhering to the principles on purposes of the charter, promoting the charter. However, the developments, the recent developments, especially the unjust Israeli aggression since the 7th of October, 2024, targeting Palestinian civilians in Gaza have proven that when many speak of the charter, the principles of international law, protecting civilians, human rights, these are arguments and claims that fail the test. Especially as many have been applying double standards when it comes to addressing the behavior of Israel, the aggressive behavior of Israel towards our region, the developments in Gaza, the continued Israeli aggression amid shameful silence by the international community threatens the multilateral system, threatens the UN as a whole. As we’re witnessing double standards, this August Council has failed in stopping the continued killing of the Palestinian people in Gaza. This prompts us to renew our call to reform this council so it becomes more representative, more just, more democratic. Egypt has always called for enhancing African representation in the council according to any consensus and the declaration. We’ve called for granting Arab countries the representation that is commensurate with the magnitude of Arab issues on the agenda of the council. It is important for the council also to hone and improve its methods of work so that they become more transparent and ensure more participation from other states. It is also important to enter into dialogue with other groupings and regional organizations, especially as the role of these groupings is becoming more important. They are now expressing the voice of the countries of the south, for instance, the BRICS countries. Second, it is no use to speak about a multilateral global system that is more just, democratic, and sustainable without speaking of reforming the global financial system, which is also unfit for the times. This issue is one of the most important challenges facing us today. We have to find effective solutions to this issue. Without the solutions, we will not be able to achieve comprehensive economic development and it would not be possible to bridge the vast gaps between the countries of the north and countries of the south. We would also not be able to achieve the SDGs on whose importance we all agreed. The summit of the future in September is an opportunity to take effective measures in this regard. We will be confirming the role that the United Nations must play in order to reform the financial architecture, including reforming the financial institutions, such as the IMF, and it is important to enhance cooperation on taxes and debt restructuring. In conclusion, Mr. President. If we do not use this moment to bring about a radical change in the multilateral system, and most notably, the United Nations, which lies at its core, it will be, we will have to face a new reality where this organization would lose its relevance, its credibility, where our countries would lose one of the most important tools to maintain international peace and security. It would be very hard to imagine any promising future for multilateral action. Once again, I thank Russia for holding this important meeting. We look forward to our discussions that would elicit important ideas. I thank you, Mr. President.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank Egypt, and I give the floor to Indonesia.

Indonesia:
Thank you, Mr. President. We thank the Russian Federation for convening this timely open debate on a very important issue. Our multilateral system is being debilitated from the inside. The basic principle of the system is being put aside. International agreements, rules, laws are regularly being broken. Dialogue is being replaced by a take-it-or-leave-it approach. Solidarity is being replaced by the mighty take-all approach. Consensus has become rarer than the Tanzanite gemstone. Double standard has often become the order of the day. This trend is disheartening and dangerous. We are failing the people we serve on upholding peace and security, saving lives in conflict situations, protecting human rights, ensuring development, protection of the environment of our children and our children’s children. If we remain indifferent, we will be accomplices to the fall of multilateralism. And if multilateralism fails, a more peaceful, prosperous and just world will be. a distant dream. In this context, I would like to convey two points. First, it is time to recommit to the principles of multilateralism. Principles of inclusivity, equality, solidarity, partnership and trust-building must always guide us, with the UN Charter and international law as our beacon of light. We must avoid any abuse of power from the mighty, as it will create distrust and sharpen fragmentations. Second, we must seize the opportunity to reform our multilateral system to be more fit for purpose. We must stop the Security Council from being paralyzed in addressing humanitarian catastrophe in many conflict situations. The Council decision-making process must be brought back from the Stone Age. We need to expedite reform of the Council to be more effective, efficient, democratic, transparent and accountable. A Security Council that is well-adapted to the new global realities is the very tenet of a strong multilateral system. We must therefore use all avenues to reform the Council, including the summit of the future. If we want to prevent our future generation from the scourge of war, we must unite our strength and let multilateralism prevail. Thank you, Mr. President.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank Indonesia for your statement, and I give the floor to Guatemala. Thank you,

Guatemala:
Mr. President. The Republic of Guatemala, as a founding member of this organization, firmly believes in multilateralism, and we would like to reaffirm that the United Nations is the central forum to address issues related to international cooperation, sustainable development, peace, security, human rights, and the rule of law. This is why, among the principles of our foreign policy, is a search for peaceful solutions to disputes based on dialogue, cooperation, and diplomacy. Collective security of humanity cannot nor should it depend on deterrence through the use or the threat of the use of nuclear weapons or any kind of other weapons that threaten future generations. Guatemala reiterates its firm determination to confront the existential threat represented by nuclear weapons for humankind, as well as for international law, international humanitarian law, and the United Nations Charter, and to maintain our commitment to their complete elimination prohibition. Nuclear disarmament is a topic that we should all consider vitally important for the security of our hemisphere, for the world, and for the survival of humankind. Mr. President, a more just world order involves ensuring that all persons, especially the most vulnerable, have equitable access to basic rights such as education, health care, and security. This requires the elimination of all structural barriers that promote inequality. Multilateral cooperation can and must contribute to establishing international norms that promote equality and social justice in all nations. It’s essential to work on strengthening multilateralism so that the United Nations is capable of responding to new challenges that threaten international peace and security in the framework of action based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. It is necessary to have greater coherence in the implementation of the three pillars of this organization, and that it is essential to acknowledge that these three pillars are interrelated. With this in mind, we’d like to reiterate our support for the new agenda for peace. We have a collective responsibility to strengthen respect for international law, since this is essential to maintain a just world order. We’d like to reaffirm the critical importance of compliance with the norms of international humanitarian law as a way of preventing and mitigating the human cost of international armed conflicts and internal conflicts, without, of course, forgetting about the responsibility to protect. It is unacceptable that healthcare facilities and educational facilities are a military target. Such attacks must be condemned in the strongest terms. Guatemala will continue advocating for preventive diplomacy and mediation as means for avoiding the escalation of conflicts. As reaffirmed in the Declaration of Manila, all states have an obligation to resolve their international disputes through peaceful means such as negotiation, arbitration, and judicial arrangements. This council can and should benefit from greater interaction with membership and other organs of the UN, including the Human Rights Council. Furthermore, we maintain our firm support for the role of the Peacebuilding Commission and its integrated approach. From the point of view of my country, it’s essential for the Security Council to take into account the different strategic instruments that could be used at the operational level in order to include the peacebuilding component in mandates of peacekeeping operations. To conclude, we urge all member states to strengthen their commitment to the UN Charter through the defense of its principles, such as refraining from the threat or the use of force, respecting territorial integrity, international law, and peaceful resolution of disputes. Thank you very much.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank Guatemala for your statement. And before giving the floor to Nicaragua, I would like to inform members of the council that this will be the last statement for this morning’s session. Nicaragua, you have the floor.

Nicaragua:
Thank you very much, Mr. President. We’d like to congratulate the Russian Federation and its foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, for the successful presidency during July. Nicaragua would like to endorse the statement made by Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in defense of the UN Charter. Nicaragua reaffirms that peace and multilateralism are fundamental principles for our peoples in conformity with the United Nations Charter and international law. This is reflected in all our international relations and in our commitment to multilateralism. For peace – for true and just peace and security, it’s important to ensure that the rights of peoples are reflected in the organization that represents us. We consider that in the face of growing interventionist actions by Western countries that threaten international peace and security, a new world order is more necessary than ever to ensure this peace and security. In a new multipolar and polycentric world, we’d like to reiterate that this new order must be in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter respecting the sovereignty, independence, the self-determination of peoples, and the noninterference in their internal affairs. These are essential requirements to achieve peace at the national and international level that we all yearn for. Inhumane and illegal unilateral coercive measures must be eliminated immediately to ensure stability, peace, and development of families, peoples, and nations. These measures are aggressions and the biggest obstacle for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the eradication of poverty. Mr. President, a new world order is being born. Empires have been weakened, and alternative poles of power are emerging based on people’s new mechanisms for integration and solidarity, such as those being promoted by the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation, the peoples that have joined in the framework of BRICS, the peoples of Africa, Arab peoples. In spite of the multiple crises, a multipolar world is being born in this era based on solidarity and the combat of all our peoples against old and new forms of imperialism, colonialism and neocolonialism. Nicaragua will support the peoples of the Global South in this yearning for a multipolar world, advocating for stronger global solidarity that helps us accelerate the implementation of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order. We’re grateful once again to the Russian Federation for its leadership and contributions in creating this new multipolar world. Thank you very much.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank Nicaragua for your statement. We still have a number of speakers on our list. With the agreement of members of the Council, I will suspend this meeting until 3 p.m. The meeting is suspended. The 9,686th 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 collar of the microphone will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after three minutes. Thank you. I now give the floor to the representative of South Africa.

South Africa:
Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to take this opportunity to convey our gratitude to you for convening this open debate on multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order. The timing of this open debate is opportune. Humanity is facing a period of intense global challenges characterized by conflicts and wars while trust between states is waning. The increased quest for geopolitical influence is driving a wedge and creating disunity where there should be increased opportunity for cooperation and dialogue in the quest to seek solutions to humanity’s most pressing challenges. We find ourselves at a time in history when states are increasing their spending on military capacity while some of the most developed countries are citing constricting economies as the reason for diminished financial support for development assistance. For many in the developing South, the UN still represents a beacon of hope for addressing these challenges, including poverty, hunger, and conflict. This calls for a commitment to act collectively as UN member states to make the principles espoused in the Charter a reality. South Africa remains committed to a global system of governance premised on international law. The normative frameworks and mechanisms establishing the global system, including the UN Charter, provide solid ground for addressing these challenges. It is, therefore, evident that commitment and policy political will to confront global challenges is lacking. Mr. President, we are confronted with the increasing threat of the erosion of international law and the weakening of the global system due to the persistent, selective application of its provisions and violations of the UN Charter. It is timely that we reflect on the repercussions of such actions, which have a direct and immediate impact on the sustainability of global peace and security architecture. Our actions must demonstrate our express commitment to the UN Charter and international law in a way that transcends the usual and common rhetorical statements. Our collective action must place the global citizenry at the center of our endeavors. We regret to observe that 79 years on, narrow interests are pursued at the expense of people’s lives. The prevalence of destruction, conflicts, and wars and surging humanitarian crisis attest to the shift away from the principles of the UN Charter and international law. So, President, a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order will only be possible if we reform the United Nations and its Security Council into a more responsive and representative body. And we know all too well that when it is not in the interest of those who hold the veto, conflicts have been allowed to continue. The Security Council cannot be a tool for the pursuit of narrow national interests, of some that results in its failure to perform its mandated duties. In conclusion, Mr. President, it is evident that we are in an urgent need of a shift away from the politics of war to a concerted focus on addressing challenges. facing humanity. This implies that the actions of the council members and the international community must align with the express commitment to addressing conflict resolution based on international law and the UN Charter. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of South Africa for her statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Philippines.

Philippines:
Thank you, Your Excellency. The Philippines anticipates the Summit of the Future this September as a pivotal moment for multilateralism aiming to realize peace, justice, and sustainable development for all. We eagerly await the Pact for the Future, a landmark agreement delivering the following elements. Number one, address our evolving global challenges effectively for current and future generations. Two, foster an open, inclusive, and rules-based international order grounded in international law, equity, and justice. Three, elevate diplomacy and international law, emphasizing peaceful dispute resolutions. Four, uphold the sanctity of the UN Charter and promote human rights. Five, empower all, including youth, women, older persons, indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees, and persons with disabilities to contribute to inclusive and diverse societies. Six, initiate reforms in the international financial architecture for a just and equitable economic order. And seven, accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, including climate action, disaster resilience, and advancements in digital innovation, science, and technology. The Philippines is committed to being an active partner in reinforcing the foundations of our multilateral system, which has faced significant challenges due to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, ongoing crisis in Africa, food and energy insecurity, and the planetary crisis. In response to the guiding questions for this debate, we wish to raise the following five points. First, global development paradigm. The Philippines advocates for a polycentric development paradigm. This approach aligns with the natural course of history, bringing opportunities for justice and balance in international relations, as highlighted by the UN Secretary General. It allows for a diversity of models for internal development and international cooperation, recognizing no single model as superior. Two, adaptation of the United Nations to adapt to emerging polycentric realities. The UN must promote inclusive and equitable participation of all member states. Strengthening the role of the General Assembly and other multilateral platforms can help reestablish trust and dialogue among members, including within the Security Council. Three, selective application of international norms. To counter selective application of international law, the international community must reaffirm its commitment to the UN Charter’s principles in their entirety. This includes upholding equity, justice, and the rule of law in international relations, ensuring that no state selectively applies these norms for its own benefit. Four, enhancing trust and security. Measures to enhance trust and ensure indivisible security include bolstering diplomatic efforts, avoiding zero-sum strategies, and promoting disarmament. Preventing armed conflict between nuclear-armed states is crucial, emphasizing that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. Five, new global architecture. Key elements of a new global architecture include equitable global security, increased role of the Global South, freedom and democracy in international relations, cooperation based on mutual benefit, and strengthening the role of morality and the rule of law in international relations. This is how the Philippines approaches multilateralism in the 21st century, and we wish to carry this outlook as we bid for the Security Council for the term 2027 to 2028. With the support of member states, the Philippines stands ready to share its experiences and best practices with the Security Council, building on our record as a reliable partner, pathfinder, and peacemaker. Thank you, Mr. President.

President – Russian Federation:
of the Philippines for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates:
Mr. President, I want to begin by thanking Foreign Minister Lavrov and the Russian presidency for the invitation to participate in this open debate on multilateral cooperation. Mr. President, we need to respond to global challenges with more international cooperation and collective action, not less. The multilateral system was founded to ensure respect for the sovereignty of all nations, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the fostering of sustainable development. There is no doubt that the world is a better place thanks to the multiple examples of successful multilateral cooperation. Yet the truth is that multilateralism is under severe strain. And it is appropriate that we examine how to revitalize it. Our multilateral system often fails to facilitate decisive action due to political polarization and competing interests. This is evident in this council’s deliberations on Gaza and Ukraine. The failure of the Security Council to act decisively and the misuse of the veto combined with unimplemented resolutions have undermined the council’s ability to protect civilians and allowed the death and suffering of thousands and the displacement of millions to continue unabated. It serves as a case study for why reform is so urgently needed. The selective application of international law undermines the credibility of the UN and erodes trust between member states. It fosters impunity by allowing some states to evade accountability for their actions, setting a dangerous precedent for others to follow. It weakens the rule of law by undermining the universal applicability of norms and principles that are meant to govern state behavior, ultimately leading to a state of war. leading to a more unpredictable and unstable global environment. We should not meekly accept this status quo. We must strive to restore the effectiveness of the multilateral system and make it fit for purpose. To strengthen the multilateral system, all member states must consistently uphold international law and the UN Charter. These frameworks are essential for fostering peaceful cooperation and resolving disputes between member states. We must also address the long-standing need for more balanced representation in global multilateral institutions. The Security Council, the IMF, and the World Bank need comprehensive reforms to reflect current geopolitical and economic realities, as well as the voices of diverse member states, including from the Global South. A reinvigorated multilateral system must also incorporate a range of stakeholders. At COP28, the United Arab Emirates convened the most diverse and representative climate negotiations in history, with the participation of women, youth, indigenous people, scientists, and the private sector. All were respected. All were heard. Using that approach, we were able to deliver the ambitious UAE consensus. The UAE consensus is proof that despite the divisions in the world, by combining strong leadership, mutual respect, and an ability to envisage a brighter future, we can overcome our differences and build a better world for future generations. Mr. President, while voting on resolutions has unfortunately become commonplace, we remain confident that member states can still achieve consensus on critical issues facing our world. The recent adoption by consensus of two resolutions on artificial intelligence in the General Assembly – one penned by the United States and the other by China, exemplifies the positive outcomes achievable through cooperation. The UAE, therefore, strongly supports the work of Secretary General Guterres, including under our common agenda. And the upcoming summit of the future offers us a unique opportunity to strengthen global governance for both present and future generations. With a combination of hard work and political will, these agendas for change should enable us to bring about a more sustainable, inclusive, and just international order, and to advance the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. Thank you, Mr. President.

President – Russian Federation:
Yeah, I think the representative of the United Arab Emirates for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia:
Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to express our appreciation to the Russian Federation for once again making use of its presidency to continue organizing an open debate on this important topic. I would also like to recognize His Excellency Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, for presiding over this meeting. Mr. President, the quest to realize an equitable, democratic, and sustainable world order hinges on full adherence to the principles of international relations enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. No norm or consensus grouping or alliance should be allowed to undermine sovereignty and sovereign equality of states, the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, the prohibition of the use of force, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Furthermore, the institutional and normative frameworks of multilateralism, that upon conception failed to ensure equal representation of states need to be rectified. This is especially the case in reference to the composition of the UN Security Council, which failed to give Africa permanent representation. Until the equity and democratic shortfalls of this global peace and security body is rectified, the Council and its decisions will continue to be impacted by compromised legitimacy and credibility. Mr. President, to achieve the full enforcement of the UN Charter, as well as to introduce the necessary reform targeting equitable, democratic, and sustainable world order, the prevailing geopolitical landscape, characterized by conflicts, arms race, instability, and unhealthy global economic competition, need to improve. All measures and bargains targeting resolution of rivalries should be underpinned by full respect to international law and the rights of all states. To this end, first, we should act with a great sense of urgency. We should translate into action all the declarations we made in support of peace. We need to ensure full respect for the UN Charter and live up to our commitments towards implementation of the SDGs, eliminate action, sorry, climate action, disarmament, and all other aggregate undertakings. Second, there is a need for political and financial recommitment to eradicate poverty, tackle the effects of climate change, ensure human development, and address inequality. Without a substantial achievement of these objectives, the aspiration to create a more just global order will not take root. Third, the multilateral system should fundamentally remain the domain of states. We must also forge normative and institutional capability to regulate non-state actors. The UN-based multilateral system should harness the increasing clout of non-state actors and regulate their conduct that has proven consequential on global peace, security, and development. This includes effective global cooperation to tax such actors to prevent illicit accumulation and movement of wealth. Finally, it’s imperative that the UN commands political and functional independence and impartiality as well as practical capability to manage global affairs in accordance with the Charter and earn the trust of the people of the world. Ethiopia, as a member of the African Union and a member of the Non-Aligned Groups of States, reaffirms its commitment to the UN-based multilateralism and collective security. In the same vein, I wish to reaffirm Ethiopia’s conviction for equal representation in all organs of the UN, accommodation of civilizational diversity, promotion of solidarity, good faith, cooperation, and respect for national sovereignty. I thank you, Mr. President.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Ethiopia for their statement. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis, head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations.

European Union:
Thank you. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its 27 member states. The 28 countries align themselves with this statement, the full text of which will be published separately. Let me begin by stating the obvious. Russia is grossly violating international law and the principles of the UN Charter and undermining European and global security and stability as we speak. The member state currently holding the presidency of the UN Security Council, the body responsible for maintaining peace and security, is intensifying attacks on civilian infrastructure. structure in Ukraine, including on hospitals and power plants. We call on Russia to immediately end its illegal war of aggression and to unconditionally withdraw all its troops from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. Russia must, at last, abide by ICJ decisions and by the resolutions adopted with overwhelming majorities of the UN General Assembly. Russia’s arms transfers from the DPRK openly violate UN Security Council resolutions as well and endanger peace and security. Colleagues, effective multilateralism is too important to not be defended. For multilateralism to work, our discussions need to be underpinned by a common foundation of shared values, principles, and legal commitments that form the basis for international relations. Without them, the world is chaos. Without them, might makes right. These values and principles are not abstract. They are embedded in international law, in the UN Charter, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – in other words, in the UN, in our UN as a whole. They have, for decades, been the daily shield of the powerless against the whims of the mighty and the powerful. The European Union and its member states are doing their utmost to live up to those commitments. As we speak, we are financing one quarter of the UN regular budget as well as that of UN agencies. While accounting for only 6 percent of the world’s population and only 18 percent of the world’s GDP, we are the world’s largest provider of official development assistance, amounting to 42 percent of ODA last year alone. We don’t just talk about supporting multilateralism, we do it in action. We call on all member states, including those championing multilateralism so loudly, to step up their own contributions to the UN’s essential work. We are also proudly among the UN’s closest partners in crisis management and peace operations. The EU works in over 25 crisis contexts, providing mediation and supporting dialogue. Together with our partners around the world, we continue to address many global crises, from the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine to Gaza and the Middle East, and from Sudan to the DRC and elsewhere. The UN represents humanity’s best attempt to prevent a repetition of the horrors of two world wars and their aftermaths. Examples show it is possible. UN-led humanitarian assistance is saving the lives of people affected by natural disasters and by armed conflict every day. UNSC Resolution 2719 allows for more predictable and sustainable financing for AU-led peace support operations, and the Summit of the Future provides an opportunity to uphold and reinvigorate multilateralism and to summon fresh momentum to reform the UN Security Council, Peacebuilding Commission, and international financial institutions, among many other deliverables. This, dear colleagues, is what multilateralism can look like. It means ensuring that international law and the UN Charter apply to all states in the same way, that might does not make right, that solidarity and responsibility towards our people and towards each other prevail over war, repression and polarization. We can do it. Thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
As representative of the Security Council, I must thank the representative of the European Union delegation for his statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of India.

India:
Thank you, Mr. President. Let me begin by extending our appreciation to your delegation for organizing this high-level meeting. In the interest of time, I am delivering a shorter version of our statement. The full statement is being submitted separately for record. Mr. President, the work of the UN is guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding charter. The sovereign equality of states and prohibition of the use of force are cardinal principles of international relations. However, while we may have succeeded in preventing another world war, this does not hide the reality about the UN’s inability to respond to increasingly complex global challenges such as terrorism, pandemics, climate change, threats posed by emerging technologies, cyber attacks, and the disruptive role of non-state actors. Clearly, the growing stresses that the international system has experienced in the recent years call for an effective multilateral response. Disillusionment with the existing multilateral system has led member states to consider various alternatives such as replacing multilateral agreements with bilateral deals or replacing multilateral rules with rules for like-minded countries. The growing influence of and expectations from plurilateral or multilateral groups is a reaction to the dissatisfaction with the static nature of existing institutions in a dynamic world as UN mechanisms are gradually losing their functional character. In this context, let me offer the following points for consideration. Member states have always extended support for treaty-based multilateralism. When multilateral mechanisms fail to respond to their needs, member states have resorted to plurilateral initiatives as a viable option for cooperation. This is a natural phenomenon and need not be seen as a threat, but as a complement to a rules-based international order led by the UN. Multipolarity, as we are witnessing it now, is here to stay. The primary reason the multilateral system has failed to deliver is that it is still stuck in a 1945 vintage binary outlook reflected clearly in the composition of this Security Council. The core of India’s position on reformed multilateralism, therefore, lies in a call for the reform of the UN Security Council that is reflective of contemporary realities of today. For multilateral cooperation to deliver, it must emanate from a representation of developing countries in all major decision-making bodies, especially in the peace and security architecture. As we convene for the Summit of the Future, let us recommit to time-bound negotiations on UNSC reforms. The multilateral system cannot deliver without the sustained commitment of major powers and groups to global institutions and a rules-based order. And in this context, it is important that all must adhere to the basic building block of international cooperation, which is good-faith negotiations. Sabotaging of negotiating processes and mechanisms by big countries or groups in the narrow interest of their own positions is detrimental to the multilateral spirit and must be called out wherever necessary. Mr. President, India has consistently worked to strengthen multilateralism by seeking reform of the UN, the Bretton Woods system, and the WTO. India is also contributing to strengthening of the voices of the Global South in all multilateral forums. It has initiated the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure, joined the Alliance for Multilateralism, and is a proactive member of the G20. We have always pursued a rules-based architecture to strengthen the forces of cooperative multilateralism. Upholding multilateralism and the UN-centered international system needs more serious efforts than tokenism. We have always sought responsible and inclusive solutions to global challenges, guided by dialogue and cooperation, mutual respect, and commitment to international law. This approach, to our mind, is a sine qua non for a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I now give the floor to the representative of Turkey.

Turkey:
Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues. First of all, let me begin by thanking the Russian Presidency for organizing this important debate. Today, as the global community, our ability to address international peace and security issues are being put to the test of history. We are facing multiple and simultaneous conflicts, which are increasingly multilayered and multidimensional. The world needs effective multilateral cooperation with a multilateral system that is more inclusive and also more responsive to global challenges. The UN constitutes the heart of the existing multilateral system. Therefore, we support all efforts to make the UN more relevant and fit to face the complex challenges of our century and beyond. Mr. President, in order to fulfill its primary responsibility, the Security Council must be able to deliver by taking decisive and timely action when breaches occur. We need to be able to do better than meeting only at minimum common denominators, which is almost always at the expense of meaningful action. Given its structural deficiencies and the underlying problem of of the use of veto, this will be possible only through a comprehensive reform of the Security Council. The Council needs to become a more representative, democratic, transparent, accountable, and effective organ that the world urgently needs. Hence, Turkey is actively engaged in the IGN process, which is the sole legitimate platform for these discussions. Mr. President, we closely follow the discussions aimed at strengthening multilateralism and establishing solid international structures, which are the requirements of the current multilateral world. In this vein, we attach importance to the summit of the future to be held in September that may design and should design an effective global governance structure for future generations. Mr. President, strengthened multilateralism and stronger international solidarity is essential in tackling current and future complex challenges and crises. While trying to address conflicts in an effective manner, we need to draw lessons from the recent history. One such lesson should be to avoid the application of one-size-fits-all kind of methods, whose failure has been proven in many cases. Turkey sees the peaceful resolution of disputes and conflicts as a priority goal for ensuring regional peace and security. In the Middle East, the Palestinian question remains a core issue. In the absence of a viable resolution to this question, sustainable peace and security in the wider region will remain elusive. In Ukraine, we also follow with great concern the deepening humanitarian consequences of the war that is now raging on its third year. In conclusion, Mr. President, Turkey is committed to our common priority in making the global multilateral system more equitable and inclusive, as also envisioned in the Secretary General’s Our Common Agenda. Mr. President, dear colleagues, Turkish dedication to the multilateralism displays in its generosity on human assistance in different parts of the world, also in its proactive role in mediation, and its continued membership in many international fora, although it is sometimes heavily discriminated. Thank you very much.

President – Russian Federation:
I now give the floor to the representative of Cuba.

Cuba:
President, we align ourselves with the statements delivered by Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the group of friends in defense of the United Nations Charter. We welcome the presence of the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Russian Federation at the UN, His Excellency Sergei Lavrov, as President of the Security Council. This open debate is taking place at a particularly pertinent time, given the international scenario characterized by an escalation in tensions, the increase in wars, non-conventional wars, the increase in the arms race, the deepening inequalities, as well as social exclusion and poverty. We reject the new forms of domination, which are part of an attempt to reimpose a unipolar international order. We condemn the use of unilateral coercive measures and the drawing up of arbitrary unilateral lists, such as that drawn up by the government of the United States of those countries that are supposedly sponsoring terrorism. We demand that Cuba be excluded from this spurious list. Multilateralism continues to be weakened with the proliferation of ad hoc fora, which are exclusive, and the increasing trend to block transparent and inclusive negotiations and consultations between states, in which all can contribute in good faith to building the new order. We need to preserve the central role of the UN strictly adhering to the United Nations Charter. We must revitalize and bolster the role of the General Assembly without the Security Council interfering in its work. We need to see a root-and-branch reform of the Security Council to make it a more transparent, inclusive, democratic and representative body. The culture of peace must prevail to guarantee peaceful coexistence and to find lasting solutions to systemic problems. Efforts must be brought together to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. There are enough resources to do this. What is lacking is political will, particularly on the part of powerful nations, to boost development as the central part of the system of international relations. Cuba will continue to support all efforts geared towards strengthening multilateralism. This is the only effective way to address the major challenges that humanity is facing.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Cuba for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Vietnam.

Viet Nam:
Mr. President, I thank you and the Russian presidency for convening this important meeting. Vietnam welcomes today’s open debate. Its theme, multilateral cooperation, is particularly pertinent. in view of the current international context. The world is facing mounting challenges on multiple fronts. The use of force is indeed on the rise, and threats are expanding. Multilateral institutions and multilateral cooperation are questioned and even challenged. Mr. President, in times of crisis, we need more, not less, international cooperation. Individual nations cannot tackle multidimensional challenges by themselves in an ever-interconnected world. Global challenges can only be addressed through vigorous multilateral cooperation. Vietnam strongly believes that multilateral cooperation is essential in our common endeavor to build a more peaceful, prosperous, equitable, and sustainable world. In this regard, my delegation wishes to underline the following points. First, upholding international law and the UN Charter is critical to effective multilateral cooperation. The respect for sovereign equality, political independence, and territorial integrity of other states serves as the basis of all cooperation. Indeed, there can be no cooperation without mutual respect. Strict observance of the basic principles of the Charter, in particular, refraining from the threat of use of force and settling disputes through peaceful means creates the foundation for peace and stability across the world, paving the way for the pursuit of sustainable development and enjoyment of human rights. Second, multilateral cooperation must follow an inclusive and people-centered approach. The aspirations of ordinary people to live in peace, prosperity, and progress must be respected and fulfilled. As history would show us, ignoring this legitimate interest has often resulted in grave economic, social, and political consequences. Third, multilateral cooperation must seek to address inequality at all levels. In many cases, the erosion of trust and friction among nations are the result of growing inequality of all forms, including inequality in governance structures of the multilateral system. It is regrettable that this very body, tasked with the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, has been deadlocked on multiple occasions, unable to resolve serious conflicts in different regions of the world. We call for accelerated reforms to increase the voice and participation of developing countries at multilateral institutions, starting with this Council. Such reforms will enhance accountability. and the quality of decision-making that can have major economic, social and security impacts across the world, especially in the Global South. Vietnam is a fervent supporter of multilateralism and enhanced multilateral cooperation. We have spared no efforts to strengthen the multilateral system at both regional and global levels through our active membership and initiatives in regional and international organizations, especially at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, and the United Nations. Vietnam has made important contributions to the realization of joint commitments in areas of peace and security, sustainable development, and the promotion of human rights. We have pursued these actions first and foremost for the benefit of our own citizens, and we believe that by cooperating with others on the basis of mutual trust and respect, together we can promote a more peaceful, prosperous, and equitable world for all of us. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Vietnam for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Uganda.

Uganda:
Mr. President, I am honored to speak on behalf of the 121 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement. At the onset, I congratulate the Russian Federation on its accession to the Presidency of the Security Council for this month, and express appreciation for granting Nam the opportunity to present its position on today’s topic, multilateral cooperation, in the interest of a more just, democratic, and sustainable world. Mr. President, the concept of multilateralism is at the center of the Non-Aligned Movement. Now member states are committed to supporting, preserving, and strengthening the values of multilateralism and international cooperation. as cornerstones of the Charter of the United Nations. We reaffirm our commitment to the United Nations as the primary multilateral institution, with the mechanism to promote and support the intertwined values of humanity, namely peace, security, development, inalienable human rights, and the mechanisms for the achievement of the 23rd Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the 19th Summit held in Kampala, Uganda, on 19th and 20th January 2024, the heads of state and government of the Non-Aligned Movement reaffirmed the validity of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles and norms of international law as indispensable in preserving and promoting peace and security, the rule of law, economic development, and social progress, and all human rights for all. The strict observance of the principles of international law and the fulfillment, in good faith, of the obligations assumed by states in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations are of the greatest importance for the maintenance of international peace and security. NAM is cognizant of the importance of building representative, democratic, and inclusive global institutions that serve the interests of all, leaving none behind. In this respect, the movement stresses the need to strengthen multilateralism through a comprehensive reform of the current global governance architecture, including the United Nations system, the international financial institutions, and multilateral government banks to make them fit for purpose, democratic, equitable, representative, and responsive to the current global realities and particular needs and aspirations of the global South, while stressing the concern over the continued erosion of multilateralism as a result of the noncompliance with international obligations, the adoption of unilateral coercive measures by some states, and the promotion of non-inclusive events or processes to address issues of global and common interest. The movement reaffirms the absolute validity and necessity of upholding multilateral diplomacy and its opposition to all unilateral coercive measures, including those measures used as tools for political, economic, and financial pressure against any country, in particular against China. against developing countries, which violate the Charter of the United Nations, rules, and principles of international law. Mr. President, the movement reaffirms and underscores its principled position and commitment with regard to multilateral cooperation for a just, democratic world, promotion of the principle of pacific settlement of disputes in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law. In that context, we emphasize the significant role played by the International Court of Justice in promoting and encouraging the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the statute of the court. The movement remains committed to its founding principles and reaffirms its determination to work to the establishment of a peaceful, just, equitable world order with shared global affluence. Furthermore, now member states renew their determination to work for strengthening multilateralism and inclusive multilateral decision-making processes, providing the UN with a substantive capacity to fully and effectively meet the purposes and principles enshrined in this Charter. And at consolidating its democratic and governmental character and its transparency in the discussions and implementations of decisions by member states, which contribute to a better world for all. I thank you, Mr. President.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Uganda for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Pakistan:
Thank you, Mr. President. Pakistan thanks the Russian presidency for organizing this important debate. Today, we face numerous threats arising from violations of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, great power rivalries, a renewed global arms race, proliferating conflicts and disputes, spreading terrorism, hate, Islamophobia, organized crime, rising poverty, and growing climate impacts. Pakistan firmly believes that multilateralism and multilateral cooperation are indispensable for addressing these issues. these complex and interlinked challenges. We reject any unipolar, bipolar, or so-called multipolar world dominated by a few powerful states. Such an order contradicts the principle of sovereign equality of states. Mr. President, a just, democratic, and sustainable world order must be based on consistent adherence to the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, self-determination of peoples, non-use or threat of use of force, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and non-interference in their internal affairs. Strict adherence to these principles has become all the more essential in the context of recent and ongoing conflicts. The UN Security Council has failed to ensure universal implementation of the central principles of the UN Charter and its own resolutions, such as those relating to Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir. Mr. President, our efforts to promote world order, peace, and stability will fail unless we achieve universal socioeconomic development, a core objective of the Charter. The COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing conflicts, and climate change have plunged many developing countries into extreme economic distress. Comprehensive reform of the international financial, trade, and technology architectures is necessary to ease the suffering of a billion people in the global south and achieve the sustainable development goals. To promote multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order, we suggest the following. One, we must promote universal respect for the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. To this end, the UN Secretary General should prepare an annual review of the situations on the Security Council’s agenda where Charter’s principles and Council resolutions are violated. Two, to avoid global catastrophe, we must address rising tensions between major military powers. Three, the UN Security Council must actively promote the resolution of conflicts and disputes, including their root causes, such as foreign occupation and the suppression of the right to self-determination. Four, the Secretary General should exercise his authority under Article 99 of the Charter more assertively. The jurisdiction of judicial mechanisms, especially the ICJ, should be fully utilized. Fifth, the Security Council should be enlarged to be more representative, accountable, democratic, transparent, and effective. Expanding the number of non-permanent members is crucial for representative. Adding new permanent members will erode the principles of sovereign equality and equity and further paralyze the Council. However, a reformed Council in itself offers no panacea. It must be accompanied by fully utilizing the considerable potential of the General Assembly, the activation of the UN’s disarmament machinery, and most critically, the reform and democratization of the Bretton Woods institutions. Mr. President, multilateral cooperation must be comprehensive, inclusive, and equitable. Pakistan remains committed to promoting these ideals, including through the Summit of the Future. I thank you very much.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Pakistan for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste:
Mr. President, congratulations for your chairmanship of the Security Council. Mr. President, in a world characterized by rapid globalization, complex interdependencies, and unprecedented technological advancements, the maintenance of international peace and security is of paramount importance. Achieving this goal extends beyond mere conflict prevention. It embodies the pursuit of a just, democratic, and sustainable world order. Central to this ambitious vision is multilateral cooperation and multilateralism, a strategy that unites global actors in addressing common challenges and fostering collective prosperity. Our world becomes more interconnected. Recognizing and managing interdependence is essential for maintaining peace and security on a global scale. Multilateralism by its very nature underscores the interconnectivity of global affairs. No single nation can address the multifaceted challenges of the 21st century in isolation, no matter how powerful it is. From climate change to terrorism, pandemic to economic instability, today’s problems are undeniably transnational. Consequently, the framework of multilateral cooperation must facilitate comprehensive approaches to harness the strengths and perspectives of diverse nations and find effective and inclusive solutions. Small states like mine, with their own unique experiences, play a significant role in advancing for the principle of equity, fairness, and transparency in international relations. We understand the importance of upholding the rule of law, promoting human rights, and fostering dialogues and negotiations to prevent conflict and settle disputes peacefully. Strengthening the rules of law, or rules based on international order, is crucial for addressing complex issues that affect both big and small countries alike. Mr. President, as a small island state, we recognize the importance of maintaining international peace and security through multilateral cooperation. In today’s interconnected world, global challenges require collective action and cooperation, be they small and big countries alike. We believe that multilateral cooperation is essential for promoting a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order. Firstly, multilateral cooperation allows us to address global security threats that no single country can take alone. As a small island state, we are vulnerable to external threats, such as climate change, pandemics, and economic instability. While big and strong economic powers possess the power to drive the direction of world policies and politics, only by working together, we can share resources, expertise, and risk to ensure our collective security. This is the foundation under which the UN was established. Secondly, multilateral cooperation promotes democratic values and principles. By engaging in international dialogue and cooperation, we can advance human rights, the rule of law, and democratic governance. This, we believe, forces a more just and equitable world order. Thirdly, multilateral cooperation is crucial for achieving sustainable development. As a small island state, we are acutely aware of the challenges posed by climate change, sea level rise, and environmental degradation, such threats are closely interlinked with the issues of economic downturn, poverty, and hunger. Only by working together with other nations, we can share knowledge, technology, and best practices to achieve sustainable development and protect our planet for future generations. Finally, multilateral cooperation empowers small island states like ours to have a greater voice in global affairs. We, therefore, will resist the imposition of unilateralism and dominance by one only power, which only addresses one side’s interest. By pooling our resources and expertise with other nations, we can amplify our concerns and interests on the global stage. Multilateralism forces cooperation, but its success depends on balancing inclusivity, effectiveness, and adaptability. We recognize that the challenges to multilateralism and multilateral cooperation persists, such as rights. nationalism, protectionism, and unilateralism that threatens to undermine collaborative efforts. Our nations and global institutions must reaffirm the commitment to multilateralism, demonstrating that collective action is not only feasible, but also essential for global stability. The sustainability of our world requires our collaborative, inclusive, equitable, and trustful approaches, more than ever, to better address the myriad challenges of our times. As a small island state, Mr. President, we firmly believe that multilateralism and multilateral cooperation are essential for maintaining balance in international relations, maintaining international peace and security, promoting democratic values, achieving sustainable development, and amplifying our voices in global affairs. We congratulate Russia for chairing this Council, and we hope that Russia, with Russia’s leadership of the Security Council, can open further the way for all of us to work together to resolve the conflicts in Europe and in the Middle East, and strive towards a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order that benefits us all. Thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Timor-Leste for their statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Ghana.

Ghana:
President, I begin by expressing my gratitude to your delegation for organizing today’s open debate. Ghana shares in the objects of this meeting and the conversation it raises for a just, democratic, and sustainable world order. As our nations have become increasingly interdependent, it is regrettable that the collective resolve and actions that are required to address the many complex, interlocking, and multifaceted challenges of our times is rather weakening. With present trends, we risk a major short-circuiting. of the multilateral system that has been overcharged with major problems has at its disposal known solutions, but is unresolved for critical actions. As we have witnessed in recent times significant threats to international peace and security from drivers such as violent extremism and terrorism, especially in Africa, the unabated assailing of civilians and infrastructure, including in Gaza, the brutalities against innocent populations in Myanmar and places such as Sudan, and the unacceptable reality of conflict in Ukraine, Ghana remains ever more convinced that what is required now is not less multilateralism, but rather more. Multilateralism that must unburden itself of past privileges and sinecues, and which must firmly anchor itself to the foundations of fairness and equity and the realities of a changed world. Mr. President, in contributing to today’s debate, therefore, Ghana will make three key points. First, for multilateralism to deliver global peace and stability, it must rest on our individual and collective commitment for international law and a rules-based order that is grounded in full and total respect for the Charter of the United Nations. The purposes and principles of the Charter are not a la carte and should not be treated as such. In this regard, whether it is the non-use of force, the peaceful settlement of disputes, non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states, or the sovereign equality of states, there should not be selectivity and double standards. Far too many times, double standards have been overlooked, and to do so into the future in a world of multiple actors would risk our common peace. Secondly, the international institutions at the heart of global governance, which drive the processes of our multilateral world and were established to guarantee stability, are failing internationally. and need urgent reform. Indeed, it is Ghana’s view that the privileged circumstances upon which benefits and costs have been assigned to member states in the multilateral order, including within the context of the United Nations Charter, no longer work fully and should be reformed. While benefits continue to accrue to the few, the cost of many have increased and remain unresolved. The veto granted to permanent members of the Security Council no longer works as a safety valve, but rather as a lockjam. And the credibility of this council is undermined each day reforms delay. Whereas in Africa, there’s a winning consensus and bodies are unified position on the Security Council reforms. We believe it offers the world an opportunity to rectify the historical injustice that has deprived our continent of permanent and adequate representation on the Security Council. And every step taken in federals of a reformed council that is truly representative of all regions of the world, both in form and substance, is an effort that will end Ghana’s support. Finally, the overload of peace and security problems that multilateralism is called upon to address require all of us to appreciate that no single country can lead that charge. We must, therefore, prioritize networked and efficient multilateralism and reinforce the importance of regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security as envisaged in Chapter 8 of the United Nations Charter. Given the complexity of Africa’s peace and security concerns, there is a need to deepen partnership with the African Union, leveraging the council’s recent framework resolution 2719, which Ghana is happy to be associated with. It is important that by our actions or inactions, we do not roll back the objectives of Resolution 2719. In its simplest form, it represents new hope and additional capacity. capacity for silencing the gangs on the African continent. The council’s goal should therefore not run apart that of Africa. As to do so would be unhelpful and serve as a great damage to multilateralism. Mr. President, let me conclude by stating that since the world is not a perfect place, our efforts at improving multilateralism should not make the perfect an enemy of the good. We may all have many aspirations for multilateralism, but in truth, when we cut to the brass tacks, the most important levels of constraint that need to be released are few. And if we commit ourselves to act on them, we can truly deliver for our nations multilateralism that is just, democratic, and sustainable for our shared and common benefit. I thank you very much.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Ghana for their statement. And I’ll give the floor to the representative of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh:
Mr. President, we thank the presidency of the Russian Federation for convening today’s open debate, which is timely given the ongoing global challenges we face. Today, we find ourselves in the midst of profound transformations within the global order. This shift is marked by a more distributed balance of power among states, corporations, and non-state actors. Many argue that we are shifting from a post-war to a pre-war era. The Secretary General rightly stated that the post-Cold War period has ended and we are moving toward a new global order characterized by multipolarity. In this evolving landscape, Bangladesh stands firmly in support of multilateral cooperation as the cornerstone of a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order in a multipolar environment marked by various centers of power, economic growth, and geopolitical tensions. This shift presents both challenges and significant opportunities. It enables the creation of a more balanced international order and fosters genuine democracy in international relations, allowing sovereign states to engage in mutually beneficial cooperation. Mr. President, recognizing these emerging multipolar realities, Bangladesh considers the UN as the center of people’s hopes and aspirations at this crossroad of history. We firmly believe that our interconnected challenges can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateral cooperation. To that end, the UN must enhance its mechanisms to foster trust, dialogue, and cooperation among its member states. Mr. President, allow me to highlight a few points. First, Bangladesh urges all nations to recommit to the principles of the UN Charter, ensuring that international law is applied uniformly and equitably. We believe that double standards and unmet commitments are undermining international cooperation. We advocate for robust measures to prevent global conflicts and address geopolitical divisions by prioritizing diplomacy and investing in multilateralism. To that end, we call for urgent reforms to the Security Council, revitalization of the General Assembly, enhancement of the UN’s disarmament machinery, and strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission to bolster collective security. We must work together to prevent fragmentation and reinforce the role of universal multilateral institutions. In this regard, we support the Secretary-General’s new agenda for peace. Secondly, to foster a more equitable global landscape, we underscore the critical importance of sustainable development. By leveraging the strengths of a multipolar world, states can collaborate on innovative solutions to combat poverty and inequality. Progress in education, health care, and sustainable infrastructure will empower communities, enabling their full participation in the global economy and fostering resilience. Third, Bangladesh emphasizes the importance of fostering inclusive governance in international institutions, including international financial institutions. By ensuring that marginalized voices are heard in decision-making processes, we can create equitable policies that address the unique challenges faced by diverse communities. This inclusivity will enhance the legitimacy of global governance and contribute to lasting peace and development. Fourth, we stress the need to strengthen international peacebuilding initiatives, particularly enhancing the role of the Peacebuilding Commission. Effective conflict prevention requires addressing underlying issues such as social injustice and marginalization. By fostering multilateral dialogue, we can create frameworks that not only resolve tensions but also promote long-term stability. Mr. President, in closing, Bangladesh urges all nations to unite in strengthening multilateral cooperation, ensuring that together we can build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable future for generations to come. And the summit of the future is an opportunity for us to agree on multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Bangladesh for their statement. And I’ll give the floor to the representative of Iraq.

Iraq:
Thank you, Mr. President. First, we’d like to congratulate the Russian Federation on its presidency of the Security Council for this month. We welcome His Excellency Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov amongst us in this meeting. And I would also like to thank the delegation of the Republic of Korea for the excellent work in chairing the council last month. Mr. President, when the United Nations Charter was drafted, we all focused on the importance of multilateralism as a means to achieve equality among states and resolve international problems. The United Nations was founded on the principles of international cooperation and respect of national sovereignty, as well as the values of democracy. It confirmed the importance of dialogue and negotiations as means to resolve conflicts. Multilateralism is an important foundation in the preservation of international peace, security, and stability, and in achieving sustainable development. Through cooperation among states and within the framework of international organizations, we can arrive at collective solutions to global problems and enhance prosperity for all. Multilateralism has and always been an important tool in achieving international peace and security. security, preserving the values of international cooperation and multilateralism, which the Charter is based on and which Agenda 2030 is built on, is an important element in order to support and bolster the three pillars of the United Nations, namely development, human rights and peace and security. This is a pivotal matter in raising the ceiling of commitments to international criteria and the rules and procedures that have governed international relations over the past eight decades when dealing with conflicts and the increasing challenges resulting from such conflict. Multilateralism is the lifeline of the United Nations’ work and its reason for existence and the vision that governs multilateralism. It is a framework for countries to work together within international organizations to achieve common objectives. This principle reflects cooperation and coordination among a large number of countries instead of simply relying on unilateral efforts or bilateral ones. Mr. President, despite the advantages of multilateralism, we are witnessing today some trends that are moving us away from this value. And this is being reflected in the increasing number of regional and international efforts that are raising concerns over the effectiveness of multilateralism currently. And most countries agree that there are several reasons behind the regression of multilateralism and the increasing conflict and the negative competition between some states in a manner that hinders multilateral cooperation and raises challenges that confront international organizations. We must realize that the world is now more connected than ever before. And this is thanks to the great advances in science and technology and legal tools. However, these challenges in our world today have also changed and have also become more complex, such as the causes of armed conflict and the methods of armed conflict, climate change, pollution. solution, epidemics, the abuse of information technology, water scarcity, energy, population increase, human rights issues, and other such challenges that make our tasks collectively, including the tasks of this esteemed council and the organization as a whole, in maintaining international peace and security, it makes this task more difficult. Mr. President, possible solutions to enhance the role of multilateralism can be guaranteed through reforming international organizations. And this can be done through deepening trust and understanding and through continued cooperation within the framework of international organizations and through implementing reforms that aim to increase effectiveness and transparency and to limit bureaucracy and to enhance dialogue and cooperation in order to resolve conflicts instead of taking lateral action. We must encourage international cooperation to enhance international regional stability and to alleviate tensions. We must strive towards achieving the sustainable development goals and in dealing with environmental problems and climate change issues collectively and through joint action in a spirit of international solidarity and cooperation. The effectiveness of multilateralism is dependent on how comprehensive and representative it is. Therefore, most countries, regardless of their size or economic power, all countries must have a voice in drafting resolutions that have global objectives. We reaffirm that true multilateralism requires major changes in international institutions, including reforming the Security Council and expanding its membership so that it would represent different regions in an equitable and fair manner. We must also confront the challenges that face international criteria in the use and possession of nuclear weapons through adopting a multilateral collective approach that aims to the complete elimination of weapons of mass destruction and controls the proliferation. of conventional weapons. In closing, we confirm that the path to a more just, democratic, and sustainable global order goes to our ability to uphold a collective commitment towards multilateralism. This has been confirmed by GA Resolution 73-127 on declaring an International Day for Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. We must work firmly to enhance our international institutions and their mechanisms to confront global challenges in a more capable and flexible way so that we can guarantee a better future. And I would like to take this opportunity to call upon the Security Council to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities in maintaining peace and security by finding a sustainable solution to the Palestinian question and putting an end to the Israeli occupation. The Security Council has been unable to do so yet, despite the many resolutions that express the will of the international community. I thank you, Mr. President.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Iraq for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Maldives.

Maldives:
Thank you, Mr. President. I thank Russia, the president of the Council for July, for convening this open debate. Multilateralism is in the DNA of the Maldives. The very first decision that the government of Maldives took, just minutes after gaining independence in 1965, was to join the United Nations. We believed then, as we believe today, that multilateralism is the default mode for human progress. That is the belief which guided the establishment of the United Nations, too. That is the belief that led to the establishment of this very Council as the principal body. for maintaining international peace and security. And that is the belief which small states like mine fought for every day in the hopes that our voices will be heard. Indeed, the defining challenges of our time, including the ongoing climate crisis, all require multilateral solutions, solutions that this council is ideally placed to develop, but have time and again failed. I will highlight three ways in which the council and the UN system could revive and promote multilateralism. First, we must enhance the legitimacy of multilateral institutions to address contemporary challenges, challenges including the reforming of the United Nations system to ensure it is more representative, more transparent, and more effective. The current composition of the Security Council, for example, does not adequately reflect the realities of the 21st century. The council at all times need to have a representative from small island developing states. Second, we must uphold and promote international law. A just world order is grounded in the rule of law and the protection of rights. We have always emphasized on the need to revitalize, reform, and reinvigorate multilateral system. Yet the UN system, particularly the Security Council, has often fallen short in taking decisive actions. The veto power has often led to deadlock and critical peace and security issues. This inaction is evident in the ongoing suffering in Gaza, where Israel continues its brutal onslaught. It took Security Council 171 days of war and the death of of thousands, mostly women and children in Gaza, before adopting a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire. The Council must ensure that its resolutions are implemented in full. Third, to foster a peaceful and resilient world order, we must promote inclusive economic development. Providing access to resources, advanced technologies, and global markets is crucial for bridging the development gap. Digital technologies, in particular, can accelerate progress on SDGs by building resilience. Development requires commitments to provide concessional financing for ambitious climate action, especially from major and historical emitters. The Maldives calls on the Council to use its powers, its mandate, and its influence to reshape global order based on the principle of multilateralism. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of the Maldives for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan:
Mr. President, I would like to thank the Russian Presidency for convening this timely debate. In today’s world, humanity faces serious challenges arising from unprecedented geopolitical contradictions and escalating conflict potential. The very architecture of international security is now at risk. It could have dire consequences for all of humankind. The essence of the threat lies in the erosion of fundamental principles of multilateralism and international law enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The weakening of these principles places an increasingly heavy burden on the existing structure of international relations leading to confrontations. The situation disrupts global systems, trade systems, weakens supply chains, threatens food security, and accelerates inflation. Ultimately, it erodes one’s confidence in the stable future development of our world. Kazakhstan recognizes the importance of reaffirming our unwavering commitment to multilateralism and the principles outlined in the United Nations Charter. Our collective mission is to enhance the UN’s role as the primary international institution responsible for global security. It should effectively address the present day and future challenges. No alternative exists to the UN, and its potential is far from exhausted. In this endeavor, we place significant emphasis on the upcoming summit of the future and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. However, UN cannot navigate this journey alone. Other international and regional organizations must share the responsibility of promoting peace, stability, and security at regional and global levels. This is true multilateralism that should be enhanced. Open dialogue and trust between the Global South and the Global North are essential. The voices of middle powers and all developing nations should resonate more prominently on the international stage, advocating for a unified stance on contemporary issues. We have to promote dialogue and understanding among different nations in order to foster global peace and security through mutual respect and cooperation. We need to elaborate more on conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding. Instead of responding to crisis, we need to invest far more in prevention. Prevention works, saves lives, and is cost-effective. Kazakhstan stands prepared to collaborate with all member states in our shared pursuit of a brighter, more just, and sustainable world. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Kazakhstan for their statement. And I’ll give the floor to the representative of Nepal.

Nepal:
Mr. President, first of all, I wish to thank the Presidency of the Russian Federation for convening this very important debate. Mr. President, today we are facing grave challenges, like heightened geopolitical tensions, rising conflicts, climate crisis. economic disparities, terrorism, cyber security, and arms race as a threat to international peace and security. These complex and interconnected challenges transcend national borders, which demand robust, integrated, and coordinated multilateral efforts. Only through effective multilateralism, we can build an old, fairer, more harmonious, more equitable, and more sustainable, leaving no one behind. In this context, let me highlight a few points. First, the United Nations stands as the only credible intergovernmental body with the universal membership. It’s charter serves as an instrument of international law, enshrining principles of sovereign equality, peaceful settlement of disputes, and promotion and protection of human rights of all. The UN has enabled significant achievements in global governance, humanitarian support, and peacekeeping, among others. However, this body is under severe strain, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions, protectionisms, and a growing disregard for international norms and agreements. We must uphold our commitment to the UN Charter and international laws, and foster trust and cooperation among nations. Nepal firmly believes in stronger multilateralism, with the United Nations at its center. The UN Charter and norms of world peace are the fundamental guiding principles of Nepal’s foreign policy. Second, while we stand for unequivocal adherence to the UN Charter, we call for timely reform of the Security Council to enhance its representativeness, transparency, and efficiency. Secondly, revitalizing the General Assembly and empowering the Peacebuilding Commissions are crucial steps towards a more responsive and accountable multilateral system. Third, peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development are mutually reinforcing. We strongly believe that SDGs in themselves are the tools to address poverty, inequality, environmental degradations, and the prevention of the root causes of the conflicts. Therefore, we urge the international community to redouble our efforts and resources for the timely achievements of the 2030 Agenda. Mr. President, as we look ahead, the path to a more just, democratic, and sustainable world order requires our solidarity. It requires transparency, inclusive dialogue, mutual respect, and willingness to collaborate with each other, remaining true to the spirit of multilateralism. Multilateralism is not just a pragmatic choice, but a principal commitment rooted in the United Nations Charter and international law. As we approach the summit of the future, let us recommit ourselves to multilateralism for a solution to our shared challenges. The United Nations, with its universal membership and shared values, remains our best hope for achieving this goal. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Nepal for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Australia.

Australia:
Australia has always pursued a world where no one is left behind, and where differences and disputes are settled through institutions, agreed rules and norms, and not by power and size. These principles are at the heart of the UN Charter. We created the United Nations the bedrock of the multilateral system, recognising that while countries’ interests may differ, we can only solve our biggest problems by working together. And yet today, that system is under threat. We are struck by the number of devastating crises and conflicts that our multilateral system is struggling to respond to. And we are deeply disappointed that some are deliberately undermining our ability to achieve international peace and security. Russia has convened us here today to discuss how multilateral cooperation can avoid a global conflict. And yet, with its special responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia mocks the UN and the principles to which we all agreed. It does this every day as it continues its unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine in flagrant violation of the UN Charter. When a member puts their own interests above the UN Charter, above international law, it undermines multilateral cooperation and trust in the multilateral system. It is up to us, the UN member states, to act to restore that trust. start with the UN Charter. All member states should recommit to upholding the principles of the UN Charter and international law. And there is space for us to further develop rules, norms and standards, including on technology, artificial intelligence and climate change. This is essential for the multilateral system to be fit for purpose and respond to global challenges. All members need to implement the Security Council resolutions and permanent members must ensure the effectiveness and credibility of the Council is not undermined by self-interest. We urge Russia to work constructively with the Council to restore the mandate of the 1718 Panel of Experts. We continue to press for UN Security Council reforms to make it more representative and effective, more accountable and transparent. We call for progress on negotiations. We remain optimistic that we can reinvigorate the multilateral system. One Avenue is the summit of the future, which includes many of the proposed reforms. I note that we are gathering on the eve of the 10-year commemoration of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. We mourn the 298 innocent people, including the 38 people who called Australia home, who died as a result. Australia will continue to pursue truth, justice and accountability, including through multilateral institutions, where we settle disputes guided by rules and norms. We must all work together to fulfil the promise of the UN Charter and shape the multilateral system for the better. Thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
As a representative of the Security Council, I must thank the representative of Australia for her statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Brazil.

Brazil:
Mr. President, I thank the Russian presidency for holding this open debate. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the ministers, high-level authorities, and briefers for the valuable inputs they brought today. This debate connects to the open debate organized by Brazil in October 2023, which we called Peace Through Dialogue. Then, we emphasized the need to shore up multilateralism and rediscover the UN Charter’s tools for the peaceful settlement of disputes. A book collecting all insightful contributions to that debate will come out soon and will be available to all UN member states. Today’s debate invites us to consider the UN’s role in a multipolar world order governed by international law based on equality among states with enhanced trust for all. These topics are interrelated and are part of a broader reflection on multilateralism. Taken together, they point towards the need to reform the current international architecture so it becomes more effective and more inclusive and successfully responds to its challenges. The UN Charter gives us a strong basis for that reform, both conceptually and procedurally, starting with its Article 1 that gives us the purposes and principles that must underlie any multilateral order. Brazil has long recognized the rise of multipolarity both as a reality of international relations as well as a starting point for a more just and democratic multilateral system. The BRICS countries, for instance, now account for one-fourth of global GDP, 16 percent of global trade, and about half the global population. With more actors and more viewpoints duly influencing, the multilateral system becomes more representative and thus more legitimate and resilient. European countries have much to contribute on shaping this rising multipolar order. Multipolarity opens a window for a better, more diverse international environment. Making use of this open window requires investing in the right architecture that can effectively deliver on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. It requires a reformed United Nations, and even more so, it requires a reformed United Nations Security Council, with the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent seats, with more participation of developing countries, as we have long advocated. Colleagues, we have been disappointed by the pace with which existing institutions are being updated. This slow pace stems from a failure to see that we all stand to win by having more resilient global institutions that ensure long-term stability. Indeed, unrepresentative institutions pose a serious risk to the maintenance of international peace and security. If the whole of international community does not see itself represented in global institutions, the international architecture we built after the Second World War risks losing its most precious and intangible asset, legitimacy. Yet we have an alternative path. Getting off on this path requires recognizing a few truths. That another systemic war cannot be fought, especially in the nuclear age. That in this scenario, a durable, sustainable architecture able to manage conflict is paramount. That any architecture will only be durable if the international community, in particular the Global South, sees it as legitimate. that we need multilateral institutions to respond to the development needs of the vast majority of the world. This is why Brazil will convene a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting open to all UN member states on the sidelines of the General Assembly’s high-level week. For the first time, a G20 meeting will take place at the United Nations headquarters. It will be a unique opportunity for the G20 and other leaders to join their voices in a call to action in favor of concrete reform measures in global governance and in line with commitments to be laid out in the Pact for the Future. Colleagues, we really must cultivate a multipolar order that benefits the entire international community. That requires a reinforced multilateral system anchored in full respect to international law. Brazil believes in the strength of multilateralism to tackle important challenges such as the climate emergency and development needs, as well as to prevent crisis and conflicts and to resolve them when they happen. Thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of Brazil for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.

Syrian Arab Republic:
Thank you, Mr. President. Please allow me to, first of all, congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Security Council this month. I also thank you for holding this important open debate in terms of its timeliness and topic. We endorse the statement made by Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and to the statement made by Venezuela on behalf of the Friends of the UN Charter. Mr. President, the United Nations is the essential bedrock of the international multilateral system. The commitment we can see in the preamble symbol of the Charter, namely save humankind from the horrors of war. And the collective security has given a great deal of hope that we will have a world based on the purposes and principles of the Charter. However, if we assess the recent decades, we can see that the United Nations had great successes in some areas, development, the dissemination of international law, development of a framework for multilateral action in various areas. However, the UN in particular, the Security Council, found themselves powerless facing very serious challenges to peace and international peace and security. We saw it in the Security Council. And this has been impossible for decades, for example, to implement its own resolutions regarding the Israeli-Arab conflict, in particular the one on the Golans. And this is because of the position of three states, permanent members – three Western state permanent members of the Council. And we will address this issue in greater detail tomorrow during the meeting on the situation in the Middle East. Furthermore, the outcomes in other areas, such as decolonization, combating terrorism, in fair international economic regime, protection of the environment, did not reach the level of our aspirations because some Western states tried to impose their hegemony on the organization and to use for their own purposes and to cover their violations, violations of the Allies of the international law and the Charter. And this is in addition to the interference of internal affairs of other states and the adoption of resolutions which were not consensual, which were lacking very basic things such as legitimacy. Furthermore, when it comes to promoting the principle of resolving differences, we can see there that a rules-based order comes into play and they are dangerous to the multinational system and to the credibility of various bodies within the UN and the rule of law internationally. Mr. President, we have an essential responsibility to fight against unilateral and hegemonic trends, neocolonialist and sometimes colonialist trends, attempts to manipulate the Charter or trying to interpret one-sidedly some of its provisions, Article 51, for example. We need to move forward in our collective action and we need to give the trust back to multilateral mechanism to make sure that we rebuild an international system which is more fair, more democratic and more sustainable. And in order to do that, we have to uphold the principles and purposes of the Charter, the international law, without politicizing it, without using it selectively, without having recourse to double standards. We have demonstrations of that on behalf of the Western states when it comes to the genocide by Israel in Gaza. The Security Council has to be able to implement its responsibility to maintain international

President – Russian Federation:

Syrian Arab Republic:
peace and security through preventive diplomacy and a peaceful settlement of differences. Next, culture of peace. Here we need to counter discrimination, extremism, hateful rhetoric, violence, and terrorism. Four, developing states’ efforts need to be supported to make sure that they have sustainable development and stability for their people. We need to bridge the gap between the North and the South and make sure that political and economic coercion is not used through unilateral coercive measures. This is a serious violation of international law and collective punishment inflicted on people, as well as an obstacle towards those people in realizing their rights, in particular the right to development. And finally, we need to work out and develop partnerships on the basis of mutual respect and common interests, far away from dictates, and make sure that the people’s will is upheld. I thank you.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic for their statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Venezuela:
President Mujica, thank you very much. President, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has the honor to take the floor on behalf of the group of friends in defense of the Charter of the United Nations. As this is the first time that we’ve taken the floor this month, we’d like to take this opportunity to convey our best wishes to the Russian delegation, as it assumes the presidency of the Security Council for this month. And we’d also like to convey our respects to His Excellency Mr. Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation. Similarly, we express our gratitude for the timely convening of this open debate to address a subject of critical importance, particularly in the midst of the current international juncture. President, today we live in a world that is currently marked not just by multifaceted global crisis, but also by polarization and geopolitical tensions, which continue to be deepened by an ever-increasing resort, among others, to zero-sum mentalities, block logics and unilateral policies, including of a provocative nature that in no way contributes to addressing, through international cooperation and solidarity, and on the basis of the cardinal principles set forth in the United Nations Charter, the common challenges and emerging threats that lie ahead of us. We ought to be clear. Today multilateralism, and more specifically the United Nations and all that it represents, is being put to the test. It is up to us to avoid this organization being condemned to the same fate of its predecessor and rather to ensure that the great power of both multilateralism, diplomacy and the UN be unleashed and fully realized once and for all, particularly if we all agree that these are the main instruments to both address and find solutions to, through inclusive and collective action, to those outstanding issues that continue to prevent us from establishing a peaceful and prosperous world. The protracted tragedy in Palestine and the ongoing carnage in the Gaza Strip is, for instance, a case in point that continues to test the effectiveness of the United Nations, which for long has been in debt with the Palestinian people, which has endured for over seven decades the criminal policies and practices of an occupying power that has been emboldened into alia by the inaction of this Security Council. And the lack of a solution, the lack of a comprehensive and lasting solution to this question, but also the result of not only a lack of commitment of one of its permanent members, but also of selective approaches towards justice and, more regretfully, towards the very dignity of an entire people that remains oppressed. Mr. President, the emergence of a multipolar world is certainly a key trend in international relations at the current time, and in this regard, we welcome the progress made towards the consolidation of this new multipolar world, rooted in the charter of the United Nations, as well as in the values of true multilateralism, international cooperation and solidarity. This new world clearly requires that we put an end to unilateralism. This reality, however, is not exempt from challenges of its own. As a matter of fact, instead of being embraced by all, mindful of the opportunities that this new multipolar world provides, especially for justice and balance in international relations, as is stated in the concept notes prepared for this open debate, the truth is that we are seeing how. Certain governments, particularly from the developed world, insist on minimizing and even dismissing such important developments in the field of international relations in a clear attempt to preserve not only a failed eulipolar model but also and most importantly, their domination over the global south which is, needless to say, at the very core of this new multipolar world. The continued, systematic, relentless and ever-increasing resort to the promulgation and illegal use of unilateral coercive measures, for instance, is a clear example of such attempts that only attest to the end of an era of imperialism. In this context, the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations takes this opportunity to call for efforts to be redoubled towards democratizing international relations and for strengthening multilateralism and for a multipolar system based inter alia on mutual respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states as well as on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, for the rule of law, diplomacy, political dialogue, tolerance, peaceful coexistence, respect for diversity, inclusiveness, a culture of peace and non-violence and due consideration for existing differences, all of which are essential for constructively and effectively working together on issues of common interest and concern. Thus, we call on all responsible members of the international community to seize and rise to this historic moment and, in the spirit of San Francisco, to work hand-in-hand towards redoubling all efforts aimed at establishing a just and equitable world order conducive to lasting peace and prosperity for all. President, we are firmly committed to multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order. Nevertheless, the realization of such a world order calls for all states to wholeheartedly recommit themselves without accommodative interpretations to the purposes and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, and also to understand inter alia that each national contribution, be it from a big or small nation, is essential for achieving the noble goals that motivated the establishment of our organization back in 1945, and also for overcoming the current global multifaceted crisis and the common challenges humanity as a whole is currently facing. In the light of the foregoing, and as we continue preparations for the forthcoming summit of the future, we conclude by urging all members of the international community to put an end once and for all to zero-sum games, Cold War era or supremacist mentalities, punitive, divisive or confrontational approaches, provocative actions and double standards, and the deepening of divisions. and polarization. Instead, they must pursue win-win cooperation, engagement in good faith, peaceful resolution of conflicts, and mutual accommodation with a view to bridging positions and forging broad consensus that will ultimately enable us all effectively to address the challenges humanity is facing collectively today. In our view, such an approach is without doubt the best path so that we can inter alia achieve the purposes and principles laid down in the founding charter of the organization to uphold international law and to realize the aspirations of peace, prosperity, freedom, and justice of we the peoples of the United Nations. Therefore, our common role at this critical time for humanity should be no other but to spare no effort in establishing the conditions that will enable us to reestablish an atmosphere of trust and dialogue among all nations, including within these very chambers of the United Nations in the interest of both – in order to bring about peace and stability and in the interest of both present and future generations. Thank you very much, President.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the plurinational state of Bolivia.

Bolivia:
Thank you very much, President. I’d like to thank the Russian Federation and the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Russian Federation, His Excellency Sergei Lavrov, as President of the Security Council, for convening this open debate on multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just – Democratic and Sustainable World Order, President, distinguished members of the Council. As we are discussing multilateral cooperation, we can see that many crises are being exacerbated as a result of wars and the geopolitical interests of the major powers. These tensions have not just increased inequality, poverty, and human suffering, but they’ve also destabilized entire regions, leaving millions of people abandoned and in despair. In addition to this, the production of weapons connected to new technologies and artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a grave threat for humanity as a whole. Rather than using technology exclusively to improve our societies, new weapons and war systems are being developed with it. It is a bitter irony that the resources financing weapons for war and the use of technology could be used to eradicate hunger and poverty. Nevertheless, entire peoples continue to suffer from hunger and abject poverty. We need to ask questions of ourselves and our multilateral system. We need to look at what some countries are saying and what priorities humanity has. How can we justify the expenditure on advanced weaponry when millions of children are dying of hunger and entire families lack access to basic services? We need to redirect our resources and efforts towards building a fairer and a more equitable world. Against this backdrop, Bolivia is convinced that multilateralism is the only way to achieve peace. is the only instrument that small states and or developing states have if we are to move towards this fairer, more equitable and more sustainable world. We know that the world has moved toward multipolarism where various powers from the past are no longer in a unique position and their position of dominance has been overtaken by self-determination and the full exercise of sovereignty for people, for free people in the world. Hence, global challenges require collective solutions and multilateral cooperation is not a nice to have, it is a necessity in a polycentric world where many centers of power coexist and cooperate between them. And that is why we need to promote equity and mutual respect in international relations. In this regard, the United Nations as the main multilateral body that humanity has established must adapt to this new reality. And that is why, first of all, this council needs to be more equitable and it needs to reflect the diversity of our modern world. We acknowledge and fully support the urgent need for Africa’s representation and at the same time, we need to ensure representation of Latin America and the Caribbean in spite of the fact that they represent 50% of the population at the establishment of the UN in 1945. Our region does not still have permanent representation even though we accounted for 50% of member states in 1945. Secondly, we also need to rethink our development paradigms, consumerism and the depredation of nature because this deprives future generations of a future and it also means that we are attacking our own existence as humanity. And finally, The United Nations Charter and international law must remain the compass for our work, and they shouldn’t be applied selectively in line with geopolitical interests. Thank you very much.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of the plurinational State of Bolivia for their statement. And now I’ll give the floor to the representative of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia:
I thank you, Mr. President. First, I would like to congratulate you on your presidency of the Council for this month, and we thank you for holding this important meeting to discuss such a vital and essential topic. The world over the past few years has witnessed an increasing number of crises that are growing more severe throughout the world, and therefore it has become more important to establish a multilateral system that is more fair and more cohesive in order to establish peace and security through more effective mechanisms. The global order is facing one of its most dangerous phases since the end of the Cold War. We are currently witnessing a phase of a transition to a new multilateral global order whose features have not solidified yet. This requires us all to enhance our joint and global efforts to protect ourselves from the dangers of conflict and war, especially as we see increasing signs of fragmentation and policy and economics and digitization, and as we see increasing fears of nuclear annihilation and World War III. Mr. President, striving to achieve peace and security is the founding principle of this organization, and our organization was promising and effective in achieving this goal. Its quest to establish a world that enjoys security and stability, however, and as time went by and as some major powers were putting ahead their own interest above the principles of the United Nations, this organization became unable to uphold its responsibilities. Its councils and its agencies are shackled with procedures and rules that allow a small number of states to control the destiny of helpless peoples and countries. The blatant violations being perpetrated against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is a prime example of the inaction of the current global order and the failure of its most important body tasked with the maintenance of international peace and security, its failure to fulfill the ambitions that have been pinned on it, and allows the Israeli war machine to kill and injure thousands of Palestinians with no accountability or deterrence so that the world stands witness to the worst human catastrophe of our modern history. In closing, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirms its continued care towards the achievement of the goals and purposes of the United Nations and the maintenance of international peace and security. We believe that reforming the Security Council is a vital issue in a comprehensive process of reform of the United Nations. Therefore, we call upon the international community and all its members to work together and to cooperate effectively to confront the current challenges. We call upon them to prepare for emerging and urgent challenges, and we welcome working with all member states to achieve a comprehensive reform that would allow the Security Council and other United Nations bodies to perform their duties effectively and in accordance with the principles of the organization and international law and international humanitarian law. I thank you, Mr. President.

President – Russian Federation:
I thank the representative of the… Saudi Arabia for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Cambodia.

Cambodia:
Mr. President, Excellency, distinguished delegates, at the outset I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you, Mr. President, for convening this significant debate on multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order, under the agenda of international peace and security. Multilateral cooperation stands at the core of Cambodia’s foreign policy. In our increasingly interconnected world, marked by multifaceted challenges and opportunities, collective actions through international cooperation remain indispensable. Cambodia reaffirms its strong commitment to upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter and the rule of law in addressing global issues. Mr. President, Cambodia believes that a just and democratic world order is not only desirable but imperative for global peace and stability. We emphasize the importance of promoting inclusive dialogue, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. These principles are fundamental to fostering trust and confidence among nations. Furthermore, sustainable development lies at the heart of Cambodia’s aspiration for a secure future. We recognize the urgent need for concerted efforts to address climate change, eradicate poverty, and ensure sustainable development for present and future generations. Cambodia remains steadfast in its support for the 2030 Agenda and its sustainable development goal as a blueprint for a prosperous and equitable world. Mr. President, as we navigate through complex global challenges, Cambodia underscores the role of multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, in facilitating cooperation and consensus-building among nations. We emphasize the importance of enhancing effectiveness and inclusivity of multilateral mechanisms to better respond to global challenges. In conclusion, Mr. President, Cambodia affirms its unwavering commitment to multilateralism as the cornerstone of a rule-based international order. We call upon all member states to renew their dedication to international cooperation, mutual respect, and solidarity in pursuing a more just, democratic, and sustainable world. I thank you, Mr. President.

President – Russian Federation:
for their statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting is adjourned.