The Secretary General of the United Nations Organization (UN), António Guterres, called on Wednesday for a “genuine and lasting peace” in Ukraine based on the Charter of the organization and international law, expressing his commitment to respect the Ukrainian borders ” internationally recognized”. .
Guterres spoke at the opening of a special emergency session at the UN General Assembly marking one year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, having lamented this “dark milestone” for the world, which he considered an “affront to the collective conscience ” global, for being “a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law” that “is having dramatic humanitarian and human rights consequences.”
“The impact is being felt far beyond Ukraine. As I said from day one, Russia’s attack on Ukraine challenges the fundamental principles and values of our multilateral system,” Guterres recalled.
“The position of the United Nations is unequivocal: we are committed to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders,” he said.
Before a large audience, which included ministers from various countries, the former Portuguese Prime Minister took the opportunity to reaffirm the principle of the founding Charter of the United Nations: “All members must refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other way incompatible with the purposes of the United Nations”.
The United Nations leader stressed that “it is increasingly evident how much worse everything can get”, referring to the “serious threat that threatens the world” due to “irresponsible military activity” around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant – the largest in Europe – and Russia’s “implicit threats to use nuclear weapons”.
“The possible consequences of a spiraling conflict are a clear and present danger. (…) The so-called tactical use of nuclear weapons is totally unacceptable. It is time to step back. Complacency will only deepen the crisis, while further eroding our shared principles proclaimed in the Charter,” said the UN leader.
In a retrospective of the role that the UN has played throughout this year of conflict, Guterres reflected on the resolutions adopted in the General Assembly that condemned the Russian action; the delivery of humanitarian aid; support for refugees; prisoner exchanges; the evacuation of civilians trapped in the Azovstal steel plant; his two visits to Ukraine; and the Black Sea Grain Agreement.
The secretary-general argued that the war fuels regional instability and global tensions and divisions, while “diverting attention and resources from other pressing global crises and problems.”
Underlining the UN’s commitment to “guarantee justice and accountability” in relation to the conflict, António Guterres ended his speech with a call for a “genuine and lasting peace”, but a peace in accordance with the UN Charter. and international law.
“War is not the solution. War is the problem. People in Ukraine are suffering tremendously. (…) Although the outlook may seem bleak today, we know that a genuine and lasting peace must be based on the UN Charter and international law.”, he is stressed.
This appeal by Guterres coincides with the message present in a draft resolution presented by Ukraine and its allies that will be voted on at the end of this extraordinary session and which stresses “the need to achieve, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace”. “, in accordance with the founding Charter of the UN.
The emergency special session in the General Assembly will run until Thursday and is part of a broader UN agenda to mark a year of war in Ukraine, which also includes a Security Council ministerial meeting on Friday.
The events at the UN will be attended by foreign ministers from various countries and other political personalities, such as the High Representative of the European Union, Joseph Borrell.
Portugal is represented by the Secretary of State for Internationalization, Bernardo Ivo Cruz, who will speak at the General Assembly scheduled for today.
Source: TSF
