Khalid Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, was speaking during the Security Council’s annual debate on cooperation between the two organizations in the areas of peace and security.
“In an increasingly complex and uncertain international environment, Continuous engagement, communication and trust-building is essential,” He said.
“Respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations is central to tackling shared challenges. The EU plays an important role in advancing these principles.”
Partners in Peace and Beyond
Mr Khyari said the EU is a key partner across the entire spectrum of the UN’s work, from international peace and security to human rights, sustainable development and humanitarian action.
He expressed special gratitude for the role of its Member States as troop- and police-contributing countries, including in Lebanon and other challenging environments.
“At a time when political solutions remain difficult to advance in many contexts, EU support for UN good offices, mediation and political engagement is particularly important“He said.
Ukraine ceasefire hopes
Mr Khyari said the war in Ukraine was “a serious test for the regional framework that underpins the international order” and that Russia’s invasion of the country had “shaken the foundations of the European security architecture.”
With the conflict now entering its fifth year, and the human toll continuing to rise, he expressed hope that the Orthodox Easter temporary ceasefire would help pave the way towards a more durable ceasefire.
“An immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire must be the first step towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peacebased on respect for the principles of international law and the UN Charter,” he said.
UN Photo/Manuel Elias
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas briefed the Security Council meeting on cooperation between the United Nations and the EU.
EU support
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said that although the bloc’s member states account for only five percent of the global population, They provide 42 percent of official development assistance (ODA) and finances a quarter of the regular budget of the United Nations.
“We pay in full and on time,” she said. “But the EU has never considered our support for the UN as just a matter of how much we spend.”
The European Union supports the United Nations “because It is the only international system that stands for peace, represents the global collective interest and protects international law.“she explained.
“Today we are witnessing the most serious violation of international law since the Second World War,” threatening peace and security. “That is why EU support for the United Nations is now more important than ever.”
International law is breaking down
Ms. Callas said the breakdown of international law was evident in Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine and the war in the Middle East, which she called two of the major global crises of today.
“Russia is carrying out one of the most outrageous violations of international law in the history of the United Nations By attacking a sovereign country and turning away from its obligations as a permanent member of the United Nations security council,” He said.
Meanwhile, “the war in the Middle East has created great instability and cost many lives,” the effects of which were felt around the world. People from Europe to Asia are suffering from high energy prices, and farmers from Sudan to South America are facing fertilizer shortages.
“Russia is also supporting Iran through intelligence and drones. Prolonging the war would give Russia the advantage of higher energy prices, reduced air defense arsenal and distraction,” he said.
new World Order
These two crises represent “the clearest sign yet of the abandonment of the old rules, including UN Charter,” he continued.
“A new world is now being created, characterized by competition and coercive power politics; A world order dominated by a handful of military powers whose goal is to establish spheres of influence.”
He reminded the Council that “we have been here before”, highlighting how the international community chose multilateralism over multipolarity after the First and Second World Wars.
He stressed that “Europe will always choose cooperation rather than coercion.”
responsibility for improvement
Ms. Callas said that in 100 years’ time, “historians will look back at this moment. And they will ask: What did the United Nations do when the rules-based order was under threat?”
“Did we cling to the past, defending a system that no longer works for many people? Or did we have the courage to reform it – to make it stronger, fairer, and more resilient?”
He stressed that “the answer is in our hands” and concluded with a message for council members.
“You have been entrusted with the responsibility of saving the coming generations from the perils of war. That was the promise of 1945 and this should be our mission today too.,” He said.
“Let us be the generation that builds a strong, fair system fit for the challenges ahead. The time for action is now.”
