Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization - 2026 Session, 315th plenary meeting

Distinguished delegates, Excellencies, Ambassadors, allow us firstly to thank you for entrusting me and Venezuela to chair this session of the Special Committee on the United Nations Charter and on Strengthening the Role of the Organization. I am taking up this responsibility with a great deal of understanding of the trust that you have placed in me. We particularly would like to acknowledge Mr. Nathaniel Keng from Singapore and all of the Bureau for their excellent work during the previous session. The necessary consensus was achieved for a substantive report to be adopted last year. We hope that the same spirit of cooperation will prevail in the session this year, and that will hopefully allow us to achieve significant results. Your Excellencies, we are meeting today at a time of great global uncertainty. Currently, we are seeing an exponential increase in conflicts. We are seeing increasing polarization, mistrust between nations, and a general sense of instability. This is a reality that reminds us that the maintenance of international peace and security, the first of the goals of the United Nations, cannot be taken for granted. In these times of turbulence, we are compelled to continue to follow the Charter. More than a treaty, it is an act of faith in the best of humanity. It's not just a document or a relic of the past. It is a live constitutional document that establishes the legal and moral framework for relations between states. Its principles are legally binding commitments for states represented here without any kind of distinction. However, today we are concerned to see an increasing range of threats on the multilateral system, undermining everything that has been built up over decades. These threats undermine the very foundations of this organization. That is why the mandate of this committee is particularly relevant today. Our work is not abstract. It has a direct impact on the credibility and the effectiveness of the multilateral system. Upholding the United Nations Charter and strengthening the role of the organization are essential ways to uphold peace and stability. Distinguished delegates, I would like to highlight three points that we think will be particularly important to guide our work. First of all, we need clearly to reaffirm the primacy of the Charter. All disagreements must be addressed within this framework. Article 2.3 and Chapter 6 offer guidance on how peacefully to resolve disputes. Secondly, we must bolster multilateralism, and in this effort, the UN must play a key role. Multilateralism cannot be an ideological option, but rather a practical necessity today. And thirdly, we must resume the practice of negotiations above imposing. choices. We must opt for dialogue and mutual respect. It is only to be expected there will be differences between States, but consensus is a shared responsibility. That is why we must adopt a constructive spirit and show flexibility in the negotiations. Despite the complex international backdrop, this committee remains a privileged platform to address the systemic challenges that we all have, to pinpoint practical measures to strengthen the authority of the United Nations Charter. That is why consensus is not an ideal abstract, but it is a necessary condition for our work to be relevant and to contribute to significantly enhance the work of the General Assembly. Distinguished colleagues, history shows us that in times of instability, institutions are put to the test. If we allow polarization to prevail, we will only deepen divisions. However, if we renew our genuine commitment to the UN Charter, we will be able to strengthen trust in multilateralism and we will offer a common roadmap towards dialogue and lasting peace. We must therefore opt for shared responsibility and not recriminations, for mutual respect and not mistrust, for collective wisdom and not calculations that are in line with special interests. I hope to have your full cooperation and constructive participation throughout this session so that together we'll be able to achieve results and a substantive report through consensus that will reflect our shared commitment to strengthening the role of the Organization and upholding its foundational Charter, which is as relevant today and perhaps more than it was in 1945. Thank you. Distinguished delegates, We will now turn to the election of the other members of the Bureau. In accordance with established practice, there are three vice-chairs and the rapporteur to be elected. In line with the established pattern of rotation, we have to elect three vice-chairs from the remaining regional groups, that is to say, the African States Group, the Asia-Pacific States Group, and the Eastern European States Group, as well as the rapporteur from the Western European and other States group. Distinguished delegates, let us begin, therefore, with the election of the vice-chairs of the Special Committee. I have been informed by the Secretariat that the African States group has decided to nominate Ambassador Milan Mehtabban, the Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the UN, for the post of vice-chair. May I take it that it is the wish of the Special Committee to elect Ambassador Mita Bhan of Mauritius as Vice-Chair? I see no objections. It is therefore so decided. Distinguished delegates, I have also been informed by the Secretariat that Mr. Yahya Aref of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been nominated for the post of Vice-Chair allocated to the Asia-Pacific States Group. May I take it that it is the wish of the Special Committee to elect Mr. Yahya Aref of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a Vice-Chair? I see Israel asking for the floor. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We would like to raise an objection to the election of designated member of the Bureau and the future vice chair of the committee, a representative of the Iranian regime, widely recognized as the world's leading state sponsor and the largest proliferator of terrorism. The state of Israel wishes to disassociate itself from any consensus-based action regarding composition of the Bureau and the election of the officers of Special Committee on the Charter. For decades, the Iranian regime has openly called for the annihilation of the state of Israel, a blatant violation of the UN Charter. At the same time, it advances its nuclear and ballistic missiles program. It is a clear, blatant violation of the obligation under the UN Charter and international law, posing a grave and imminent threat to the regional and global peace and security. If it is not enough, just over the last few weeks, the Iranian regime has begun brutally suppressed its own people, killing thousands of protesters who only demand is their freedom, investing in repression and massacre at home and spreading chaos and destruction abroad. A state that systematically violates the Charter and international law, undermines international peace and security, and massacres its own civilians cannot credibly serve on a bureau of the committee tasked with strengthening the very Charter of the United Nations. The fact that this decision is allowed to be passed without objection or even without calling for a vote speaks volumes. Israel will not remain silent, we will not join a silent consensus, and we will not stain ourselves by associating with this decision. Therefore, the State of Israel formally disassociates itself from this action. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Israel. I now give the floor to the United States.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We express sincere regret and disappointment that Venezuela and Iran have been selected by their regional groups to take on leadership positions in this body, and we similarly disassociate from their election for these roles.

The Bureau's selection further solidifies our long-standing concern that this Committee.

Continues to be a forum for politicized accusations, which we firmly reject, rather than serious, practical discussions. Still, we expect any leadership position to be handled in a manner that is unbiased and in good faith.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of the United States. I don't see any other delegations asking for the floor. We therefore consider that the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been elected to the position of Vice Chair. In response to the US, you can always count on Venezuela leading our negotiations in this body in good faith. I recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran asking for the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm obliged to take the floor to briefly touch upon a few points. My delegation expresses its sincere gratitude to the Asia-Pacific Group and to the broader UN membership for their support for the nomination and election of Mr. Yahya Aref of the Islamic Republic of Iran as the Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization. We wish to recall that equitable geographical representation has been both the practice and the mandate of the ad hoc Committee, the predecessor of the distinguished body. Furthermore, at its 48th meeting on 18 February 1981, the Charter Committee reaffirmed this principle, as reflected in document A/36/33. This line established agreement constitutes an essential foundation for the Committee's work that allows for inclusivity, fairness, and genuine multilateralism, and thus must be respected. My delegation categorically rejects the unfounded statements made by the delegations of the United States and Israel regime. Such recurring baseless remarks reflect disregard and contempt for the established practice of this committee for multilateralism and for the sovereign decisions of regional groups. Such politically motivated statements are irrelevant to the committee and the agenda item under consideration and do not merit substantive response. particularly as similar baseless allegations have been comprehensively responded to in other forums by many UN member states, including us. As disseminating this information has been the standard policy of the eight delegations of the delegation throughout the work of the Committee, we would like to underline that attempts to introduce throughout the work of the Committee, we would like to underline that extraneous political considerations divert the Committee from its core mandate concerning the UN Charter. It is regrettable that these two delegations over time have hindered the substantive work of the Committee, both in formal and informal settings of the Committee, and even today attempted to do so. Mr. Chair, as a responsible and founding member of the United Nations, my delegation remains firmly committed to upholding international law and the proposals and principles of the UN Charter. We reaffirm our commitment to the effective discharge of the committee's mandate, guided by transparency, professionalism, and multilateralism, as well as constructive engagement within the Bureau. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Iran for the statement, which has been noted. Following with the agenda, distinguished delegates, I have been informed that no nomination has been received prior to the session for the post of Vice-Chair allocated to the Eastern European States Group. Is there any delegation wishing to take the floor at this stage? In that case, the Special Committee will return to its consideration of the post allocated to Eastern European States Group at a later stage. That is so decided. Distinguished delegates, we shall now turn to the election of the rapporteur. I have been informed that no nomination has been received prior to the session for the post of rapporteur allocated to the Western European and other states group. Is there any delegation wishing to take the floor at this stage? In that case, the Special Committee will come back to this issue at a later stage. It is so decided. Distinguished delegates, we shall now turn to the adoption of the agenda. The provisional agenda is set out in document A/AC.182/L.169, which was issued in December last year and is available on the website of the Special Committee. May I take it that the Special Committee wishes to adopt this agenda? I see no objection. It is so decided. Distinguished delegates, I will now turn to the documentation for this session. As distribution of hard copies of official documents has been discontinued, delegations are advised to consult the website of the Special Committee, and in particular the documentation page for this present session, where you will find links to all the documents to be considered by the Special Committee. I draw your attention to the following documents in particular, the provisional agenda, which we have just adopted, General Assembly resolution 80 stroke 166 of the 15th of December, 2025. The report of the special committee on its 2025 session, which is document a stroke 80 stroke 33, as well as the most recent report of the Secretary General on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, document A/80/151; and the report of the Secretary-General on the repertory of practice of United Nations organs and repertoire of the practice of the Security Council, A/80/210. You will also find on the website links to the most recent versions of all the proposals presently before the Special Committee, as well as the explanatory note by the Non-Aligned Movement on the identification of other peaceful means of pacific settlement of disputes in Article 33, paragraph 1, of the Charter. I also want to point out that the delegations of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Mexico have submitted revised versions of their respective proposals, both of which have been issued and are available on the website of the Special Committee. Please also note that the Secretariat can also make available on the website electronic versions of the statements made during the general debate today and during the thematic debate in the Working Group of the Whole on Thursday. Accordingly, those delegations wishing to have their statements made available on the website are invited to transmit electronic versions to e-statements@un.org or directly to the secretariat of the Special Committee. Let me also remind delegations that have not yet done so to submit the names of their representatives, alternates and advisers to the Secretariat for purposes of the preparation of the list of delegations attending the Special Committee at the present session. And this can be done by registering online in the e-participants module of the e-delegate portal. Distinguished delegates, I will now turn to the organization of work. As decided by the General Assembly in resolution 80/166, this year the Special Committee starts its session today, Wednesday, to avoid the floating holiday of the United Nations, which was yesterday, on 17 February. The Special Committee has been allocated the use of conference room 2 through Thursday, 26 February. The Special Committee is expected to conclude its session on that day, 26 February. Distinguished delegates, in past sessions, it has been the practice of the Special Committee to conduct substantive discussions on the various proposals under each item on the Committee's agenda in a working group of the whole. May I take it that it is the wish of the Committee to proceed in this manner? I see no objection. It is therefore so decided. Distinguished delegates, I propose to suspend the meeting for 15 minutes to allow the Bureau to meet, and I request the newly elected Bureau members to come forward to the podium for a brief meeting. The meeting is suspended until 10:50 a.m.

Play from the Kapil Sharma Show.

We can resume our session early in order to be as efficient as possible with our use of time. We can resume now rather than at 10:50, as had been foreseen. Distinguished delegates, the Bureau has met and prepared a draft programme of work for approval by the Committee. A copy of the draft programme has been circulated to all delegates by e-mail and has also been posted on the website of the Special Committee on the page dedicated to the present session. As you can see from the programme, the Bureau is recommending that the Special Committee apply a more compact pattern in the first week, where the mornings and Thursday afternoon are allocated to formal meetings. Doing so will permit efficient use of resources and allows efficient time for processing the draft report in the second week. The use of the conference room will be kept in reserve to allow for informal meetings if needed. The rest of the plenary this morning will be dedicated to the general debate, at which time delegations may make general statements. This afternoon has been kept in reserve in case we are unable to conclude this morning's debate. We will then reconvene in the form of a working group of the whole tomorrow morning the 19th of February from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and commence the work for this year's session with the consideration of the item entitled maintenance of international peace and security. The working group will first consider the question of the implementation of the charter provisions related to assistance to third states affected by sanctions. If you recall in 2016 the General Assembly in resolution 71/146 Endorse the recommendation of the Special Committee that the question of the implementation of the provisions of the UN Charter relating to assistance to third states affected by the application of sanctions be considered by the Special Committee on a biennial basis, starting from the 72nd session of the General Assembly. Accordingly, the item is scheduled to be considered at the present session. And representatives from the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs will join us tomorrow to provide the information requested by the General Assembly concerning paragraph 14 of the Secretary-General's report on this topic. Immediately afterwards, the working group will then revert to the question of the introduction and implementation of sanctions imposed by the United Nations and in accordance of paragraph 4 with paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 79/125, receive the annual briefing by the representative from the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs concerning the statement entitled "Introduction and implementation of sanctions imposed by the United Nations", which is annexed to General Assembly resolution 64/115 of 16 December 2009. The Bureau is recommending that the working group commence its work only tomorrow morning as opposed to immediately after the plenary today, in order to provide the colleagues in the Secretariat with a fixed time for their briefing. If the Committee concludes its consideration of the item before the end of the morning session tomorrow, the working group will then turn immediately to the consideration of the next topics relating to the maintenance of international peace and security, in particular We will then revert to the revised proposal submitted by Libya on strengthening the role of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security. We would then turn our attention to the revised proposal concerning a request for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice submitted by Belarus and the Russian Federation, and then revert to the revised working paper by Cuba on strengthening the role of the organization and enhancing its effectiveness, adoption of recommendations. Tomorrow, Thursday, in the afternoon, the working group will meet again from 3 to 6 p.m. to continue and conclude the consideration of the item maintenance of international peace and security, and use the remaining time to undertake the consideration of the next item on the agenda, that is to say, the peaceful settlement of disputes. Under that item, the Working Group would first undertake the annual thematic debate on the means for the settlement of disputes in accordance with Chapter VI of the Charter, including in particular those contained in Article 33 thereof, and consistent with the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, as decided by the General Assembly in paragraph 6 of resolution 80/166. In accordance with that decision, and in line with resolution 77/109, Member States would be invited at the present session to focus their interventions on the subtopic, exchange of information on state practices regarding the use of adaptation or combination of traditional means. Following the conclusion of the thematic debate, the working group would revert to the proposal of the Russian Federation, concerning a possible update of the Handbook on the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes and establishment of a related website. Time permitting, the Working Group will then turn to the consideration of the item Repertory of practice of UN organs and repertoire of the practice of the Security Council. As at past sessions, the Office of Legal Affairs and the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs would make statements on the status of the two publications. The first meeting of the working group is scheduled to take place on Friday morning, 20th February, from 10 to 1, during which the working group will commence its consideration of the items, working methods of the Special Committee, and identification of new subjects. The Special Committee has before it three written proposals for new subjects, submitted by Mexico, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation and other States, respectively. The working group would have an opportunity to discuss these proposals, together with the proposal made orally by Cuba in 2019. Please note that the working paper submitted by the Syrian Arab Republic in 2020, which was reproduced in annex 3 of the report of the Special Committee A/75/33, was withdrawn by that same country at the 20th meeting of the Sixth Committee on 20 October 2025. Delegations may use the remaining time on Friday morning and Monday morning for informal consultations. No meeting is scheduled for Friday afternoon. Those delegations interested in convening informal consultations are encouraged to approach the Chair as soon as possible so that the necessary announcements can be made. In accordance with our usual practice, Monday afternoon, Tuesday and Wednesday would be set aside for the processing of the draft report. As indicated earlier, the Special Committee would meet one more time in plenary at 10 am on Thursday, 26 February, at which time it would consider and adopt the Special Committee's annual report, together with any recommendations it may wish to make to the General Assembly. As Chair, I intend to use flexibility, but also to start all meetings punctually. I would therefore urge all delegates, please, to be on time so that we can begin our sessions punctually. May I take it that the Committee wishes to proceed on this basis? I see no objections, it is so decided. Distinguished delegates, the committee will now proceed to hear general statements. The list of speakers was opened for inscription on the e-delegate portal last week. A link to the live list was shared by e-mail and is available on the website of the special committee as well. Delegates can also access this directly. by scanning the QR code available on the side of the room. Before proceeding to give the floor to the first speaker on the list, I wish to inform you that, in the interests of time, the Bureau is recommending that, to the extent possible, group statements be limited to 12 minutes and that statements made in a national capacity be limited to 7 minutes. would like to urge speakers to lead statements at a moderate speed so that the interpreters are able to do their job as best they can and thus facilitate the greatest possible understanding of the statements that will be made to the committee. The first speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, at the outset, I would like to begin this statement delivered on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement by extending my congratulations to you for your well-deserved election as the chair of this august committee, and also express my gratitude to the Secretariat for the tireless efforts in preparation of this meeting. Mr. Chair. The Non-Aligned Movement is of the view that the United Nations is the central and indispensable forum for addressing issues relating to international cooperation, economic development, and social progress, peace and security, human rights, and rule of law, all based on dialogue, cooperation, and consensus building among states. In this context, the movement attaches great importance to the strengthening of the role of the United Nations and recognizes the efforts taken to enable the development of its full potential. The Non-Aligned Movement also calls all member states to strengthen their commitment to the UN Charter, including through upholding its principles, such as refraining from threats or use of force, respecting territorial integrity, international law, and the peaceful settlement of dispute. The Non-Aligned Movement continues to attach great importance to the work of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization. Furthermore, the Movement also considers that it should play a key role in the current reform process of the United Nations as mandated in Resolution 3499 of 15 December 1975. In the past, the Committee produced a multitude of documents in the form of declarations and resolutions. The Manila Declaration, which was negotiated and adopted by the Charter Committee in 1982, is only one of the many major achievements of the Committee, which demonstrates the Committee's presence as a forum to clarify and promote general international law and charter provisions. The Special Committee has also been instrumental in the preparation of the Handbook on the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes, which requires updates in light of new developments as well as the latest practices of member states in this regard. The Non-Aligned Movement emphasizes the paramount importance of the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security and for the development of friendly relations and cooperation among states, and considered that the faithful observance of the principles of international law concerning friendly relations and cooperation among states and the fulfillment in good faith of the obligations assumed by states in accordance with the Charter is of the greatest importance for the maintenance of international peace and security and for the implementation of the other purposes of the United Nations. Mr. Chair, the Non-Aligned Movement reaffirms the necessity of upholding international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter with regard to the question of Palestine under all circumstances and called for the implementation of all relevant UN resolutions. The Non-Aligned Movement condemns the continuing brutal Israeli military campaign against the defenseless Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, and reiterates the demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and protection of the Palestinian people. The NAM condemns in the strongest terms all forms of violence, particularly Israeli military attacks and Israel's collective punishment against the Palestinian people, as grave breaches of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law. The ongoing killing and injury of over 72,000 Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the majority of whom are children and women, as well as medical personnel, humanitarian workers and journalists, is an indictment to the mandate of the UN Security Council. The NAM demands an immediate and complete cessation of all forms of armed hostilities, violent repression, and illegal Israeli policies and practices against the Palestinian people and other nations in the region. non-aligned movement expresses grave concern regarding the warnings by the United Nations special rapporteurs of an unfolding genocide in the Gaza Strip and echoes the call by the UN special procedure mandate holders of 16 November 2023 of the obligation by the international community to prevent the risk of genocide in the Gaza Strip and take all measures to put an end to that. In this regard, The Non-Aligned Movement welcomes the 29th December 2023 application filed by a member state of the Movement, South Africa, instituting proceedings against Israel before the ICJ concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and calls on Israel to implement the three provisional measures ordered by the ICJ. UNAM welcomes the advisory opinion that was rendered by the International Court of Justice on 19th July 2024, pursuant to the request made by the General Assembly in its resolution 77/247 of 30th December 2022. In response to the General Assembly's questions, the Court has clearly determined, inter alia, that Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, is unlawful and must be ended as rapidly as possible. In this regard, the NAM condemns the recent announcement by the Israeli cabinet to deepen its annexation of the West Bank and recalls that the ICJ also found that policies, practices, or other measures that are such as to bring the occupied territory under the occupying power's permanent control constitute acts of annexation, and that annexation of occupied territory by an occupying power is unlawful. It is now time to translate the Court's authoritative determinations into actions for accountability towards ending this illegal occupation in all its manifestations and ensuring the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including to self-determination, independence, and the realization of long-delayed justice. In this regard, the Movement reiterates that the policies and measures being carried out in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, by Israel, the occupying power, constitute grave breaches of international law and flagrant defiance of UN resolutions and the 9th July 2004 and 19th July 2024 advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice. In this regard, the Movement recalls the responsibilities of States not to support, facilitate or cooperate, directly or indirectly, with such unlawful policies and to undertake practical measures to bring them to a halt. We also urge the undertakings of serious efforts, collectively and individually, to ensure respect of the obligations defined in the ICJ advisory opinion, including efforts by the General Assembly and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention. Non-member States once again reiterate their call for the continued provision of the needed humanitarian and socio-economic assistance to the Palestinian people, including the Palestine refugees. The Movement reaffirms the continued indispensability of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, along with other United Nations agencies and international organizations, the provision of urgently needed humanitarian assistance in line with international standards and urges the international community to support the agency in all ways, including with sufficient and predictable funding. NAM is concerned by the Israeli legislation and its implementation banning UNRWA's operations in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. This is a threat to the General Assembly mandate to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian refugees pending the achievement of a just solution. In this regard, the Non-Aligned Movement welcomes the advisory opinion by the ICJ regarding the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations, and third states in relation to the occupied Palestinian territory, which demanded that Israel, the occupying power, immediately complies with its obligations as an occupying power and as a member of the United Nations, including the general obligation to administer the territory for the benefit of the local population and the obligation to cooperate in good faith with the United Nations by providing every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the Charter, including by not obstructing the functions of the Organization. NAM underscores the necessity of accountability, including for the gravest crimes, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, and denounces attempts to obstruct judicial processes, including at the ICJ and ICC, including with regard to the Palestine question. The Non-Aligned Movement condemns the brutal Israeli aggression against Lebanon, in violation of the United Nations Charter, the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 of 2006, and the Cessation of Hostilities Arrangement. It stresses that this aggression against the Lebanese people constitutes a breach of other rules of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law. non-allied movement further condemns the repeated Israeli targeting of the United Nations interim force in Lebanon unil in southern Lebanon which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law including International humanitarian law in this regard the non-allied movement calls on Israel to cease its aggression and to withdraw immediately fully and unconditionally from all occupied Lebanese territories and release all Lebanese prisoners it also calls for the respect of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Mr. Chair, the Non-Aligned Movement reaffirms that the reform of the organization should be carried out in accordance with the principles and procedures established by the Charter of the United Nations, while focusing on preserving the legal framework of this constitutional instrument. For this purpose, the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization can contribute to the examination of legal matters in this process. The Non-Aligned Movement reiterates its concern over the continuing encroachment by the Security Council on the functions and powers of General Assembly, along with those of Economic and Social Council, through addressing issues which fall within the competence of the latter organs and the attempts to enter areas of norm settings, as well as establishing definitions which fall within purview of the General Assembly. We therefore encourage those pertinent main organs of the United Nations to intensify cooperation and dialogue among them in order to prevent such infringement and discord in the future. The Charter Committee provides a channel of communication between member states and the UN Secretariat regarding all aspects of the introduction and implementation of sanctions imposed by the United Nations in accordance with the guidelines contained in the annexed General Assembly resolution 64/115 of 16th December 2009. It is important to note that this document is the product of the Charter Committee and provides a comprehensive as well as balanced approach to the issue of UN sanctions. We expect that the briefing by the Secretariat will preserve such a balanced approach. In particular, we are interested in ascertaining more regarding the perceived objective assessment of the short-term and long-term socioeconomic and humanitarian consequences of sanctions by the Security Council's Sanctions Committee, and the methodology used for the assessment of the humanitarian implications of sanctions. We also expect to hear information elaborating the humanitarian consequences of the introduction and implementation of sanctions, including those which have a bearing on the basic living conditions of civilian populations of the targeted state, as well as on its socioeconomic development and on third states which have suffered or may suffer as a result of their implementation. In this regard, we call on the UN Secretariat to develop its capacity on the proper assessment of the unintended side effects of sanctions imposed by the Security Council. We note that the capacity of the Secretariat has not been sufficiently developed in the past to fully assess the short-term and long-term socioeconomic and humanitarian consequences of UN sanctions. There is a need to enhance the expertise and the capacity of UN Secretariat in order to enable its ability to properly assess the unintended consequences of UN sanctions on civilian populations. In this regard, the Security Council's imposed sanctions still remain an issue of serious concern to the member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement. It is the Movement's view that the imposition of sanctions should be considered as a last resort. Targeted sanctions may be imposed only when there exists a threat to international peace and security or an act of aggression in accordance with the Charter. They are not applicable as a preventive measure in any and all instances of violation of international law, norms, or standards. Sanctions are blunt instruments. the use of which raises fundamental ethical questions as to whether they are a legitimate means of exerting political pressure when suffering is ultimately inflicted on vulnerable groups in the target country as a result of said sanctions. The objectives of sanctions are not and should not be to punish or otherwise exact retribution on the entire populace. Sanctions regimes should avoid exacting unintended consequences in the targeted state or third state. third states, which may lead to violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, nor should they hinder humanitarian assistance from reaching the civilian population. In this regard, the objectives of sanctions regimes should be clearly defined, based on tenable legal grounds, and their imposition should be delineated for a specified timeframe, with sanctions lifted as soon as the objectives are achieved. The conditions demanded of the state or party on which sanctions are imposed should be clearly defined, subject to monitoring its impact and periodically reviewed. The movement also expresses its deep concern at the imposition of laws and other forms of coercive economic measures, including unilateral sanctions, against developing countries, which violate the Charter of the United Nations and undermine international law and the rules of World Trade Organization. Such measures disproportionately affect developing countries and undermine multilateralism, international cooperation, and sustainable development. Moreover, the movement calls on countries that impose unilateral sanctions to put an end to these sanctions effective immediately. Mr. Chair, distinguished colleagues. The Non-Aligned Movement extends its appreciation to all delegations for lending their support to the NAM proposal on the identification of other means of the peaceful settlement of disputes, which was adopted in resolution 77/109 and referred to in resolution 80/166. The NAM fully supports all efforts in promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes based on provisions of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. In this regard, NAM commends the role of the International Court of Justice in promoting the peaceful settlement of international disputes in accordance with the relevant provisions of the UN Charter and the Statute of the ICJ, in particular Article 33 and 94 of the Charter. The NAM urges the Security Council, the General Assembly, the other organs of the United Nations and the duly authorized specialized agencies to make greater use of ICJ the principal judicial organ of the UN as a source of advisory opinions and interpretation of relevant norms of international law. In this regard, the annual thematic debates on the means for the settlement of disputes is an important initiative brought forth by the NAM to the Charter Committee. Last year, a constructive and informative debate was held on exchange of information and state practices regarding the use of procedures envisaged in the Charter and other international instruments. and we are looking forward to discussing exchange of information on states' practices regarding the use of adaptation or combination of traditional means. The movement maintains that these annual thematic debates on means of dispute settlement can contribute to the more efficient and effective use of such peaceful means while promoting the culture of peace among member states. Moreover, when the Committee exhausts discussions on all the means of dispute settlement reflected in Article 33 of the UN Charter, as well as paragraph 5 of Resolution 77/107 and Resolution 80/166, the input and materials collected within this process could provide a valuable basis for further consideration by the Committee. We encourage Member States to actively take part in the annual thematic debate and share their best practices and successful examples regarding the use of adaptation or combination of traditional means by submitting information on their practices. Mr. Chair, the Committee has before it important proposals which need to be thoroughly debated and analyzed. Unfortunately, this has not been the case over the course of previous years. The movement recalls the revised proposal by Libya on the strengthening of the role of United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as the revised and updated working paper submitted by Cuba on the strengthening of the role of organization and its effectiveness, adoption of recommendations. We look forward to further meaningful result-based deliberation and discussion on these proposals. Furthermore, the NAM maintains that the joint proposal of the Russian Federation and Belarus deserve thorough and meaningful consideration by the Committee. We also support the proposal by the Russian Federation to update the Handbook on the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes and establish a website related thereto. The handbook is a valuable document and has the potential for an update, particularly when taking into account the best practices raised by member states in the course of the annual thematic debate in this committee. The NAM takes note of the working papers as well as the proposal submitted by Mexico and the Islamic Republic of Iran, respectively, and invites the committee to engage in discussion on these working papers and proposals. With respect to the proposals under the agenda items of maintenance of peace and security, as well as peaceful settlement of disputes, the movement expresses its concern over the reluctance of some member states in engaging in meaningful discussions. The movement is of the view that the committee should redouble its efforts, inter alia, to examine suggestions and proposals regarding the charter and the straightening of the role of the UN. Also, we are ready to engage in discussion with other groups to set up a work program for the Charter Committee in order to facilitate any discussion in the future with the aim of enhancing the ability of the UN to achieve its purposes. We encourage member states to bring new subjects to the attention of the committee. The movement takes note of the progress made by the secretariat since the last report in updating the reportory of practice of the United Nations organs and the repertoire of the practice of the Security Council. However, the movement notes with concern that the backlog in the preparation of volume three of the repertory has not been eliminated and calls upon the Secretary General to address this issue effectively and on a priority basis. We also express our satisfaction with the availability of studies on the internet and the regularly updated website of the repertory and repertoire by the Codification Division. Finally, The movement notes that the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes marked the 40th year of its adoption by the United Nations General Assembly on 15th November 2022. The movement reiterates the timely call on to all the states to observe and promote in good faith the Manila Declaration and the peaceful settlement of their international disputes in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 76/116. Mr. Chair, that was the statement delivered on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. We will deliver another statement at a later stage in our national capacity. Thank you so much.

I thank the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China on behalf of the Group of Friends of Global Governance. You have the floor.

Mr. Chair, I have the honor to deliver this joint statement on behalf of the 49 members of the Group of Friends of Global Governance. Fifty years ago, the 30th General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution 3499, establishing the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization. with the aim to strengthen the role of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security, the development of cooperation, and the promotion of norms of international law. Today, the world is filled with uncertainty and instability, coupled with mistrust and the rising polarization. Faced with major choices between peace and conflict, progress and regression, order and chaos, we once again stand at a new crossroads. Against this backdrop, the full implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee is more urgent than ever. Hereby, I would like to highlight three key points. First, we must safeguard the Charter of the United Nations and uphold the international rule of law. The Charter is a fundamental guideline for conducting international relations and the cornerstone of the international order. The basic norms of international law, including sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and the prohibition of the use of force as enshrined in the Charter, must be respected and implemented. All states, regardless of size, Strength or wealth are equal. Mutual respect and peaceful coexistence should prevail. We call upon all states to uphold the international order underpinned by international law, ensure the international norms to be applied equally and consistently, and reject double standards and the selective application. Second, We must practice a genuine multilateralism and take an action-oriented approach. Multilateralism remains the core concept of the existing international system and order. And the United Nations serves as a central platform for global governance. We support the advancing of the UN80 initiative. This reform, however, is not simply about cutting budget or downsizing staff, but it is about strengthening the role of the United Nations, promoting balanced progress across the three pillars, and enhancing the well-being of mankind. Third. We must uphold the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the Chapter 6 of the UN Charter and oppose unilateral sanctions. Article 33 of the Charter sets out multiple means of dispute settlement. The right to freely choose means of dispute settlement should be respected. Any attempt to impose one's will upon others by coercion threat or use of force in international relations must be rejected. In this regard, we note the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation in October 2025 in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, which provides additional options for the peaceful settlement of international disputes. We also note the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2788 on peaceful settlement of disputes. The Security Council sanctions should be implemented in a way that complies with the Charter and international law, and in a manner that minimizes adverse impacts on civilians and third states. Mr. Chair, The Group of Friends of Global Governance stands ready to work with all parties to jointly safeguard the purposes and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, support the central role and preserve the intergovernmental character of the United Nations, and promote a more just, inclusive and equitable global governance system. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank Ambassador Fu for his statement. The next speaker is a representative of the European Union.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the EFTA country Liechtenstein, as well as Monaco, align themselves with this statement. We wish you, Chair, and the other members of the Bureau a successful handling of the session, and we thank Director Pronto and the staff of the UN Secretariat for their continued support. Chair, we gather in this committee at a time when the international legal order is under a level of strain which is unprecedented since the end of the Second World War and the establishment of the United Nations. We are facing an increasing number and variety of threats to international peace and security. These include grave violation of the UN Charter, such as acts of aggression and violations of territorial integrity, as well as egregious breaches of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. In many countries, we are also witnessing serious setbacks for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. These include the brutal repression of demonstrators expressing their legitimate aspirations for a better life, freedom, and dignity. the targeting of political opposition figures, human right defenders, journalists, and media, threats to the independence of the judiciary, and attempts to undermine or blur the separation of powers. These developments are not and should not be considered merely internal affairs. They strike at the core of the rule of law at the international level and often lead to further instability at the regional and global levels. It is therefore our common responsibility to stand up for the UN Charter, for the fundamental rules and principles of international law, which are increasingly being violated. We must act to prevent such developments and remain open to dialogue and cooperation in order to find adequate solutions. As the magnitude of the challenges facing the UN system and international peace and security continues to grow, The European Union and its Member States reiterate their strong support for effective multilateralism and for the international legal order with the United Nations at its core. We firmly oppose efforts to undermine or erode this framework. It is in this spirit that we have actively participated in the work of this Committee over the years. Chair, with regard to the agenda item on the maintenance of international peace and security, We look forward to the annual briefing on UN sanctions. This briefing is an important opportunity to reflect on this essential component of the Security Council's toolbox for maintaining international peace and security and for responding to breaches of international law, including serious human rights violations. The European Union and its Member States emphasize once again that sanctions must be implemented in full compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and international refugee law. Furthermore, sanctions must respect the right of the listed persons, including due process rights. In this context, we congratulate Ms. Verang Fateh Ngassa on her appointment as ombudsperson to the ISIL/ Daesh/ Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, and we wish her and her team all the best for their important work, which we fully support. We also stress the urgent need to appoint as soon as possible the focal point for the listing in order to enable the full implementation of resolution 2744/2024. Maintaining a constant scrutiny of the due process safeguards and further improving procedures where necessary remains a priority for us, particularly considering the European Court of Justice's thorough scrutiny of the EU legal acts transposing UN sanctions into the EU legal order. Finally, for sanctions to be effective, they must be properly implemented and enforced by all UN member states. This is an area where we think there could be more in-depth discussion, particularly to enhance understanding of UN sanctions to ensure their full implementation and address their increasing circumvention. In this context, it is regrettable that a few member states have contested the legitimacy of the UN sanctions on Iran. as this risk undermining their full implementation following their reintroduction by the Security Council on 27 September 2025. In the broader context of international peace and security, it is also important to examine the consequences of situations in which the Security Council is unable to act in response to serious violation of the UN Charter, including cases where a permanent member of the Security Council may be involved. Chair, as regards the pending proposals and the identification of new subjects to be added to the agenda of the Charter Committee, we note the continued lack of progress after several years, if not decades, of discussions on topics which are duplicative of efforts undertaken elsewhere within the Organization or remain deeply divisive. The parallel discussions on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly and on the UNAD initiative make it all the more necessary to reflect on how we can rationalize and meaningfully revitalize the work of the Charter Committee, ensuring the best possible use of limited time and resources. The ongoing processes aimed at elaborating and concluding legally binding instruments on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity and the protection of persons in the event of disasters demonstrate our collective capacity for constructive engagement on issues of universal relevance. That same spirit of cooperation could help revitalize the work of the Charter Committee if we focus on topics that can generally foster constructive dialogue and can lead to consensus and ultimately to concrete results. The European Union and its Member States remain committed to engaging constructively to that end. Chair, in conclusion, we thank the Secretary-General for his report on the repertory of practice of the United Nations organs and the repertoire of practice of the Security Council. We commend the Secretariat's continued efforts, including the expanded use of technology to present the practice of all UN bodies in a more accessible manner, notably through the development of new tools, such as the dashboard on Security Council voting trends. We are grateful to all contributors to the Trust Fund, including new Member States. We also wish to express our appreciation to the Office of Legal Affairs, especially the Codification Division. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the European Union. I now give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic on behalf of the Arab Group.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have the honor to deliver the statement on behalf of the Arab Group. At the outset, the Group attaches great importance to the work of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization in Achieving the Purposes and Principles of the Charter. We also stress the importance of respecting the Charter by all States without exception, as well as full respect for international law, international humanitarian law, and human rights law. These are indispensable pillars for the maintenance of international peace and security. In this regard, we stress that these laws must be implemented fully, without selectivity or double standards. Chair, the Arab Group encourages the Special Committee to continue its in-depth consideration of proposals under its agenda. We recommend consideration of means necessary to strengthen the role of the Committee while ensuring respect for the mandate of all UN organs as clearly stipulated in the Charter. It is important to redouble efforts to consider proposals pertaining to the Charter and the strengthening of the role of the UN. We note growing interest in Mexico's proposal discussion on the application of Article 51 of the Charter. We see aspects that are worthy of consideration in this regard, and we look forward to constructive engagement by all in this discussion as it opens new perspectives for interaction and enriches the work of the Committee. Chair? The Arab Group values the latest resolution adopted by consensus by the General Assembly, 79/327, on the revitalization of the work of the GA. The resolution recognized the role of the Special Committee including in matters pertaining to the maintenance of international peace and security and the strengthening of the role of the UN in line with paragraph A1 rather A2 of resolution 3499 of the General Assembly dated 15 December 1975. The Arab Group welcomes discussions on ways and means for the peaceful settlement of disputes under Chapter VI of the Charter. It is important to resort to all peaceful means, as stipulated in Article 33 of the Charter, for the settlement of international disputes. We reiterate our full support for all efforts aiming at the strengthening of peaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. In this regard, We express our continued support for the ICJ being the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. We stress its valuable contributions, including through its advisory opinions. All states must comply with its decisions, especially on the question of Palestine. We affirm the necessity of respecting international law, as well as the purpose and the principles of the Charter, and decisions of the ICJ regarding the question of Palestine. We also recall that Israel, the occupying power, has violated more than 1,000 resolutions by the Security Council and the General Assembly on Palestine. It has also violated all its obligations under the Charter, including the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, the prohibition of the use of force in international relations, and the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force, rendering its presence in the OPT illegal. Chair. Despite the provisional measures issued by the ICJ on January 26, March 28, and May 24, 2024, ordering the occupation to bring to an end its killing of Palestinians, their physical or mental harm, and the prevention of births, as well as ordering it to ensure delivery of humanitarian and medical aid in Gaza and full coordination with UNRWA, however, the Israeli military aggression, genocidal and famine continue unabated. In this regard, we stress that accountability is one of the main pillars of justice. We call on the international community to abide by the decisions of the ICJ, including provisional measures in the case brought by South Africa against Israel for violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. We also recall the advisory opinion of the ICJ dated 19 July 2024 on legal consequences of the ongoing Israeli occupation. The ICJ affirmed that the occupying power is under an obligation to bring to an end its unlawful presence as rapidly as possible and to cease immediately all settlement activities, dismantle settlements, and evacuate settlers from the OPT. In this regard, we condemn in the strongest terms illegal Israeli measures and decisions aiming at imposing unlawful Israeli sovereignty, entrenching settlement, and imposing a new administrative and legal reality in the occupied West Bank, accelerating the Israeli attempts to illegally annex the West Bank and displace the Palestinian people. We stress once more that Israel does not have sovereignty on the OPT. We also warn against the continuation of the expansionist Israeli policies and other illegal measures adopted by Israel in the occupied West Bank. Such measures fuel violence and conflict in the region. We also reject strongly all illegal measures which are a blatant violation of international law. They a violation of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination to its independent statehood on the lines of the 4th of July 67 with Jerusalem as its capital these measures further undermine the two-state solution and efforts to bring peace and stability to the region The illegal measures in the occupied West Bank are null and void. They are a blatant violation of Security Council resolutions, namely Resolution 2334, which condemns all Israeli measures aiming at altering the demographic reality and the character of the OPT since '67, including East Jerusalem. These measures also violate the advisory opinion of the ICJ in 2024, concluding that Israel's practices and policies in the OPT and its continued presence there are a blatant violation of international law. The advisory opinion of the ICJ stressed the importance of bringing to an end the unlawful Israeli occupation of all of the occupied Palestinian territory and the fact that any annexation is null and void. We call for holding accountable Israeli officials accused of committing war crimes, crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and the OPT. This is essential to prevent impunity and to hold accountable those who deem themselves above the law, enjoying absolute immunity despite the atrocities they committed. Chair, we condemn the Israeli aggression on Lebanon. This is blatant violation of the UN Charter and Security Council Resolution 1701, dated 2006, as well as the arrangements on the cessation of hostilities. This aggression violates also other rules of international law, including international human rights law and humanitarian law. We condemn the ongoing Israeli targeting of UNIFIL personnel in South Lebanon. This is also a blatant violation of international law. We call on Israel to cease its aggression, to withdraw immediately, fully, and unconditionally from all occupied Lebanese territory, and to release all Lebanese detainees. We call for the respect of Lebanon's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Chair, we condemn the ongoing Israeli aggression against Syria. This is a blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations. especially the principle of the prohibition of use of force against the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of member states we stress the necessity that Israel complies with secret the relevant Security Council resolutions especially resolutions 242 338 and 497 we stress the necessity of full compliance with the provisions of the 1974 disengagement agreement and we call on Israel to withdraw immediately from territories where it carried out incursions recently in Syria to conclude we reiterate our readiness to constructively take part in the works of the special committee as we did during the previous session we remain ready to play our role next year in order to achieve the noble purposes for which this committee was established I thank you

I thank the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic. I now give the floor to the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations.

Thank you, Chair. I will read an abridged version of the statement to stick within the allotted speaking time. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has the honour to take the floor on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations. 2026 has begun with concerning events around the world, including in nations that are part of our Group. Against this background, we express our serious concern at the current and growing threats to the Charter of the United Nations. to the growing resort to unilateralism, attacks against multilateralism, to claims of non-existent exceptionalism, attempts to ignore and even replace the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter with a new set of so-called rules that have never been discussed in an inclusive or transparent manner, and selective approaches or accommodative interpretations of the provisions of the Charter and peace-through-strength narratives. these practices in no way contribute to addressing the complex, emerging and common challenges facing all of humanity today. Chair, our group attaches great importance to the work of the Committee. We know that it can play an active and constructive role in strengthening the capacities of the United Nations to achieve its purposes, including by enhancing the role of the Organization, as well as increasing its effectiveness and realizing its full potential. within the framework of a process that should undoubtedly be advanced based on the principles and procedures provided for in the Charter itself. In this context, we look forward to the deliberations that will take place during this session of the Special Committee, in accordance with GA resolution 80/166. including on the question of practices regarding the exchange of information on state practices regarding the use of adaptation or combination of traditional means and the identification of new subjects that could be relevant to the Committee. While we reaffirm our commitment to efforts to ensure the maintenance of international peace and security and the peaceful settlement of disputes, We would also like to take this opportunity to express our concern at the lack of willingness of some Member States to engage in a meaningful discussion to consider the valuable proposals that have for long been before this Special Committee and that have been put forward to a large extent precisely by some of the members of our Group of Friends, as responsible members of the international community. Having said this, Sir, and without prejudice to the importance of assessing all of the various working documents currently under consideration by this Special Committee, we would like to stress the urgent need to make progress on one related to a subject to which we all attach particular importance, that is to say, the guidelines proposed by Iran on ways and means for preventing, removing, eliminating, minimizing and redressing the adverse effects and impacts of unilateral coercive measures. The detrimental impact of unilateral coercive measures is a reality that can no longer be ignored. These illegal measures have a direct impact on the daily lives of more than one-third of humanity. Thus, it is our moral duty to counter such unlawful measures and to work together to minimize their negative impact. Unilateral coercive measures constitute a flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the very tenets enshrined in the Charter, in particular those related to sovereign equality and non-intervention in the internal affairs of States. Such illegal measures also violate and impede the realization of human rights, including the right to development, the right to health and the right to life. They violate international law and cannot be justified under any circumstances. Furthermore, we take this opportunity to refer to the ongoing challenges In regard to the implementation of the agreement on the headquarters of the UN, which has resulted in obstacles that continue to deliberately limit the ability of some Member States to effectively discharge their responsibilities and thus to fulfil the purposes of this Organization, we believe that this Committee could play a positive role in reviewing such a concerning state of affairs in light of its implications to the Charter of the United Nations and the role of the Organization, particularly to the principle of the sovereign equality of States. and the very provisions included in said agreement for pursuing arbitration when any dispute of its interpretation or application arises and has not been resolved by negotiation in a reasonable and finite period of time, which is certainly the case at this time. So, we remain committed to sparing no effort To preserve, promote and defend the primacy of the Charter, we reiterate our firm and principled commitment to its tenets. These are not just legally binding rules agreed upon by all members of the international community to govern our system of international relations, but they are also indispensable for the promotion of international peace and security, the rule of law, economic development and also social progress for all countries. In this regard, it is essential to underscore the importance of the guiding principles of our Organization. whose core purpose, after all, is the preservation of peace and security. These principles must not remain abstract. They must guide our collective response to real and ongoing situations where the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter are being systematically violated. This commitment applies first and foremost to the people of Palestine, who continue to be the victims of a profound crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory, where Gaza remains devastated despite a declared ceasefire that has failed to bring protection, dignity, or relief to a displaced and suffering civilian population, while siege and repeated violations of international law only deepen the humanitarian catastrophe. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, accelerated settlement expansion, land seizures, military raids, arbitrary arrests, and settler violence are dismantling Palestinian communities and eroding the viability of the two-state solution. These developments are compounded by a systematic assault on humanitarian lifelines, including unprecedented attacks on UNRWA and international organizations, killing of more than 300 UN staff. And this means that accountability cannot remain optional. Accountability cannot remain optional. Continued impunity undermines multilateralism. The international community must act with resolve, demanding a permanent ceasefire, ensuring full humanitarian access, protecting UN institutions, and upholding international law. History will judge whether we chose justice, dignity, and the rule of law over silence and inaction. These grave violations are not happening in isolation. Similar challenges to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter can be seen in other parts of the world, where the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security of states are being threatened, and where the obligations to refrain from the threat and use of force, respect the sovereignty in states, and prevent incitement to violence are being flagrantly disregarded. In this context, we categorically condemn the announcement by the United States of America of new measures aimed at tightening the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, including attempts to obstruct oil supplies and sanction third States maintaining legitimate trade with Cuba. These actions, which are based on false narratives, deliberately seek to asphyxiate the Cuban economy, harm its people and violate international law, the principles of sovereign equality, non-intervention and the Charter of the United Nations. After more than six decades of a cruel and extraterritorial blockade, the new measures further aggravate the population's living conditions and restrict access to vital resources. Along similar lines, we reiterate our condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the premeditated and unprovoked heinous attacks by Israel against Iran on the 13th of June last year onwards, while further condemning the Israeli attacks targeting Iranian civilians, inter alia women, children, including babies and toddlers, as well as various categories of people. including scientists and university professors. We also strongly denounce the air strikes carried out by the United States in complicity with Israel on 22 June last year against peaceful Iranian nuclear facilities and further reiterate the special communiques issued by our group on this subject on 14 and 23 June and the joint letter dispatched to the United Nations Secretary-General. These attacks are flagrant violations of the Charter, international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law. They also grossly violate the fundamental principles of international law, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and prohibition of threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of states. We also categorically denounce in the strongest possible terms the flagrant incitement by the United States and Israel to the commission of terrorist acts and violence against the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We stress that such conduct, including the recent provocative rhetoric by the United States, constitutes a serious violation of the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental norms of international law. We stress Iran's legitimate right to self-defence. Sir, we cannot overlook the unlawful, unprovoked and unjustifiable act of aggression committed by the Government of the United States on 3 of January this year against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This included armed attacks against civilian and military objects in the capital of Caracas, as well as in various other cities in the Venezuelan territory, which, apart from causing death and destruction across the country, resulted in the illegal abduction of the President and First Lady of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, His Excellency Mr Nicolas Maduro Moros and Her Excellency Mrs Celia Flores de Maduro. All of these actions are flagrant violations of the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the norms of international law, in particular the prohibition of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and political independence of States, the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States, and the obligation to refrain from inciting violence and terrorism. Sir, We also take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the valuable work carried out by the Special Committee and its secretariat, and we welcome the adoption by consensus of its report, as contained in document A/80/33. We pledge our readiness to work constructively towards the adoption of this year's report by consensus, while reaffirming our collective responsibility to revitalize the work of this Special Committee so that it can effectively fulfill its mandate as an organ of the General Assembly. We conclude by renewing our commitment and urging all responsible members of the international community to faithfully practice genuine multilateralism. The contribution of all States is critical to ensure that we achieve the goals that motivated the establishment of our organization and to overcome the current global crisis and the common challenges humanity is facing, in particular in the domain of international peace and security. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The next speaker is the Republic of Moldova. Republic of Moldova. Microphone for Moldova, please.

Mr. Chair, I have the honor to speak on behalf of Georgia, Ukraine, and my own country, the Republic of Moldova. The Charter of the United Nations constitutes the legal and moral backbone of the international system. Its core principles of sovereign equality, respect for territorial integrity, the prohibition of the threat or use of force, noninterference in internal affairs, and the peaceful settlement of disputes remain universally applicable and legally binding. These principles are not subject to choice or interpretation. They represent shared obligations that all member states have undertaken. Regrettably, we continue to witness grave and repeated violations of these fundamental norms. The Russian Federation's ongoing armed aggression against Ukraine, alongside its continued occupation and control of territories of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine, illustrates how persistent disregard for the Charter erodes international peace and security and weakens confidence in the United Nations itself. The illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified use of force, attempted illegal annexation of sovereign territories, and coercive imposition of political will by the Russian Federation do not constitute isolated breaches. They represent a direct challenge to the very architecture of the UN system. These actions underscore why strengthening respect for the Charter is an urgent necessity and not an abstract or academic exercise. Mr. Chair, our three countries firmly maintain that the Charter must serve as the common reference point for all international relations. Its principles cannot be selectively applied, distorted, or exploited for political convenience. Genuine respect for the Charter requires equal application of its rules to all states, regardless of their size, influence, or power. Accountability is fundamental in this regard. Violations of the Charter and international law cannot remain without consequences. Justice and responsibility are essential for restoring confidence in multilateral institutions. We therefore support ongoing international efforts aimed at ensuring accountability for serious breaches of international law, including the crime of aggression, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the provision of reparations to victims. Against this backdrop, the mandate of the Special Committee of the Charter is particularly relevant. United Nations must possess effective mechanisms to deter aggression, prevent conflicts, and uphold the rule of law. Mr. Chair, the United Nations Charter obliges states to resolve disputes through peaceful means. and to refrain from actions that threaten international peace. It provides a range of instruments from negotiation and mediation to judicial settlement and regional arrangements, all of which are essential to maintaining stability. Historically, the committee has played a meaningful role in reinforcing the UN framework. The 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes remains a landmark reaffirmation of states' commitment to peaceful solutions, alongside General Assembly Resolution 57/26, Which further strengthens preventive diplomacy in line with the charter, despite that Russia has grossly and systematically violated the fundamental criterion for UN membership, peace loving conduct. The ongoing war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and its continued temporary occupation and control of parts of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine demonstrates the severe consequences of failing to comply with the Charter obligations. Impunity for such violations undermine the authority of international law and the credibility of this Organization. Mr. Chair, in 2025, Ukraine became the 125th state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and calls upon all state parties to faithfully uphold the provisions of the Rome Statute in order to support international legal-based order. Ukraine also acknowledges the ICJ fundamental role in judicial settlement of disputes between states within the United Nations system. We reiterate our commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes. We recognize the crucial role of the ICJ in maintaining and promoting the rule of law when any kind of dispute arises, including each and every situation of improper interpretation, application, or fulfillment of an international instrument. Since the beginning of the Russian Federation's armed aggression in February 2014, Ukraine has filed two cases against Russia at the ICJ for the gravest violations of international law. In its 31st January 2025 judgment, the ICJ ruled that Russia had violated international law in three separate respects. Russia violated the International Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and its obligation to comply with the ICJ's order on provisional measures under which Russia is obliged to suspend its ban on the Maylis of the Crimean Tatar people. It is the first case since the ICJ's inception in 1945 that has found Russian Federation in violation of international law. In its judgment of 2nd February 2024, the ICJ concluded that it had jurisdiction of the dispute Ukraine brought days after Russia launched its full-scale military invasion, addressing the false allegations of genocide that were Russia's expressed pretext for invading. Moreover, the court emphasized Russia's violation of the provisional measures order of 16 March 2022, which is legally binding and obliges Russia to cease hostilities. It is also clear that Russia has acted and continues to act in violation of this order on a daily basis for nearly four years. On 9th July, 2025, the Ukraine and the Netherlands versus Russia. The European Court of Human Rights concluded that the scale and nature of Russia's violence, together with official statements denying Ukraine's statehood, independence, and even its right to exist, posed a direct threat to peaceful coexistence in Europe. It further noted that in no previous case there had been such unified international condemnation of a state's flagrant disregard for the fundamental principles of international legal order established after the Second World War. In this regard, we call eight resolutions of the 11th emergency special session of the UNGA adopted since the onset of the Russia's illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified full-scale military invasion of Ukraine four years ago, which explicitly demonstrated overwhelming support and unity of the UN member states regarding sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including territorial sea, as well as underlined the need to restore comprehensive just and lasting peace for Ukraine in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Mr. Chair, Russia continues the illegal occupation of Georgia's Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions. Illegal occupation, however temporary, resulting from the unlawful use of force, constitutes an act of aggression pursuant to UNGA Resolution 3314 of 14 December 1974. Ongoing military aggression and daily provocations conducted by Russia in Georgia's occupied regions results in torture and death of innocent civilians. and in deteriorating security, humanitarian, and human rights situation on the ground. Georgia has been adhering to the peaceful conflict resolution policy based on two main pillars, the occupation of the Georgian regions on the one hand, and reconciliation and confidence building between the communities divided by the occupation line on the other. Furthermore, Georgia is committed to utilize every peaceful mean at its disposal, including inter alia engaging in negotiation formats, namely in the Geneva International Discussions, which is designed to ensure the implementation of the EU-mediated 12th of August, 2008 ceasefire agreement and the return of IDPs and refugees, as well as the incident prevention and response mechanism under the GID. Involvement of the UN as one of the co-chairs in this format is particularly important. Resorting to judicial remedies is another peaceful conflict resolution instrument used by Georgia. In this context, I wish to recall several historical rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, where the court confirmed Russia's illegal occupation and effective control over the Georgian territories, not only during and after Russia's invasion in Georgia in 2008, but even before the 2008 war. The court has also repeatedly stressed Russia's full responsibility for the mass human rights violations in the occupied regions. Most recently, on 14 October 2025, the European Court of Human Rights unanimously ordered Russia to pay a total of 253 million euros in compensation to more than 29,000 victims for non-pecuniary damage resulting from the system of violations for which Russia was found responsible in its 2024 judgment. Moreover, the International Criminal Court concluded its investigation on situation in Georgia in 2022 and issued arrest warrants against the representatives of the occupation regime for the alleged war crimes committed during Russia's military aggression in 2008, and uncovered an alleged role of a senior Russian military official. Mr. Chair, the Republic of Moldova has consistently relied on dialogue and negotiation as the primary means of resolving disputes. Our government remains committed to a peaceful political settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, grounded in respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders. The Republic of Moldova reiterated its call for complete, unconditional, and immediate withdrawal of all illegal stationed troops of the Russian Federation from its territory, as well as the removal of ammunition stockpiles from the Cobasna depot, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 72/282, adopted on 22 June 2018. We also recall the five relevant UNGA resolutions adopted since 1999 on cooperation between the United Nations and the OSCE, and emphasize the clear and binding commitments undertaken by the Russian Federation at the 1999 OSCE Summit in Istanbul regarding the withdrawal of its military forces and armaments from the territory of the Republic of Moldova. We further call for the immediate cessation of the Russian Federation's hybrid actions aimed at undermining the political independence of the Republic of Moldova. Over the course of the last four electoral cycles, Moldovan citizens have repeatedly and clearly expressed their democratic will, making their choice loud and clear in favor of a European future. Despite an unprecedented campaign of cyber attacks, disinformation, and electoral interference, The people of Moldova over and over again reaffirmed their commitment to European integration. This sustained expression of democratic choice demonstrates the resilience of Moldovan society, underscores the primacy of the rule of law, and must be fully respected by all international actors. Mr. Chair, in conclusion, the Republic of Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine remains firmly committed to multilateralism and to strengthening the United Nations. Any reform or revitalization of the organization must reinforce and not dilute the principles of the charter. Respect for sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders is non-negotiable. These principles are the foundation of peaceful coexistence among nations. We reaffirm our shared determination to uphold and advance the values of the UN Charter and to work with like-minded partners towards a stronger, more credible, and more effective United Nations, one that consistently stands for justice, equality, and the rule of law. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the representative of Moldova. I now give the floor to the Republic of Korea.

Mr. Chair, my delegation welcome the convening of this special committee on the chart of the United Nations and on the strengthening of the role of the organizations. At such a critical time, we also extend our appreciation to the UN Secretariat for its assistance in preparing this meeting. On the topic of the peaceful settlement of disputes, we look forward to a productive thematic debate on the exchange of information concerning state practices in use of adaption or combination of traditional means. Given the prevalence of conflicts worldwide, this discussion is particularly relevant and timely. In this context, we take note of Security Council Resolution 2788 on the peaceful settlement of disputes, which reaffirms the importance of Article 33 of the Charter. We hope the Committee will continue its discussions in light of this development. Mr. Chair, my delegation would like to stress that when considering proposals to introduce new topics, It is very essential to secure broad support from member states to ensure meaningful and productive discussions. We should also take care to avoid overlap with discussions in other UN forums, as duplication could undermine the efficiency and effectiveness of our work. This approach is consistent with the spirit of the UN80 initiative. We also reaffirm that UN sanctions remain an important tool under the Charter for the maintenance of the international peace and security. We welcome ongoing efforts, including the annual briefing to enhance transparency and due process in sanctions implementation. In this regard, we call on all Member States to redouble their efforts to ensure full compliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. Regarding the rapporteur, we support these efforts as they serve as valuable resources for upholding international peace and security and contributing to compliance with the UN Charter. We commend the Secretariat for its ongoing work in reducing the backlog and acknowledge the concerns raised by other Member States regarding the need for an effective and prioritized approach. In support of these efforts, the Republic of Korea had also contributed the work of the Secretariat by funding an appointment of an associate expert to participate in the ongoing work. Mr. Chair, the Republic of Korea remains ready to engage constructively in the informal deliberations under this agenda item. I thank you.

Thank you very much for your statement. The next speaker is the representative of the State of Palestine.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and we congratulate you on chairing the committee this year. And let me start by wishing Ramadan Mubarak to all the colleagues who are observing Ramadan. Mr. Chair, what Israel is doing in Palestine and to the Palestinian people is symptomatic of the entire state of the world. Israel's criminal methods and its barbaric means have unraveled the world order and exposed its holiness. The ongoing genocide in Gaza, where the fire never ceased, or the ethnic cleansing and the annexation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the systematic dispossession of the Palestinian people do not stand outside of history. They are not an aberration. They are bound together by a colonial erasure of Palestine and its indigenous people. being waged under the gaze of the entire world, with full impunity and in violation of every principle of humanity, morality, and legality. The methodic destruction of Palestine and its people cannot be an exception to the law without consequences onto the world. For years, Israel has rendered the law meaningless, human life valueless, morality a burden, and the UN Charter an impediment. It has haunted its development and twisted and fragmented the efficacy of the law. It dismantled the law, plank by plank, body by body. Some world leaders are waking up to the reality that we have long known and lived, that 77 years of Israeli exceptionalism to the international law order is not just contained in Palestine. that violating all what humanity elaborated and eviscerating the key legal tools to deter, prevent, and prosecute international crimes will not only affect Palestine. They are waking up to the fact that overlooking, tolerating, condoning, and justifying the most serious crimes of concerns to the international community and grave violations of the rule of law, including genocide, aggression, annexation, colonialism, and apartheid against the Palestinian people, is indeed a threat to all peoples. It was only a matter of time before our international law-based order reached this critical breaking point. Yet, we cannot be passive witnesses to its demise, nor can we abandon it. Salvaging the international law-based order necessitates collective action, and it should and must start with holding Israel accountable for its crimes. Mr. Chair, Over 90 states and international organizations have collectively and in a unified voice reaffirmed the primacy of the Charter. They condemned the newly announced unilateral Israeli measures and policies that are aimed at deepening Israel's annexation of Palestine and denying the Palestinian people their right to self-determination, in violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the ICJ rulings. They rejected all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character, and status of the occupied Palestinian territory. Now, Israel is legislating its ethnic cleansing campaign, but for decades it has ethnically cleansed the land of its indigenous people incrementally, land by land, house by house, village by village, refugee camp by refugee camp, and family by family, with total impunity. all with the aim and purpose of, and I quote Israeli officials, "demolishing more than what the Palestinians built in the West Bank, or killing the idea of a Palestinian state, or encouraging immigrations," as stated by Israeli officials. Israel's annexationist measures are null and void. As the ICJ concluded, Israel's presence is unlawful and it has no sovereignty or whatsoever over any part of the State of Palestine. However, these measures are not routine administrative adjustments. Israeli annexationist measures are meticulously legislated to entrench its illegal occupation and apartheid regime through terrorism, systematic discrimination, dispossession, and permanent subjugation of the Palestinian people, and further threatening regional and international peace and security, and defying international efforts for a peaceful solution. The Israeli measures are deliberate steps towards permanent annexation in violation of Article 2 of the Charter, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and the foundational principle that territory may not be acquired by force. In the ICJ advisory opinion of 2024, the ICJ determined that, and I quote, "Policies, practices, or other measures that are such as to bring the occupied territory under the occupying power's permanent control constitute an act of annexation." which, along with its continued frustration of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, violates fundamental principles of international law and renders Israel's presence in the occupied territory unlawful. Mr. Chair, Palestine has always defined the present and the future of the world order. It is the testing ground where the natural right collides with the unchallenged might. The constellation of contradictions between the rhetoric of universal justice and the selectivity of its pursuit. In Palestine, what is being tested is not only the scale of Israel's criminality, but whether the UN Charter applies at all. We urgently call on the international community to match its condemnations with concrete measures and to undertake actions to uphold outstanding legal obligations, including sanctions in accordance with international law, that are aimed at compelling Israel to immediately cease its violations and rescind and reverse all of its illegal policies, including all of its annexation measures. Only then we can salvage the international law-based order. Finally, Mr. Chair, the State of Palestine reiterates its longstanding commitment to the UN Charter. The Palestinian people have long recognized that the Charter, its purpose and principles, constitute the moral and legal foundation of our just cause towards freedom. We have carved, in the reality of 77 years of oppression, a legal and peaceful path to realize our inalienable right in our ancestral land, as per the UN Charter. The Palestinian people have preserved faith in the Charter when everything around us should have led us to despair. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the State of Palestine. The next speaker is the representative of China. You have the floor.

At all set, the Chinese delegation congratulates you Chair, on your election as the Chair of this session of the Special Committee and extends congratulations to the other elected members of the Bureau. China will continue to actively support the work of the Bureau. China supports the joint statement developed by Venezuela on behalf of Group of Friends for the Defense of the UN Charter. Over the past year, we commemorated the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN and the victory in the world anti-fascist war. The UN embodies humanity's loft aspiration to never again wage wars, and this noble hope to escape the law of the jungle, ushering an era of peace and development, cooperation and mutual benefit. Today, we observe with concern that the vision of light in the UN Charter remains far from being realized. Unilateralism has resurfaced. Power politics has grown rampant. Bullying practices have become prevalent. And the rule of law in international affairs faces headwinds. Amidst the complex and turbulent international landscape, upholding multilateralism, strengthening the role of the UN, reforming and improving global governance represent the shared aspiration of all nations. Now more than ever, we must adhere to the UN Charter and the power and authority of the UN. Chinese President Xi Jinping has put forward the Global Governance Initiative, calling for adherence to sovereign equality, respect for the rule of law, commitment to multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and action-oriented implementation. Guided by this initiative, we stand ready to work with all parties to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, practice the vision of global governance based on consultation, cooperation and shared benefits, advance a more just and equitable global governance system, and jointly move towards a community with a shared future for mankind. Chair. Maintaining international peace and security is one of the purposes of the UN Charter. The Chinese nation cherishes peace, and the Chinese people value peace. China has always been a defender and a builder of world peace. The Global Security Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping, advocates a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable approach to security, offering a Chinese solution to address the global peace deficit and resolve security dilemmas. China stands ready to work with all countries to actively implement the initiative and jointly address various traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Regarding Security Council sanctions, China reiterates that sanctions are a means, not an end. They should serve the political settlement of the relevant issues. and minimize the impact on ordinary people and third countries. On December 4th last year, we held a general assembly meeting to mark the first International Day against UCMs, where many countries highlighted the harm caused by illegal unilateral sanctions. Regrettably, some country persistently disregards the International Committee's calls. imposing unilateral sanctions without or beyond Security Council authorization and without the legal basis under international law. Such sanctions seriously violated the Charter and international law, undermined the authority of the Council, and negatively impacted fundamental human rights and national development. China stands ready to work with all parties to oppose and resist illegal unilateral sanctions and all forms of hegemonic bullying. Chair, the peaceful settlement of international disputes is a fundamental principle of the UN Charter. China has consistently advocated that the countries concerned resolve disputes through peaceful means such as dialogue and consultation, fully respecting the right of the parties concerned to choose their own dispute settlement methods. Mediation. is one of the important dispute settlement methods provided for in the UN Charter. To meet the international community's need for resolving disputes through mediation, the International Organization for Mediation, jointly initiated by China and like-minded countries, commenced operations in Hong Kong, China, on October 20, 2025, upholding the purpose and principle of the UN Charter, AIOMED fills a gap in international mediation mechanisms. It represents an innovation step in the field of international rule of law and provides an important public legal good for improving global governance. China welcomes more countries to join the AIOMED and encourages great cooperation between AIOMED and other nations and such organizations to jointly contribute to the peaceful settlement of international disputes. Chair, the UN Charter enshrines the fundamental principle of international law prohibiting the use or threat of use of force. This principle has been crucial in safeguarding the post-war international order and averting a third world war. It is alarming that in recent years, the Japanese leaders have defied the historical trend by openly linking China's Taiwan region to Japan's survival threatening situation and speculating on responses based on the Japan-US alliance, attempting to use so-called collective self-defense rights to intervene militarily in the Taiwan question. Such fallacies are legally untenable. Taiwan is an integral part of China's territory. How to resolve the Taiwan issue is China's internal affair. No other country has the right to interfere, much less use force for so-called self-defense. These fallacies betray Japan's international obligations as a defeated nation, violating the obligations stipulated in the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. These erroneous claims violate the fundamental principles enshrined in the UN Charter, respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, and non-interference in internal affairs, and constitute a grave provocation to the post-war international order. Such erroneous claims should arouse vigilance and opposition from all peace-loving nations. Should Japan exercise its the so-called collective self-defense rights to intervene in the Taiwan issue and any protest, it will constitute an act of aggression against China and China will respond decisively. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. The next speaker is Bangladesh. Ambassador, you have the floor.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. At the outset, let me congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election, and you can count on our full support to the work of the committee. Bangladesh aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of non-aligned movement. Allow me to add a few points in our national capacity. Mr. Chair, we take note of the 2025 report of the Special Committee on Charter and the GA Resolution 80/166. We also take note of the reports of the Secretary-General, including those on the repertory and repertoire, and of the sanctions and assistance to third States under Article 50 of the Charter. The UN Charter remains not only the foundation of this Organization, but also the reflection of our collective aspirations of the well-being of humanity. Bangladesh believes that this shared commitment to peace, justice and cooperation should be the guiding principle for national and multilateral efforts, as well as UN reform. Here, the General Assembly must continue to play its central role. Besides, the Security Council should be made more representative and accountable to deliver the needs of the contemporary challenges, especially during crisis moments around the world. At the same time, we must ensure better balance and coordination among the principal organs in line with the Charter. Mr. Chair, Bangladesh is deeply concerned at the erosion of multilateralism and continued violation of Charter in different parts of the world. The maintenance of international peace and security is a core principle of the Charter. In this regard, states must refrain from the use of force and respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states. Besides, Bangladesh emphasizes on the maintenance of peace for its link to the effective implementation of Agenda 2030. Without lasting peace, no development can sustain. Mr. Chair, Bangladesh firmly believes that disputes between states must be settled peacefully. Dialogues, negotiation, mediation, and arbitration should be the first options. In this regard, Bangladesh reaffirms our full support to the International Court of Justice. Its judgment and recent advisory opinion on climate change, as well as the Israeli illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, must be respected and implemented. Regarding sanctions, Bangladesh reiterates that these should be used only as a last resort and in full compliance with the Charter and international law. Humanitarian exemptions and due processes for the protection of civilians are important. In this regard, we recognize the need to strengthen the capacity of the Secretariat to assess and address the unintended impacts of sanctions. Mr. Chair, in facing the current financial and liquidity challenges around the world, we believe that reforms initiatives under the UNAT must aim to improve efficiency, accountability and delivery without compromising the mandates, particularly in countries facing special situations. Mr. Chair, the world is also experiencing rapid technological transformation. Bangladesh appreciates the ongoing discussions in UN on digital cooperation and AI governance. Bangladesh believes that these processes must be inclusive and transparent with equal opportunities for developing countries. In conclusion, we wish to emphasize that the effectiveness and the principles of the Charter depends on our collective political will. We must uphold the Charter in both word and action. Bangladesh remains committed to strengthening the role of the UN in maintaining peace, promoting development, and upholding international law. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much for your statement. The next speaker is Indonesia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Allow me at the outset to warmly congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election. Indonesia assures you of its full support and cooperation in the work ahead. Indonesia also aligns itself with the statement delivered by Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and we wish to convey our statement in its national capacity. Mr. Chair, Indonesia attaches great importance to the continued work of this Special Committee in promoting the authority of the United Nations Charter and reinforcing the organization's central role in maintaining international peace and security. For eight decades, the international community has benefited from a multilateral system anchored in the Charter. Yet today, we are witnessing a growing crisis of trust in that very system. Inconsistent application of international law, perceptions of double standards, and selective adherence to agreed principles risk eroding confidence in the rule that bind us all. In this context, guided inter alia by the 1955 Bandung Principles, Indonesia consistently advocates for a strong global system that upholds international law and promotes mutual respect among nations. My delegation underscores the continued relevance of the Special Committee as an important forum to reinforce the authority of the Charter and to contribute to strengthening the role of the UN. Allow me to highlight three key points. First, the sanctity of the Charter and international law must be upheld consistently and in good faith. Selective or a la carte implementation of international law undermines the credibility of the multilateral system and risk opening a dangerous Pandora's box. Indonesia reiterates that all members must fully comply with their obligations under the Charter, including on the use of force and self-defense, as well as the duty to settle disputes by peaceful means. In this regard, the Special Committee should continue to promote practical measures that enhance respect for the Charter, including greater awareness, capacity building, and dissemination of Charter principles. Second, the peaceful settlement of disputes must remain at the core of relations among states. Indonesia supports efforts to strengthen the use of existing mechanisms under Chapter VI of the Charter. The United Nations and states should more effectively utilize its full spectrum of tools, including negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, and judicial settlement to prevent disputes from escalating into conflict. More specifically, Indonesia also encourages stronger regular coordination between the ICJ and other UN main organs to promote effective implementation of international law. Third, the Special Committee must position itself as a meaningful driver of the United Nations reform. The mandate of the Special Committee to Strengthen the Role of the United Nations is directly relevant to the broader UN reform agenda. It should therefore play a constructive and practical role in supporting these efforts, particularly by enhancing coherence and complementarity among UN organs. Ultimately, the credibility of reform will be measured by the organization's ability to deliver concrete results for all Member States especially developing states. Mr. Chair, Indonesia stands ready to work with all delegations to ensure that the Special Committee contributes meaningfully to the United Nations. I thank you.

Thank you very much. The next speaker is Pakistan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, my delegation would like to congratulate you on your election. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by China on behalf of the Group of Friends of Global Governance and by Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Pakistan commends the role of the Charter Committee, a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly, for discussing ideas and proposals on the UN Charter and for strengthening the role of the Organization. The global order established 80 years ago by humanity's collective will and wisdom is at a point of inflection. Multilateralism, underpinned by the UN system, is under stress. Intractable challenges from geopolitical contestation, climate change, and disruption of global supply chains to the mushrooming of new and emerging technologies are testing the resilience of states and also of the existing global architecture. These transformations appear more ominous when viewed in the backdrop of increasing violation of international law and UN charter. International treaties, once held sacrosanct, are whimsically ignored, mutilated, or made dysfunctional. resort to use and threat of force has become ever more frequent. Sharpening of global polarization is only exacerbated by the retreat of dialogue and diplomacy. Grappling with such enormous challenges, the objectives and the work of the Special Committee to enforce the UN Charter and strengthen the role of the Organization have assumed renewed urgency and relevance. Respect and adherence to the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, the non-use or threat of use of force, right of self-determination, respect for sovereign equality and territorial integrity of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, pacific settlement of disputes are critical for the maintenance of international peace and security. To this end, it is imperative that member states fulfill all their obligations under the UN Charter without any selectivity or discrimination. Pakistan especially emphasizes peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with Chapter VI of the UN Charter. Our position is vividly reflected in the Security Council Resolution 2788, adopted during Pakistan's presidency of the Council last year, placing emphasis on the pacific settlement of disputes and the role of the International Court of Justice. Mr. Chair. The Special Committee can also contribute to redressing certain contemporary abuses of the UN Charter, such as the frequent and indiscriminate resort to the imposition of unilateral coercive measures, secondary sanctions, and long-arm jurisdiction by some Member States. Sanctions are a blunt instrument when applied without an assessment of their costs and benefits. Their objective is not, and should not be, to punish or otherwise exact retribution on the entire populace. Sanctions should be implemented in full compliance with the provision of the Charter and international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Sanctions should be imposed with a clear time frame, be subject to monitoring and periodic review, and should be lifted as soon as their objectives have been achieved. Chair. We believe that reform of the organization should be carried out in accordance with the principles and procedures established in the Charter and while preserving the legal framework of the Charter as a constitutional instrument. There is an urgent need to achieve the right balance envisaged in the UN Charter between the functions and powers of the principal organs of the organization. The General Assembly should remain the chief deliberative policy-making organ of the UN. We call for utilizing its full potential to achieve meaningful progress across all three pillars of the UN: sustainable development, peace and security, and human rights. The Security Council must be more democratic, representative, and accountable. The small and medium states, which form the vast majority of the UN membership, must be fully and adequately represented in the United Nations Security Council. Adding new permanent members would violate the principle of sovereign equality, making the Council even less representative and further aggravating its paralysis. As a country with unwavering faith in diplomacy, international law and UN Charter, Pakistan would continue to work with the Member States and the Special Committee to advance our shared efforts for safeguarding and reaffirming our commitment to the UN Charter. I thank you.

Thank you very much. The next speaker is Nigeria.

Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Chair. At the outset, my delegation congratulates you and the Bureau on your election and assure you of our full support and cooperation throughout this session. Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The Charter remains our primary safeguard against reliance on brute force at a time of unprecedented global turbulence. We believe that strengthening the role of the United Nations remains a necessity for the survival of rules-based international order. At a time of global uncertainty and challenge to our foremost multilateral institution, the noble objective that inspired the establishment of the Special Committee pursuant to Resolution 3349 of 1975 becomes more pronounced. as a primary platform for discussing U.N. reforms, sanctions and peaceful settlement of disputes, its continuing relevance, especially at this difficult moment, cannot be overemphasized. Mr. Chair, the maintenance of international peace and security is the core of multilateral engagement. It is pertinent that the Security Council must reflect the contemporary realities of the 21st century. As underscored by our leadership at the 80th UN General Assembly, there is the urgency to redress the historical injustice that has left Africa without a permanent seat on the Security Council. We demand permanent representation for Africa with all attendant privileges, including the veto, to ensure the Council's legitimacy and effectiveness. A UN Charter that does not provide for a permanent African voice on the Security Council is a Charter that remains trapped in 1945. Nigeria reiterates the imperative of Article 33 of the Charter as the foundational principle for the peaceful settlement of dispute. In this regard, Nigeria underscores the necessity of African-led solutions to African problems. We further underscore the imperative of strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and regional arrangements, particularly the African Union and the ECOWAS. We have tested the effectiveness of such cooperation through our engagement in the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Multinational Joint Task Force. Our experience shows that when regional organizations are empowered under Chapter 8 of the UN Charter, they provide the most effective and culturally sensitive pathways for conflict resolution. In this regard, my delegation proposes that the Committee consider a new thematic study on regional organizations and the Charter, lessons from the Sahel. Mr. Chair, Nigeria continues to maintain that sanctions should be a measure of last resort implemented strictly within the framework of the UN Charter and deliberately designed to minimize unintended humanitarian consequences. Unilateral coercive measures infringe upon the sovereign equality of states and the right to development, and must be collectively discouraged. Sanctions must be targeted, time-bound, and consistently reviewed. Furthermore, Nigeria views the process for the revitalization of the General Assembly as timely and appropriate. In light of the ongoing process, we express our strong support for the efforts to enhance the authority and the role of the General Assembly as the most representative and democratic organ of the United Nations. Nigeria believes that the strengthening of the organization must include a more robust role for the General Assembly in matters of peace and security. When the Security Council is paralyzed by veto, the General Assembly must exercise its residual responsibility under the Charter to act on behalf of the people. In conclusion, Mr. Chair, Nigeria remains a dedicated partner in the collective effort to ensure that the United Nations is fit for purpose. We must choose the people and planet over conflict and ensure that the rule of law prevails over the rule of might. I thank you.

Thank you very much. The next speaker will be Israel.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Israel's firm commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, to democratic values and the rule of law has been a cornerstone of our national identity since our establishment. It is a testament to our resilience as our vibrant democracy in the heart of the Middle East. Especially in times such as these, when there are those who challenge the international order, who blur the distinction between good and evil, who spread hatred, sow fear and terror, and openly call time and again for the annihilation of the State of Israel, the relevance of the Charter today is more crucial than ever. It is crucial not as a declaratory language, but as a binding framework that defines duties, rights, and core values for our mutual existence and for the maintenance of international peace and security. This is not a slogan. If we fail to differentiate between right and wrong, if we ignore the facts and evidence, If we allow member states, observers, and non-state actors to deliberately exploit the Charter and international law, misusing and abusing its mechanism, not to promote the rule of law, but to spread hatred, sow fear, and threaten global peace and security, then we will not be able to build a better future. Israel's support for the UN Charter, for international law, and for multilateral dialogue is deeply rooted in our democratic system and is beyond question. Israel is a law-abiding state that respects the rule of law, both domestically and internationally. Our independent judiciary, vibrant civil society, and robust democratic institution reflect our enduring commitment to legal accountability and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. Mr. Chair, the Special Committee of the Charter was established to explore ways of strengthening the role of the United Nations. It is a legal forum, and it should remain so. However, when the legal forum is used for political purposes, when those who are themselves key actors in undermining international peace and security serve in the Bureau of this Committee, which is meant to represent all of us, it becomes difficult to remain optimistic about the future of this session, its outcomes and reports. other revitalization processes, or the future credibility of the United Nations as a whole. Regrettably, it has taken less than eight decades since the founding of the United Nations for the lessons of peace, justice, and the rule of law embodied in the charter as our moral compass to be tainted by politicization efforts. The politicization and weaponization of international institutions and UN forums including this one, have led to distortions of both truth and law in the service of one-sided political agendas. We cannot turn a blind eye to this reality. Even if we were the only delegation in this room prepared to speak out and to expose this mask of hypocrisy, Israel would not remain silent. We call on you to do the same. We commend those who choose not to stand idly by who raise their voices against these dangerous trends. It is evident that the UN system, including its institutions and forums, has seen a growing tendency to draw legal and quasi-legal processes into political discourse. We see mandates stretched beyond their stated purposes, undermining the original goals, We see legal terminology used irresponsibly as labels and labels presented as an unfounded accusations. All of this happened too often. In the absence of accountability for the erosion of truth and the spread of misinformation, it has just became far too easy and entirely cost-free. Where law should provide clarity, ambiguity is deliberately cultivated. Where process should build trust, polarization is deepened. And where the Charter should serve as a moral compass, it is misused by those who hide behind its language to justify their illegitimate and unlawful conduct. Mr. Chair, strengthening the role of the United Nations, of the Charter, also requires a serious commitment to accountability. Accountability cannot be built on selectively or double standard. Accountability cannot be built on selectivity or double standard. The Charter applies to all member states of the United Nations, as is our commitment to the Charter and to the international law. However, accountability must also apply to those who shamefully point fingers against us in this room. the Palestinians, who have never condemned Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad for the massacre they carried out against innocent Israeli civilians on October 7th. Instead, their PR, Riad Mansour, at his stakeout outside of the Security Council, referred to them, and I quote, "with our brothers, Hamas." I will repeat, "with our brothers, Hamas." The Iranian regime, which has never ceased calling to the annihilation of the State of Israel and other actors, while preaching to others, in fact, threaten international peace and security through their own actions. The Charter is equally relevant to the UN agencies and UN officials themselves. It is relevant that to UNRWA, an agency whose ranks were deeply infiltrated by Hamas terrorists, To this day, we have yet to see full acknowledgment by the United Nations of UNRWA's profound failure, including involvement of its personnel in the atrocities committed against innocent Israeli civilians during the October 7th massacre and its aftermath. Upholding the Charter requires confronting such failure honestly and transparently. Mr. Chair. We are aware that some delegation may seek to divert this general debate into yet another political arena by raising baseless accusations against Israel. Israel rejects such accusation unequivocally. We will address any unfounded claim in the appropriate time, forum, and context. Mr. Chair, strengthening the organization begins with safeguarding the credibility of the charter and the UN forums. It requires ending patterns of double standard, polarization, and politicization. It requires due process and professional standards wherever UN action relies on reporting, assessment, or legal analysis. And it requires a consistent return to a simple principle, protecting the UN Charter from erosion and preserving its legitimacy, as was enshrined when the UN was established. Upholding impartiality and the rule of law on an equal basis, without prejudice or prejudgment, are crucial for strengthening the United Nations. The State of Israel remains committed to ensuring that the Charter's principles and the rule of law continue to serve as a beacon of peace, justice, fairness, and human dignity. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much for your statement. The next speaker is Guatemala.

Thank you very much. First of all, congratulations to you and the other members of the Bureau upon your election. We would like to reassure you of our full support as you go about your work. Guatemala reaffirms its full commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, which is the fundamental pillar of international peace and security and also the foundation for a rules-based international order. We are concerned by violations of the Charter and international law that have been seen around the world. We also make crystal clear our full support for multilateralism, respecting countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity, legal equality between nations, non-intervention in states' internal affairs, and the prohibition of threatening to use or using force. We are also fully supportive of the peaceful settlement of disputes. My country is convinced that peace and respect for international law must prevail over any form of military confrontation. Mr. Chair, the United Nations is a complex system made-up of different bodies. One of the goals of this Special Committee is to bring about results that can contribute to ensuring an appropriate balance between the mandates of the Organization's main bodies. Each of them play an important role, and the success of the mandates depends on them working together appropriately. Guatemala believes that the International Court of Justice is one of the bodies through which tensions that sometimes arise can be dispelled, not just between member states, but also between sometimes the very bodies of the organization. In this regard, Guatemala is fully supportive of the practice of requesting the court to provide advisory opinions. Mr. Chair, when it comes to sanctions imposed by the Security Council, Guatemala believes that these should avoid unintended consequences that can lead to repercussions in the economy, human rights violations, or preventing humanitarian assistance reaching civilians. On the thematic discussions on the peaceful settlement of disputes between states, Guatemala has been following them very carefully. We believe that above and beyond promoting a culture of peace, they are an effective tool, a pedagogical tool in the domain of international law as well. We therefore support the maintenance of this item on this committee's agenda. On the repertory and the repertoire, my delegation acknowledges that they are a significant contribution to international law. It is therefore important for them to be updated and to be digitally accessible. We encourage the Secretary-General to ensure that they are indeed updated. Mr. Chair, it is critical that this committee's work be translated to tangible results. As we have heard from some other delegations, we are also concerned about the persistence of a deadlock, particularly at a time when the organization is moving forward with reform geared towards strengthening the UN's role and ability to respond to current challenges. We believe that aligning our efforts with this common objective is critical to uphold the credibility and effectiveness of the organization's work. Lastly, my delegation thanks the Secretariat and in particular Director Arnold Pronto for the work that has been done in spite of the obstacles. Thank you so much.

The Chair, I thank the representative of Guatemala. The next speaker is Morocco.

Mr. Chair, first of all, I'd like to congratulate you on being to chair the Special Committee on the Charter and Strengthening the Role of the Organization. I assure you and members of the Bureau that you have the full cooperation of my delegation. Mr. Chair, my delegation would like to make four main comments. Firstly, Morocco reiterates its commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the respect for sovereignty and national unity and the territorial integrity of states. Indeed, the principle of territorial integrity is an intangible principle and it is permanent in nature. It is not one amongst others, it's a very foundation of international stability and conflict prevention. Second point, The peaceful, Pacific settlement of disputes is a pillar of the United Nations. And we find this in Article 6 of the Charter, in particular, what we have in Article 33. The Kingdom of Morocco firmly supports any and all efforts to consolidate the Pacific settlement of disputes. Third, the effectiveness of the organization is based on institutional balance, which is established by the Charter. Article 12 shows us a very clear outline of that. And let me quote and say that the Security Council, for as long as it discharges its functions on the Charter, the General Assembly is not to issue any recommendations on disputes for as long as Security Council is deliberating on that. Next, on the development of the repertory and the repertoire for the organs and Security Council, respectively, we think that this is worthy work that needs to be supported by us. This is also very painstaking work of documentation, which we appreciate. We also welcome the recent launch by the Security Council, the voting record dashboard, which enhances the transparency of the Council and will feed the institutional memory of the body. By way of conclusion, sir, before we include any new topics on the agenda, the Special Committee has to, in consultation with Member States, ensure that first and foremost we are talking about legal and practical issues. We are available to work constructively on the relevant proposals to fall under the mandate of the Committee. I thank you.

Thank you very much. The next speaker is Cuba. You have the floor.

Sir, the delegation of Cuba would like to congratulate the Bureau upon your election. We wish you the very best of success as you go about your work. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter. The Charter Committee is the appropriate forum to negotiate any amendments to the UN Charter, including those that the current reform process may lead to and to engage in a dialogue on the best practices in this regard. The committee is also the appropriate forum for recommendations to be put forward to increase the implementation of recommendations on how to implement the provisions of the Charter and to ensure that all states align their behavior with the purposes and principles of said Charter. We support the approval of guidelines by the GA as it is the main deliberative body of the United Nations. We also support fully adhering to the letter and spirit of the Charter. This is critical to ensure the achievement of the three pillars of our organization. Sir, This committee's sessions and their relevance is particularly important given the current juncture in which some are attempting to reinterpret the provisions of the UN Charter in order to promote political interventionist agendas. which violate countries' territorial integrity and sovereignty and which violate the principles of international law. We are speaking out against the measures recently adopted by the United States to tighten the economic and financial embargo upon Cuba, which is a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law. The imposition of punitive tariffs against states that supply Cuba with oil is an unacceptable measure that aims to strangle the Cuban economy and to punish those who are legitimately engaging in trade with Cuba. These are unilateral measures which represent a direct attack on the sovereignty and freedom of trade and navigation, not just with Cuba, but also with other states as well. So many states measures with regard to the committee's agenda have sometimes prevented the adoption of important documents, which nevertheless aim to strengthen the work of the United Nations Organization. Nevertheless, we are seeing proposals that have been made that need to be considered. Cuba supports the three new proposals made by Iran, Syria and Mexico. We think these proposals should be duly discussed and examined as they broach important items for the functioning of the organization. We think it would be very useful for the committee to discuss the legal foundations of these proposals, and we are willing to work alongside all delegations to achieve a satisfactory outcome. We had presented a proposal under the maintenance of international peace and security and we would like to update this document which is open for the consideration of all States. We have continued to work on the document and try to improve its working. We hope to have a frank discussion on this proposal in the current session and we will listen attentively to all delegations' feedback. We invite delegations to react to our proposal and we are ready to make amendments as necessary. After more than 40 years since the adoption of the Manila Declaration, we reiterate that it is a critical part of this Committee's work. We fully supported the relevant resolution of the General Assembly to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the adoption of this Manila Declaration. We're also pleased to see the convening of thematic debates on the peaceful settlement of disputes. This is in line with Chapter 6 of the Charter. And it also includes It pertains to the proposals that the NAM made in previous sessions. This is particularly valuable at the current juncture where we're seeing major threats to international peace and security. One of the most lethal threats to international peace and security is the current situation in Palestine. The General Assembly should enforce the resolutions to put an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. The international community cannot stand idly by, given the Israeli annexation and all of its settlement practices and the apartheid policy which have gone on for more than seven decades in the occupied Palestinian territories, which flagrantly violate the resolutions of the Security Council, the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and also the provisional rulings and advisory opinions handed down by the International Court of Justice. There must be a fair, lasting solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine, a two-state solution that allows Palestinians to exercise their right to self-determination, to live in an independent sovereign state within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. And there must be the right to return of the of those who had to leave. We also support the ICJ's findings on Israel's obligations under the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide, to which Cuba is a state party. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Distinguished delegates, we've reached the end of the time allocated for this meeting. and we still have at least 25 speakers on the list. Consequently, the plenary of the Special Committee will reconvene in this room at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon to continue and conclude the general debate. So that we can conclude our work within the schedule, I encourage delegations to stick to the allotted speaking time as much as possible. for five minutes, if possible, for national statements. The meeting stands adjourned.