A commemorative plenary meeting to celebrate the signing of the UN Charter, emphasizing its foundational importance to achieving peace, development and human rights for "we the peoples".
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Good morning. Please take your seats. I call to order the informal meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate United Nations Charter Day. I will now make a statement as the President of the General Assembly. Mr. Secretary-General, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, especially our younger guests of today. 81 years ago today in San Francisco, our founders signed the charter of our United Nations. That moment was a promise that humanity did not have to endure atrocities seen before, that together we could do better better, we could be better. And frankly speaking, my original script focused on this momentous occasion. Yet, since we hear these days more and more the chatter about the value and worth of the UN, questions even whether we would build the United Nations again today as in 1945, Or if we need something totally new? I thought it is best to address this head-on, especially on Charter Day. Because it is difficult to imagine how we would build the house again. Back then, there were only 51 member states. Many of today's 193 member states did not even exist as free and independent countries. Many of your countries were still under colonial rule. This is one part of the answer, the technical one. The other, more candid part is: Can we really imagine today 193 distinct member states agreeing as equals to common principles and purposes. Some with nuclear weapons while others do not even have air defenses. And some people own billions while the populations in others survive on just a few dollars a day. And now just imagine again, like back in time, all of them coming together granting every country, despite these vast disparities, an equal seat and an equal voice in this General Assembly? When we cannot even find consensus anymore to tackle global health threats together. So my point of view, the answer is simple: No, it is hard to imagine that we would find the same resolve to do it again. The United Nations is a miracle of humanity. The greatest achievement of the United Nations is probably the simple fact that it exists at all. And therefore our biggest responsibility is to protect this United Nations. This doesn't mean in any way that the UN is perfect. We have to do better to deliver on the promise of peace for the people in Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon, and the many, many other conflict areas we do not even speak enough about. And without any doubt, an organization grown over 8 decades with overlapping structures, with more than 40,000 mandates and 27,000 meetings a year, needs a deep reform to be more agile and more efficient. So the greatest tribute we can pay to the founders of the United Nations today is not simply to celebrate what they built, but to ensure it is fit for the future through a successful UN80 reform. Yet without doubt, we should not allow cynics to weaponize these shortcomings by romanticizing or even rewriting the past decades of the UN, which unfortunately have all witnessed horrible war, nor by oversimplifying things by arguing that the UN has taken in too much, that we should go back to basics. Delivering on the SDGs and on human rights is the basics. In the preamble to the Charter, we promised since 1945, and it's worth opening it, to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and the equal rights of men and women. To promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. Those principles have been there from the very beginning on. Of course, the Founders knew nothing about AI or climate change, nor did they experience COVID. Yet they anticipated that the world would change. And committed us to, I quote from the Charter, "to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character." So engagement in these fields is nothing new, nor woke, and definitely not against the Charter. It is adapting an institution built in 1945 to a world in 2026, delivering on the promise made in San Francisco that together we could achieve more than any nation could alone. Yet unlike in 1945, in a digitalized, social media-driven world, where bad news and hate spread at lightning speed, successes of multilateralism rarely make the front page. A war which never happened because of peacebuilding does not make it to the headlines. And nobody applauds the famine that was avoided, nor the rainforest that was never cut down. But saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war will never be possible without this conflict prevention, without preventive diplomacy, without sustainable development, and certainly not without human rights. Even if there is no glory in prevention, and even if not covered in the headlines, The UN is delivering on that promise every single day. UNICEF-led immunizations have saved more than 150 million children's lives over the last decades. More than 2 million peacekeepers from many, many countries around the world have served across more than 70 operations also around the world, some of them even giving their lives for the protection of others. Not to mention the number of people who would never have attended a school or received medical treatment if not for the UN and its bodies. So to all of those whispering these days, "Is the UN still worth it?" Just imagine for one second what the world would look like without these untold stories. "My tummy hurts. I want to go home and play with my friends." These were the last words of 7-year-old Saki in the arms of his mother before he died of malnutrition in Sudan because humanitarian aid did not reach him. How many more children like Saki would have died without the United Nations? How many already did? And how many more would we lose if we stop doing what we do? Stop funding? Doing the right thing, even in the darkest hours, is what this institution was built for. —to keep delivering life-saving assistance, to keep funding hope where it's needed most, and to keep speaking the names in this hall of those we failed to protect from war or to uphold their most basic rights until we do. Because this institution was not built for the easy times. Because giving up was never the promise of the Charter. The Charter is a promise to keep trying, especially when facing headwinds like today. So no, multilateralism has not failed. Multilateralism works every day when humanitarian workers are delivering food even before sunrise in a crisis. Multilateralism works every day, even if the Security Council is blocked, when peacekeepers protect civilians. Multilateralism works every day when young people, without even knowing the emblem of the United Nations, volunteer to provide basic education in refugee camps. Multilateralism works every day in this Assembly, when Member States—you, as Permanent Representatives—choose dialogue over division. And when you summon the courage to speak up for our common principles and purposes. As in a world where the principles of this institution are not only under pressure but under attack, our responsibility is clear: to defend the Charter, not only today through commemorations but through our actions, and by proving through what we do every day, also in this hall, that the promise made in San Francisco still lives on. Better together. One Charter. One future. Thank you. I now give the floor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Antonio Guterres.
Madam President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear children. The Charter of the United Nations begins with three simple words: "We the Peoples." Not "We the Powerful." Not "We the Victorious." "We the Peoples." All of us, bound by a single conviction: that we are safer, stronger and more human when we stand together. The Charter was a promise to the world. That humanity can choose cooperation over chaos, law over lawlessness, dignity over domination, and hope over fear. A promise made from the ashes of war and carried by every generation since. For 81 years, we have strived to keep that promise alive. Supporting peoples in their fight for self-determination, and seating new nations as equals. Through conflict and rivalries, through shocks and setbacks, and to this day, we have never stopped, even in the hardest corners of the earth. Blue Helmets standing between families and catastrophe. Humanitarian convoys bringing hope to the starving. Vaccines reaching the forgotten. Mediators keeping a door open when every other door has closed; international judges settling disputes between nations; and development support helping communities build better lives. Millions of people saved, protected and transformed. The United Nations has never been perfect, but it is irreplaceable. And today that promise is being tested to the breaking point. We see it everywhere. Wars of territorial expansion grinding on. Famine used as a weapon and aid as a bargaining chip. Civilians targeted— treated as targets. Ceasefires proclaimed one day and shattered the next. The nuclear shadow we swore to rub out Lensing once more. International law invoked when convenient and ignored when not. Inequalities and mistrust widening. A world where the rules apply only to some is not a world of order. It's a world of uncertainty, injustice and impunity. Some tell us that the answer to this turbulence is to retreat—behind walls, Behind borders. Behind the comforting fiction that any nation can weather the storms of our age alone. They are wrong. Retreat is not safety. It is surrender. No border can hold back a warming planet. No country can govern artificial intelligence alone, end the pandemic alone, or shield its people from global shocks alone. In a world of shared dangers, cooperation is not naïveté. It is the clearest-eyed realism there is. But cooperation only works when it is grounded in rules. Rules that apply to all. Rules that protect all. Rules set out in the Charter. I have said it before: the Charter is not an à la carte menu. Its principles are not optional. And they are not negotiable. And they demand respect for the sovereign equality of all States. They prohibit the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State. They require that international disputes be settled by peaceful means and that human rights be upheld without double standards. They give every Member State a choice and every people the protection of the law. When these foundations are weakened, every country is less secure. And that is why we must uphold the Charter's purposes and principles, and respect international law, including international humanitarian law. We must strengthen diplomacy and solidarity across regions, and accelerate action on sustainable development—because peace, dignity and opportunity go hand in hand. And we must build a United Nations that adapts to a changing world. Excellences, oui, nous devons—
Your Excellencies, yes, we need to reform. The Security Council must reflect the world of today and not the world of 1945. The same applies to the international financial architecture. The organization of the United Nations itself must continue to evolve. Through the UN80 initiative and beyond in order to serve with greater efficiency and have greater impact. However, the reform must strengthen the United Nations and not weaken it. The response is not less cooperation, it is stronger cooperation, a cooperation rooted in the Charter and in this very simple truth: Our futures are interconnected. A cooperation that restores trust through action, that defends the principles that unite us, and that proves that multilateralism can produce results for people. That is the spirit of this meeting. Stronger together. A Charter. A future. The Charter is born out of a catastrophe and the courage to build a better world. This project remains unfinished and we have a duty to complete it. It is up to us to honor the Charter, to strengthen the organization of the United Nations, to choose again and again and always peace, justice, and our common humanity, and to show what is possible when we, the peoples of the United Nations, act in unison. Thank you.
Merci beaucoup. I thank the Secretary-General. It's my honor to give the floor to Ms. Mariam Sulika, United Nations Youth Office Young Leader for Sustainable Development Goals and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Good Good News. Miss Solikha is doing precisely what we at the UN need: spotlighting the good news and successes. Her work demonstrates this and reminds us, whether at grassroots or at the United Nations, by young people or the most experienced leaders and decision-makers, one thing is clear: that we are most powerful, most effective when we act together. Ms. Sulika, the floor is yours.
Salaam, Maryam Abdus-Salam. Peace from myself. Maryam Abdelsalam, the daughter of the land of peace. Maryam Abdelsalam, daughter of the land of peace. President of the General Assembly, Secretary-General, fellow member states, excellencies, and young children. I stand here before you today, a 27-year-old Egyptian woman whose last That name alone holds the same promise for hope, for peace that this institution made 81 years ago. Back home, I founded an entity called The Good News. The Good News started during COVID when we all thought the world was going to end, and to be honest, when I was asked to give today's keynote, the immediate thought that came to my mind was, if I wanted to find the good news 81 years ago, would I be able to? And if the UN Charter was established for— was established today, would I cover it on my platform? That's the question I will leave you to answer today by the end of my word. The UN Charter was founded to save succeeding generations, my generation included, from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to this generation. That line was supposed to be the foundation for peace, the northern star that we all to follow. Yet over the years, we have witnessed some member states actively choosing to destruct this foundation, to deviate away from the Northern Star. And instead of working every single day to build the same peace the Charter was created to maintain, we saw them actively engineering traps of fear, not only for their neighbors but for their peoples. And I can't help but ask myself, where is the good news? This Charter was created to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the human person, but right before Before our eyes, we have seen human dignity dragged, stripped unmercifully, live, 24/7, and no one had the courage to stop it. And I can't help but ask myself, where is the good news? This Charter was created to establish conditions under which justice and respect can be maintained, but justice and fear cannot coexist. For the longest time, headlines have been designed to instill fear— fear from today, fear from tomorrow. Hope has been lost because it has been deemed unworthy of headlines. Not because hope is scarce, but because it does not serve the fear that they want us to feel. And you know what? The worst part about fear isn't only the emotion, it is what it does to your body. Fear is like an anesthetic. When shot into your blood, it immobilizes you, makes you unable to take any action. And when that is done, justice could never be served. With all that being said, I'm sure you're all wondering, then where does she find the good news? Well, I come today bearing two things. I come bearing good news and I come bearing a fact. This fact says that the only force stronger than fear is hope. The good news is that Tala, the 14-year-old Palestinian girl whose home was deconstructed and was flattened to the floor, has used this rubble and the— and made out of it construction bricks for her home. And she has won the Earth Award for 2026. The good news is that there is a Palestinian lawyer. Her name is Nour. She had only pens and a blackboard, and she could not get her degree with the rockets flying above her head. Do you know what she did? Nour took those pens and this blackboard and educated 4,700 children in 12 different camps. Well, the good news is that fear is absolutely temporary and hope is forever. The good news exists because we, the peoples of today, refuse to let fear win. We refuse to look at hope like it's a soft sentiment. Like it's an afterthought, like it's defeat. If anything, hope is the absolute opposite. Hope is courage. Hope is survival. Hope is the most noble, untouchable part of our being that even the most powerful, forceful forces could never touch. Fellow member states, We, the people of today, have already reached our consensus outside of this room. You're already late to the party. But the good news is, as long as I and yourselves are sitting here in this room today, we still have time. And I invite you to be part of our conversations, to be part in our rooms, to help us rebuild this peace. The last thing I want to leave you all with is that I always pray in my heart, may peace be upon those who truly seek peace, and may peace be upon those who have the courage to build it. As-salamu alaykum. May peace be upon those who who truly seek peace.
I thank Ms. Solika for her strong words of hope, and even if we are a bit late, we hope we can just join the party of hope, and we will do. I now invite the Assembly to view a video entitled "Better Together: 80 Years of the UN.
This is not the story of an institution. It's the story of people. People who stood between war and peace and chose peace. People who said dignity cannot be broken. People who carried food on their baks, who rebuilt schools, who gave shelter to strangers. People who stood for the earth before it was too late. And the people who will carry it forward. The young, the unheard, the unstoppable. For 80 years, this has been and will be the work of humanity. Not perfect, Not finished, but always better together. 80 years and more for peace, human rights, and sustainable development.
UN.
Better together.
Excellencies, as we have seen and heard, we have built this institution for our children, our future generations. In looking to the future with the Charter as our North Star, we are also reminded of where we have come from. In this context, I am delighted to welcome our future on stage from local schools around the city of New York to do a reading of the preamble of the Charter of the United Nations in all its 6 languages.
We, the peoples of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind.
And to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. And for these ends, to practice tolerance and live together in peace, with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security. And to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples. Hemos decidido unir nuestros esfuerzos.
We've decided to unite our efforts through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco who have exhibited their full powers Found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.
By our future leaders, ambassadors, and diplomats on the floor with us today. This is the same courage we should amplify in these halls every day in our commitments in our defense of multilateralism, and I want to thank you, and please join me in a big applause. Liliane in Arabic, Shizu in Chinese, Clarissa in English, Valentin in French, Mika in Russian, and Isabel in Spanish. Thank you so much. So now we are excited for the clarity from the floor. We will begin the plenary segment. Before I open the floor for statements, I would like to remind delegation that as As indicated in my letter of June 1st, 2026, there's no pre-established list of speakers for this meeting. Delegations wishing to speak are requested to press the microphone button starting now. To allow a maximum participation by all, members are requested to limit their interventions to 5 minutes when speaking on behalf of a group and 3 minutes when speaking in national capacity. Members are invited to reflect on how their country, how your country, has contributed to upholding the UN Charter and its three pillars, and how the United Nations has helped your country in the past. Time limits will be strictly enforced through an automatic microphone cutoff. To assist speakers with the time management, a timer will be projected as always on the screens. I thank you for your Cooperation. As the first speaker, I have the honour to announce the distinguished representative of Morocco on behalf of the African Group, followed by Uruguay and the European Union.
Madame la Présidente, Madam President, I deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group. Aku. 81 years ago, representatives of 50 nations signed the Charter of the United Nations in San Francisco. Most of Africa was absent from that room. The peoples of our continent were not yet free, and their voices were not yet heard in the councils of the world. It was the Charter itself and the principles it proclaimed that furnished the legal and moral basis for their liberation. The sovereign equality of states, the prohibition of the threat of use of force—this is not abstraction for Africa. They were this instrument through which more than 50 African states took their rightful place in this Assembly. This year's theme, Better Together: One Charter, One Future speaks directly to the conviction that the African Union and its member states have carried from Addis Ababa to New York, across every file before this organization, that unity across difference is not a slogan but precondition for results, and that the Charter's promise holds only to the extent that we translate it into equitable institutions and accountable actions. Madam President, Africa's record of commitment to the Charter is written in deeds. African troops serve in the most difficult peacekeeping theatres on earth. African diplomats have advanced the 2030 Agenda, the Pact of Future, and the CBA outcome on financing for development. African jurists seats on the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. When the General Assembly adopted the Mandate Implementation Review Resolution in March of this year, it was the African Group that secured the three-pillar balance and protective curve-out that kept this organization faithful to the Charter and systems that peace, development, and human rights are indispensable and equally authoritative. Yet the Charter's own institutions have not kept pace with Africa. The Security Council, the organ charged with the maintenance of international peace and security, still reflects the geopolitics of 1945, not the world of 2026. Africa, home to more than a billion people and to the majority of items on the Security Council's agenda, has no permanent seats and no veto. The African Group reiterated its call, rooted in the Isilwini Consensus and the Serre Declaration, and reaffirmed at the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, for comprehensive reform of Security Council that concretes this historical injustice. Madam President, we welcome the signing of the UN Haiti Charter as a symbolic reaffirmation of our collective commitment to the purposes and principles of the founding documents. Symbols matter. But the African Group calls on all Member States to match this symbolic act with substantive delivery: a reformed international financial institution that reflects Africa's wait and addresses their distress, and a UN reform process that strengthens the organization's capacity to serve all three pillars without diminishing the mandates and resources on which developing countries depend. The Charter did not promise Africa a better world. It gives Africa the tools to build one. 81 years on, we remain determined to use them.
I thank you, Madam President. I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco on behalf of the African Group, and I'm delighted to see that some of the future generations also joined the seats already in the hall, so very warm welcome, Liliane, as being a future ambassador. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of Group of 77 and China and CELAC. Sorry.
President, Mr. Secretary-General, distinguished excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, and young as well. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. The group thanks the President of the General Assembly for convening this meeting to commemorate United Nations Charter Day under the theme Better Together, One Charter, One Future. The future. 81 years after the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to its purposes and principles, which remain the foundation of international relations and the cornerstone of multilateral cooperation. The enduring partnership between the United Nations and the Group of 77 is founded on a shared commitment to multilateralism, sovereign equality, and international cooperation. Madam President, The Charter continues to guide our collective efforts: maintain international peace and security, promote sustainable development, uphold human rights based on the inherent dignity of every person, and strengthen cooperation among nations. For the Group of 77 and China, its principles, including sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in the internal affairs of states, and a peaceful Settlement of Disputes, remain as relevant today as ever. At a time of multiple and interconnected global challenges, including poverty inequality, debt vulnerabilities, food insecurity, climate change, biodiversity loss, and widening development gaps, the group underscores that effective multilateralism and strengthened international cooperation are indispensable. Development remains a central pillar of the United Nations. The eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, continues to be the greatest global challenge and an essential requirement for sustainable development. Achieving the 2030 Agenda and supporting developing countries through adequate means of implementation, including finance, technology transfer, capacity building, are critical to fulfilling the promise of the Charter. The United Nations has provided the indispensable framework and the space through which those aspirations can be pursued. Madam President, the Group reaffirms its commitment to a strengthened and revitalized multilateral system, with the United Nations at its centre, that is more democratic, representative, effective and responsive to the needs and priorities of developing countries and realities on the ground. We stress the importance of ensuring that their voices are fully reflected in global decision-making We welcome the initiative to mark this Charter Day through the signing of the UN 80 Charter as a symbolic reaffirmation of our shared commitment to the ideals of multilateralism, solidarity, cooperation, and mutual respect. As we commemorate this important occasion, let us renew our collective determination to uphold the Charter and work together towards a more peaceful, prosperous, equitable, and sustainable world for present and future generations. The Group of 77 and China remain steadfast in advancing a stronger multilateral system anchored in the Charter of the United Nations and responsive to the development aspirations of all peoples and leaving no one behind. As we look to the future, the Charter remains our common foundation and the United Nations our essential instrument for translating shared principles into shared progress.
I thank you, Madam, and will continue as CELAC For countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, the multilateral system continues to be a cornerstone and a framework for multilateralism. The promotion and protection of human rights 80 years after the signing of the Charter remains as relevant as ever. No country in the region can confront the challenges facing it alone. Confirms its commitment to the Charter, to international law and sovereign equality among states, peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for territorial integrity and political independence, non-intervention in internal affairs, the duty to cooperate under the Charter. Madam President, our region has made a historic contribution to multilateralism by declaring itself a zone of peace. It means that diplomacy, mutual understanding and respect for diversity are essential to prevent conflicts, build trust, and promote relations of friendship and cooperation. CELAC, in all its diversity, brings together different realities with a common interest in various areas of interest to our peoples. At the same time, this should be accompanied by a commitment to strengthening the organization. CELAC supports a United Nations that is more representative, transparent, democratic, efficient, where member states play a central role. Also, for Latin America and the Caribbean, development occupies a key role in all areas where the UN plays an important role. The microphone has been switched off.
I thank the distinguished representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of G77 and China and CELAC. As the next Speaker:MODERATOR] I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union on behalf of the EU and its member states, followed by Tseng Kitse Nevis and Kuwait.
Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as Iceland, Armenia, Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino, align us with this statement. Colleagues, today we commemorate the signing of the Charter of the United Nations and reaffirm the principles that continue to guide our collective action: sovereign equality, territorial integrity, non-aggression, the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international law, and the preeminence of international cooperation. The Charter emerged from the devastation of war and from a clear conviction: peace must be built and and reinforced by every successive generation, including through the promotion of economic development and the protection of human rights for all. For the European Union itself, the Charter is much more than a foundational document of the international order. Its principles helped shape our own integration project. 81 years ago, Europe lay in ruins. The United Nations helped create the conditions in which reconciliation, reconstruction and cooperation could take root. The Charter's principles inspired a new vision of a continent, one in which former adversaries became partners, and where dialogue and cooperation replaced conflict. Today, the European Union remains firmly committed to the purposes and principles of the Charter and to all three pillars of the United Nations. We support conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts around the world. We promote sustainable development through our commitment to the 2030 Agenda and through partnerships with countries and communities around the world. And we stand firmly for the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights, recognizing that peace, development and human rights are mutually reinforcing. Yet we gather at a time of profound uncertainty, dear colleagues. We are witnessing growing violations of international law and the Charter itself. Armed conflicts are multiplying, humanitarian needs are increasing just as respect for international humanitarian law is plummeting. The climate crisis is accelerating. And the United Nations itself faces concerted political and financial pressures at a time when these challenges render it more necessary than ever. Because no country, however powerful, can address today's interconnected challenges alone. Kolleges, the United Nations remains the only universal forum where all nations, large and small, come together as equals. It plays an indispensable role in advancing peace and security, supporting sustainable development, protecting human rights, and fostering dialogue and progress through cooperation—and one hopes also trust. This is why we must continue to defend the Charter and ensure that our Organization is equipped to deliver. The EU supports ongoing efforts to strengthen and reform the United Nations so that it remains effective and fit for purpose, and we recommit ourselves today. Let us remember that our task is not to rewrite the Charter, but to uphold it. Its principles remain as relevant today as they did in 1945. By acting together in accordance with the Charter, we can build a more peaceful, just, humane and sustainable future for all.
Thank you, Madam President. I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union on behalf of the EU and its member states. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis on behalf of the Caribbean community.
Madam President, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the 14 member states of the Caribbean community, CARICOM. We thank you for convening this important Meeting. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, we reflect on what has become one of the most consequential documents in modern history, representing one of the most notable aspirations: a better future jointly constructed by all countries. For the nations of the Caribbean, the Charter has served as a beacon of hope, a guarantor of sovereign equality and territorial integrity. And the catalyst through which many of our countries achieved self-determination. The Charter has represented stability for us as small states, and we renew our commitment to abide by its principles. Madam President, the United Nations remains an indispensable partner in the development efforts of the CARICOM member states. It has supported regional and national efforts to eradicate poverty, strengthen democratic institutions, improve health and education outcomes, advance gender equality, and respond to environmental challenges including climate change. CARICOM remains firmly committed to the Charter and has consistently championed the purposes of the UN, including peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, integrity, the promotion and protection of human rights, and the advancement of sustainable development. As small states, we are among the strongest advocates of the rule-based international order as the essential safeguard for all nations. The multilateral space created by the Charter remains a crucial platform for all nations to contribute meaningfully to global dialogue and decision-making on important issues such as financial reform, climate finance, and sustainable development. Moreover, because there is no monopoly of ideas in these halls, small states like CARICOM member states continue to make significant contributions to advancing the work of this organization. 80 years on, the organization's principles are still relevant, and under one Charter, we have indeed succeeded, however imperfectly, to chart a better future together. As we commemorate this historic milestone, we do so at a moment of profound change and global uncertainty. Armed conflicts continue to devastate lives and create humanitarian crises. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and ocean degradation are threatening lives, livelihoods, especially those in particularly vulnerable states, including the Caribbean. Inequalities persist and are widening both and within our nations. Simultaneously, we are witnessing international law being undermined including the principles enshrined in the Charter. In our own region, civilians in Haiti are living under extremely difficult circumstances owing to the ongoing violations of many of their rights by armed gangs. Global shocks have impacted the supply of energy, food, and essential commodities, pushing the most vulnerable into greater poverty and insecurity. These and other realities underscore the necessity of the United Nations' work and need for stronger, more effective, and more responsive multilateralism. CARICOM therefore supports continued efforts to strengthen and reform the United Nations so that it remains fit for purpose and capable of respond— of responding swiftly and decisively effectively to contemporary challenges while remaining faithful to the principles and purposes enshrined in the UN Charter. Madam President, CARICOM recommits to the Charter and calls upon all member states to do the same. The Charter confers on us the shared responsibility to build a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world, both for our generation and for generations to come. Let us therefore safeguard, defend, and promote the UN Charter.
I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis on behalf of the Caribbean community. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kuwait on behalf of the co-chairs of IGN on Security Council reform, followed by Denmark and Saudi Arabia.
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, it's an honor to address this informal meeting on behalf of the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform, Ambassador Lies Gregoire van Haaren of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and myself. As we commemorate United Nations Charter Day, we pay tribute to a remarkable remarkable document whose vision has guided the international community for more than 8 decades. The Charter remains the cornerstone of multilateral system and continues to embody our shared aspirations for peace, security, development, human rights, and international cooperation. The Charter is both enduring and dynamic. Its principles Its principles have stood the test of time, while its provisions provide member states with the means to ensure that the organization continues to respond effectively to evolving global realities. It is in this spirit that the intergovernmental negotiations continue their work. The question of Security Council reform is firmly rooted in the creation of the Charter, and the General Assembly has entrusted Member States with advancing this important process through dialogue, inclusivity, and consensus-building. From the outset of this session, the President of the General Assembly encouraged us, as co-chairs, to approach our mandate with ambition, openness, and resolve, while affording us the full independence necessary to conduct the process. She encouraged us to be active, to be bold in facilitating dialogue, and to make full use of the flexibility entrusted to the co-chairs in supporting member states' discussions. We are grateful for that confidence and the confidence of all member states, which has enabled us to carry out our responsibilities in a in an impartial, transparent, and inclusive manner. Throughout our work as co-chairs, we have been encouraged by the continued engagement of delegations and their commitment to constructive dialogue. While differences of view remain, there is also a shared recognition that meaningful progress can only be achieved through patient diplomacy, mutual respect, and a genuine willingness to listen to one another. The Charter reminds us that multilateralism is built not only on institutions but also on trust, cooperation, and collective responsibility. These principles continue to guide the intergovernmental negotiations, and they will remain essential as member states seek common ground on one of the organization's most consequential reform processes. On this Charter Day, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter as we honour its enduring legacy. Let us also recognize that preserving its relevance requires not only steadfast adherence to its values, but also a shared commitment commitment to ensuring that the United Nations remains fit for purpose in addressing the challenges of our time. Let us continue to work together to strengthen our organization for present and future generations. Thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Kuwait on behalf of the co-chairs of the IGN on Security Council reform. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Denmark on behalf of the Nordic countries.
Thank you, President. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the 5 Nordic countries: Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and my own country, Denmark. 81 years ago, the nations of the world made a choice. They chose cooperation over confrontation, the force of law over the law of force, and a shared future over the failures of the past. The choice was embodied in the Charter of the United Nations. The Charter is more than the founding document of this organization. It's a promise between nations and generations that sovereignty shall be respected, disputes settled peacefully, human rights upheld, and social progress advanced for all. For small and large states, States alike, the Charter remains our common life insurance. Today, however, its purposes and principles are under growing pressure. But the principles of the Charter are not optional. They cannot be applied selectively. Yet international law is being violated. Armed conflicts are causing immense human suffering. Civilians are paying an intolerable price. Human rights and gender equality face serious pushback while poverty, inequality, and the climate change undermine the foundations of peaceful and resilient societies. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is a flagrant violation of the Charter, and elsewhere in the Middle East, Sudan, and Myanmar, conflicts continue with devastating consequences. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the prohibition against the use of force protect every member state. When these principles are violated anywhere, the security of all is weakened. President, for the Nordic countries, support for the United Nations has never been merely rhetorical. We have contributed to peacekeeping, peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, mediation, sustainable development, international justice, and the promotion of human rights. We have worked to advance gender equality the full participation of women, and the protection of civil society. We do so because the three pillars of the United Nations are mutually reinforcing. There can be no lasting peace without human rights, no sustainable development without peace, and neither can be achieved without respect for international law. The UN has also been fundamental to our own countries. Our security and prosperity depend on predictable rules, peaceful cooperation, and strong international institutions. The UN gives every state a voice, regardless of size or power, and provides a forum to address challenges that no country can solve alone. This is the essence of multilateralism. Not that we always agree, but that we have agreed on how to manage our disagreements. The Nordic countries continue to be longstanding, staunch supporters of the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the UN. Even during challenging global circumstances, the court continues to fulfill its role in delivering justice. The court plays a central role in ensuring the peaceful settlement of international disputes and the rule of law in global affairs. President, the UN remains indispensable— but it must also adapt. The Nordic countries support the ambitious UN Haiti Reform Initiative that we hope will strengthen the effectiveness, coherence, and legitimacy of the organization across all three pillars. The Security Council must become more representative, transparent, and accountable. The veto must not become a shield against action when international law is violated or mass atrocities are committed. The Charter must be implemented in full. At the same time, reform cannot be an excuse for withholding support. Member States must meet their financial obligation in full, on time, and without conditions. An organization asked to do more cannot be expected to survive on less. The future of the UN depends on whether Member States have the courage to uphold the Charter consistently. The Nordic countries are ready to do our part. The choice remains clear: a world governed by common rules or by power alone, cooperation or fragmentation, a shared future or a future in which everyone stands alone. We choose cooperation. We choose the Charter. We choose the United Nations. I thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Denmark on behalf of the Nordic countries. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Philippines on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, followed by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.
Thank you, Madam President. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the 11 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, and my country, the Philippines, who are all proud signatories of the UN Charter. We wish to convey our sincerest thanks to you for convening this meeting to commemorate United Nations Charter Day. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to upholding multilateralism. Democracy, as well as the rule of law and rules-based international order in responding to increasingly complex global challenges. In this regard, we support the UN's central role in the global multilateral system and reaffirm the commitment of ASEAN to further strengthening our comprehensive partnership with the United Nations and to ensuring effective implementation of the current ASEAN-UN Plan of Action 2026-2030, including through the promotion of the shared values, norms of conduct, and principles enshrined in the UN Charter and ASEAN Charter. ASEAN Member States stress the importance of and are committed to upholding the principles stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations, including the principles of sovereign equality of states, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, security and international law, which constitute the indispensable foundation of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. We affirm our commitment to the Declaration of Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation Among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. ASEAN has embraced and continues to promote the rule of law in all its aspects and affirms its commitment to peace and security, good governance, and the promotion and protection of human rights, enshrined as fundamental principles and purposes of the ASEAN Charter. In this regard, ASEAN reaffirms the importance of upholding international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as ASEAN shared values and norms as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the 2011 Declaration of the East Asia Summit on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations, and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. We further emphasized the importance of strengthening preventive mechanisms in addressing emerging and existing challenges to peace and security, including through diplomacy, confidence-building measures, and inclusive dialogue, in line with international law and ASEAN's longstanding commitment to conflict prevention. As we mark the 81st year of the Charter and the 50th year of the Treaty on Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, ASEAN reaffirms the international rule of law and underscores the importance of reinforcing its role through the observance of international obligations in good faith, the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, the prohibition of the threat or use of force against territorial integrity or political independence of any state, and the strengthening of multilateral cooperation within its framework. I thank you, Madam President.
I thank the distinguished representative of the Philippines on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Before giving the floor to the distinguished representative of Venezuela, I would like, on behalf of the General Assembly, to extend our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the government and the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the tragic loss of life and damage that have resulted from the recent earthquake. I now give the distinguished representative of Venezuela the floor on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations.
Muchas gracias. Thank you, Madam President, for expressions of solidarity. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has the honor of taking the floor on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations. Their group of friends considers the Charter of the United Nations a milestone in the history of universal civilization because it constitutes a moral and legal compact that transformed hopes into a shared commitment to peace among all nations. During the past 8 decades, the Charter has served as a code of conduct that governs international relations among states on the basis of on the basis of the principles of free determination of peoples, sovereign equality of states, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful resolution of disputes, and, and the refraining from the use or the threat of the use of force against the territorial integrity or the political independence of any state. Our group of friends reiterates its appeal for the strict respect of the Charter, both in the letter and its spirit without any selectivity. Also, we'd like to underscore the need to revitalize and defend multilateralism and to ensure that the United Nations preserve its intergovernmental character and representative character focused on legitimate aspirations of all peoples. We express our concern for the growing gaps between certain member states of the UN and the Charter. In particular, we are concerned about the growing tendency towards unilateralism and progressive disregard of multilateralism, as well as attempts to ignore the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter and to apply selective interpretations of their, of their provisions. The Group of Friends attaches great importance to the promotion of the relevance and the application of its Principles and purposes and their integrity in their— in relationships, as well as the protection of all human rights, both individual and collective, without any distinction or categorization. In this context, the right to development represents one of the most urgent rights of peoples, in particular in the face of persistent and deepening economic and social historic inequality between the Global South and the Global North. This anniversary not only honors the past but also reminds us of the unfulfilled promises of the Charter, including the pending doubt to peoples who still live under colonial domination and foreign occupation. With this in mind, we'd like to highlight the issue of Palestine. The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people must be made effective, including their right to free determination, the right of return, and the right to independence and sovereignty of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital and within the pre-1967 borders. The State of Palestine must be admitted as a member of the United Nations. Likewise, we must address the growing use of unilateral coercitive measures, which are illegal under international law, and they are incompatible with the letter and the spirit of the United Nations Charter. These measures undermine the sovereignty of states, They prevent development and they erode human rights, especially in the Global South, which together with the issue of Palestine, these measures represent the most clear examples of double standards in international law as well as the erosion of multilateralism and the international system as a whole. We reiterate our demand for their complete elimination, immediate and unconditional elimination. Today, colonialism has adopted a new face with new methods and practices, including economic exploitation, restriction of opportunities for development, the independent development of states, limits to new technologies, to humanitarian assistance and medical equipment, attempts to substitute norms of international law based on the Charter by a new set of supposed rules that are, not based on consensus and lacking in international recognition, interference in the internal affairs of states, as well as attempts to impose certain models of social, economic, and political development. Consequently, we condemn strongly the flagrant and harmful use of these contemporary colonial practices. The Group of Friends reaffirms its commitment to spare no efforts in defense of the United Nations Charter. We reiterate our firm position of support and embracing of their fundamental principles, which are legally binding norms agreed by all members of the international community to govern the system of international relations. Thank you very much, Madam President.
I thank the distinguished representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia on on behalf of the Arab Group followed by national statements— first Liechtenstein followed by Namibia.
Madam President, at the outset please allow me to extend my thanks to you for convening this meeting. It's my honor to deliver the statement on behalf of the Arab Group. We meet today to commemorate the UN Charter Day. The signing of the UN Charter that, more than 8 decades ago, laid the foundations underpinning the global international order. It embodied the international community's aspirations for a world of peace, security, justice, and cooperation among nations. On this occasion, the Arab Group underscores the central importance of the Charter of the United Nations, grounded in established principles mainly equal sovereignty of states, respect of their political independence and territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes and the strengthening of international cooperation to achieve development and prosperity for all peoples. Madam President, this commemoration comes at a time when the world is facing complex and growing challenges, including conflicts, humanitarian crises, widening development gaps, and other transboundary challenges. Against this backdrop, it's more important to uphold the principles and purposes of the Charter and to uphold international law as the essential pillars to maintain international peace and security, achieve stability, and promote development. The Arab Group reiterates that respecting the principles of the Charter and ensuring their equitable and consistent implementation are essential to preserve the credibility of multilateralism and to build trust in international institutions. Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, despite the decades— over the past decades, the United Nations has proven that it is a pillar of of joint international action, of dialogue and cooperation among states. Through its agencies and through its different programs, the United Nations supported development, provided humanitarian assistance, strengthened human rights, and helped to address several global challenges. At the same time, the Arab Group underscores the importance of pursuing efforts to make the United Nations more effective and more capable of responding to current and future challenges in line with the principles of the Charter in order to strengthen the role of the organization in serving different member states and peoples. Madam President, Arab countries believe that growing global challenges require further cooperation and international solidarity. Multilateralism under the auspices of the United Nations and within its charter are the best— is the best means in order to address common challenges and to achieve sustainable development and lasting peace. In conclusion, the Arab Group reiterates its unwavering commitment to the principles and purposes of the charter. We will continue to support the central role of the United Nations in promoting peace and security and achieving development. We will pursue collective action to uphold the Charter and to defend its principles, thus achieving our people's aspirations for a safer, fairer, and more prosperous future for current and future generations. Thank you for your kind attention.
I thank the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Arab Group. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Liechtenstein. Reminding please the shorter time for speaking, followed by Namibia and Romania.
Many thanks, Madam President. Thank you very much for organizing this event this morning. The signing of the UN Charter is a moment for us to pause and reflect. First, on our ability to come together to make difficult compromises to unite behind a common purpose and to develop a truly visionary document that the UN Charter is. There can be no doubt that the UN Charter is the biggest achievement in the history of treaty-making. It offers a world governed by rules that we have all agreed on and that apply to all. A world that puts people at the center of the international order and that gives equal importance to peace and security, to development, and to human rights. A world committed to preventing and ending armed conflict where disputes are settled peacefully and where there is accountability for the illegal use of force. The Charter, of course, is not perfect. It gives a small number of states the ability to block decisions in the Security Council, the central organ for the maintenance of peace and security, and it does no longer reflect the geopolitical realities in the composition of the Security Council. But on the whole, the Charter is our strength. But this is also a moment of— to remind ourselves of our responsibility, that we cannot take the Charter for granted, that we have to work every day for its faithful application to call out violations of the Charter and to do what we can that its provisions are applied. The Charter also offers a lot of space for innovation. Change is possible within the framework of the Charter. Challenges such as AI and climate change that were not foreseen in San Francisco can be addressed within the Charter of the United Nations, which is the epitome of international law at a time when international law is challenged in unprecedented ways. Most of the time, most of international law has been observed by most states. Today, international law is at the risk of moving into a space where it is not just violated, but it's This is dismissed and ignored. The order reflected in the Charter is not only a reflection—
I thank the distinguished representative of Liechtenstein. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Namibia, reminding everyone that the speaking time limit is 3 minutes.
Thank you, Madam President. 81 years ago, the signing of the United Nations Charter gave expression to humanity's determination to lay the groundwork for the rule-based international order that promotes peace and security, sovereign equality, justice, and cooperation amongst nations. Today, Namibia honors that enduring vision and renews its commitment to the ideals that will continue to unite this organization. Namibia's own journey to independence is intertwined with the United Nations history. Our people petitioned the United Nations for freedom from apartheid and colonial rule, and the organization's efforts contributed greatly to Namibia's gaining its independence in 1990. The United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council kept the question of Namibia firmly on their respective agendas until its successful conclusion. We stand proud to call ourselves a child of international solidarity, midwifed by the United Nations. As we celebrate the milestone signature of the Charter, Namibia reaffirms its commitment to upholding the United Nations Charter's principles, including the sovereign equality and territorial integrity of all states, big or small, non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, promoting multilateralism, addressing global challenges such as illicit financial flows, the unbalanced international financial architecture, and the environmental degradation, as well as the promoting of— promoting the rights of women, children, refugees, and persons with disabilities.— reforming the United Nations and ensuring the organization is more representative and effective in addressing contemporary challenges. As we look ahead, Namibia believes that the Pact for the Future, co-facilitated by Namibia and Germany, provides the necessary impetus to strengthen international cooperation grounded in the United Nations Charter to address today's realities and to equip future generations with the necessary tools to address tomorrow's challenges. Let us all renew our commitment to the United Nations Charter's vision: the world where nations cooperate for peace, dignity, and development for all. I thank you, Madam President.
I thank the distinguished representative of Namibia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Romania for followed by Switzerland and Indonesia.
Thank you very much, Madam President, and also thank you for this important initiative. For Romania, the UN Charter is our foremost instrument for peace, not just as a moral aspiration but as a guiding compass to create the conditions for enduring peace and preventing conflicts. Romania has consistently affirmed the indispensability of the UN Charter as the unifying foundation that holds the international community together. In its over 70 years of membership in the United Nations, we have been an active supporter and defender of the UN Charter, its values and principles, as well as of international law and multilateral diplomacy. Our concrete engagement has included 4 terms as Non-Permanent Members of the Security Council, 3 mandates in the Human Rights Council, and continued support for initiatives aimed at advancing international justice and the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We are ready to do more. We have been a steadfast contributor of military and police personnel to United Nations peace operations since 1991. Beyond our presence on the ground, Romania has championed capacity-building initiatives, supplied trainers and facilitators for courses run by the Department of Peace Operations, and continues to host UN-recognized training programs each year. Romania has consistently advocated for promoting a culture of respect for the international rule of law and for leveraging the unique platform provided by the UN to resolve tensions and promote cooperation. Most recently, we made use, for the first time since joining the United Nations, of the instrument provided under Articles 34 and 35 of the Charter and requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council following the serious incident of a Russian drone crashing on a residential building in Romania, in the context of the continued aggression against Ukraine. We are grateful for the support shown by Allies, partners and friends. This once again proves the enduring relevance of the political dialogue facilitated by the Charter and its instruments in calling out transgressions of international law and for a return to the respect of its authority. Madam President, the recent symbolic signing of the UN Haiti Charter has also prompted reflection upon its future. Many words can be used to describe its enduring relevance, but one stands out as a simple yet immensely powerful statement: trust. We continue to trust the vision of the Charter. Ending, Madame President, we also acknowledge and support the imperative of reforming the United Nations to better fit its purposes, in the framework of the UN80 Initiative of the Secretary-General. We have a duty to take forward the legacy and limitless potential of the UN Charter. Thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Romania. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland.
Madame la Présidente, Madam President, Excellencies, dear colleagues. From the rubble of the Second World War, visionary leaders laid the foundations of a peaceful and just world order. They drafted a founding document that would set the rules of the game for decades to come. 81 years after its signing, the United Nations Charter remains the benchmark for peace and security, for development and human rights. The words of the former Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, resonate with the same force today: We will not enjoy security without development. We will not enjoy development without security. And we will not enjoy either without respect for human rights. The Charter is not a static historical document. It is a living framework whose fundamental principles apply without restriction. The challenge today is not to rewrite the rules—they've already been written. The challenge is to enforce them. It's about giving greater effect to international law and steadfastly defending the principles on which international law is founded. But rules alone are not enough in a polarised world. The United Nations must keep space open for dialogue. Conflict prevention, mediation, and the promotion of peace are at the heart of the organization's mission. Switzerland is concretely committed to this path, supporting mediation and dialogue processes across several contexts, offering a unique framework for such exchanges in Geneva. We call on the future leadership of the United Nations to place these instruments at the centre of its action. Effective multilateralism also requires for the UN to adapt to contemporary challenges without casting aside its founding principles. The UN must be focused. It must aim for impact on the ground and take action where it brings genuine added value vis-à-vis national or regional actors. Reform efforts as part of the UN80 Initiative, must be decisively aligned along these lines. Ultimately, the strength of the Charter depends on the fact that the Charter should be a lodestar for the future. Its principles are not outdated. Today they are more necessary than ever. It is up to us to demand they be respected, to promote these principles, and to take the Charter forward into the future in a way that is courageous, responsible, and espouses a common vision. I thank you. Thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Switzerland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia, followed by Canada and Bahrain.
Madam President, Indonesia welcomes today's commemoration of the UN Charter Day. On this special day, Indonesia reaffirms that the Charter remains a living instrument for our collective survival and a foundation that safeguards the rights of every nation, large and small. The key principles of the Charter are reflected in our Constitution preamble, which mandates our independent and active foreign policy, dedicated to a world order based on independence, abiding peace, and social justice. Indonesia honors this legacy through concrete actions, from deploying peacekeepers to accelerating the SDGs and promoting human rights. Yet, we stand at a crossroads. The United Nations faces severe, multifaceted strains, compounded by widening inequalities and violations of international law. Most regrettably, double standards risk replacing the rule of law with the rule of power. Nowhere is this crisis more evident than in Palestine. Gaza has become not only a humanitarian catastrophe but also a divining test of our collective commitment to the Charter. Defending its values requires comprehensive reform to ensure the organization fits today's complex multiplex world, fully amplifying the inclusive voices of the Global South. Our dedication is anchored in our own history. 80 years ago, on 17 August 1945, Indonesia proclaimed its independence, enduring 5 long years of physical and diplomatic struggles to assert our sovereignty. We remain profoundly appreciative that the young United Nations played a crucial role in securing our rights to self-determination. Welcoming us into its family on 28 September 1950. Indonesia paid this historical investment forward by hosting the 1955 Asian-African Conference, where the Bandung Principles established global solidarity and peaceful coexistence as the bedrocks of a fair international order. To conclude, an end to selective compliance is critical to defending the UN Charter. Let us continue upholding our collective commitments under the Charter to anchor our shared future in the non-negotiable principles of sovereignty, equality, non-intervention, and international justice. It is in this exact spirit that the right to self-determination became an enshrined UN principle through Resolution 1514/15. This milestone today reaffirms Palestine's rightful place within the family of the United Nations, a status already recognized by 157 countries and counting. I thank you, Madam President.
I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada.
Madam la Présidente.
Madam President, Excellencies. Today, as we celebrate Charter Day, We are also celebrating the determination of nations following a devastating war. Nations who decided to replace might is right with the rule of law, the force of the law. 80 years ago, following on from the two deadliest wars in the history of humanity, nations came together to sign the United Nations Charter. This was a courageous act.— showing their convictions, convictions in a simple but powerful idea: peace can and should be built through dialogue and cooperation. Canada was there when the organization was established. Canada contributed to crafting the fundamental principles underpinning the organization, as well as its mandate, the three pillars of the Charter as well: peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. Ever since it was established, the UN has contributed to preventing conflict, to combating disease, and supporting development, as well as facilitating trade and cooperation between nations. It also provided a rostrum where nations could settle their differences and disputes through dialogue rather than confrontation. The United Nations Charter shapes Canada's commitment all over the world, and this for over 8 decades now. Canada sought to enforce the principles enshrined in the Charter through its action, whether that be through peacekeeping and conflict prevention, the promotion of human rights, or our support for humanitarian activities, the promotion of sustainable development, the strengthening of international law, and the promotion of multilateral solutions to common challenges. We've done this because we understand a very simple truth: prosperity, security, and opportunity cannot be the province of one state, no matter how big or powerful it is. Opportunity, prosperity, and security, which Canada enjoys, are the fruit of collective efforts, collaboration, dialogue, and partnerships, as well as a common agreement, a commitment to the principles and norms which shine, which guide our behavior and our action, fundamentally shape our everyday lives.
They help keep international air travel safe. They help make global systems that protect us from disease outbreaks. All this matters to Canadians as much as it did in 1945, as the as the world changes. The challenges affect us. The UN is far from perfect, but it is certainly very necessary and certainly needs our respect and deserves our protection. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
I thank the distinguished representative of Canada. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, followed by Peru and China.
Said al-Raisi.
President, it is my pleasure to deliver this statement on behalf of the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, and my own, the Kingdom of Bahrain. As we commemorate the United Nations Charter Day, we stress that the Charter since 1945 was never merely an instrument that established the United Nations, but the cornerstone of the international order, the North Star of multilateralism, underpinned by equality of sovereignty and international law, the protection of human rights, uh, develop— and development. 81 years into the signing of the Charter, our world is faced with mounting challenges: raging conflicts, humanitarian crises, the spread of hatred and extremism, as well as violations of international law violations of the United Nations Charter. Our commemoration today, therefore, is not merely an occasion to reflect, but rather a call for renewed multilateral action to protect the objectives and goals of the UN Charter and to strengthen the role of the United Nations as an indispensable framework for international cooperation. The states of the GCC based on their commitment to the UN Charter, namely Chapter 8, have sought to strengthen and support the three pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, development, and human rights. This was reflected in our common work to strengthen international cooperation in our adoption of dialogue and diplomacy, in our efforts to ensure mediation, as well as our contribution to humanitarian assistance, development work, and the supporting of efforts to settle disputes through peaceful means. In this regard, we wish to point out the two presidential statements of the Security Council last April on the United Nations cooperation with the GCC as well as the League of Arab States. The Charter is our main terms of reference for good neighborliness and the governing of relations among states based on mutual respect, sovereignty, and non-interference in domestic affairs, as well as abstention of the use or threat of use of in accordance with Article 2 of the Charter to strengthen peaceful coexistence, trust, and cooperation. President, our commitment to the Charter requires a clear stance from the international community to face and confront steps that are taken and that violate the United Nations Charter and that constitute a departure from international law, as well as policies that lead to extremism and destabilize countries. This can be done by support— or this, this is done also by confronting steps taken to undermine the United Nations Charter. In conclusion, we stress that the theme of our event today stresses once more that our future will only be stable if we commit to one charter, one set of rules, and one responsibility: the maintenance of peace and security and the upholding of human rights and peaceful coexistence among states and peoples.
I thank the distinguished representative of Bahrain. On behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Peru.
Thank you, Madam President. As we commemorate the day of the Charter of the United Nations, Peru reaffirms its commitment to the principles and purposes that inspire it and with the three pillars of the organization: peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. As our Secretary-General has stated, the Charter is a true guide for the survival of humankind. This, uh, statement is— becomes particularly relevant today in the face of a very delicate international context. As a founding member of the UN, Peru seeks to maintain an active and responsible contribution to the organization. We reaffirm our commitment commitment to collective peace and security. Over 10,000 Peruvian troops have served in peacekeeping operations since 1958, thus contributing to the prevention of conflicts and the building of peace. Likewise, in the face of the grave liquidity crisis and the reforms— initiatives of reform and making the organization more efficient, Peru continues to to punctually fulfill its financial obligations, thus honoring very concretely the UN Charter. Madam President, the cooperation with the UN has significantly contributed to address the priorities of Peru, especially in the area of social and economic development. Thanks to this, millions of Peruvian people have greater access to healthcare, nutrition, and education. We've also strengthened our capacity for the management of risk of disasters, and thousands of small producers have improved their productivity and access to new opportunities. Likewise, we believe that cooperation with the UN to confront new threats such as transnational organized crime is more urgent than ever. In these efforts, the work of the UNODC and the Regional Center for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean UNLIREC, with its headquarters in Peru, is especially important. Madam President, the upcoming election of the Secretary-General represents an opportunity to strengthen the legitimacy and representativity of the organization. We recall with pride the legacy of diplomacy and cooperation of Ambassador Javier Perez de Cuellar, the only Latin American in exercising this noble function. The time has come for Latin America and the Caribbean to once again assume this supreme responsibility. Peru trusts that this spirit will continue guiding the future of our organization.
Thank you very much. I thank the distinguished representative of Peru. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China, followed by Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Madam President, today we are gathered here to commemorate the UN Charter Day. This is an occasion where we look back at history, but more importantly, we look towards the future. The world is experiencing transformation and turbulence. The UN faces crises and challenges. We as member states must champion the Charter through concrete actions and work together to revitalize, invigorate, and strengthen the organization. First, stay true to the vision of the Charter. The birth of the UN is a major achievement of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. The Charter embodies humanity's reflection on history, pursuit of peace, and aspiration for justice. We must jointly defend the achievements of World War II, firmly foster a correct historical perception, oppose any erroneous words and and deeds that distort history. We must never allow historic tragedies to repeat themselves, and must never permit new militarism to rise and become a perilous threat. 2. Uphold the spirit of the Charter. The purpose and the principles enshrined in the Charter, such as sovereign equality and the peaceful settlement of disputes, have played an irreplaceable role in maintaining overall global peace over the past 8 decades. In today's world, the specter of war looms large, and the law of the jungle is making a comeback. This is not because the Charter has become outdated; rather, the root cause lies in the failure of the Charter being effectively observed. The more complex and volatile the situation, the greater the need we commit to the UN-centered international system and abide by the basic norms of international relations grounded in the Charter. 3. Fulfill the obligation under the Charter. Defending the authority and effectiveness of the Charter cannot be just what we say. We must walk the talk by translating the commitment with what we do. All countries must practice true multilateralism, support the UN in playing a central role in international affairs, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system. It is incumbent upon major countries, in particular to shoulder their responsibilities by taking the lead in upholding the rule of law, following the right path, and setting an example. As the first country to put its signature on the Charter, China will continue to fulfill its solemn commitment with real actions and make its unremitting efforts to promote the building of the community of the shared future for humankind. I thank you, President.
I thank the distinguished representative of China, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico.
Madam President, Mexico is proud to be one of the 51 founding states of this organization. This reflects a historic commitment of our country to multilateralism, Our commitment precedes the Charter of the UN itself. Mexico was the first state to accede in 1901 to the Hague Convention for the Peaceful Resolution of International Conflicts and the first member state of the Pact of Bogotá. We also participated in the League of Nations and in the Inter-American Conference on Problems of War and Peace, which took place in 1945. The principles that were discussed there had a direct influence on the negotiations in San Francisco. These, uh, efforts, uh, abide by our ingrained mission as a nation. This conviction led us to promote the signature of the Tlatelolco Treaty, which prohibited nuclear weapons in Latin America. This was the first of its kind in history. The commitment of Mexico to the purposes and principles of the Charter is not limited to to the international sphere. Our political constitution recognizes the principles of the UN Charter as a part and parcel of our project as a nation. Madam President, the 80th anniversary of the Charter compels us to recognize its strengths as well as its limitations and weaknesses. It is urgent to continue with our efforts to reform in depth this organization, to strengthen the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly, to redefine and to limit the use of the veto, to strengthen the combat against climate change, again, as well as against economic inequality, to strengthen the defense of human rights, to create a new pillar to ensure human control over emerging technologies, to prohibit the threat or the use of force, and to step up our efforts to ensure international peace and security. And most importantly of all, to make sure that this organization is a barrage against nuclear confrontation. Merci beaucoup.
Muchas gracias. I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic, reminding everyone again that in national capacities the time limit is 3 minutes.
Madam President, it's an honor for the Dominican Republic to participate in this meeting convened to together celebrate the anniversary of something very important for humanity. 81 years ago, the Dominican Republic was one of the founding states to make a historic and transformative step with the signature of the UN Charter on the 26th of June, 1945. 1945 in San Francisco. There, the peoples of the world embraced peace, a different path from other than conflict and the unimaginable suffering of the long years of war. Since then, our country has assumed with responsibility and commitment its role as a member of this organization, a beacon of hope and shared purpose. This is one of the historic decisions, and we have supported the various historic decisions that have emanated from this organization. Today we reaffirm this commitment with the values that share— that unite us. Madam President, for the Dominican Republic, the Charter remains a cornerstone of the international order. Its principles are not dead letter, but rather a living commitment that we experience every day in every action and every act. In this spirit, we reaffirm affirm our full adherence to international law and the principles and purposes of the Charter, and we reiterate that multilateralism is the path to confront effectively the challenges that no state can resolve alone. We are fully aware of the huge challenge that represents for this membership the strengthening of this organization at a time of great challenges. The United Nations continues to be indispensable and irreplaceable It provides legitimacy, universality, and a platform for all member states to work together in favor of peace, sustainable development, human rights, and climate action. This is why the Dominican Republic reiterates its determination to actively contribute to the processes of reform and the necessary modernization so that this organization responds more effectively to the challenges of our times. We support the UN that is more representative, more transparent, more democratic and efficient, preserving its intergovernmental character and the central role of member states. For the Dominican Republic, development occupies a central role in the promise of the Charter. Peace, security, human rights and development are mutually reinforcing and no single one can prosper without the others. The Charter serves to renovate our commitment commitment to international cooperation, financing for development, implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and the specific needs of small island developing states. The Charter continues to be our common compass in our collective response. It's our collective responsibility to defend it and ensuring that it continues to guide present and future generation towards a more peaceful, inclusive, and for a sustainable world.
Thank you, distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic. I now give the floor to the representative of Algeria, followed by Japan and Nigeria.
Thank you, Madam President. As we commemorate UN Charter Day, Algeria reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter, which remains the foundation of the international order and the cornerstone of multilateralism. 81 years after its signing, the Charter continues to guide our collective effort to maintain international peace and security, to promote sustainable development, and to strengthen Cooperation among nations. The principles of the Charter, including sovereign equality among states, the peaceful settlement of disputes, the non-interference in international affairs of states, and self-determination of peoples, remain as relevant today as ever. At a time of growing geopolitical tensions, of persistent conflict, and mounting global challenges. The Charter remains our common compass. The answer to these challenges is not less multilateralism, but stronger adherence to international law and renewed commitment to the principles upon which this organization was founded. For Algeria, President The UN has long represented a beacon of legitimacy, of rule of law, of dialogue and international solidarity. And today, more than ever, it remains indispensable, irreplaceable in advancing peace, promoting development and fostering cooperation among nations. We also recall the— that Sustainable development and the eradication of poverty in the world remains among the most pressing global priorities. Achieving this objective requires strengthening international cooperation and a multilateral system that responds effectively to the needs and aspirations of developing countries. As we look to the future, Algeria reaffirms its commitment to a strengthened and revitalized UN—a UN that is more representative, a UN more effective and fully capable of addressing contemporary challenges. Let us therefore renew our collective determination to uphold the Charter and preserve the UN. And the indispensable instrument for building a more peaceful and more just and sustainable world for present and future.
I thank the distinguished representative of Algeria. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan.
Thank you, Madam President.
At a moment when multilateralism is under strain and the free and open international order based on the rule of law is severely shaken, Japan remains resolute in its commitment to upholding multilateralism and its principles, with the UN at its core. To overcome deep fractures in the international system, Japan is determined to continue to pursue progress in three priority areas. Peacebuilding and conflict prevention, the rule of law, and systemic UN reform. First, on peacebuilding and conflict prevention, a comprehensive approach is essential for effective peacebuilding. Recognizing that humanitarian assistance, development, and peacebuilding must be addressed in an integrated manner, Japan has been promoting the HDP Nexus to realize human security., which focuses on empowerment and protection of every individual. This perspective helps improve the coherence of the UN efforts to address the root causes of conflict and to foster people's self-reliance. Second, the rule of law. The UN has played an important role in formulating international rules and laws and disseminating them throughout the international This role of the UN is indispensable in upholding a free and open international order based on the rule of law, and the UN Charter lies at its core. Japan will continue to support this UN's role. Third, systemic UN reform. The UN bears profound responsibility as a uniquely inclusive forum of 193 members The United States. Japan remains committed to the shared responsibility of ensuring that the organization remains fit for purpose to fulfill its full potential and fully supports the UN80 Initiative. In addition to reflecting realities of today's world and to effectively address the global challenges, we need Security Council reform urgently. Madam President, Japan will continue contributing actively and constructively to resolving challenges facing the international community.
I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Japan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nigeria, followed by South Africa, and I would like to add that we have one hour left. There are many, many speakers on the on the list, so the shorter you are, the more colleagues are able to speak.
Thank you very much, Madam President. Greetings from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the good people of Nigeria. Nigeria is committed to the Charter, and we want to congratulate you for this remarkable informal meeting of celebrating commitment to the Charter of the United Nations. Wars and political— geopolitical tension will have ideals if we respect the provisions of the Charter from the preamble, and from your speech I think that is very imperative. I want to say clearly that Nigeria is fully committed to the Charter of the United Nations and we are committed in ensuring that peace and stability remains the major focus of member countries. As a way forward, and lastly, Madam President, Nigeria suggests that the preamble to the Charter of the United Nations be engraved in the constitution of member states as a continuous reminder to everyone that peace and security is more important and central to the issue of power discussions or power struggle in the geocentric system.
Thank you. Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished Representative of South Africa, followed by Czechia and Egypt.
Thank you, Madam President. The 80th anniversary of the UN Charter coincides with the 71st anniversary of the Freedom Charter of South Africa, which, like the UN Charter, starts with the words "We the People." The UN Charter has of profound significance for South Africa, serving historically as a legal catalyst to dismantle apartheid and currently as the foundation of our human rights-based foreign policy. As a founding member of the United Nations in 1945, South Africa's relationship with the Charter has evolved from profound hypocrisy to a tool for liberation and finally a cornerstone of its modern democratic identity. In terms of its— of the Charter being part of a hypocrisy, it should be recalled that Prime Minister Jan Smuts co-drafted the preamble to the UN Charter in 1945, yet South Africa immediately violated its principles of equality by implementing the apartheid system domestically, which was a flagrant violation of the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and a denial of fundamental human rights. The liberation movement used Article 1 of the Charter, which guarantees equal rights and self-determination, to legitimize the armed and political struggles against white minority government. The UN General Assembly used the Charter's human rights principles to repeatedly condemn apartheid South culminating in the suspension of its membership in the General Assembly in 1974. The UN Security Council invoked Chapter VII of the Charter to enforce a mandatory arms embargo through Resolution 418 in 1977, crippling the regime's military capacity. The Charter has had a profound impact on domestic law and identity in South Africa. In terms of our constitutional architecture, the 1996 South African Constitution directly mirrors the spirit of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Chapter 2, the Bill of Rights, explicitly internalizes these global human rights principles. The foreign policy of South Africa is predicated on the principles of the UN Charter and seeks to promote a just, fair, rules-based multilateral order, with the UN at its center. Guided by the Charter, we advocate for a peaceful resolution of disputes. And indeed, South Africa's extensive peacekeeping and diplomatic missions on the African continent have been guided by Chapter 6 of the Charter. Madam President, at a time when we're witnessing unprecedented flagrant violations of the Charter, we call on all to reaffirm their commitment to the principles and purposes of the Charter. I thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Czechia.
Madam President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, more than 80 years ago in San Francisco, a Czech voice helped to give our Charter life. Jan Masaryk, our foreign minister, Čertín, head of the Czechoslovak delegation, called it "one of the most important documents in human history." Coming from a man whose nation had just been pulled from the wreckage of war, those were not words spoken lightly. He was right. The Charter's great principles—the sovereign equality of States, the renunciation of force, respect for territorial integrity were bold when they were written, and they remain bold today. They ask something difficult of us: that we choose law over might, and reason over fear. We Czechs do not take this for granted. Within living memory, we learned the hard way what becomes of a world that forgets these principles. That is why our commitment to the Charter has never been a matter of rhetoric. It is a matter of who we are. And so today, we celebrate not a relic, but a living promise. The Charter remains the cornerstone of our common order, a safeguard of human dignity, a moral compass that still points the way. Let us be clear-eyed. The Charter is only ever as strong as our willingness to honour it. Through the UN80 initiative and the Pact for the Future, let us prove ourselves worthy of the hands that signed it. Masaryk's hope is now ours to keep. I thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Czechia, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt, followed by Fiji and Australia.
Well, I'm delighted here to be joined by Maryam and Maysoon, who represent Egypt's best and brightest and who embody our hope for a brighter future for all. Madam President, I shall make 3 points. First, Egypt's relationship with the UN is as old as the organization itself. We are a founding member state, and we have consistently upheld the Charter's purposes and principles across the three pillars of peace and security, development, and human rights. We have contributed thousands of troops and police to UN peace operations, making us one of the largest troop-contributing countries. We also continue to spearhead peacebuilding efforts, especially in Africa, and we are working tirelessly with regional and global partners to settle crises and disputes in the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. We have championed self-determination during the era of decolonization, and and we continue to uphold the sacrosanct principles enshrined in Article 2 of the Charter. These rules are not abstractions. They are the indispensable foundation of a world order based on sovereign equality, non-interference, and freedom and prosperity for all. Egypt also remains unwaveringly in— unwavering in its support of the Palestinian people. The continued denial of their right to self-determination and independent statehood is an enduring tragedy that must end without delay. Second, the UN is a vital partner in Egypt's developmental journey. UN agencies have supported our progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including in health, education, and women's empowerment. The multilateral trade architecture has also enabled Egypt to integrate in the global economy. Yet integration alone is not justice. Persistent structural inequalities between and within nations have concentrated the gains of globalization in the hands of the few. Developing states are disproportionately exposed to the volatility of international financial markets, debt distress, and unfavorable terms of trade. UN forums— UN forums must also remain central to address climate change, and member states must also do more to address this planetary crisis. Third, the international system is under significant stress. The Security Council's authority and credib— and credibility are eroding. The promise of the Charter's Chapter 7 is hollow when implementation gaps persist and political will is selective. Active conflicts from Gaza to Sudan expose the cost of a multilateralism that remains aspirational rather than operational. Yet precisely because of these challenges, the UN remains indispensable because no alternative architecture exists to prevent the to the collapse of the non-proliferation regime, or to coordinate and mobilize climate finance, and to protect civilians from conflict. The UN is also essential to ensuring the responsible management of shared natural resources, especially transboundary rivers, which cannot and must not be utilized unilaterally. In closing, the UN will only survive because we, the member states, choose to defend it, fund it, and to promote reform efforts to reinvigorate it. Thank you. Thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Egypt. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Fiji.
Madam President, in 1945, when the Charter was signed in San Francisco, Fiji was not in the room. We were not yet a nation, a colony spoken for by others. And yet its first promise, the sovereign equality of all members, large and small, was a door held open for nations not yet born. When independence came in 1970, that door was waiting. The Charter made room for us before we could speak for ourselves. There is an old word for a promise of that kind. When I signed the UN 80 Charter, the word that came to me was not treaty, not contract. It was covenant, a sacred bond freely given and faithfully kept In my Vanua tradition, as in my faith, a word once given is not set aside. It is a trust that binds us to one another. The Prophet Isaiah wrote, "Give ear, O Isles." Scripture itself calls upon the islands to listen and to be heard. And this organization has listened. It gave Fiji an equal vote beside the greatest powers on earth. It gave our ocean state a law of the sea. It recognizes the climate crisis as the gravest danger we truly face. And when cyclones have flattened our villages, the blue flag has been amongst the first to answer. We have answered in turn. Since 1978, generation after generation of Fijians have worn the blue helmet—in Lebanon, in the Sinai, in the Golan, in Iraq, and in Sudan, and beyond. For a nation of our size, we have given amongst the most. And we have buried our sons and daughters in that service. I say this not from the gallery but from the field, having served under the flag myself. Why does the United Nations still matter? For a small island state, the answer is simple: the Charter is our life insurance against conflict, against the rising sea, against the temptation of the powerful to act as though might makes right. So let us recommit, not to a document, but to a covenant: one Charter, one future, better always together.
I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Fiji. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia, followed by Brazil and Bangladesh.
Thank you, President. The Charter of the United Nations is our foundational instrument in support of global peace, stability, prosperity, and security. It's our collective responsibility as member states to uphold and advance its principles. Australia and Australians have been committed to the Charter since the founding of the United Nations. From the very beginning, Australia championed the rights of smaller nations and helped ensure that gender equality was embedded in the Charter. In 1947, Australia contributed military observers to a mission which pioneered the very concept of United Nations peacekeeping. And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was actively championed by Australia and adopted under Australian Doc Evatt's presidency of the General Assembly in 1948. These legacies guide our actions today. The Charter remains the foundation of Australia's engagement in the United Nations and underpins our candidacy for a seat on the Security Council for the 2029-2030 term. We are advancing international peace and security, including through initiatives such as the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. We are championing human rights including for women and girls, LGBTQIA+ persons, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous peoples. And we are contributing to sustainable development, taking leading roles on ocean governance and climate action, including as President of Negotiations for COP 31. As we mark 81 years of the Charter, our focus must be on ensuring that the United Nations remains effective, responsive and fit for purpose. Australia supports ambitious system-wide reform to strengthen delivery, improve efficiency, and ensure mandates remain relevant. And at the same time, all member states must play their part in improving the United Nations financial situation so the organization can perform its essential functions. Today, we renew our commitment to the Charter and call on all member states to do the same, ensuring its promise is fully realized for this generation and those to come. I thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Australia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil.
Madam President, 80 years ago, the adoption of the United Nations Charter inaugurated a new social compact for the entire international community founded on multilateralism and international law. Then we, the peoples, decisively chose to pursue peace, human rights, and development. The Charter and its three pillars thus embodied our nations' highest ideals and aspirations, while at the same time being a pragmatic reaction to the horrors of war. This broad shared commitment has strengthened international law, fostered development, advanced human rights and ended colonialism. It has saved millions of lives from conflict, exploitation, disease and famine. While the work ahead is daunting, these feats must not be overlooked. Brazil is proud to have participated in the UN from the drafting of its Charter. Among other inputs, we recall Brazilian delegate Berta Lutz's decisive role in including the rights of women in the text. Since then, we have sought to uphold and develop each of the UN's pillars. Brazil's support for peace has been unwavering. More than 58,000 Brazilian men and women in uniform have taken part in 56 peacekeeping missions. Our commitment to advancing human rights has been consistent, both in permanent fora and in initiatives such as the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, whose drafting committee was chaired by Brazil. We have championed a fairer and more sustainable economic order, including by hosting the 1992 Rio Conference on Environment and Development, the 2012 Rio+20 Conference, and last year's COP30 in Belém. Each of us has contributions to be proud of. The UN and its Charter are our common heritage. This feeling is special at a time when the UN faces record challenges and when a tiny minority of States actively undermines the very premises upon which it was founded. The UN is indispensable but must be renewed. In order to deliver tangible results and withstand current challenges, it must become more representative, legitimate and effective. This requires a vigorous GA and a reformed and expanded Security Council, among other undertakings, including in the context of the UN Haiti Initiative. The 20th century taught us that the alternative to multilateralism is not autonomy, but conflict, and the alternative to law is not freedom, but barbarism. The Charter, that amalgam of multilateralism and law, is more than a legacy that must be protected. It is our only hope. Thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh, followed by Lithuania and Guatemala.
Madam President, for Bangladesh, the Charter remains at the core of our moral and legal foundation as a nation. Its principle of sovereign equality, peaceful settlement of disputes, and and non-use of force are more than historic commitments. At a time of worldwide conflicts, inequality, and climate vulnerability, these basic principles act as guidelines for multilateralism across the three pillars of UN. Madam President, in the last four decades, we have contributed a large number of troops in the UN peacekeeping operations. Since 2017, we have been in hosting about 1.2 million Rohingyas who fled their country under persecution. Under the development pillar, in partnership with the UN, Bangladesh has made significant progress in poverty alleviation, food security, disaster resilience, and women empowerment. We have acted as a strong advocate for climate justice. Under the human rights pillar, we are the parties commitments to all 9 core international human rights treaties. These reflect our people's aspirations to uphold freedom, justice, and dignity for all. Madam President, the United Nations was created as one platform where all member states, despite differences, can speak freely and listen to one another. This is the platform to practice tolerance so urgently needed today. As Bangladesh prepares to assume the next presidency of the General Assembly, we remain deeply committed to these core values of the Charter. We will continue to uphold dialogue, inclusivity, sovereign equality, and multilateral cooperation. I thank you, Madam President.
I thank the distinguished representative of Bangladesh. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Lithuania.
Madam President, Excellencies, this year Lithuania celebrates 35 years as a member of the United Nations. When we joined the UN in 1991, it was a recognition of our restored independence and our return to the international community after half a century of occupation. That experience still shapes the way we see the UN Charter. We know how important it is when sovereignty is defended by law, when the equal rights of nations, large and small, are respected, and when a country's place in the world is recognized because of its rights, not because of its size or power. Over these 35 years, Lithuania's story has also been one of— of transformation. We rebuilt democratic institutions, strengthened the rule of law, opened our economy and society, and invested in human rights, gender equality, civil society, education, innovation, sustainable development, and resilience. Today, Lithuania seeks to contribute across the three pillars of the United Nations. Having benefited from international solidarity we try to offer it to the— to others through principled action, practical support, and partnership. At the same time, we must be honest about the pressures facing the Charter today. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine violates the basic principle— principles of this organization, such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the prohibition of the use of force. For Lithuania, supporting Ukraine is therefore also a defense of the Charter itself. Our history tells us that aggression left without consequences returns in new forms. That is why accountability matters. For justice and for prevention, international law, international courts, and the peaceful settlement of disputes must be respected. The United The United Nations itself also needs renewal. It must become more effective, transparent, and better able to respond to today's challenges. Without it, the world would have fewer tools for peace, weaker protection of human rights, less humanitarian assistance, and fewer chances to advance sustainable development. Madam President, the theme of today's meeting is One Charter, One Future. For Lithuania, this means that the same rules must apply to all. No country should be above the Charter. No people should be left outside its protection.
I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Lithuania. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guatemala, followed by Lebanon and Andorra. Señora president. Madam president.
81 years ago, after the revolution of the 20th of October of 1944, 82 years ago, Guillermo Torrillo, one of the leaders of the democratic movement, was named the Minister of Foreign Affairs and he led the Guatemala delegation that participated in the San Francisco Conference and signed the Charter of the United Nations. He did it with a profound conviction that the new organization would serve to serve as a collective guarantee of non-repetition, aimed at preserving future generations from the aggressions, injustices, and suffering that had affected humanity. For Guatemala, the Charter and democracy were born together. In many, in many ways, they are part and parcel of the same historic aspiration. In the first years of the life of the organization, Guatemala played an active role Among other contributions, a distinguished Guatemalan diplomat, Emilio Arenales, had the honor of being the President of the 23rd Session of the General Assembly. However, the initial momentum of our international participation was affected by 36 years of an internal armed conflict that left profound wounds in our society. The signature of the The signing of the Accords for a Firm and Lasting Peace in 1996, achieved after a lengthy process of negotiations supported by the United Nations under the good offices of the Secretary-General, was a turning point for Guatemala. With peace, our country returned to the path of democratic consolidation, sustainable development, and a renewed commitment to multilateralism. Since then, Guatemala has progressively actively reaffirmed its commitment to the Charter through the active participation in the main organs of the organization, including its membership in the Security Council in 2012-2013 and its contribution to peacekeeping operations since 1994. The United Nations have supported important national advances in the area of peacebuilding, strengthening of human rights, promotion of development. The experience of Guatemala reaffirms that the Charter continues to be as necessary today as it was 81 years ago. We believe, we embrace, and we trust in the Charter as the founding instrument of the multilateral system, as a guarantee of respect for the sovereign equality of States, their territorial integrity, their political independence, and the non-intervention in internal affairs, as we As we commemorate this anniversary, we renew our commitment and will continue to use this forum for this— to search for collective solutions to the challenges confronting humankind.
Thank you very much. Muchas gracias. I thank the distinguished representative of Guatemala. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Lebanon.
Madam President, many will remember the classic movie It's a Wonderful Life. In which the protagonist is given a glimpse of a world that never existed. Perhaps today we could ask ourselves a similar question: What would the world look like if the Charter had never been written? Imagine a world without the prohibition on the use of force, without the sovereign equality of States, without the obligation to settle disputes peacefully. As we witness today unspeakable horrors and immense human suffering, it is legitimate to ask whether the Charter and the legal order it inspired has lived up to its promise. It has not fully. But the answer cannot be to abandon the very framework that allows us to name violations, demand accountability, and pursue peace. Its achievements lie elsewhere: in creating a framework where power is subject to principles,— where disputes can be addressed through law and dialogue; where states, large and small, share a common foundation for cooperation. That is the Charter's enduring contribution. It did not eliminate conflict, but it changed the way the international community seeks to prevent, manage, and resolve it. It did not eradicate injustice, but it provided standards through which injustice can be identified, challenged, and addressed. And it became the foundation upon which the modern architecture of international law has been built, inspiring generations of treaties and legal instruments that continue to give concrete expressions to its principles. Madam President, the United Nations must continue to reform, but the need for reform should never be mistaken for proof of failure. We reform institutions because they matter. For countries like mine, the Charter is the legal affirmation that sovereignty matters, that borders matter, that international law matters, that even the smallest state enjoys equal dignity under international law. History offers a clear lesson. Time and again, whenever we have sought to replace the principles the principles of the Charter with the logic of arbitrary power, the result has not been greater security but greater instability. Perhaps that is why, despite its imperfections, every major international challenge still brings us back to this Charter—not because it guarantees success, but because it remains the most credible foundation upon which peace, justice, and cooperation can be pursued. I thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Lebanon. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Andorra, followed by Cambodia and Cuba.
Madame la Présidente, Madame President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. At the outset, we'd like to align ourselves with the statement delivered by the EU. However, I would like to make the following comments in a national capacity. The United Nations Charter is much more than the founding document of our organization. For a country like my own, Andorra, the Charter guarantees that all states, irrespective of their size, participate on an equal sovereign basis and are tied and bound by the same principles of international law. For over 80 years, the Charter has been the foundation for peace, cooperation, and development. It has allowed countries like my own to contribute to global challenges, in particular the protection of children in armed conflict, as well as the promotion of sustainable development in mountainous regions. Today, at a time when conflict, climate change, inequality, and violations of international law are intensifying, we have a dual responsibility to defend the Charter and to ensure that the United Nations remains capable of responding to to the realities of our time.
Andorra believes that reform must be practical as well as ambitious. It is not only about institutional change, but also about improving the way the United Nations works every day—how we negotiate, how we organize our meetings, how we use our resources, and how we ensure that every member state can participate effectively. The UN80 initiative gives us the opportunity an opportunity not only to celebrate the past but also to prepare for the future. Reforming the United Nations does not mean abandoning the Charter. On the contrary, it means ensuring that its principles remain effective for future generations. But it also means that we should honour the commitments we collectively undertook 80 years ago. The United Nations of the 21st century must be more efficient, more inclusive, more representative, and firmly committed to multilingualism, which strengthens the legitimacy and allows every member state to contribute on equal footing. Andorra reaffirms—
Andorra reiterates its unswerving commitment to the principles and purposes of the Charter. We call on all member states to ensure that together we defend the value of modernizing the organization which gave it life. By way of conclusion, For 80 years, the UN Charter has been of benefit for all of our states. No nation here in the room has not benefited from its impact. Today, we're duty-bound to protect this legacy, to strengthen the organization, and to ensure that future generations can trust in an international system underpinned by cooperation, sovereign equality, and full respect for international law. I thank you.
Khoo, I thank the distinguished representative of Andorra. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cambodia.
Madam President, for the past 8 decades, the principles of the UN Charter still remain the bedrock of the international legal order. They bind nations, large and small, in their collective spirit of international peace, security, development, and cooperation, and will continue to serve as an indispensable foundation for international relations in the years ahead. Therefore, to honour the spirit of the Charter, which states: To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to practise tolerance and live together in peace, all Members of this august Assembly must uphold the purpose of the principles of the Charter. Selective application of the Charter spirit and letters and the recourse to the threat of use of force in settlement of the dispute would risk eroding the value of the trust and the Charter and endangering the international peace, security, and development. With that about spirit in mind, Cambodia has become a significant contributor to UN missions in maintaining peace, security, development, and humanitarian assistance. Since 2008, Cambodia has deployed over 10,000 Cambodian peacekeepers to 12 missions worldwide. On development and human rights this country has integrated the SDGs into its national strategy and work to engage actively with the UN human rights mechanisms. Madam President, in closing, Cambodia believes that strengthening the Charter is our shared duty. Despite emerging challenges that we face at the unprecedented level of the United Nations, remained the only universal and legitimate platform to our collective actions to uphold the rule of law, to maintain the international peace and security, and to bring development to all, leaving no one behind. I thank you, Madam President.
I thank the distinguished representative of Cambodia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative Representative of Cuba.
Madam President, Cuba aligns itself with the statement made by Uruguay on behalf of G77 and China and Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter. As we commemorate this day of the UN Charter at a time that is particularly complex for humankind, armed conflicts are multiplying, geopolitical tensions are increasing, Economic and social inequalities persist and the effects of climate change are deepening, while millions of people continue to suffer the consequences of hunger, poverty and forced displacement. In this context, the full validity of the UN Charter acquires a particular relevance. Its purposes and principles constitute the essential foundation for for preserving international peace and security, promote relations of friendship among nations, and promote international cooperation to confront the common challenges of our times. It is very concerning that the grave violations of the principles enshrined in the Charter continue to occur— the use or the threat of the use of force, interference in the internal affairs of states, The policies of change of regime, the application of unilateral coercitive measures that are contrary to international law, and attempts to impose hegemonic visions undermine the international order and put at risk global stability. We strongly condemn the threats of military aggression that the government of the United States has expressed against Cuba, which has been combined with the strengthening of the blockade. In extreme and inhumane conditions, including an energy blockade. For Cuba, the defense of the Charter implies strict defense of sovereign equality of states, of the right of peoples to free determination, and respect for independence, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs. Humanity needs more cooperation, more solidarity, not more confrontation. It needs to strengthen multilateralism, preserve the central role of the United Nations, and promote collective solutions based on dialogue, mutual respect, and upholding of international law. Thank you very much.
I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Gabon, followed by the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Merci, Madame.
Thank you, Madame President. Madam President, 81 years after its signing, the Charter is a life insurance policy for all states, large and small. However, our organization stands at a crossroads. It's being pressured politically, economically. It's being attacked and seeing violations of international law. For Gabon, this commemoration is not just a remembrance exercise. It's a call to action, an invitation to craft, with the involvement of all states and regions, an alliance in defense of the Charter. For my own country, Gabon, the defense of the UN's three pillars is a daily reality. On peace and security, Gabon has always opted for preventive diplomacy and mediation, as illustrated by its four terms on the Security Council and our longstanding contribution to MINUSCA in the CAR. On sustainable development, Gabon, part of the Congo River Basin, is a key player in environmental preservation, the fight against climate change, and the achievement of the SDGs. As for human rights, Gabon is making consistent headway by promoting gender equality and youth inclusion. Our commitment is part and parcel of a historic and productive partnership with our organization, this organization, Excellencies. Multilateralism is not an option, it's a necessity, an inevitable one at that, in an increasingly interconnected world. Our solidarity must be strengthened, in particular through climate justice, a cause to which we're unswervingly committed. The UN is the forum for global governance reform, including through permanent and equitable representation for Africa on the Security Council, as well as international financial architectural reform. It is in this spirit that Gabon signed the UN 80 Charter, a symbolic gesture which demonstrates our recommitment to the founding principles of our organization. By way of conclusion, Gabon solemnly reiterates our unswerving commitment to the ideals enshrined in the Charter and our faith, our unshakable faith in multilateralism. The UN is our common good, and we are all collectively duty-bound to ensure that it continues to serve present and future generations. I thank you, Madam President.
I thank the distinguished representative of Gabon. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Maldives.
Thank you. Madam President, for the Maldives, the UN Charter is a promise. It's a promise that sovereignty is not measured by size. A promise that even the smallest state can stand equal to the largest in this hall. It's a promise that law can restrain power, dignity belongs to every person, and cooperation can make our future safer. The Maldives is in its 61st year at the UN. Six decades on, we have upheld the Charter and helped it to to give meaning. Through resolutions in 1989, 1991, and 1994, we brought small-state protection and security to this Assembly. We drew attention to the climate crisis and advanced the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, and presided over the 76th session of the General Assembly. Our conviction has guided us. That the UN is strongest when every member state is heard. The UN has also helped write the Maldives development story— our education, health, tsunami recovery, governance reform, and climate preparedness. For the Maldives, the UN is where a small island developing state defends sovereignty, advances development, shapes solutions that no country can solve alone. No sea wall can protect us from a lawless world. No island can face climate change, debt distress, or pandemics alone. When faith in multilateralism is tested, the question is what the world would lose if the UN do not exist. The answer is simple. The UN matters because The Charter matters, and its promise lives on, and let's keep that promise together. I thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of the Maldives. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sri Lanka.
Madam President, I thank you for convening this meeting to commemorate the founding of this esteemed organization. Sri Lanka aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. 81 years ago in San Francisco, the Charter gave every nation, irrespective of its size, political and military supremacy, and economic dominance, a place at the same table and a stake in the same rules. For an island nation which was one of the first to gain independence in the post-colonial world, that assurance has meant a great deal, and Sri Lanka has worked to uphold it. We have helped shape the rules the world relies on. It was Ambassador Hamilton Shirley Amarsinghe who presided over the conference that produced the Convention on the Law of the Sea, and Ambassador Jayantha Danapala who guided the conference that secured the indefinite extension of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons. Sri Lanka continues to advance the purposes of the Charter in practical ways. Approximately 25,000 Sri Lankan peacekeepers have been involved in peacekeeping operations for the last 6 decades in the pursuit of global peace. Today, more than 300 Sri Lankans serve under the United Nations flag across 4 missions on 2 continents. Among them is an army field hospital in South to Sudan, now on its 12th rotation. There, Sri Lankan medical teams care for those affected by conflict. Madam President, the United Nations has also stood with us. For decades, it has been a trusted partner in Sri Lanka's development, supporting the government's effort to reduce poverty and build resilience in communities across the country. More recently, in last November, when Cyclone Dithwa caused some of the most severe flooding in our recent memory, the United Nations did not arrive as a stranger. It was already there, extending assistance in partnership with the government to assess the damage and support our recovery. Madam President, why is the Charter still relevant? Much is said about what we lose when the principles of the Charter are ignored. We should remember too what we gain when they are upheld. For developing countries, the stability and predictability that the Charter creates are the foundation upon which we build our economies, protect our security, and pursue a better future for our communities. The Charter remains one of humanity's most ambitious commitments to the maintenance of international peace, security, and cooperation among nations. Our task is not to fade away from that assurance, but to uphold it through our collective commitment and actions. Sri Lanka renews its commitment today. Better together, one Charter, one future. I thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Sri Lanka. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Armenia, followed by Iraq and Chile.
Madam President, as we commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, we do more than recall a historic moment. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to its purposes and principles. The Charter remains the cornerstone of the contemporary international legal order, and our symbolic signature serves as a timely reminder that it is not merely a political declaration. It is a legally binding international treaty that governs relations among states and provides the normative framework for maintenance of international peace, security, cooperation, and justice. Today, the Charter's foremost purpose, the maintenance of peace, is being tested by the growing number of— and protracted nature of armed conflict and persistent violations of international law. We remain convinced that lasting peace, security, and sustainable development depends on our ability to uphold human rights and strengthen the rule of law. To this end, preventive diplomacy, dialogue, mediation, confidence-building measures, and other peaceful means of dispute settlements remain indispensable tools. In this regard, Armenia continues to advance the prevention of genocide agenda through its biennial Human Rights Council resolution, and the GA resolution is establishing the International Day for the Victims of Genocide. Effective prevention must be underpinned by systemic early warning and early action mechanism at all levels. The recently adopted, uh, GA resolution, Education for Peace, initiated by Armenia, underscores education as a core pillar of sustainable peace. At a time At a time of growing geopolitical divisions and increasing pressure on the multilateral system, it is imperative that we reaffirm our commitment to multilateralism anchored in the Charter and with the United Nations at its center. I thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Armenia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iraq.
Madam President, the delegation of the Republic of Iraq is honored to participate in the commemoration of the UN Charter Day and stresses its strong adherence to the principles and purposes of the Charter and the central role played by the UN in promoting international peace and security and consolidating International Peace. Iraq believes that the Charter remains the comprehensive framework of international relations and the main guarantee for the respect of sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity of states, and equality among states. The Charter remains to be the pillar the international community is based on in addressing common challenges, promoting sustainable development, and protecting human rights, and entrenching principles of justice and the rule of law. Madam President, drawing on Iraq's national experience and the challenges it faced over the past decades, Iraq highly values the support provided by the United Nations and its specialized agencies in the areas of peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, reconstruction and development, and building national capacities. Through projects and programs. Iraq also received support to its efforts in countering terrorism and consolidating security and stability. At the same time, Iraq reiterates its commitment to continue its contributions in the endeavors by the organization to promote dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among states, and to entrench the culture of peace and peaceful coexistence. Madam President, against the backdrop of the crises, conflicts, economic, humanitarian, and environmental challenges facing the world, there is a need more than ever to renew commitment to multilateralism and international law as the basis to achieve security, stability, and sustainable development. Iraq reiterates and affirms its support to the UN reform efforts to enhance the the effectiveness of its organs and their ability to respond to current and future challenges, while maintaining its central role as the most important global forum for dialogue and international cooperation. In conclusion, Iraq, a founding member, reiterates its commitment to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and the vision underpinning the organization for more than 80 years. Iraq also reaffirms its readiness to continue working with all member states to address common challenges, promote international cooperation, build a more secure and stable and prosperous and just future for current and future generations. Thank you, Madam President.
I thank the distinguished representative of Iraq. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile, followed by Cyprus.
Señora Presidente.
Madam President Gabriel Amistad, one of the main great poets of Chile and one of the first North Americans to obtain Nobel Prize for Literature, wrote in one of his essays, "When there is a tree to plant, plant it. When there's an error to correct, correct it." That is the spirit that should guide us today because the defense of the United Nations United Nations Charter cannot wait until others take the first step. The construction of peace requires the same daily commitment because peace is not a state that is inherited. It is a task that is built on a daily basis. The UN Charter is not a text from the past. It is a pact that is living and it is forged every day and it is continues to be the strongest architecture for peaceful coexistence among nations. More than 8 decades after its signature, its principles— the sovereign equality of states and the peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for human rights— and these principles have not lost any of their relevance. Quite to the contrary, the times we live in remind us every single day how much we need these principles. Chile had the privilege of being present at the founding of this organization, and today we come here with the same conviction that animated us in 1945 in San Francisco. Cooperation among nations is not only a strategic need but an ethical imperative. Under the leadership of President José Antonio Kast, Our country reaffirms today with clarity its multilateral mission and its commitment to a rules-based international order based on sovereignty, shared responsibility. We believe that the United Nations can reform itself, can improve itself and strengthen itself without losing its essence. We believe in an organization that combines institutional rigor with the readiness to change when this is required. Throughout the— over the course of these 8 decades, Chile has supported the efforts of the organization in the area of peace, human rights, and sustainable development. We have done it based on our respect for the principles on which it was built. Today, as the organization experiences pressure that puts at risk its very foundations, The Charter is not merely a piece of protocol. It is a document that helps us sustain the edifice that we built 8 decades ago. Without the United Nations, there would be more conflicts, more people abandoned, and the aspiration of sustainable development would disappear. Thank you very much. Muchas gracias.
I thank the distinguished representative of Chile. I now give the floor to the distinguished Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and Greek Representative of Cyprus.
Thank you, Madam President. Cyprus aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union and its member states. Today, when the international community faces serious multiple and interconnected crises, the principles of the UN Charter remain as relevant as they were 8 decades ago. They continue to provide the common framework that enables international cooperation in the pursuit of peace, sustainable development and protection of human rights. For Cyprus, the UN Charter is more than the foundation of the international system. It is the cornerstone of a rules-based international order founded on sovereign equality of States, the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international law and the protection of human rights. It is also the cornerstone upon which our own security and our very own existence rely. Since 1974, my country has endured the consequences of foreign military occupation following the Turkish military invasion. The principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the prohibition of the use of force were violated then and continue to be violated today, with profound humanitarian consequences that persist. The UN Security Council has adopted numerous resolutions reaffirming its so— the sovereignty independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus, rejecting attempts at secession, and establishing the agreed framework for a comprehensive settlement. These resolutions cannot be applied selectively, nor can they be regarded as obsolete simply because they remain unimplemented. The Security Council has also established a peacekeeping force in Cyprus, which continues to play an indispensable role in preventing a recurrence of fighting, contributing to the maintenance and restoration of law and order, and helping create an environment conducive to a comprehensive settlement. At the same time, the Secretary-General's Good Offices Mission remains the only agreed framework for negotiations aimed at ending the occupation and reunifying the country and its people. The Cypriot Government reiterates its full support for the Secretary-General's renewed efforts to resume negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. Madam President, our own experience has strengthened our unwavering commitment to dialogue, diplomacy and multilateral cooperation as the most effective means of preventing conflict and building sustainable peace. Today, the UN Charter remains our common compass and our collective safeguard. Its authority rests not only on the principles it enshrines but also on our shared commitment to uphold them consistently, universally, and without exception. That is the responsibility we all share if we are to fulfill the promise of one Charter and secure one future for all. I thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Cyprus. Unfortunately, we have come to the end of the time available for the plenary segment. Delegations who were not able to make their statements due to the limited time available are encouraged to submit their statements to e-statements@un.org for posting in the Journal of the United Nations. As I stated in my opening remarks, multilateralism works every day in this Assembly when member states, you as permanent representatives, choose dialogue over division., and when you summon the courage to speak up to defend the Charter. In that respect, I thank you dearly, dear colleagues, for your words of reflection, for your commemoration, and for your inspiration, which very much reflects our theme today: Better Together, One Charter, One Future. The informal meeting to commemorate the United Nations Charter Day is now concluded. The meeting is adjourned. I wish you all a good weekend.
