General Assembly: 89th plenary meeting, 80th session

Good morning. The 89th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. The Assembly will now consider Agenda Item 112, entitled Notification by the Secretary-General Under Article 12, Paragraph 2 of the Charter of the United Nations. The documentation under this item is listed in the Journal of the United Nations. In accordance with the provisions of Article 12, Paragraph 2 of the Charter of the United Nations, and with the With the consent of the Security Council, the Secretary-General notifies the Assembly of matters relative to the maintenance of international peace and security that are being dealt with by the Council and of the matters with which the Council has ceased to deal. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to take note of the note by the Secretary-General? It is so decided. May I take it it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of Agenda Item 112? It is so decided. The Assembly will consider Agenda Item 27, entitled Report of the Security Council. The documentation under this item is listed in the Journal of the United Nations. I will now make a statement as the President of the General Assembly. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I welcome the timely adoption of the Security Council's annual report and its submission to the General Assembly. I thank the Permanent Mission of Pakistan as the Council member responsible for preparing this year's report for its cooperation and engagement throughout this process. As Pakistan stressed at the Security Council adoption of the report on 2012, 22nd May, this process remains a vital instrument for transparency, accountability, and institutional dialogue between the Council and the wider United Nations membership. The presentation of the report to the General Assembly reflects continuing commitment of member states to strengthening cooperation between the two organs and to formalizing successful practices developed over previous years. It also provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on the Council's activities, emerging trends, and the nature of the matters before it. At a time when trust in multilateralism is under strain, this exchange underscores the importance of restoring wider confidence in our collective work. It responds to member state— calls for stronger cooperation between the General Assembly and the Security Council, and for greater coherence and complementarity between two organs in addressing global challenges. An objective reflected in Resolution 79/327 on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, which recognizes the importance of a Security Council that is more transparent, accountable, inclusive, and responsive to the wider membership. This cooperation is not an abstraction. It is practical, concrete, and urgent. And it takes a particular importance as the United Nations prepares to select and appoint the next Secretary-General. In that regard, and in my capacity as President of the General Assembly, I've worked closely with the presidencies of the Security Council to support a process that is transparent, inclusive, structured, timely, and credible. This has included issuing letters regarding the selection and appointment process in line with the expectation of member states and the continuing work on General Assembly revitalization. I've also written to the Security Council to underline the importance of ensuring that its deliberations on candidates are conducted in a manner that reflects the principles of transparency and inclusivity expected by the wider membership. This engagement reflects my strong belief that close coordination between the General Assembly and the Security Council is essential to the credibility of the process. That same spirit of cooperation is also essential to peacebuilding. The General Assembly and the Security Council are co-parents of the Peacebuilding Commission. A unique environmental governance advisory body that supports both organs, as well as the Economic and Social Council, on peacebuilding and sustaining peace. In November 2025, the General Assembly and the Security Council adopted parallel resolutions on the 2025 Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture. Their implementation offers an important opportunity to strengthen the Commission's bridging role and support more coherent efforts across the United Nations system. Cooperation around peacebuilding can also serve as a blueprint for stronger engagement between the General Assembly and the Security Council on broader peace and security challenges. For in today's fragmented and fast-moving political environment, peace and security challenges are increasingly interconnected, cutting across regions, sectors and mandates, thus demanding a holistic approach. In this context, greater clarity on the Council's work, dynamics, positions and possible options is critical, once again underscoring the importance of this report. It allows the General Assembly to follow developments more closely, engage more meaningfully and contribute more effectively to collective efforts to uphold multilateralism and a peaceful international order. Or, in the words of the Charter, to unite our strengths to maintain international peace and security. I thank you. I now give the floor to the President of the Security Council, Her Excellency Leonor Zalabata Torres to introduce the report of the Security Council.

Gracias.

Thank you very much, Madam President. On behalf Dear colleagues of the members of the United Nations Security Council, I have the honor to present to the General Assembly the Annual Report of the Security Council for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2025. At the outset, allow me to express our appreciation to you, Madam President, for convening today's meeting. The report before the Assembly was adopted by the Security Council on 22 May 2026. I would like to thank Pakistan for preparing the introduction to the report and for leading the negotiations within the Council. I also wish to express our appreciation to the Secretariat for preparing the body of the report and compiling the comprehensive information contained therein. I would also like to recognize the valuable contributions of the members that completed their term on the Council at the end of 2025, namely Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia. Madam President, during the reporting period, the Security Council confronted an increasingly complex global environment marked by protracted conflicts, geopolitical tensions, new crises, and worsening humanitarian situations. From 1 January to 31 December 2025, the Council held 255 formal meetings, 115 closed consultations, and 8 informal interactive dialogues. The Council also held 139 unscheduled meetings during the year, reflecting the rapidly evolving nature of developments on the ground and the sustained demand for the Council's attention to urgent crises and threats to international peace and security. The Council considered country-specific, regional, and thematic issues across its agenda. Discussions continued on matters relating to terrorism, non-proliferation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, sanctions, and cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations. Thematic issues remained high on the Council's agenda. Among them: the future of United Nations peace operations, peacebuilding and sustaining peace, Protection of civilians in armed conflicts, Women and Peace and Security, Children in Armed Conflicts, and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes. In terms of outcomes, the Council adopted 44 resolutions and 8 presidential statements. While members of the Council issued 35 press statements during the reporting period. At the same time, differences of views among members continued to affect decision-making and the adoption of decisions. Madam President, throughout the year, the Council continued its engagement with regional and sub-regional organizations. In October, members of the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union held their 19th Annual Consultative Meeting in Addis Ababa, following the 10th Annual Informal Joint Seminar between the two bodies. The Council also maintained cooperation with the Peace Building Commission, including through the receipt of written advice on peace operations, local elections in the Central African Republic, and women and peace and security. Informal Interactive Dialogue on Youth, Peace and Security was also held with the participation of the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission in December. In 2025, the Council resumed field missions, including a joint visit to Lebanon and to the Syrian Arab Republic in December. The Council also faced an unprecedented delay in the appointment of chairs and vice chairs of its subsidiary bodies, which significantly hindered the Council's ability to fulfill its mandate and underscored the importance of ensuring the timely organization of its work. Madam President, throughout 2025, discussions within the Council reflected growing expectations from the wider membership for effective multilateral action, strengthened preventive diplomacy, respect for the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and more coherent responses to contemporary threats to international peace and security. Despite differences among members, the Council remains central to collective engagement on international peace and security. In closing, Madam President, I would like to thank the members of the General Assembly for their attention, and I look forward to hearing the views and comments of member states on the annual report of the Security Council for the year 2025. I thank you.

Good job, Karpias. I thank the President of the Security Council Before proceeding further, as agreed at the General Committee meeting and announced in my letter dated May 20th, 2026, I propose that the time limits for statements in the debate on this item be 5 minutes for individual delegations speaking in their national capacity and 7 minutes for statements made on behalf of a group of states. Is there any objection to this proposal? I hear none. It is so decided. Sorry, maybe it's over, sir.

Pakistan. Madam President, we think that there should be no time limitations for meetings in the General Assembly, and I would like to make my statement, which I think would be longer than 5 minutes.

I hear from the Secretariat that while I was hammering already, you pressed the button. But as I called on you, I take it and take back my hammering. Just to clarify, we had a debate on this in the General Committee. So if your objection was on a general term, we move forward from the General Committee. But on this point, as this is a non-objection, I hear that it is objected as yesterday, and as we also saw the consequences if we are not applying speaking times. This should not lead to the situation that not everybody can be heard, so I strongly encourage member states to be in the spirit of solidarity, as sharp and short as they can. But in the light of the objection made, no speaking time limit will be applied to the debate on this item. Having said this, I now give the floor to distinguished representative of Ecuador on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group, followed by Pakistan and Portugal.

Madam President, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the 27 members of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Act Group, which remains committed to a more transparent, effective and accountable Security Council and a stronger relationship with the General Assembly. At the outset, we thank Pakistan for its engagement throughout the drafting process. As well as the President of the General Assembly in Colombia for convening and presenting the report. Excellencies, the annual report is not merely a record of meetings held and resolutions adopted. Under Article 24 of the Charter, it is one of the principal instruments through which the Council accounts to the wider membership for the exercise of responsibilities entrusted to it on behalf of all member states. The AG group welcomes a number of improvements reflected in this year's report. We welcome the effort to provide a more analytical introduction, including references to key trends affecting the Council's work, the challenges faced in responding to crises, the use of veto, the unprecedented delay in the appointment of chairs and vice chairs of subsidiary bodies, cooperation with the Peacebuilding Commission, and the launch of the Secretary-General's election and appointment process. We also welcome the continued inclusion of disaggregated data on participation by women in civil society briefers, as well as references to field missions. These are positive developments and demonstrate that recommendations repeatedly expressed by the wider membership are gradually being reflected in the report. Excellencies, at the same time, further progress remains possible. The ACT Group continues to believe that the annual report should evolve towards an even more substantive and analytical document. First, more focus should be placed on how Council decisions are implemented in in practice, their effectiveness on the ground, and the lessons they generate. Second, the report should provide greater transparency on situations where the Council could not act, including vetoes, failed resolutions and amendments, and the causes of deadlock. Third, while respecting confidentiality, greater transparency regarding close consultations and AOB discussions would strengthen accountability, especially during the current AG selection process. Fourth, we reiterate the importance of timely and substantive monthly assessments by Council presidencies. Finally, the ACT Group encourages members of the Security Council to follow up on the recommendations expressed through this debate., and in the summary to be prepared by the Office of the President of the General Assembly, including in the informal working group on documentation and other procedural questions. Excellencies, the ad group hopes that continued improvements to the annual report and the Council's working methods will strengthen transparency, accountability, and institutional learning. We look forward to engaging with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all Council members in the preparation of the 2026 report. Hasta aquí.

And here ends the statement on behalf of the ACT Group. Allow me now to make a brief statement in our national capacity. The dialogue with the General Assembly sparked by the annual report of the Security Council is an essential mechanism for transparency and accountability. Therefore, since we joined the ACT Group, it has been a privilege for Ecuador to coordinate this topic along with Portugal, including during our mandate as an elected member of the Security Council for the period 2023-2024. In 2027 and 2028, the roles will be reversed. Portugal will be a member of the Security Council after its election by this Assembly. Therefore, I would like to extend my congratulations to them and to the other elected member state from ACT-Austria. Ecuador has the conviction that the commitment of these states to multilateralism and to the principles that inspire the Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency Group will be a valuable contribution to the work of the Council. This premise of the importance of strengthening the interaction between the two main organs of the United Nations on the basis of the purposes and principles of the Charter will also be strengthened, in my country's view, when Kyrgyzstan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe join the Security Council. States, who I also congratulate. I thank you.

Muchas gracias. I thank the distinguished representative of Ecuador on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency Group. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan, followed by Portugal and Indonesia.

Thank you, Madam President, for convening this meeting. This is an important discussion and I appreciate your understanding with regard to the time limits. I would like to also thank the Permanent Representative of Columbia, President of the Security Council for the month of June, for presenting the Security Council's annual report covering the period from 1st January to 31st December 2025. The General Assembly's consideration of the Security Council's annual report pursuant to Article 24 of the Charter is an important mechanism through which the wider membership reviews the Council's performance in discharging its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It enhances transparency, accountability, and institutional dialogue between the Council and the broader membership. As President of the Council for July 2025, Pakistan was entrusted with coordinating and drafting the introduction to this report. Our objective was to produce a substantive and analytical document that accurately reflects the Council's work, outcomes, and challenges. In preparing the report, Pakistan followed an open, constructive, and inclusive approach. In line with Presidential Note 507 and GA Resolution 79/327,— and in coordination with your office, Madam President, an informal meeting of the UN member states was convened on January 16th. The exchange was candid and forward-looking, and the views shared by member states were adequately taken into account, which contributed significantly to the quality of this report. Consistent with member states' recommendations, We worked to conclude negotiations on the introductory section at an early stage. Throughout the constructive engagement of all Council members, including the 5 outgoing members, agreement was reached in early February. We also express our sincere appreciation for the Secretariat, particularly the Security Council Affairs Division, for their professionalism, dedicated support, and editorial advice throughout this process. The report shows that in 2025, the Council remained actively engaged in addressing a wide range of issues relating to maintenance of international peace and security, including multiple crises and conflicts across Africa, the Middle East and West Asia, South Asia, Europe, Latin America, and other regions. The Council devoted significant attention to thematic issues including strengthening multilateralism with the UN at its center, the protection of civilians in armed conflict, pacific settlement of disputes, future of UN peace operations, women in peace and security, and cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations. Despite heightened geopolitical tensions and divisions, the Council continued to play a central role in promoting stability, supporting peace processes, and reinforcing multilateral cooperation. The unanimous adoption of Resolution 2788, sponsored by Pakistan, reflected a shared commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes and fuller utilization of Charter's mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution. The report highlights the continued relevance of longstanding disputes on Security Council's agenda. Including the question of Palestine and the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which have implications for regional and international peace and security and which must be resolved in accordance with international legitimacy and the Council's own resolutions. During the reporting period, more than 20 communications concerning the India-Pakistan question were brought to the attention of the Security Council. The Council also had close consultations under this agenda item in May 2025. This underscores that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which has remained on the Council's agenda for more than 7 decades, continues to engage its attention. Pakistan believes that durable peace in South Asia requires a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, who must be allowed to exercise their right to self-determination promised to them by the Security Council and the international community. The continuing tragedy in the occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in Gaza, remained high on the Council's agenda. After repeated failures to halt the bloodshed, the Council adopted Resolution 2803 endorsing the Gaza peace plan and offering a ray of hope. It is imperative that Resolution 2803 be implemented fully and faithfully. Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, for an independent, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital. Madam President, the report also underscores the indispensable role of United Nations peace operations and special political missions. Pakistan is committed to strengthening peacekeeping and ensuring that peace operations are effective, adequately resourced, and responsive to evolving challenges. In 2025, the Council faced an unprecedented delay in appointment of chairs and vice chairs of subsidiary bodies, thus impacting both its functioning and effectiveness. Unfortunately, the same situation persists this year. This underscores the need to improve the working methods and selection process. Council should make this process more transparent, efficient, and predictable, and we continue our efforts in that regard. As penholder of the introduction to this year's annual report, we exerted our best efforts into making this report as comprehensive, objective, and analytical as possible, and that could be approved as a consensus product of the Council. As such, there is always room for improvement, and this is an ongoing and collective effort. Pakistan also reiterates the importance of strengthening the relationship between the Council and the General Assembly. As the most representative organ of the UN, the General Assembly plays a vital role in safeguarding the legitimacy of multilateral decision-making. Greater transparency, accountability, and interaction between the two organs are essential to ensuring that Council remains responsive to the concerns and priorities of the wider membership. The Council's elected members play an important role in that regard. Madam President, the challenges confronting the international community underscore the need for a more democratic, representative, and accountable multilateral system. The use of veto remained a concern among member states. That is why we believe that efforts to reform the Security Council and improve its working methods must be guided by the principles of accountability, equity, inclusiveness, transparency, and consensus. It is clear that expansion of individual permanent members and veto run counter to these shared objectives. We are committed to a comprehensive reform of the Security Council that corresponds to the interests of the large majority of member states. And not just a few. Reform for all, privilege for none. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Pakistan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Portugal.

Thank you, Madam President. Excellencies, Portugal aligns itself with the statement delivered by Ecuador on behalf of the ACT Group and would like now to add a few remarks in our national capacity. We welcome the continued efforts to make the Security Council's annual reports more substantive and analytical and congratulate Colombia for the presentation today, as well as Pakistan for the penholdership of this year's report. As Article 24 of the Charter makes clear, the Security Council exercises responsibilities on behalf of all Member States. The Annual Report is thereof one of, if not the principal mechanism through which the Council accounts for the discharge of those responsibilities. Portugal particularly welcomes the inclusion of references to the launch of the ongoing Secretary-General selection process. At a moment when this process is underway, transparency and meaningful engagement with the wider membership remain essential. We also welcome the report's attention to the use of the veto. Greater transparency regarding situations in which the Council is unable to act helps strengthen accountability and allows the wider membership, including incoming members, to better understand the challenges faced by the Council. Future reports could go further in assessing the implementation and impact of Council decisions, as well as lessons learned from the Council's engagement on specific situations. Having recently received the confidence of the wider membership to serve on the Security Council in 2027 and 2028, Portugal attaches particular importance to continued efforts to strengthen the Council's transparency, accountability, and effectiveness. Madam President, finally, on a personal note, as it is my last day with the Permanent Mission of Portugal in New York, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, Excellencies, dear colleagues, for your friendship, support, and cooperation throughout this fast in the last 5 years. It has been a privilege to work with all of you. Muito obrigado.

Obrigada.

I thank the distinguished representative of Portugal. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia, followed by Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Madam President, I thank the Permanent Representative of Colombia for introducing the Security Council Annual Report for 2025 and Pakistan for the preparation of the report. As we reflect Reflecting on the Council's work over the past year, we are confronted by an increasingly unstable global governance, marked by protracted conflicts and humanitarian emergencies. Last year, we also witnessed the highest number of humanitarian workers and journalists killed in conflict zones. The wider global community looks to the Council for decisive leadership, but the realities of 2025 tell a different story. In this regard, Indonesia wishes to highlight three points. First, at the heart of diminishing confidence in multilateralism lies the Council's inability to act decisively when it matters most. The 2025 report illustrates how polarizations among members have severely constrained the Council's effectiveness, leading to inaction. We saw this play out when vital draft resolutions demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza were repeatedly blocked by a permanent member in both June and September of 2025. This paralysis on grave humanitarian situations costs lives and severely damages its global credibility. Second, the Council must not abandon their peacekeepers. Who serve under mandates granted by the Council itself. While political divisions paralyze the Chamber, our peacekeepers are deployed in increasingly volatile and dangerous environments on the ground. The Council must ensure that peace operations receive the strategic focus and backing they require. As a major troop-contributing country, Indonesia emphasizes that the Council must utilize its assessments and consultations to continuously adapt peacekeeping missions. Mandates must be tailored to the realities on the ground to ensure the safety of our personnel and the effective protection of civilians. Third, reform of the Council as the only way out of this deadlock. The procedural bottlenecks continue to hinder the Council's inability to fulfill its mandate, including the unprecedented 5-month delay in appointing chairs and vice chairs for the subsidiary bodies. Comprehensive reform is therefore essential to overcome these systemic inactions toward a Council that is more effective, democratic, transparent, and representative of the broader global community. Madam President, the world cannot afford a Security Council that is paralyzed in the current global security challenges. It is imperative for us to work together to transform this body into one that can actively and effectively secure peace. Rest assured of Indonesia's unwavering commitment to this endeavor. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland.

Madame la Présidente.

Madame President, Switzerland would like to thank Colombia for the presentation of the annual report of the Security Council. The debate on the annual report is a valuable opportunity to draw lessons from the past year. And to identify areas for improvement to strengthen the Council's work. And in this regard, Switzerland welcomes the holding of the— for the third consecutive year of the informal exchange, which was organized prior to the preparation of the report. This practice fosters a closer dialogue between the Council and the General Assembly and helps to build confidence in the work of the Council. We welcome several positive developments over the past year. We note in particular the initiative successively led by Denmark, Pakistan, and the Republic of Korea on the future of United Nations peace operations. This coordinated approach has fostered welcome strategic thinking on the future of United Nations peace operations. We also welcome the joint letter from the Security Council and the presidency of the General Assembly on the process of, uh, selecting of the next, uh, uh, Secretary-General. This helps to strengthen the transparency, inclusiveness, and legitimacy of a process, which is essential for the future of the United Nations. Madam President, despite encouraging initiatives, the report also highlights several areas where progress is still needed. First, as already expressed on several occasions through the ACT Group and in our national capacity, Switzerland wishes to emphasize the importance of the work of the Council's subsidiary bodies. The sanctions regime, counterterrorism, and the protection of children in armed conflict rely heavily on their efforts. And in this respect, the late distribution of chairmanships, both in 2025 and in 2026, affects their ability to conduct their work effectively. And we call on the members of the Council to urgently to find a way out and to draw lessons from this situation. Second, the use or threat of use of the veto in situations characterized by marked mass atrocities raises fundamental questions of accountability and credibility. Switzerland reiterates its support for the ACT Code of Conduct and for the debates in the General Assembly following the use of the veto. We therefore welcome the inclusion of a separate chapter on the use of the veto. We also believe that Article 27, Paragraph 3 of the Charter remains an important element in preserving the integrity of the Council's decision-making processes. Thirdly, Switzerland wishes to stress the importance of prevention, dialogue, and peaceful settlement of disputes. The Council would benefit from further strengthening its cooperation with the Peacebuilding Commission, the Human Rights Council, and the Secretary-General, in particular in the context of horizon scanning, scanning exercises. And finally, Switzerland continues to advocate a more analytical annual report beyond the description of the Council's activities. It should give more coverage to the consultations, the meetings held under the any other business item, and the main challenges and dynamics that have marked the Council's work. Madam President, the annual report is more than a retrospective exercise. It is an essential instrument of accountability to the General Assembly and to all member states. A more analytical, comprehensive report would contribute to further strengthening the legitimacy, effectiveness, and credibility of the Security Council in its discharge of its responsibilities in the service of international peace and security. I thank you.

Merci. I thank the distinguished representative of Switzerland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Liechtenstein, followed by Mexico and Australia.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Liechtenstein has aligned itself with the statement made on behalf of the ACT Group earlier in this debate. We welcome the submission of the annual report of the Council in accordance with its obligation under the Charter and appreciate your convening of today's debate in a timely fashion. We also appreciate that the penholder has continued the practice of holding an informal consultation with the membership in January and note the inclusion of an important chapter on the use of the veto for the third time in a row in the annual report. As others, we would of course like to see a more analytical and substantive report, but we also acknowledge the difficulties of finding agreement in the Council in this respect. We note that contrary to the annual report, members' monthly assessments do not need to be agreed by consensus and should therefore serve as an opportunity to submit their perspectives and political analysis on the work of the Council. Only 6 presidencies in the year 2025 have availed themselves of this opportunity. Madam President, unfortunately, this year's report is notable by the absence of breakthroughs on key topics. While the number of vetoes is down, 3 compared to 7 the prior this is not because the Council was able to act more frequently, nor is the lack of Council action a signifier of greater peace and security across the world. Instead, we continue to see a breakdown in relationships among Council members on key issues, resulting often in the failure to help civilians in the greatest need. Madam President, we continue therefore to advocate for this Assembly to make use of its responsibilities under Chapter 4, acting on issues of peace and security. As we have seen over recent years in Ukraine and in Gaza, the veto initiative, which we were proud to bring to this Assembly, provides one platform for GA action in this respect. While in recent years the Council has taken on language adopted by this Assembly, for example, in relation to the situation in Gaza, we have now seen a more adversarial relationship adopted by the Council. In February 2025, the Security Council adopted a resolution on Ukraine that undermined the protections laid out in the General Assembly. Madam President, we are pleased to see that the membership continues to advocate for a more transparent and accountable Council. In this respect, we have heard in particular the increasing calls from the membership for the full implementation of the latter part of Article 27 of the Charter regarding parties to dispute as laid out in the Pact for the future. As ever, we continue to urge all states, in particular those who wish to serve on the Security Council, to sign the Act Code of Conduct on Atrocity Crimes. Madam President, however well-crafted or well-intentioned, Council resolutions themselves cannot give effect to the Council's mandate. Council members themselves have on too many occasions not fully implemented the Council's resolutions, something required equally of all of us under the Charter. The increasing disdain for international law we are witnessing is reflected in the Council through promises by states not to implement the Council's resolution in violation of Article 25 of the UN Charter. We also encourage the Council to take steps to ensure adherence to the provisional measures and rulings of the International Court of Justice. Mme President, finally, we wish to note the extremely concerning dynamic this year where Council members have been unable to agree on the chairs and vice chairs of its subsidiary bodies. At a time when the Council's influence is increasingly brought into disrepute in the wider world, we must take all steps to ensure that its various bodies and committees are able to function as intended. We look forward to working, including in the context of the ACT Group, to ensure improvements in this regard alongside all of the Council's other working methods. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Liechtenstein. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico.

Madam President. Mexico recognizes the relevance of this report on the work of the Security Council for the year 2025. It gives us the opportunity to substantively reflect on the performance of its main task, maintaining international peace and security. The Security Council acts on behalf of all members, and therefore it has the responsibility of acting on the basis of international law and to follow strict accountability principles. We can hardly say that peace has been preserved given the number of armed conflicts that today we see around the world. Peace cannot be measured solely by the absence of war. It is also reflected in the effective protection of life and of human rights. We cannot speak of a world at peace when, due to the 20 armed conflicts registered by the United Nations in 2025, one civilian loses his or her life every 14 seconds. That's for last year. In 2025, during that very same year, over 1,350 attacks against health facilities and staff were documented in 18 armed conflicts. Health professionals were murdered, detained, or criminalized simply for doing their job. The fragility of ceasefire agreements is obvious. Gaza and Iran are examples of this. We cannot allow for distortions of these calls for the cessation of hostilities, nor can we allow for violence to be perpetuated indefinitely. In this context, which is in and of itself heart-wrenching, We also see the growing use of new technologies. Artificial intelligence and armed drones amplify risks and consequences for civilian populations. The deadlock in the Security Council caused so frequently by the use or abuse of the veto cannot translate into inaction in this organization in the face of the most pressing challenges of our time. We call upon members of the Security Council to comply with the provisions of Article 27 of the Charter and to abstain from voting when one of its members is party to a dispute. Mexico also invites member states to join the Franco-Mexican Initiative, whose goal is to restrict the use of the veto on behalf of the 5 permanent members of the Security Council in mass atrocity situations. In 2025, Article 51 was invoked on 33 occasions without knowledge about how many of these cases were actually analyzed. The lack of response has a negative impact on the international collective security system that was created by the entire membership of the United Nations. Some states use Article 51 of our Charter to justify the preventive use of force in other states without their consent, especially in situations linked to attacks attributed to non-state actors, including terrorist groups. Mexico opposes this practice. Incorrect interpretations of international law erode fundamental principles such as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and they also weaken the foundations of the collective security system. The effective application of Article 27 and Article 51 of the Charter should be included in specific chapters of the current Security Council report. With regard to peacekeeping operations, the ultimate expressions of multilateralism in action, my country is closely following the review of their mandates in the context of the liquidity crisis that this organization is facing and the current UNAD reform. While we recognize the need to optimize resources and efficiencies, this should not compromise mandate implementation. We also reiterate the importance of preserving critical agendas such as peace and security and protection of civilians, whose value continues to be indispensable in order to build a true and inclusive peace. Madam President, I would like to conclude by reiterating the need to improve the working methods of the Security Council, especially its close ties to this General Assembly, through the introduction of annual reports that are more substantive and analytical. It is imperative to explore innovative approaches that give the Council more operational effectiveness so it can exercise its mandate legitimately and in full compliance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The survival of this organization depends on our capacity to address the aspirations that led to its creation. I thank you.

I thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia, followed by Poland and Myanmar.

Thank you, President, for the opportunity to consider the Security Council's annual report for 2025. We're grateful to Pakistan for considering the comments from member states regarding our expectations for the report's introduction and appreciate the consultations organized by the PGA during the drafting process. Today I make 3 points. First, Australia has consistently called for increased transparency in the council's work. While we recognize —this will be difficult given the need for consensus—Australia would welcome more analysis in the Council's annual report. We particularly value frank reporting regarding the impact of division in the Council on decision-making, the scope of outcomes, and the consistency of collective action. The monthly assessments prepared by Council members following their presidencies, which do not require consensus, could serve as a useful vehicle for such reporting, including analysis of possible procedural solutions and attempts to work through divisions. Second, we were pleased by the Council's collaboration with the PBC, namely on peace operations, local elections in the Central African Republic, and women, peace, and security. In line with the peacebuilding architecture review, We call on the Council to further strengthen this engagement by requesting context-specific advice and encouraging countries transitioning off its agenda to engage with the PBC. This would enable the PBC to better support the Council's work on conflict prevention and peacebuilding, particularly in transition contexts. We would also welcome the inclusion of information on the impact of the PBC's advice on Council deliberations in the annual report. Such reporting would provide an evidence base for future members of both bodies to build on their cooperation and, most importantly, achieve results in conflict settings. Third, Australia calls for the prompt resolution of the ongoing delay in appointing subsidiary body chairs. We are concerned about the impact this is having on the work of the sanctions committees, particularly given that it has inhibited timely access to information for the wider membership. The delay has also limited the contribution of elected members during their terms. Successive non-permanent members have made significant contributions to the Council, and the involvement of the current E10 should not be limited. As a candidate for the Council in 2029-2030, We hope to be granted the opportunity to serve the membership. We pledge to work constructively to help the Council fulfill its mandate should we be elected. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Poland.

Mr. President, at the outset I would like to thank you for convening today's debate and thank Colombia for presenting the report. We commend Pakistan for preparing the introduction to the report this year, but more importantly for the efforts undertaken to move towards a more substantive analytical account of the Council's work. We particularly appreciate the open, constructive and inclusive approach, including the organization of an informal meeting of the wider membership in January, in which we actively participated. We share the view expressed by Pakistan that there is always room for more, and Poland supports further steps towards enhancing the comprehensive and analytical nature of the report. In that context, we would also like to underline the importance of the Security Council's monthly assessments. We encourage members to complete their assessments in a timely manner, as they are an essential tool for improving transparency, institutional memory, and accountability. Mr. President, as noted in the report, in 2025, the Security Council confronted an increasingly complex and unstable global environment. In fulfilling its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security. We believe that the Council would be better equipped to discharge this crucial responsibility if, as Member States, we collectively ensured that it is as rarely as possible paralyzed or unable to act. The Charter already provides tools that could improve the Council's effectiveness. Article 27 calls on Council members to abstain from voting in situations where they are parties to a dispute. The consistent application of this principle would significantly enhance the Council's ability to act. We also believe that this issue should be reflected in future annual reports of the Security Council, including through a more detailed account of the implementation of the term "party to a dispute" when it is invoked in Council proceedings. This could help establish a basis for a more consistent interpretation of Article 27.3. Mr. President, taking this opportunity, I would also like to warmly congratulate the newly elected members of the Security Council whose term will begin in 2027: Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe. We wish them perseverance and success in fulfilling the responsibility entrusted to them by the entire United Nations membership for the maintenance of international peace and security. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Poland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Myanmar.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I wish to begin by thanking you for convening this meeting. I also thank Colombia for presenting the report and Pakistan for preparing the report. Mr. President, we as member states of the UN entrust the Security Council with its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. As such, the open debate provides an opportunity for all Member States to hold the Council accountable by deliberating its work, including its achievements, shortcomings, deviations, and potentials for improvement. Mr. President, Myanmar underscores the importance of incorporating analytical assessments on the work of the Council to improve its annual report, thereby advancing the effective discharging of its mandate. A factual listing alone does a disservice to the mandate, scope, and the work of the Council in many of the finds under its agenda. The section on Myanmar in the report is an unfortunate encapsulation of limitations and failure by the Council to fulfill its mandate. In this regard, allow me to emphasize the following areas to improve the work of the Council on Myanmar. First, transparency. The Council continues its trend of holding exclusive meetings on Myanmar, with two private meetings, one under Close Consultations and another one under AOB in 2025. The closed format has restricted the public and other member states from readily assessing substantive discussions, areas of convergence and divergence, and the dynamics of Council members on their situations. Transparency on the work of the Council and its inclusivity should be universal, not selectively applied. Second, effectiveness. The Council issued a press statement after the 28th much adequate, the first-ever product on Myanmar since its adoption of Resolution 2669 in 2022. A presidential statement and another press statement were put on hold only due to opposition from the two permanent members. De facto vetoes have been paralyzing the work of the Council on Myanmar, making it largely ineffective. Effective actions by the Council should be commensurate with the deteriorating situation and human suffering inflicted by the military junta. Since the illegal coup in 2021, over 8,000 people have been killed by the military junta, 3.6 million people have been displaced, and almost 22 million are in need of humanitarian assistance. The widening gap in the protection of civilians by the Council for more than 5 years is a clear demonstration of its non-functionality as well as its irrelevance on the ground, which brings me to the final point. Third, credibility. Repeated failures by the Council to protect civilians in Myanmar have undermined its credibility among our people. It is reported that since its inception of sham elections and the subsequent sham administration, the military junta has intensified its system-wide campaign of indiscriminate aerial attacks against the civilians. In April this year alone, 178 airstrikes against civilians were committed by the military junta. Even yesterday, the military junta conducted air strikes on the IDP camp, school, and church in Kareni State. Such escalating violence by the military did not occur in a vacuum. It is the direct consequence of the Council turning a blind eye on their atrocities. It is the subsequent result of some Council members and regional players emboldening the military junta, especially by via their unwarranted engagements. It is crystal clear that restoring its credibility requires the Council to take timely, effective, and decisive actions, including a follow-up resolution on Myanmar with enforcement measures. In conclusion, Mr. President, a comprehensive and analytical report of the Security Council will serve as a constructive, informed, meaningful tool for the wider members of the General Assembly. The UN at its core was established to serve the people and their interests. In the same vein, the Security Council should undertake a Myanmar-owned, Myanmar-led process that is in line with the aspirations of the people of Myanmar. Taking this opportunity, I ask the international community to support the people of Myanmar and their efforts to eradicate the military dictatorship and build a fairer democratic union. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Myanmar. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Singapore.

Madam President, thank you very much for convening this debate in a timely fashion. I thank also the President of the Security Council for the month of June, the Permanent Representative of Colombia, for introducing the Annual Report earlier this morning. I also wish to place on record our deep appreciation to the delegation of Pakistan for preparing the report. As we are discussing the Annual Report of the Security Council, let me take this opportunity at the outset to congratulate the newly elected incoming members of the Security Council. Namely Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe. It is our hope that the incoming elected members will work together to strengthen the constructive role that the E10 have played in the Council, and that they will work together to encourage greater transparency, inclusiveness, and Council unity. Mr. President, Article 24 of the UN Charter confers primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security on the Council and establishes that the Council acts on behalf of members. This annual debate on the report of the Security Council is therefore an important exercise in transparency and accountability. And this debate also gives an opportunity for members of the General Assembly to provide feedback to the Council on its work. Mr. President, before I turn to questions of substance, allow me to make some observations on the process. First, I'd like to commend the Council for a timely adoption of the report before the deadline of end May, as is set out in Note 547. We hope that this good practice will continue. Second, we commend the delegation of Pakistan for convening the informal meeting which was held in January to discuss the draft annual report with the wider membership, which is in accordance with paragraph 148 of Note 507. We believe that this process of having informal consultations with the wider membership certainly contributes to improving the quality of the annual report, and hereto we hope We hope that future penholders of the Annual Report will continue this good practice on an annual basis. Thirdly, we are concerned that there continues to be incomplete submission of monthly assessments by the Presidents of the Council. And as earlier speakers have pointed out, in 2025, only 6 out of the 15 Council members submitted their monthly assessments. We hope that Council members will take this duty and responsibility of submitting monthly assessments very seriously. We believe that the monthly assessment reports can help to provide greater clarity, greater transparency, and greater nuance and analysis of the monthly discussions, and these monthly reports contribute to enhancing accountability in the work of the Council. In our view, the Annual Report is incomplete in some ways without all the monthly assessment reports, especially since paragraph 14 of the Annual Report directs Member States to refer to the monthly assessments for further information on the work of the Council and more detailed reports of its meetings. Mr. President, on substance, we welcome the fact that the annual report is seeing gradual improvements in terms of its content and analysis, especially when compared to previous annual reports. At the same time, we believe that there is scope to make the reports even more analytical and substantive, and this is an exercise that must continue. Allow me to make some additional points with regard to substance. First, on the unity of the Council, it is clear that the unity of the Council has been trending downwards in recent years due to the deepening divisions amongst members. These fractures are most sharply reflected in the 4 vetoes that were cast last year. While this is a drop in the number of vetoes as compared to 2024, the veto continues to impede effective Council action on the most pressing conflict situations of the world. We also note that in 2025, the Council adopted only 44 resolutions, which is the lowest number since the end of the Cold War, and of these, only 27 were adopted unanimously. In our view, the shrinking number of outcomes from the Council despite the rise in global conflict, reflects the profound challenges that the Council has faced in reaching agreement. Secondly, we are also concerned with the delay in appointing subsidiary body chairs until late May last year. This has impacted, in our view, the functioning of the subsidiary body committees and also the full and effective implementation of the Council's decisions. Unfortunately, the same situation with regard to subsidiary bodies is playing out again this year. Mr. President, these trends are worrying and we call on Council members to work harder and to do their utmost to strengthen intra-Council cooperation and consultation. In line with the spirit of Note 507. Thirdly, on transparency, we note that the report indicates that the Council held 20 private meetings, 115 informal closed consultations, and 235 public meetings. This means that more than one-third of the Council meetings were held behind closed doors. And of course, we appreciate the need for closed discussions on certain sensitive issues in order to promote frank exchanges among Council members. At the same time, we believe it's important to keep in mind that the topics discussed in closed consultations are often of great concern to all member states and therefore we think that more effort should be made to convene some of these meetings in an open format in order to allow for the participation of all concerned member states. Mr. President, the 80th session of the General Assembly has been a period of reflection and also a determination to reform in equal measure. It is our hope that the Security Council will continue to engage itself in its own reflection and examine ways in which it can work better in order to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Singapore. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of El Salvador.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Allow me to first begin by thanking you for convening this plenary debate on the Annual Report of the Security Council for 2025. El Salvador expresses its recognition to Pakistan for their valuable work to prepare the report, and also to Colombia for introducing it to this General Assembly. President, this debate is not a merely procedural exercise. When the General Assembly considers the Security Council's report, it does not merely review a list of sessions, resolutions, or communiqués. But rather, in essence, it considers how this organ that has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security has responded to the crises that affect millions of people. The Council acts on behalf of all member states. Therefore, this dialogue should be understood as an exercise in accountability, reflective— collective reflection, and above all, shared responsibility. President, the report that we are considering today reflects a year of intense activity. In 2025, the Council held 255 official sessions. It considered 46 topics. It approved 44 resolutions and issued 8 presidential statements. It also addressed grave and prolonged crises in different regions. And that data confirms that the Council continues to be a pivotal space for multilateral deliberation when it comes to peace and security. But at the same time, they also show the need to evaluate with greater clarity to what degree this activity translates into specific results for the populations and countries affected by conflict. For El Salvador, the annual report should contribute to that process. It should be more than just a registry of what happened. It should be a tool to understand which decisions worked, which one faced obstacles to their implementation, and where there are still gaps between the mandates adopted in New York and realities on the ground. In that sense, we reiterate our conviction that the report should continue to evolve to become a document that is more substantive, analytical, and results-oriented on the basis of mandates to revitalize the General Assembly. President, a more analytical report strengthens also the legitimacy of the Council because it allows members to better understand its decisions. It strengthens its its effectiveness because it identifies specific challenges for the implementation of its mandates, and it strengthens trust in the multilateral system because it shows that the United Nations are willing to honestly evaluate their own performance. And from this point of view, we encourage future reports to go in depth when it comes to the real impact of Council resolutions, especially in contexts where We see persistent high levels of violence, humanitarian crises, attacks against civilians, food insecurity, forced displacement, and threats to humanitarian and United Nations staff. We encourage the newly elected members of the Security Council to deploy greater efforts like this. We also consider that it is essential for the report to reflect in greater detail the difficulties faced by peacekeeping operations, as well as special political sanctions regimes, and subsidiary organs of the Council. President, El Salvador values the inclusion of information on cases in which draft resolutions or amendments were not passed due to the use of the veto, as well as the introduction of special reports pursuant to Resolution 76/262 of the General Assembly. Nevertheless, we should continue to make progress. The veto cannot be seen just as a statistic. Its use has real consequences for the lives of people, for the capacity of the United Nations to act, and for the credibility of the Council in moments where unity is most necessary. Thus, we reiterate our support so that the report includes a more detailed analysis on the use of the veto, its impacts on Council action, and meetings convened by the General Assembly pursuant to Resolution 76/262. This practice does not seek to duplicate roles or create confrontation between the organs. It seeks to strengthen collective responsibility when the Council is unable to act. President, it is precisely the relationship between the GA and the Security Council which should be perceived as one based on complementarity rather than competition. The Assembly, as the most representative and universal organ of the United Nations has a key role to preserve the legitimacy of the multilateral system. In moments of paralysis or division, its voice can contribute to upholding the principles of multilateralism, promoting institutional coherence, and maintaining political focus on international crises. And therefore, we encourage continued strengthening of channels of interaction between both organs. This includes debates on the use of the veto, special reports, improving the annual report, and implementing mandates to revitalize the General Assembly. President, El Salvador would also like to highlight three dimensions that deserve greater attention in future reports. First, The participation of women in the work of the Council. We value the inclusion of disaggregated data on invitations sent pursuant to Article 39. This information is important in order to identify progress and gaps, and it should continue to be used in order to guide specific efforts in favour of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Second, the documentation of open debates. These spaces allow for wider membership to provide perspectives, recommendations, and national experiences. Its results should be reflected in a more systematic fashion so that the voices raised in these debates are not lost after each session. Third, The interaction between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. In 2025, the Council received 3 briefings from the Commission. This practice should be strengthened, especially in contexts where prevention, transitions, financing for peacebuilding, and addressing the root causes of conflicts are indispensable in order to achieve sustainable solutions. President, distinguished delegations, the question that we are facing is not just how to improve a report. The question is how do we renew trust in the capacity of this organization to prevent conflicts, protect people, and respond effectively when peace is threatened. The Security Council should act with greater unity, transparency, and sense of purpose. But the responsibility of strengthening the multilateral system does not fall only upon the Council. It behooves all member states, because behind each mandate there are communities waiting for protection Behind each resolution that is not implemented, there are commitments that still need to be translated into results. And behind each silence or inaction from the Council, there is a legitimate expectation that the UN will respond with the humanity, determination, and hope that is expected from this organization. El Salvador will continue to constructively contribute to this process, convinced that a more transparent, responsible, and effective Council is indispensable for a stronger, more legitimate organization and an organization that is, above all, closer to the peoples that it serves. I thank you, President.

I thank the distinguished representative of El Salvador. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

President. Mr. President, we thank the convening of this meeting to debate the annual report of the Security Council to the General Assembly for the year 2025. We thank Pakistan for helping prepare the report and Colombia for introducing it. This report reflects an international context that is increasingly complex and unstable, characterized by prolonged conflicts, new crises, and serious humanitarian emergencies that continue to threaten international peace and security and test the response capacity of the multilateral system. According to the report, in 2025, the Council held 255 255 formal meetings, 115 closed consultations, and 8 informal interactive dialogues. These numbers show that the organ was very active. Nevertheless, the amount of meetings cannot hide the deep limitations of the council in order to act effectively, coherently, and without selectivity in the face of some of the most serious crises facing humanity. Once again, several initiatives did not move forward due to the repeated use of the veto by permanent members, especially by the United States, which continues to weaken the credibility of the Council and undermines the trust of the international community in the capacity of that organ to implement the mandate entrusted to it by the UN Charter. It is unacceptable that the report continues without offering a critical analysis of violations of international law and relevant resolutions of the Council on behalf of Israel or the humanitarian consequences caused by Council paralysis given the dramatic situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. President, despite the relative increase in public meetings and the practice that Council presidencies provide reports on their work, we still see a tendency in that organ to prefer closed formats and informal consultations, which limits transparency and participation for the rest of member states. In this context, Cuba insists on the pressing need to definitively adopt the rules of the Security Council and put an end to 8 decades of provisional methods of work. Ensure exhaustive, transparent, and analytical reports that constitute a real exercise in accountability for the General Assembly. To issue official summaries of informal consultations for all UN members to eliminate the selective manipulation of Council working methods to advance political interests and agendas of domination, to move towards a comprehensive reform of the Security Council to transform it into a truly democratic, representative, and transparent organ that is in step with the realities of the world as it is today, and to put an end to the continuous encroachment of functions of the GA on behalf of the Security Council. President, we reaffirm the full relevance of the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and the need to defend multilateralism in the face of growing threats to international peace and security. Cuba rejects interference, unilateral coercitive measures, expansionist and supremacist doctrines, and the use or the threat of the use of force as instruments for political pressure. Therefore, my country can say today that it's facing a total economic war and a real threat of military aggression on behalf of the U.S. government, which is a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and the Charter of the United Nations. The international community demands a United Nations that are capable of acting impartially, responsibly, and in strict compliance with the Charter, without selectivity or double standards. The credibility of this organization also depends on the capacity of the Council to uphold its primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway.

Thank you, Vice President. Norway aligns with the statement delivered by Ecuador on behalf of the ACT Group. Group. As they underlined, the Annual Report is one of the principal and Charter-mandated instruments through which the Council accounts to the wider membership for the exercise of responsibilities entrusted to it on behalf of all Member States. That is why the debate today is so essential, and we welcome the ongoing efforts by the President and previous PGAs to summarize these debates and to transmit them back to the Council with recommendations. Yet, as it currently stands, the Council has nowhere to receive this input, no functioning informal working group on documentation to consider and to act on the views and recommendations of the broader membership. And for that matter, no fully functioning committees whatsoever. This is deeply troubling situation. Without agreement on the distribution of the subsidiary body chairs, some of the Council's most practical work continues to lie dormant. Every day passes without Council agreement and without fully functioning subsidiary bodies undermines the Council's credibility and its legitimacy. We therefore welcome that this issue is included in the report's introduction. Through additions like this, this report must become a more critical and analytical reflection of the realities of the work of the Council. This is not a mere record-keeping exercise. President, accordingly, we welcome the efforts undertaken by Pakistan in drafting and holding consultations with a wider membership on the introduction and the Council's reflection on key trends affecting its work, the use of the veto, cooperation with the Peacebuilding Commission, and the launch of the SG selection and appointment process which is— will also be a key feature in the Council's 2026 report. But definitely more must be done. President, we note with regret the low number of completed monthly assessments reflected in the annual report for 2025. We remain concerned that the misconception about a consensus requirement for these reports may unnecessarily draw out the process of the completion and water down their content to simple listing of meetings. Finally, President, we see potential for the annual report to be used to record and reflect on other procedural matters. This includes implementation of Article 27 of the UN Charter regarding the obligatory abstention of a party to a dispute from voting in the Council in decisions under Chapter VI and under paragraph 3 of Article 52, on which implementation by Council members has been lacking for a long time. And some of us will say for too long time. Norway steadfastly supports ongoing efforts for this Assembly to play its role to ensure full implementation of the Charter and this important provision just mentioned, including through the current work on a GA resolution to this end, which seeks greater reflection of this issue in the Council's annual report. We look forward to working with all of you on this. Thank you, Vice President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Norway. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for convening this annual debate. We convey our gratitude to the pen holder, Council members, and the Secretariat for their contribution to this report contained in document S/2026/426 and commend its adoption by the Security Council before the end of May in line with Note 507. We also appreciate the continued practice of holding an informal meeting every January to hear the views of the wider membership on the drafting of the introduction to the report. Allow me to make in this regard 3 points. First, on the use of veto. While the reduction of number of vetoes in 2025 compared to 2024 is welcome, the manner in which the veto is often exercised continues to raise serious concerns. The United Arab Emirates reiterates that the veto should be exercised, exercised with restraint. Reflecting the demonstrated will of the United Nations membership. And in a manner that does not undermine international law, we also reiterate support for the Code of Conduct on Security Council Action Against Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, and War Crimes, as developed by the Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency and the French-Mexican initiative on veto restraint in cases of mass atrocities. In this regard, the UAE deeply regrets failure of the Security Council to adopt the draft resolution contained in document S/2026/273 on, on the 7th of April, which sought to to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all in accordance with international law and to address the disruption of commercial shipping. The security and navigability of the Strait of Hormuz are not regional concerns alone. They are matters of global energy security, international trade, humanitarian supply chains, and respect of the law of the sea. Mr. President, my second point relates to respect for Council mandates and measures. The credibility of the Security Council depends not only on the adoption of its resolutions but also on their implementation. Council measures and mandates must be upheld, operationalized, and supported by functional subsidiary bodies. As the report before us recognizes, 2025 saw the longest delay in appointing chairs and vice chairs of subsidiary bodies. Unfortunately, in 2026, the Council has surpassed this record. We urge the Council to appoint chairs and vice chairs as a matter of priority and urgency. Delays in appointments weaken the Council's ability to implement its own decisions., including at moments when implementation is most needed. These points have been expressed by the Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency Group. My third point relates to the analytical content of the report as well as making it user-friendly as possible. The United Arab Emirates welcomes the fact that this year's introduction is more comprehensive and analytical than in previous years. It reflects several issues raised by member states during the informal meeting convened in January, including on the use of the veto, the appointment of chairs and vice chairs of subsidiary bodies, and the process for the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General. We welcome the report's broader reflection on challenges affecting the Council's work, as well as inclusion of a dedicated chapter on the veto initiative. Looking ahead, the future reports could build on this progress by including clearer references to the provisions guiding the preparation and adoption of the report, including Article 24 Article 3 of the Charter, relevant General Assembly revitalization resolutions, and Presidential Note 507. They could also provide clearer references to relevant Council documentation, further analysis of the Council interaction with the General Assembly and principal organs, and more detailed information on the vetoes, subsidiary bodies appointment, and the Secretary-General selection process wherever relevant. In closing, the UAE expresses its appreciation to Council members for their efforts to make the introduction to the report more comprehensive and analytical. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of United Arab Emirates. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Philippines.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Philippines welcomes the convening of this meeting and the adoption of the Security Council's Annual Report for 2025. We thank Pakistan for helping prepare the report and Colombia for presenting it to the General Assembly today. The Philippines wishes to make four observations. First, we welcome the continued efforts to strengthen the quality and relevance of the annual report. In particular, we appreciate the convening of informal consultations with member states prior to the finalization of the introduction. Such exchanges can contribute to greater transparency, accountability, and understanding between the Security Council and the wider membership. Second, we note efforts to make the report more analytical and reflective of broader trends affecting the Council's work. While the report remains an important record of the Council's activities, future reports may continue to evolve by providing greater insight into the challenges encountered, lessons learned, and factors affecting the Council's ability to discharge its responsibilities under the UN Charter. Third, we note that the number of unscheduled meetings increased during the reporting period, reflecting the increasingly reactive environment in which the Security Council operates. This underscores the importance of maintaining the flexibility, preparedness, and unity necessary to respond effectively to emerging threats to international peace and security. We welcome the resumption of Security Council field missions which can provide valuable perspectives that complement deliberations here in New York and contribute to more informed decision-making. Fourth, the report offers useful lessons on the importance of institutional effectiveness. In this regard, we note that the report's observation that the unprecedented delay in the appointment of chairs and vice chairs of subsidiary bodies in 2025 significantly affected their functioning. As agreement on subsidiary body appointments remains unresolved this year, we hope the council members will reach a solution at the soonest possible time to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of these important mechanisms. We also encourage continued cooperation between the UN and regional organizations whose perspectives can contribute meaningfully to the prevention and resolution of conflicts. Mr. Vice President, the Philippines remains supportive of efforts to enhance the transparency, accountability, and responsiveness of the Security Council to the wider membership. We look forward to continued discussions on how the annual report can remain a meaningful and useful tool for informing member states of the Council's work.

I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Philippines. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Mr. Vice President, I wish to thank Pakistan as a penholder for the timely preparation of the Security Council's report and to express my appreciation to the presidency of Colombia for presenting it. While the report provides useful factual information on the work of the Security Council, it continues to lack the substantive and analytical assessment necessary for the General Assembly to fully evaluate the Council's performance and its discharge of responsibilities under the Charter. A striking example is the unprovoked and unlawful war of aggression launched by the Israeli regime with the support and participation of the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran in June 2025. These acts of aggression targeted civilians, civilian infrastructure, and peaceful nuclear facilities operating under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency. This unlawful war constitutes a flagrant violation of the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly Article 2, Paragraph 4, as well as fundamental principles of international law, including international humanitarian law and the statute of the IEA, and poses a serious threat to international peace and security. In such circumstances, the United Nations was expected to act promptly and effective— and effectively consistent with the responsibility entrusted to the Security Council under Article 24, Para. 1 of the Charter. Yet the Security Council remained unable to take meaningful action. Equally concerning, these grave violations were not adequately reflected in the report, despite the fact that the Security Council held several emergency meetings on the matter. The consequences of such inaction have become evident. Emboldened by the Council's silence and failure to uphold its responsibilities, the aggressors— I mean, the United States and the Israeli regime— launched yet another act of aggression on February 28th, 2026, once again in clear violation of the Charter of the United Nations. These attacks resulted in further destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the loss of innocent lives, civilian lives, and above all, the martyrdom of the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at his workplace. Those responsible for aggression must face the consequences of their illegal actions and be held accountable across all UN bodies. Finally, I take this opportunity to reject the statement delivered by the representative of the UAE, and I want to stress that the veto cast by China and Russia was timely and necessary. I thank you, Mr.

President. I thank the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India.

Mr. President, at the outset, I'd like to place on record our My heartiest congratulations to the 5 newly elected members of the UN Security Council for the 2027-28 term: Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe. We look forward to working with each of you and wish you all success. Mr. President, today's meeting gains particular salience as consideration of the Security Council Annual Report by the General Assembly is explicitly provided for in the UN Charter. As a principal organ of the UN, the Security Council has been primarily tasked with the onerous responsibility of maintenance of international peace and security. Therefore, India reiterates that today's discussion is not to be treated as a purely procedural matter. Against this backdrop, I'd like to make the following points. First, submission and consideration of the Security Council Annual Report to the General Assembly offers a wonderful platform for the wider UN membership to reflect upon and share their views regarding the functioning of the Council in the past year. Annual Reports of the Security Council therefore needs to be analytical in nature. It should not be a compilation of facts. Areas of improvement and gaps, if any, with regard to discharging Council's core mandate of maintenance of international peace and security must feature prominently in the report. Second, the annual report follows a standard template. Inclusion of several significant elements could enrich the value of the report and help serve its purpose better. Please allow me to offer a specific example. Peacekeeping is an important tool available at the disposal of the Security Council to fulfill its critical responsibilities. However, the standard template of the report largely excludes finer points pertaining to operational modalities, associated challenges, the review of respective mandates, etc., with regard to peacekeeping. Third, the annual report discussion in the General Assembly is usually held towards the end of the first half of the subsequent year. The world witnesses considerable changes during the 6-month period. 2026 has been no different in this regard. Therefore, India urges that this aspect be accorded due importance and the report may be submitted for consideration of the General Assembly in the early part of the year itself. Mr. President, the unwarranted reference by Pakistan to a matter strictly internal to India, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, has compelled me to respond. Pakistan has decided not to spare this forum either from their characteristic misuse of august UN platforms for their divisive political interests. Abuse of its presence on the Security Council by Pakistan, including through the circulation of several misinformed and misleading communications, also testifies to this counterproductive approach. I'd like to remind Pakistan that being a member of the UN Security Council is a huge responsibility. It's not a forum for peddling biased and false narratives. I'd like to make it loud and clear Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Any assertions to the contrary are baseless, devoid of, and inconsistent with historical facts. Empty rhetoric and hollow claims by Pakistan would not change this fundamental reality. In the interest of time with the wider UN membership, I would not delve any further into this. Mr. President, finally, we all recognize the importance of reform of the Security Council to make it fit for purpose to handle contemporary and future challenges that we face. The current structure reflects geopolitical realities of 1945. Retaining the status quo has so far not enabled effective functioning of the Security Council and cannot do so in future. The marginal reform in the 1960s that expanded only the non-permanent category has not changed the fundamental mode of functioning of the Security Council in any impactful manner. Expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories is central to implementing real and meaningful reform. In closing, it is India's hope that greater importance is attached to the formulation of the annual report and its consideration thereof by the UN General Assembly so as to accurately capture the spirit of Article 24 of the UN Charter. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of India. We have heard the last speaker in this debate on this item. May I take it that the Assembly takes note of the report of the Security Council? It is so decided. The exercise of the right of reply has been requested. As announced in my letters, or in the letters of the President of General Assembly dated 6 January and 20 May 2026, it's proposed that the time limits for statements in the exercise of the right of reply under this item be limited to 5 minutes for the first intervention and 3 minutes for their second intervention. Is there any objection to the proposal?

Please, Pakistan.

Thank you, Mr. President. Pakistan takes the floor in response to the remarks made by the representative of India. It is apparent that while all delegations that took the floor today—

Sir, can you stop? I'd like to ask if— are you objecting or not to the proposal?

No, I'm just taking the floor for the right of reply.

Okay, I hear no one, so it is decided. So according to the— accordingly, pursuant to Rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, when a representative exceeds her or his allotted time, the President shall call the speaker to order without delay, which will be done by means of automatic microphone cutoff. To assist delegations in managing their time, a countdown clock will be displayed on the screens. Members are also reminded that statements in the exercise of the right of reply should be made by delegation from their seats. I'd like to call the distinguished representative of Pakistan.

Thank you, Mr. President. Pakistan takes the floor in response to the remarks made by the representative of India. It is apparent that while all delegations that took the floor today expressed gratitude and appreciation for Pakistan's work on drafting the introduction to the annual report and having it adopted by consensus by the Council in a timely manner, the representative of India chose to focus on on the elements that stated the facts with respect to the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute in the report. My PR recalled those facts in his statement as reflected in the report. That is, the report records more than 20 communications on the India-Pakistan question during the reporting period, and the close consultation held by the Council on this agenda item on 5th May to take stock of the regional security situation and rising tensions due to India's aggressive posturing and design. I would advise the Indian representative to carefully read the report rather than denying the facts, deflecting attention, and misleading the august assembly. Mr. President, Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognized dispute on the agenda of Security Council. No amount of obfuscation can alter the historical, legal, and international character of the dispute. Jammu and Kashmir never was, neither is, and nor will ever be a so-called integral part of India. Nearly 8 decades after Council resolutions calling for a UN-supervised plebiscite, the Kashmiri people continue to be denied their inalienable right to self-determination. Meanwhile, the arbitrary detentions, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, demographic engineering, and other human rights violations continue in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The gravity of the situation was reflected in the joint communication issued by the United Nations Special Procedure on October 16th, 2025. The main problem, Mr. President, is that by refusing to implement Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, India continues to disregard its obligations under the United Nations Charter, including Article 25, which requires member states to accept and carry out the decisions of the Council. The critical importance of respecting and implementing Security Council resolutions has been underscored by several delegations in today's debate. India's effort to divert attention through allegations against Pakistan cannot conceal its own troubling record: sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, perpetrating state terrorism in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, conducting state-backed assassination campaigns in foreign countries, stoking violence against minorities support for destabilizing activities in the region and disregard for international law, including its unlawful attempt to hold the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance. I thank you, Mr. President.

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 27. The Assembly will begin its consideration of Agenda Item 10, entitled Implementation of the Declaration of Commitments on HIV/AIDS States and the political declarations on HIV/AIDS to take action on proposals announced in the Journal of the United Nations. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom to introduce draft Amendment A/AT/2010.

L75. Thank you, Chair. I take the floor to present the United Kingdom's Amendment A/80/L.5. To draft Decision A/AT/L.74 on the participation of non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and private sector in the 2026 High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS. Chair, the UK views the 2026 High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS as a critical milestone in our collective efforts to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030. The UK views— apologies— civil society has long been the lifeblood of this effort. Their safe, meaningful participation is essential, especially at a time when access to multilateral spaces is increasingly restricted and those who hold governments to account face mounting reprisals— and hostility. We were glad to see that language on civil society participation was included in the modalities resolution for this high-level meeting. However, we remain concerned that the non-objection procedure is increasingly being used as a tool to exclude NGOs on vague and political grounds. While we fully support safeguarding the integrity of the UN system, This cannot come at the expense of excluding legitimate voices, especially when such decisions are shielded from scrutiny. For these reasons, and to ensure the high-level meeting hears from a full range of actors, the UK wishes to introduce this amendment to reinstitute the full list of stakeholders to the annex of the drug decision as circulated by the President of the General Assembly on 22nd May 2026. This list includes 65 organizations from across all regional groups, reflecting the global commitment to the fight against HIV. The Agreed Modalities Resolution clearly states that Member States may request the reasons for objections and that the final decision rests with the General Assembly. We encourage all delegations to use this mechanism to promote transparency and accountability. We are open to refining the process as we learn, including improving timelines for receiving objections, but we cannot accept a system that allows the arbitrary exclusion of legitimate voices. At a time when the UN is striving to build trust and deliver impact, it is more important than ever to ensure the meaningful participation of civil society. This is necessary to reaffirm our shared commitment to inclusive multilateralism.

I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom. We shall now proceed to consider draft decision A/80/L74 and Draft Amendment A/80/L75. For your information, the draft amendment is closed for e-sponsorship. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce, Mr. President, that since the submission of the draft amendment and in addition to the delegation listed on the L document. The following countries have also become co-sponsors of draft amendment A/80/L75: Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor L75, please signify by pressing the microphone button now. I see India is Is that for additional co-sponsorship for amendment?

Yes.

Mr. President, bear with us, just to pause. Thank you for your patience. The delegation of India has confirmed to the Secretariat, it is not an additional co-sponsor to the draft amendment. Therefore, I do not see any additional co-sponsors to the draft amendment.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Secretariat. Delegations wishing to make a statement in the explanation of vote before the vote on both draft proposals are invited to do so now in one intervention. After action on both of them, there will be an opportunity for explanations of vote after the vote of any or all of them. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote before the vote, as announced in the letters dated 6 January and 20 May 2026, the President of General Assembly proposed that the time limit for statements in explanation of vote under this item be 5 minutes. Is there, is there any objection to this proposal? I hear no one. It is so decided. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, when a representative exceeds her or his allotted time, the President shall call the speaker to order without delay, which will be done by means of automatic microphone cutoff. To assist delegations in managing their time, a countdown clock will be displayed on the screens. Members are also reminded that explanations of votes should be made by delegations from their seats. I now invite the distinguished representative of India.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At the onset, the Permanent Mission of India hereby conveyed their irrevocable withdrawal of the initial objection made to the participation of two NGOs at the high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS. I thank you, Mr.

Chair. Thank you.

We have heard the last speaker in explanations of vote before vote. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/80/L74 entitled Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Academic Institutions, and the Private Sector in the 2026 High-Level Meeting of HIV /8. In accordance with Rule 90 of the Rules of Procedure, the Assembly shall first consider Draft Amendment A/80/L75. I might— may I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt Draft Amendment A/80/L75?

80/L75.

It is so decided. Since draft amendment A/80/L75 is adopted, we shall proceed to take a decision on draft decision AL80 A/80/L74 as amended. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft decision A/80/L74 as amended? It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 10. The meeting is adjourned. Thank you very much.