View of the UN Security Council as they meet on the situation in the Middle East on September 16, 2024 in New York City. Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty ImagesUnited NationsCNN —
It’s time for UNGA 79!
Quick explanation: the United Nations General Assembly is an annual world leaders’ summit that has gone on for nearly eight decades since the international body’s founding in San Francisco. It’s a place for long speeches, private country-to-country whisper sessions, and group meetings on everything from regulating artificial intelligence to global conflicts.
This year features a UN once again caught in a debate over its relevancy while attempting to stem wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. All of which its Secretary General Antonio Guterres is keen to remedy.
UN Steps Up Pressure for Gaza Cease-Fire With Strongest Move Since 1971
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, in a letter to the Security Council, invoked the use of Article 99 of the Charter of the UN over the war in Gaza. Article 99 states that “the Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security,” according to Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used a rarely exercised power to warn the Security Council on Wednesday of an impending “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and urged its members to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The UN Security Council – of which most members are favourable to a ceasefire – is likely to meet Friday to discuss the matte
Invoking a rarely used article of the UN Charter, Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday called on the Security Council to “press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and unite in a call for a full humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants.
In a letter to the Council, Mr. Guterres invoked Article 99, contained in Chapter XV of the Charter.
This says that the UN chief “may bring to attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion, may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”
In a statement to journalists along with the letter, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that this was the first time Mr. Guterres had felt compelled to invoke Chapter 99, since taking office in 2017.
U.N. council adopts first Myanmar resolution in decades
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 21 (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council adopted its first resolution on Myanmar in 74 years on Wednesday to demand an end to violence and urge the military junta to release all political prisoners, including ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Myanmar has been in crisis since the army took power from Suu Kyi’s elected government on Feb. 1, 2021, detaining her and other officials and responding to pro-democracy protests and dissent with lethal force.
It has long been split on how to deal with the Myanmar crisis, with China and Russia arguing against strong action. They both abstained from the vote on Wednesday, along with India. The remaining 12 members voted in favor.
“China still has concerns,” China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun told the council after the vote. “There is no quick fix to the issue … Whether or not it can be properly resolved in the end, depends fundamentally, and only, on Myanmar itself.”
He said China had wanted the Security Council to adopt a formal statement on Myanmar, not a resolution.
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow did not view the situation in Myanmar as a threat to international peace and security and therefore believed it should not be dealt with by the U.N. Security Council.
Myanmar citizens who live in Thailand, hold a portrait of former Myanmar state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi as they protest against the execution of pro-democracy activists, at Myanmar embassy in Bangkok, Thailand July 26, 2022. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the resolution’s adoption. “This is an important step by the Security Council to address the crisis and end the Burma military regime’s escalating repression and violence against civilians,” he said in a statement.
‘FIRST STEP’
Until now the council had only agreed formal statements on Myanmar, where the army also led a 2017 crackdown on Rohingya Muslims that was described by the United States as genocide. Myanmar denies genocide and said it was waging a legitimate campaign against insurgents who attacked police posts.
The current war in Ukraine, which has shown the impotence of the UN Security Council when one of its permanent members goes to war in violation of the UN Charter, has brought renewed energy to the debate over reforming the Council. Security Council reform has been an ongoing topic of discussion in the UN General Assembly since the early post-Cold War period, with reform pressures tending to intensify in response to an international crisis that exposes the structural weaknesses of the Security Council.
The new momentum for changing the status quo took off on 27 February, when the Security Council referred the situation in Ukraine to the General Assembly following its own failure to adopt a draft resolution deploring Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. This was the Security Council’s first use of a “Uniting for Peace” resolution in 40 years. Two months later, through an initiative led by Liechtenstein, the General Assembly decided by consensus (A/RES/76/262, adopted on 26 April) that it would meet whenever a veto is cast in the Security Council. It has now convened twice in accordance with this new procedure: following vetoes by China and Russia on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in May, and after a Russian veto on Syria in July.
Security Council Reform: What Does It Mean, What Would It Require?
Maritime security is being undermined at an alarming pace by challenges around contested boundaries, the depletion of natural resources and armed attacks — from piracy to terrorism — senior United Nations officials told the Security Council today, as world leaders adopted a presidential statement outlining their concerns over the increasing frequency of such events.
In a presidential statement (documentS/PRST/2021/15) presented by the Prime Minister of India, Council President for August, the 15-member organ noted the problem of transnational organized crimes committed at sea — including illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, smuggling of migrants and illicit trafficking in firearms — as well as the “deplorable” loss of life and adverse impact on international trade stemming from such activities.
Tehran, Iran – The United States has broken with all other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and unilaterally declared the re-imposition of all UN sanctions against Iran – a claim rejected by Iran and the international community, including Washington’s close allies, as having no legal basis.
Vietnamese military doctors prepare to board a flight to South Sudan for the peacekeeping mission last November. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang
HÀ NỘI — Head of Việt Nam’s Permanent Mission to the UN Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý highlighted the basic principles of peacekeeping operations and the primary role of host countries in protecting and promoting human rights during a UN Security Council (UNSC) open debate on Tuesday. Tiếp tục đọc “Việt Nam joins UNSC open debate on peace operation, human rights”→
VGP – The assumption of the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council offers Viet Nam a good opportunity to make constructive and responsible contribution to the common work of the international community, promote the country’s position and deepen cooperation with other countries and major partners.
Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Photo: VGP
Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh stressed the point in his latest article released Wednesday.Viet Nam assumes the role in the context of profound changes in the region and the world, including prolonged conflicts in Africa, rising escalation in the Middle East and potential risks in some regions. Tiếp tục đọc “UNSC non-permanent membership: “Golden” opportunity for promoting national position”→
CORRECTS TO REMOVE INCORRECT QUOTE FROM TWEET – FILE – In this June 30, 2019, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone, South Korea. North Korea has again insulted President Donald Trump after he tweeted that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wouldn’t want to abandon a special relationship between the two leaders and affect the American presidential election by resuming hostile acts. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States changed its mind and is now refusing to sign a letter that would have authorized the U.N. Security Council to hold a meeting on the human rights situation in North Korea, diplomats said Monday.
Without support from the United States, European and other countries that wanted the U.N.’s most powerful body to discuss human rights in North Korea can’t go ahead Tuesday because they are now one vote short of the minimum nine “yes” votes required, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions were private.
washingtontimes – China and Vietnam have overlapping claims in the South China Sea and there’s hope diplomacy will prevail
Vietnam Dragon Surveillance Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times
By James Borton – – Thursday, June 6, 2019
ANALYSIS/OPINION:
At the U.N. Secretariat building, sheathed in shiny aluminum, glass and marble and overlooking New York’s East River, Vietnamese diplomats are soon to celebrate their nation’s selection as a non-permanent member in the U.N. Security Council. As a country that has experienced the tragedies of wars, including one drawn out and fierce conflict with America five decades ago, Hanoi’s foreign policy role is now forged on peaceful cooperation, stability and independence. Tiếp tục đọc “How Vietnam may curb China’s ambitions”→
Estonia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines elected alongside Niger, Tunisia and Vietnam
Michael Hernandez |07.06.2019 Anadolu Agency (Turkey)
WASHINGTON
The UN General Assembly elected Friday five new non-permanent members to join the ranks of the Security Council, including two nations who had never before served.
Với việc được bầu làm thành viên của cơ quan có thực quyền nhất LHQ, Việt Nam sẽ đóng góp vào việc ra quyết định về các vấn đề quan trọng của thế giới.
Guterres said Group of 77 has a very important role to play not only in a multilateral world but in a world where international relations have more justice.
By: PTI | United Nations | Published: January 13, 2018 2:44 pm
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. REUTERS/Mike Segar/Files
UN chief Antonio Guterres has called for establishing “balance of power” in the Security Council to make the world body more “democratic”. Speaking at a ceremony on Friday at which Egypt took over the chairmanship of the G77 and China from Ecuador, the UN Secretary-General called for a more democratic UN, with power divided in a more balanced way and with more effective diversity in the regional representation at all its bodies. Tiếp tục đọc “UN chief Antonio Guterres calls for ‘balance of power’ in UN Security Council”→
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. REUTERS/Mike Segar/Files
CVD 