Security Council meeting
Today 1 January, Estonia becomes an elected member of the UN Security Council for the period 2020-2021. Tomorrow, the Estonian flag will be raised in front of the UN Security Council hall in New York.
According to Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, the UN Security Council membership serves Estonia’s national interests and allows us to contribute to solving the world’s conflicts with diplomatic means. “For the next two years, we will be at the centre of world politics. Estonia must help manage conflicts that have erupted both within as well as between countries,” Reinsalu said.
According to Reinsalu, Estonia with its painful history has a very clear understanding of the importance of international law and joint agreements for small states. “At the Security Council, we can make sure that the UN principle of prohibiting the use of force and threatening with the use of arms continues to endure. The policy of not recognising illegal and unlawful annexations is also crucial.”
He added that for the Security Council to be able to alleviate human suffering in crisis zones and reduce the number of victims, it is vital to ensure that rules are followed and international agreements are not undermined. “A lot depends on the survival of the current system of international relations: conflict prevention, protection of human rights, ensuring sustainable development and dealing with challenges related to the climate,” the foreign minister noted. Cybersecurity is also an important topic for Estonia.
“The benefits of the UN Security Council for Estonia go beyond the two years, as it presents us with an opportunity to raise Estonia’s profile, expand our circle of communication and add to the professional skills of our diplomats. We can demonstrate that we are a reliable country that is open to compromises and cares about the troubles of others. All this also increases our security,” Reinsalu added.
The minister underscored that most decisions in the Security Council are adopted by consensus but there are many differences that prevent helping those in need. For example, in December, Russia and China voted against the Security Council resolution that would have allowed providing cross-border humanitarian assistance to Syria. Attempts are made to reach an agreement early this month and now Estonia is taking part in making this decision.
Estonia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Sven Jürgenson will head the Sudan and Iraq sanctions committees. Estonia takes over the UN Security Council presidency in May, when it is our task to organise sessions and administration.
Estonia’s guiding principles in the UN Security Council: https://vm.ee/en/activities-objectives/estonia-united-nations/estonia-un-security-council
Video about Estonian diplomats at the UN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJDH-CCdWRc
The UN Security Council is tasked with protecting peace and security in the world. The Security Council has 15 members, with five permanent and 10 elected members. Estonia will begin its membership at the UN Security Council in January 2020 with four new members: Niger, Tunisia, Vietnam, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Estonia is a member with these four countries until the end of 2021. Belgium, Germany, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and South Africa will continue as non-permanent members in 2020 alongside five permanent members, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China. The next five non-permanent members for the 2021-2022 period will be elected in the 2020 vote.
