78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Security Council open debate
Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter through effective multilateralism:
Delivered by H.E. Alar Karis, President of the Republic of Estonia
20 September 2023, New York
Mr President,
Mr. Secretary General,
Thank you for convening today’s debate, important not only for Ukraine, but for all of us who respect the UN Charter.
We cannot remain silent, when multilateralism and international law, the UN Charter at its core, are under unparalleled pressure. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine violates all the values we believe in. It violates the fundamental principles enshrined in the Charter while exposing the structural deficiencies of the UN and its Security Council.
A permanent member of the Council responsible for upholding international peace and security has launched a full-scale, unlawful and unjustified war against its sovereign neighbour, using its veto power to shield itself from accountability. Shamelessly undermining the Council’s credibility and the UN authority. I call on all responsible Council members and all the UN member nations to urgently reflect on how we can together fix this brutal ignorance of core principles of the UN. I am convinced that the one responsible for aggression and conflicts have to face justice. Even the one with veto right in the Security Council. Because the crime is a crime regardless who you are or what powers you hold.
Mr President,
For those who endure, there are no safe place, as homes, hospitals, food storages and schools have been destroyed. Tens of thousands of children have lost their families, or have been forcefully deported to Russia and Belarus only to suffer abuse in re-education camps or to be stripped of their Ukrainian roots and identity in Russian families – a disgraceful practice, executed already by our neighbour, in the history of my country and in many other places.
The human toll of this war extends far beyond Ukraine. By unilaterally leaving the UN-mediated Black Sea Grain Deal and obstructing Ukrainian grain exports, Russia is using food scarcity as a tool to manipulate the world’s most vulnerable populations. Let me repeat loud and clear – we have never sanctioned Russian exports of food to third countries. Russia, and Russia alone is responsible for this war and for the millions of people’s lives who face starvation, as Russia is destroying Ukrainian grain facilities, stealing grain from occupied territories and bombarding Ukrainian ports. Russia’s actions reveal its intentions to manipulate the market and destabilize the international political climate, by increasing the grain price and forcing countries to become reliant on Russian assistance.
The UN cannot allow aggression to become a form of politics. Ukraine has presented its Peace Formula, the only comprehensive plan to overcome the Russian aggression and all its consequences. The points of the Peace Formula reiterate all the basic principles of the Charter. An overwhelming majority of the UN members have voted for a just peace for Ukraine and protecting the Charter. However, the Security Council remains hostage of the aggressor.
Mr President,
It has become unfortunate reality that the Security Council is unable to act decisively and to fulfil its mandate. To ensure that the Security Council can carry out the tasks set by the UN Charter, there is no alternative but to adjust the structure and working methods of the Council while further reinforcing the power of the General Assembly.
The veto initiative adopted last spring was a laudable significant first step. But more has to be done.
There should be no veto right if there is a suspicion that the one casting it may have acted against the international law. Estonia supports the French-Mexican initiative on the veto restraint and the Code of Conduct by the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group on not voting against resolutions aimed at ending mass atrocities, including the crime of aggression.
As for the future composition of the Council – in addition to a fair distribution between continents and regions, small, medium and big states – a full and unequivocal support for the international law, UN Charter and the ICC should guide us.
Mr President,
To conclude, let me remind that peace and security, freedom and stability, and respect for international law are not a given, nor are they mere aspirations. Only with the UN fit for purpose and able to respond to the challenges of the XXI century can we hope to maintain peace and advance the well-being of all nations. I believe we need to urgently give hope for better days to those suffering under fear, oppression and violence.
Thank you.