\n<\/p>\n
UN\u00a0Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Khaled Khiari was speaking during the\u00a0Security\u00a0Council\u2019s annual\u00a0debate\u00a0on\u00a0cooperation between the two organizations\u00a0in the areas of peace and security.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn an increasingly complex and uncertain international environment,\u00a0sustained engagement, dialogue and trust-building are essential<\/strong>,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cRespect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations\u00a0remains\u00a0central to addressing shared challenges. The European Union plays\u00a0an important role\u00a0in advancing these principles.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Mr. Khiari said the\u00a0EU\u00a0is a key partner across the full spectrum of the UN\u2019s work, from international peace and security to human rights, sustainable\u00a0development\u00a0and humanitarian action.\u00a0<\/p>\n He expressed\u00a0particular\u00a0gratitude\u00a0for the role of\u00a0its\u00a0member states as troop and police-contributing countries,\u00a0including in\u00a0Lebanon and other\u00a0challenging environments.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAt a time when advancing political solutions remains difficult in many contexts,\u00a0the support of the European Union to the United Nations\u2019 good offices, mediation and political engagement is especially important<\/strong>,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mr. Khiari\u00a0said\u00a0the war in Ukraine \u201cis a severe test to the international order-related regional frameworks\u201d and that Russia\u2019s invasion of the country \u201chas shaken the foundations of the European security architecture to its core.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n With the conflict now entering a fifth year, and the human toll continuing to rise, he expressed hope that the Orthodox Easter temporary ceasefire will help\u00a0pave\u00a0the way towards\u00a0a\u00a0more durable\u00a0truce.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAn immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire must be the first step towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace<\/strong>, grounded in respect for international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, briefs the Security Council meeting on cooperation between the UN and European Union.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, noted that although\u00a0the bloc\u2019s\u00a0member states\u00a0comprise\u00a0only five per cent of the global population,\u00a0they provide 42 per cent of Official Development Assistance<\/strong>\u00a0(ODA) and finance a quarter of the UN\u2019s regular budget.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe pay in full and on time,\u201d she said. \u201cBut the EU has never considered our support for the United Nations purely on how much we spend.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The EU supports the UN \u201cbecause\u00a0it is the only international system that stands for peace, represents the global collective interest, and protects international law<\/strong>,\u201d she explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cToday we are witnessing the gravest breakdown of international law since the\u00a0Second World War,\u201d endangering\u00a0peace\u00a0and security.\u00a0\u201cThis is why the EU\u2019s support for the UN now is more vital than ever.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Ms. Kallas said the breakdown of international law is\u00a0evident\u00a0in\u00a0Russia\u2019s war of aggression against Ukraine and the war\u00a0in the Middle East, which she called the two preeminent global crises today.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cRussia is executing what is arguably among the most outrageous breaches of international law in United Nations history<\/strong>\u00a0by invading a sovereign country and turning its back on its obligations as a Permanent Member of\u00a0the\u00a0UN Security Council,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, \u201cthe\u00a0war in the Middle East has caused immense instability and cost far too many lives,\u201d with ripple effects felt worldwide.\u00a0\u00a0People from Europe to Asia\u00a0are suffering from higher energy prices, and farmers from Sudan to South America are facing\u00a0fertiliser\u00a0shortages.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cRussia is also supporting Iran with intelligence and drones. Prolonging the war benefits Russia through higher energy prices, depleted air defence\u00a0arsenals\u00a0and diverted attention,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n These two\u00a0crises\u00a0\u201crepresent the clearest sign yet of an abandonment of the old rules, including the UN Charter,\u201d she continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cA new world is now in the making, characterised by competition and coercive power politics<\/strong>; a world order dominated by a handful of military powers who aim to establish spheres of influence.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n She\u00a0reminded the Council that \u201cwe have been here before\u201d, highlighting how the international community chose multilateralism over multipolarity in the aftermath of the First and Second World Wars.\u00a0<\/p>\n She\u00a0stressed\u00a0that \u201cEurope will always choose cooperation over coercion.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Ms. Kallas said that in 100 years\u2019 time, \u201chistorians will look back at this moment.\u00a0And they will ask: What did the United Nations do when the rules-based order was under threat?\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cDid we cling to the past, defending a system that no longer worked for the many? Or did we have the courage to reform it\u00a0\u2013\u00a0to\u00a0make it stronger, fairer, and more resilient?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n She insisted that \u201cthe answer is in our hands\u201d and concluded with a message for Council members.\u00a0<\/p>\nPartner in peace and beyond<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Hopes for Ukraine ceasefire<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
EU support<\/strong><\/h2>\n
International law breaking down<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
New world order<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Responsibility to reform<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n