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United Nations General
Assembly, 9 June 2022
Let me start by thanking the
President of the Security Council for the month of June, Ambassador
Hoxha, for presenting the annual Report of the Council.
Let me also reiterate the
importance of this report to my delegation, as one of the few tools we have
at our disposal that reflects the fact that the Council exercises its
functions on behalf of the UN membership as a whole.
We continue to advocate for
increased synergy in fulfilling the distinct but complementary roles of the
General Assembly and the Security Council in pursuit of the overarching goals
of the organization.
We also persist in our
conviction that this report needs to look less like a compilation of records
concerning meetings and documents of the Council and more like:
i) a substantive depiction of
where the consideration of each agenda item stands;
ii) an analysis of the state of
each conflict dealt with by the Council, including the impact that Council
action has had on the conflict;
iii) an assessment concerning
implementation of Council decisions and compliance of relevant actors with
them;
iv) an assessment of the
Council’s performance in fulfilling core aspects of its mandate, such as
upholding the prohibition of the use of force; and
v) a forward-looking evaluation
as to how the Council will ensure the peaceful settlement of each dispute
before it.
In addition, the report could
include:
i) strategic insights
concerning overall conflict trends and patterns, including in relation to
root causes, and possible ways of making the approach of the Council more
comprehensive;
ii) solutions to habitual consequences
of conflict, such as displacement of populations – including of a protracted
nature – and consequent violations of rights and demographic engineering in
conflict affected areas; and
iii) a special chapter on peace
and justice, aiming at clarity in respect of the levels of impunity for
atrocity crimes in armed conflict, including sexual violence, and at
strategies to eliminate it.
Turning to the content of the
report, my delegation welcomes the two Resolutions adopted by the Council in
this reporting cycle on Cyprus, renewing the mandate of the United Nations
Force in Cyprus, in accordance with Resolution 186. One of the oldest
conflicts on the UN’s agenda, the Cyprus question remains unresolved because
the numerous relevant Council Resolutions and decisions have not been
complied with, without any consequence. For the same reason, the effects of
the unlawful use of force against Cyprus risk becoming solidified and the
clear pronouncements of the Council risk becoming non-implementable. The
ability of the Council to uphold its decisions on Varosha is a case in point.
It is the responsibility of the Council to shield member states, small ones
in particular, from the fate of being subjugated to the will of a mighty
adversary.
Lastly, Mr President, going
beyond this report and, as my delegation has stated repeatedly, the Council
needs to improve the way it relates to member states directly concerned or
affected by the items on its agenda, as well as member states hosting UN
peacekeeping operations.
Thank you.
(MG/ECHR)
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