Head of the European Union Delegation to the United Nations Stavros Lambrinidis said, “Despite Russia’s great violations, multilateralism still offers great hope if we defend it.”
On behalf of the European Union member states and associated countries, Stavros Lambrinidis delivered a statement today (16 Jul) ahead of the Security Council meeting on ‘Multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order.’
He said, “Russia, in other words, is grossly violating international law and the principles of the UN Charter the including through its illegal invasion of Ukraine and undermining European and global security and stability.”
He also said, “Effective multilateralism means ensuring that international law and the UN Charter apply to all states in the same way. That might does not make right. The European Union and its member states are doing their utmost to live up to our commitments: we are financing one quarter of the UN regular budget, as well as that of US agencies. While accounting for only 6 percent of the world’s population and only 18 percent of the world’s GDP.”
He stated, “We are committed to multilateralism not just in words, but in action. And we call on all member states, including those championing mental naturalism so loudly today to step up their own contributions to the UN’s essential work.”
He concluded, “Despite Russia’s great violations, multilateralism still offers great hope if we defend it. Together with our partners around the world., we will continue to address the many global crisis we are facing from the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine to Gaza and the Middle East, from Sudan to the DRC, from Haiti to Myanmar.”