Security Council: Mr. Guterres Calls on Members to Defend the United Nations Charter

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on members of the organization on Tuesday to "mobilize the necessary political will" to defend the goals and principles of the UN Charter.

To this end, the multilateral system "must be strengthened" to meet the demands of today's world, Mr. Guterres emphasized while opening the Security Council debate on this issue, calling for action on "three fundamental fronts."

The first front, according to him, is conflict prevention and the restoration of peace.

The second front is "respect for international law," he added, advocating for compliance with commitments without selectivity or "double standards," while the third front focuses on establishing accountability in cases of violations.

The UN Secretary-General reiterated, on this occasion, his call for the reform of global institutions to reflect the realities of today rather than those of 1945.

"A Security Council that does not reflect the geopolitical realities of today's world cannot fully discharge its responsibilities," he affirmed.

To this end, he invited all members of the Council to respect and enforce the Charter "consistently and systematically," to work in the service of peace, and to restore trust "by charting the way forward and focusing on identifying compromises."

Mr. Guterres urged them to "fully play their role" so that the UN and the Council live up to their calling as guarantors of international law and a committed force in the service of peace and security.

During this high-level meeting under the Chinese presidency, which was dedicated to upholding the United Nations Charter and strengthening the UN-centered multilateral system, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for a return to the founding vision of the Charter and for breathing new life into its spirit. He stated that major countries must refrain from any selective application of the law.

The Chinese minister notably called on the permanent members of the Security Council to improve cooperation to find common denominators and protect the credibility of the organ.

"Any military action that bypasses the authority of the Security Council is unacceptable," he emphasized.