Press Releases

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)