States Must Commit to Multilateralism, Many Speakers Tell Security Council Debate, un.org

In a time of unprecedented global challenges and escalating conflicts, States must commit to multilateralism to allow for the emergence of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order, the Security Council heard today in a ministerial-level open debate. […]

Numerous other countries condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, including the speaker for the Republic of Korea who said it is “surreal” that the meeting on multilateralism and the world order was convened by the Russian Federation — a country that has provided a “painful amount of food for thought” on this subject. […]

Meanwhile, the representative of China deplored the notion of a “rules-based international order” promoted by some countries, as it creates a parallel system outside international law, seeking “legitimacy for double standards and exceptions”.  Calling on NATO to stop being the “troublemaker”, he expressed concern over the bloc seeking expansion.

Peter Szijjarto, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, said his country has been living in the shadow of war for two and a half years, confronted with its direct consequences.  “We have received more than a million refugees,” he said, adding that Hungary faces inflation and “tremendously high” energy prices.  “A war looks different from a neighbourhood, compared to an ocean away,” he observed, noting the long-term risk of the world being divided into blocks again.  Now that a war is happening in Europe, the legitimacy of diplomacy is being debated. However, he pointed out, “diplomacy is not talking to those we fully agree with, but talking to everyone, even those we disagree with on major issues”.  The past two and a half years have proven that there is no battlefield solution for the war in Ukraine, he said, citing as “scandalous” that a country is being stigmatized for arguing in favour of a diplomatic solution.  He underscored that the UN has not been established to serve as a platform for like-minded countries, stating:  “To make Europe great again, we need to make it peaceful again.”Läs referatet