United Nations – 236 –
EU’s Key Role in Global Stability – UN Chief & President of the European Council – Press Stakeout
Summary
456seconds video
The text is a speech welcoming United Nations Secretary General Antoni Fersch, highlighting the need to strengthen multilateral systems and the UN amid global challenges like peace in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, climate change, and inequality. The importance of supporting the UN’s initiatives and agreements like the Paris Agreement and the Pact for the Future is emphasized. Secretary General Fersch acknowledges the European Union’s crucial support and partnership with the UN in addressing these global issues. He expresses concern about Ukraine’s situation, stressing the importance of a just peace respecting international law and Ukraine’s territorial integrity. He also highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, urging for a ceasefire and humanitarian access. On climate change, he notes a report indicating urgent action is needed but insists limiting global warming is still possible with increased efforts. Fersch expresses gratitude for the EU’s support for the Pact for the Future and confirms cooperation in upcoming international events. When asked about the US withdrawing from UN bodies, he asserts that multilateralism remains vital and active, as demonstrated by the EU-UN collaboration.
Full Script
Yeah. Hello. Good morning. Well, I’m very pleased to welcome here today Antoni Fersch. The Secretary General of United Nations. In this multipolar world, it is more important than ever to strengthen our multilateral system and first of all to strengthen United Nations positions. We are facing a lot of global chain-lenders, peace, climate change, fight inequalities. And for this, it’s very important to stand for peace in Ukraine, in Gaza, in Sudan, everywhere in the world, to fight inequalities, standing for the implementation of the pact for the future, the reform of the financial international architecture, and to pursue our work to control climate change, to protect our oceans, biodiversity. And for this working lunch with the Secretary General is a very good opportunity. First, to stress our full support of his personal efforts, lending United Nations, our full support to United Nations, and our commitment to pursue with all these global commitments on the framework of the United Nations, especially the Paris Agreement, the pact of the future, and our engagement in this two coming very important conference about oceans in this and the financing development in Seville in July. Then, Antonio, thank you very much to come. Welcome again, and please. I am very happy to be back in Brussels and especially to be able to work with President Antonio Costa. The European Union is a central strategic partner of the United Nations, and we are extremely grateful for the continued support, both financial support and political support, to the activities of the UN. And we believe the European Union is a fundamental pillar of the multilateral response to the challenges we face in peace and security, in climate, in sustainable development, in human rights. In this context, we have some particular concerns. One is about Ukraine. Obviously, any ceasefire is welcome because it saves lives. But it is essential that a ceasefire paves the way for a just peace in Ukraine. And the just peace in Ukraine is a peace that respects the UN Charter, international law, and security policy resolutions, namely about the territorial integrity of Ukraine. On the other hand, I’m saddened and shocked because deaths and destruction are back in Gaza, and the Palestinian people has already suffered too much. And so I renew my appeal for respect of the ceasefire, for unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas of Gaza, and for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. It is absolutely essential to keep the door open for the only way to bring peace to the Middle East, which is to have a Palestinian state side by side with an Israeli state. On the other hand, yesterday, the World Meteorological Organization published, again, a report with devastating impacts of climate change. I’m now used to listen time and time again that we are living in the hottest day of the hottest months, of the hottest year, of the hottest decade. But let’s not give up. The report also says that 1.5 degree limit is still possible in relation to global warming. But we need to double down. Double down in reduction of emissions, double down in decarbonization, and double down in the replacement of fossil fuels by renewable energy. Finally, I’d like to express my deep gratitude to the support that the European Union has given to the implementation of the pact of the future in all its dimensions. And I can guarantee that we’ll be working together in the next key moments in which the international community will be moving forward. In Sevilla, in Paris, in the G20 meeting in the COP in Brazil, in all these moments, I am absolutely sure that the EU and the UN will be together fighting for a better international community in a safer planet. Secretary General, how concerned are you with the US withdrawing from so many UN bodies? A new world order is being written as we speak, where multilateralism and international community don’t play a role anymore. Multilateralism is alive, it’s playing a role, and the proof of that is the fact that I’m here with the European Union.
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