In the quest for a more just and equitable international order, Zimbabwe strongly opposed to unilateralism, is committed to multilateralism. We therefore would like to see a UN that continues to be a guarantor of world peace and security, and a bulwark in the fight for justice and equality among nations.
It behooves us all, therefore, to take the necessary steps to ensure that the UN is not marginalised on international issues. Equally important, the United Nations must in future never allow itself to be abused by any member state or group of States that seeks to achieve parochial partisan goals. The Charter of the United Nations clearly stipulates it as an international body that should work for the good of all the peoples of the world.
We recognise that there are existing and emerging threats and challenges that continue to frustrate our individual and collective efforts to attain greater economic development and social progress, as well as peace and security.
But the increasing trend by the NATO States inspired by the arrogant belief that they are the most powerful among us, which has demonstrated itself through their recent resort to unilateralism and military hegemony in Libya, is the very antithesis of the basic principles of the UN.
In that case of Libya, the African Union and its peace-making role was defied, ignored and humiliated. May we urge the international community to collectively nip this dangerous and unwelcome aggressive development before it festers.
The warmongers of our world have done us enough harm. Wherever they have imposed themselves, chaos in place of peace has been the result. The situation created by the Bush-Blair illegal campaign of aggression against Iraq has made worse the conflict between the Sunnis and Shias.
Leave alone the disastrous economic consequences of that unlawful invasion.
Libya has been made equally unstable, following NATO’s deceitful intervention under the sham cover of Chapter VII of the Charter of the UN and the phony principle of the responsibility to protect.
Zimbabwe firmly believes in the peaceful settlement of disputes between and among States, in a manner that is consistent with the principles and purposes of the UN.
In the maintenance of international peace and security, much more needs to be done to prevent conflicts from erupting in the first place, and to prevent relapses once a situation has been stabilised.
Beyond deploying adequate resources to manage conflicts, it is important to address their underlying causes, and to pursue, more proactively, a comprehensive approach focusing on conflict prevention, peace-building, peace-sustenance and development.
In pursuing this cause, my delegation strongly believes that adherence to the Charter of the UN should be a solemn obligation of all Member States. We have noticed, with deep regret, that the provisions of the UN Charter dealing with the peaceful settlement of disputes, have, on occasion, been ignored by the Security Council.
In contrast, there appears to be an insatiable appetite for war, embargos, sanctions and other punitive actions, even on matters that are better resolved through multilateral cooperation.
Instead of resorting to the peaceful resolution of disputes, we are daily witnessing a situation where might is now right. We need to take stock of the inspiring preamble to the UN Charter, where the plenipotentiaries who met in San Francisco in 1945 undertook to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”
This is especially so when global events represent a radical departure from that solemn and noble declaration as is happening at present. What do the NATO Alliance members say about this? One may ask.
It is therefore important that the UN Security Council should respect and support the decisions, processes and priorities of regional organisations. In contrast, recent events, as has already been stated particularly with reference to Africa, have demonstrated the scant regard that is given by the UN and certain powerful members of the international community to the pivotal role of regional organisations.
Effective cooperation between the UN and regional organisations will only become viable and sustainable when developed on the basis of mutual respect and support, as well as on shared responsibility and commitment.
It is regrettable to note that certain unacceptable concepts are currently being foisted upon the UN membership, in the absence of inter-governmental mandates. For instance, there is no agreement yet on the concept of “responsibility to protect,” especially with respect to the circumstances under which it might be evoked.
We are concerned by the clear mad growing evidence that the concept of “responsibility to protect” has begun to be applied and seriously abused, thus inevitably compromising and undermining the cardinal principle of the sovereignty of states and the UN Charter principles of territorial integrity and non-interference in the domestic affairs of countries.
For the international community to successfully deal with global economic, social, security and environmental challenges, the existence of international institutions to handle them and a culture of genuine multilateralism are critical.
