Statement by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent
Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on
the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes.
Thank you to Pakistan for its leadership on this issue following
the unanimous adoption of resolution 2788 last year.
Challenges to international peace and security continue to mount,
from Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, to the war in Sudan,
the crisis in Gaza, and rising regional tensions in the Middle
East.
The need for diplomacy and peaceful settlement is clear.
As many have underlined today, the UN Charter provides a toolkit
for peace.
The UN and its Member States should make earlier and more
consistent use of the Charter's full array of mechanisms, from
negotiation, mediation, judicial settlement, and regional
arrangements.
The Charter's principles are clear.
There is no justification for unprovoked aggression against
another State.
And we once again urge Russia to end its unprovoked aggression
against Ukraine, commit to a full ceasefire, and engage in
meaningful negotiations to achieve peace.
In Sudan, we call on the warring parties to urgently agree a
humanitarian truce.
But brokering a peace agreement is only the first step, as we
have seen in Gaza.
We call on all parties to take urgent action to fulfil their
commitments under the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict
in order to achieve lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
Peace agreements must also be sustained.
Colombia's experience demonstrates the value in long-term
international support, including through the UN Verification
Mission, in helping uphold commitments and protect hard-won
progress.
UN peace operations can also play a vital role in preventing
escalation and maintaining peace, leveraging the UN's unique
legitimacy, convening power, and impartiality.
A sustainable peace is a just peace, exercised in line with
international law and the UN Charter.
Peace is also stronger when it is inclusive.
History shows that peace agreements are 35 per cent more likely
to last at least 15 years when women are meaningfully part of
those processes.
To conclude, Mr President, as my new Foreign Secretary said
yesterday, in this era of international instability, we must go
even further to defend the principles at the heart of the UN
Charter.
Colleagues, the Charter makes clear the central role of this
Council in undertaking that responsibility.
The United Kingdom stands ready to work with all Member States to
uphold the Charter, prevent escalation, and pursue peace through
practical, principled multilateralism.
