High-level Open Debate: “Leadership for peace: United in respect of the UN Charter in search of a secure future" Address by Jean-Noël Barrot Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs at the Security Council (25 September 2024)

President,

I would like to thank Slovenia for organizing this open debate, and the UN Secretary-General, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for their remarks.

Our Council had to meet at a time when the world was being struck and divided by major conflicts of an exceptional gravity. And unfortunately, these conflicts are growing in number. It is the responsibility of our Council to resolve them and it needs to do more.

Our first responsibility is to enforce the rules that govern the international order and to enforce the Charter of the United Nations.

This means condemning without hesitation Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, its neighbour. As I said yesterday: the Ukrainian people have been subjected to atrocities, war crimes, and indiscriminate bombardments on civilian targets on a daily basis for over 900 days. They are unjustly living in fear and suffering.

This means condemning all violations committed by Russia. This means demanding that Russia end its war of aggression on Ukraine immediately and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory. The General Assembly made this demand seven times in no uncertain terms.

We have a responsibility to support Ukraine in its right to self-defence. France and its partners will continue to support Ukrainians as long as it takes in its efforts to stop Russia’s aggression and to find a just peace. And a just peace can only be based on compliance with our common Charter. It is at the core of President Zelenskyy’s peace plan that we support.

We have a responsibility to uphold the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations in the face of an unequivocally illegal and unjustifiable war of aggression. Of this I am certain: these principles are dear to all of us, particularly the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. Without these principles, it is the strong who make the law and not the law that governs the strong. Without these principles, borders would no longer be intangible. Without these principles, States would no longer have security and everyone would fear an invasion by their neighbour. We must uphold these principles and enforce them. You all understand that compliance with international law is our compass everywhere.

We have clearly said since the barbaric terrorist attacks committed by Hamas and other terrorist groups on 7 October, which we condemn in the strongest terms, that Israel has the right to defend itself against aggression and the duty to do so in compliance with international law, particularly international humanitarian law. Everyone must respect this law, including Israel.

The war in Gaza must stop now. For civilians, for the men and women of Gaza whose suffering must end; for the hostages who must finally be released, and for stability in the region, which is currently deeply shaken.

The situation is untenable. The number of civilian victims is intolerable. In the face of this humanitarian disaster, it is vital to establish an immediate and permanent ceasefire and to enable the massive unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid as a matter of urgency. The civilian population’s needs are huge.

To ensure a lasting end to the crisis in the Middle East, it is vital to reach a political settlement of the conflict between Israel and Palestine as a matter of urgency. This settlement is a two-state solution. You can count on France to continue to take the helm, with its partners, in promoting a critical and irreversible revitalization of peace efforts.

It is also vital to now begin building the future of Gaza, the “day after”. It is up to the Palestinian Authority, which we support, to exercise its full authority over Gaza. For this to become a reality, the United Nations has and will have a central role to play.

President,

These vital demands must not be paid lip service but met with action. And I will say it again: our collective responsibility is to ensure this happens. That is why France will continue to work within this Council to sketch out this path.

I asked that a meeting be held this evening on Lebanon, as hundreds of Lebanese people, including children, have lost their lives in Israel’s strikes. At a time when this Council must call for de-escalation to avoid regional conflagration with devasting outcomes. Our Council must call for reason, which requires restraint and a ceasefire, something that it has been doing for a long time.

President,

No war, no humanitarian tragedy should be forgotten.

In Sudan, more than half the population is suffering from acute food insecurity. Famine has taken hold in the Zamzun camp in North Darfur. The situation is tragic. And we must remain mobilized. To raise awareness of the international community and to work together to address this tragic situation in Sudan, we held a conference in Paris where we raised more than €2 billion, €900 million of which from the European Union and its Member States, to support civilian populations in Sudan and its neighbouring countries. Many of our States signed a declaration of principles calling for Parties in the conflict to cease their hostilities, abide by their commitments and deliver on their obligations with respect to international humanitarian law and human rights. We have called on all States to refrain from any committing any acts that would fuel the conflict. I reiterate this appeal here today.

Many diplomatic efforts have been made in recent months to end the crisis. These initiatives have produced humanitarian advances, such as the issuance of visas for humanitarian workers and the re-opening of the Adre border post. These advances are encouraging but are still not enough given the urgency of the situation. Together, we must do more.

President,

As members of this Council, and more broadly as members of the United Nations, we must work to ensure the Security Council is capable of fully exercising its prime responsibility in upholding international peace and security.

That is the reason for France’s clear, long-standing and constant support for a comprehensive reform of the Security Council, based on the belief that expansion of both membership categories is required.

We have been tirelessly advocating greater representation of Africa on the Security Council for 20 years, including among the permanent members. That is a key aspect of the G4 model, which we support, just as we support the aspirations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan to gain permanent membership.

In this same spirit of responsibility, France and Mexico promote an initiative that requires no amendment of the Charter. It is a commitment, an essential one, not to use a veto in the event of mass atrocities. That is a major expectation of the UN’s Member States. We owe it to them to progress on this matter.

President,

The principle of humanity must prevail. This year, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and I would like to recall that they are universal and apply in all circumstances in the event of armed conflict.

We need to ensure they are enforced. We will reiterate this at high level, with the ICRC which is their guarantor. We need to enforce international humanitarian law. Because respect for these rules saves lives: the lives of women, children and men who suffer in war; the lives of the humanitarian personnel who try to save them, and whose immense courage I salute; and the lives of those, too, who will otherwise live with a terrible injury in their memory.

There is only one standard: the law, made up of our Charter and our Conventions, which put humanity first.

You can count on France to enforce this standard.

Our Council, too, must enforce it in all circumstances.

Thank you.