Israel decries ‘charade of hypocrisy’ at General Assembly
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, hit back at UN chief Antonio Guterres for raising the topic of the devastating war on Gaza, calling the General Assembly debate an “annual charade of hypocrisy”.
“When the UN secretary-general speaks about the release of our hostages, the UN assembly is silent. But when he speaks about the suffering in Gaza, he receives thunderous applause,” Danon said.
He also thanked the United States for its unwavering backing during the war.
“We appreciate the US support for Israel at this time when we are fighting against the forces of evil. A diplomatic move is always better than a confrontation, but after a year in which our hostages are being murdered in terror tunnels and the residents of the north cannot return to their homes, we are determined to restore security to our citizens in any possible way,” he said in a statement.
Russia invasion of Ukraine threat to ‘sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders’: Lithuania
Gitanas Nauseda, the president of Lithuania, has turned the attention to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling it an ongoing threat to “the entire international order defined by sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders”.
“In Ukraine, each and every member of the United Nations, every sovereign nation, has much to lose,” he said, referring to Russia’s invasion, which began in February of 2022.
“Right now, Ukraine is fighting not only a war of self defense, Ukraine is also fighting for the future of all those countries who believe in the United Nations Charter and its principles, Ukraine is fighting for us all, and yet our joint collective response to this day has been insufficient,” he said.
He accused Russia of “hiding under the cover of the Security Council’s permanent membership”, which gives it veto power against condemning resolutions.
Sierra Leone leaders calls on UN to support Africa-led peace initiatives
President Julius Maada Bio says that’s particularly true in the Sahel where military coups in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have exacerbated a wider security and humanitarian crisis.
“The safety and security of the people in the Sahel and parts of West Africa require a strong commitment from all relevant actors,” he said, adding countries on the “front line, especially Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger” must receive the needed support.
“Commitment to political transition is necessary, but should never be at the expense of the vulnerable,” he added.
“Africa has long been marginalised in global decision-making processes and its voices are often drowned out. The legacy of colonialism, economic exploitation and political marginalisation has left deep scars on the African continent, thereby affecting its development, stability and influence in international affairs.”
He called for Africa to have two permanent seats – with veto power – on the UN Security Council and two more seats on the wider council.
