World Leaders At 81st UNGA Say UN Itself Isn’t Working
Several world leaders at the 81st United Nations General Assembly have said the UN is failing to fulfil its core mandate, adding their voices to growing calls for reform of the Security Council.
Speaking during the General Debate which opened on September 22 at UN Headquarters in New York, leaders argued that the five permanent members, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — are using veto power to block action on global crises rather than help solve them.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who traditionally opens the debate, delivered one of the sharpest criticisms. As reported by Xinhua, Lula said:
“The UN is failing in one of its most important missions: to rid humanity of the scourge of war. Its credibility has never been lower. Its ability to protect the most vulnerable, those who have no army or arsenals, has never been so weak.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan echoed the sentiment, saying the UN, established 81 years ago to maintain peace and security, “has become unable to fulfil this mission, or rather it has been made unable to do so,” renewing his long-standing argument that “the world is bigger than five.”
The criticism comes as UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his final General Assembly address before his term ends on December 31, called for reform to reflect today’s world, saying a 21st-century Security Council without permanent African representation is “unjust and indefensible.” UN Chief Urges World Leaders, Citizens to Invest in Peace
