Antigua PM takes UN Security Council to task as global community confronts myriad of challenges

Black Immigrant Daily News

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, Friday called on the United Nations Security Council to live up to the ideals for which it had been established as he lamented the myriad of challenges confronting the global community, including climate change and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Browne, addressing the 77th session of the United Nations General assembly, said that nearly eight decades after its formation and a promise of peace and security “our peoples would have been right to expect greater achievement of global peace and prosperous development”.

But he told the international community that this has not happened and instead 77 years have passed with the promise of the leaders of the world’s big powers of saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war and promoting social progress and better standards of life, all but an illusion.

Browne said that the five victorious nations of the Second World War assigned to themselves, permanent membership of the UN Security Council, assuming responsibility to implement the promises of the Charter not only in their own interests, but also on behalf of the many nations, “which did not choose them, and which had no option but to trust them.

“It is a disappointment that small countries, such as mine, would be less than candid, less than honest, if we did not convey our sentiments to the permanent members of the Security Council. We are obliged to ask: What happened to the commitments, which were chiselled into the UN Charter, as binding obligations on all, but particularly those in the Security Council, who took to themselves the task of guardianship of peace and development?”

Browne said lest the global community has forgotten, he was taking the opportunity to remind of those commitments that included a need to “practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security”.

But he said that today “our world is now gripped in a fearful atmosphere of economic and financial instability, and the worry of expanded warfare” with every country being confronted with escalating inflation, food shortages, high prices, and increasing debt.

“There should be no doubt, in this Assembly, that trust in the Security Council has been diminished by the actions taken within its membership,” Prime Minister Browne said, noting that many small “defenseless nations now feel gravely unprotected by the weakening of the international legal order, which was our first, last and only defense against aggression”.

He said even worse, the development prospects and the hard work of the small countries to rise up from poverty, are being retarded by the high prices and severe disruptions that began with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and that are being exacerbated by the war on Ukraine.

“Therefore…we call on the permanent members of the Security Council to recommit themselves to the role, which they assumed and pledged to safeguard. Peace must be restored for the world’s sake… and soon. It is the Permanent Members of the Security Council – all of them – which have that primary obligation.”

Browne warned that to abandon that obligation in the pursuit of selfish desires, legitimises the call for reform and an expansion of the Security Council.

He said concerted action by the Security Council is necessary to prevent major human rights violations, stop ongoing breaches and address global conflicts.

“If this fails to happen with the urgency that is required, it may call for the General Assembly to initiate its own global actions, and to authorize their implementation. I do not anticipate that this call for action by the General Assembly would be welcomed by the permanent members of the Security Council.”

The Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister said climate change is also a major issue confronting the global community , recalling last December, due to a veto cast by one of the five permanent members, the UN Security Council had to reject a draft resolution, framing the problem of climate change as a threat to international peace and security.

“That draft resolution was co-sponsored by 113 member states, representing the second highest number of countries to support a draft resolution in the history of the Security Council,” Browne said, asking whether it is fair that the evidence-based resolution, which emanated from the concerns and anxieties of so large a host of nations, should be vetoed by a single country?

“Climate Change remains the single greatest, common threat to all mankind. More so, for small island developing states (SIDS), which lack the financial resources to adapt to mortal shocks, and to rebuild in their aftermath, “ Browne said, adding that SIDS have a legitimate and urgent concern.

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