UNGA Disarmament Index 2025: H-R

This is an index of all references made to issues of disarmament, militarism, and war made during the 80th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly, held from 23-29 September 2025. We also published a report and analysis from the debate.

A-G | H-R | S-Z

Haiti
Mr. Anthony Franck Laurent Saint Cyr, President of the Presidential Council of the Transition
25 September 2025

Artificial intelligence: “We must ensure that all our actions, including technological advances such as artificial intelligence, serve peace, development, and human dignity!”

War, ammunition: “Just a four-hour flight from here, a human tragedy is unfolding. One of the most serious in our hemisphere. Every day, innocent lives are lost to bullets, fire, and fear. Entire neighborhoods are disappearing, forcing more than a million people into internal exile and destroying memories, investments, infrastructure... This is the face of Haiti today: a country at war; a contemporary Guernica; a human tragedy on America's doorstep; just a four-hour flight from here!”

War: “It must be said: in Haiti, a war is being waged. A war between criminals who want to impose violence as the social order and an unarmed population fighting to preserve human dignity and freedom. The response must be firm and resolute. Today, the international community must, alongside Haiti, deploy significant resources: no half measures, but strong, coordinated, and immediate action. SILENCE OR INACTION IS NOT AN OPTION.”

Weapons trafficking: “Today, it is imperative to mobilize a robust force with a clear mandate and adequate material, logistical, and financial resources. In this regard, the lessons learned from the MMAS experience and the recommendations of Haitian experts must be put to good use. We also need enhanced international cooperation, based on intelligence sharing and rigorous customs controls, in order to stop the flow of weapons, ammunition, drugs, and financing to gangs. Peace can only be restored if our partners in the region take concrete measures to ensure that their territories are no longer used as a starting point or transit point for such trafficking.”

Holy See
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States
29 September 2025

War, armed conflict, disarmament: “At the outset, I would like to thank this General Assembly for the tribute paid to Pope Francis following his demise last April. As you may all know, when Pope Leo XIV was elected, his first words to the World were “Peace be with you all.… A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering.”1 In a world torn by wars and conflicts, he made peace to be his first message.”

War: “Peace is both universal and fundamental to a well-ordered, values-based society. Peace is not the mere absence of war or conflict. It cannot be reduced exclusively to maintaining a balance of power between adversaries. Rather, it is rooted in mutual respect and on a proper understanding of the human person, necessitating the establishment of an order based on justice and charity. Pope Leo XIV describes peace as “an active and demanding gift. It engages and challenges each of us, regardless of our cultural background or religious affiliation, demanding first of all that we work on ourselves. Peace is built in the heart and from the heart, by eliminating pride and vindictiveness and carefully choosing our words. For words too, not only weapons, can wound and even kill.’”

Military spending: “The international community must therefore prioritize diplomacy over division, redirecting resources from instruments of war to initiatives that promote justice, dialogue and the uplifting of the poor and of those most in need. The Holy See renews its proposal for a global fund, sustained by a fraction of military expenditures, to eradicate poverty and hunger, promote sustainable development and address climate change.6 These are indispensable foundations of lasting peace.”

Disarmament, military spending: “One of the first steps towards achieving peace is the building trust. Massive rearmament undermines this goal, as it creates new threats and exacerbates people’s fears. In fact, “no peace is possible without true disarmament [and] the requirement that every people provide for its own defense must not turn into a race to rearmament.”7 The continuous growth of global military expenditures reaching an unprecedented $2.72 trillion in 2024,8 perpetuates cycles of violence and division diverting resources from the urgent needs of the poor and those in vulnerable situations.”

Disarmament, non-proliferation, nuclear weapons, conventional weapons: “Disarmament is not merely a political or strategic necessity, but, above all, a moral imperative, rooted in the recognition of the sacredness of human life and the interconnectedness of the human family. It is of great concern that a number of States are withdrawing their commitments to international disarmament treaties. The Holy See urgently calls upon the international community not to lose sight of the importance of pursuing multilateral disarmament agreements, and of striving to reduce stockpiles of conventional and nuclear arms, as well as to tirelessly work to strengthen non-proliferation mechanisms and to foster confidence-building measures to guarantee a common security.”

Nuclear weapons: “The Holy See thus calls for the full implementation and the strengthening of the legal regimes set forth by States party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBTO) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

Furthermore, nuclear possessing States should take concrete steps to reduce their nuclear stockpiles, halt the modernization of their arsenals, and foster transparent dialogue to build trust among Nations. Resources should be redirected towards education, healthcare, and sustainable development, with the ultimate goal of achieving a nuclear-free world.

“The production and stockpiling of nuclear weapons is a grave offense against peace, as it diverts resources from promoting integral human development towards instruments of destruction. It is estimated that there are over 12,000 warheads worldwide, with a combined explosive power of 1.5 gigatons, which is equivalent to more than 100,000 Hiroshima-type bombs.”

Nuclear weapons, disarmament: This year marks 80 years since the first nuclear test in 1945, as well as the dramatic atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These events that scarred humanity and exposed the fragility of our shared existenc highlight the moral imperative of the urgent need for nuclear and general disarmament. The Holy See has no doubts that a world free from nuclear weapons is both necessary and possible. The recourse to such armaments is always disproportionate and therefore immoral. Furthermore, no just or reasonable motive can justify possessing such weapons given their annihilating power and the associated risks. The Holy See is convinced that their possession and use is dangerous, a threat to humanity and deeply immoral and therefore “must be considered an illegal means of warfare.” Meanwhile, the “response to the threat of nuclear weapons must be joint and concerted, inspired by the arduous yet constant effort to build mutual trust and thus surmount the current climate of distrust.””

War, armed conflict: “In a world thorn by wars and conflicts respect for international humanitarian law constitutes another pillar of peace since it safeguards human dignity amid armed conflicts. Violations – such as attacks on non-combatants, hospitals, schools and churches – are grave war crimes. Sadly, we are also “currently witnessing with despair the iniquitous use of hunger as a weapon of war.”

““The mere fact that war has regrettably broken out does not mean that everything becomes licit between the warring parties.”12 It should be clear that military personnel remain fully responsible for any violation of the rights of individuals and peoples, or of the norms of international humanitarian law. Such actions cannot be justified by obedience to orders from superiors. Those enlisted in the armed forces are expected to uphold the principles of good faith, truth and justice on a global scale. Many are those who, in such circumstances, have sacrificed their lives for these values and in defense of innocent lives.”

Militarism: “Pope Leo XIV has lamented that “it is troubling to see that the force of international law and humanitarian law seems no longer to be binding, replaced by the alleged right of the stronger to impose themselves without limits. This is unworthy of our humanity, shameful for all mankind and for the leaders of nations. After centuries of history, how can anyone believe that acts of war bring about peace and not backfire on those who commit them?”. The Holy See urges all States to ensure full implementation of and respect for the Geneva Conventions, and calls for education on the principles of international humanitarian law, training for armed forces, and punishment of violators. In this context, the Holy See acknowledges the immense challenges faced by humanitarian workers, including threats to their safety, restricted access to those in need, and inadequate resources.”

Armed conflict: “We are living in a geopolitical context characterized by intense conflict and a crisis of multilateralism on the one hand, and a climate crisis with evident and significant impacts on those most vulnerable to climate change, the poorest and the future generations, who are also the least responsible. Pope Leo XIV writes that “Extreme natural phenomena caused by climate changes provoked by human activity are growing in intensity and frequency, to say nothing of the medium and long-term effects of the human and ecological devastation being wrought by armed conflicts. As yet, we seem incapable of recognizing that the destruction of nature does not affect everyone in the same way. When justice and peace are trampled underfoot, those who are most hurt are the poor, the marginalized and the excluded. The suffering of indigenous communities is emblematic in this regard”.

“This poses a clear threat to the wellbeing of future generations, and peace and security. It requires a strong, responsible response and commitment by the international community. A response that cannot reduce nature “to a bargaining chip, a commodity to be bartered for economic or political gain.” This means reinforcing the commitment to international cooperation in promoting technological sharing and implementing climate action, as well as strengthening efforts to promote education for a culture of care that proposes new ways of living.”

Artificial intelligence: “Together with these challenges, there is, as Pope Leo XIV says “another industrial revolution […] artificial intelligence that poses new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.” In Christian tradition, intelligence is considered an essential aspect of humanity, created in the image of God. While AI is an extraordinary technological achievement, it imitates the human intelligence that designed it, posing new philosophical and ethical questions. Unlike other inventions, AI is trained on human creativity, produces artefacts that rival or surpass human capabilities, raising concerns about its potential impact on humanity. In fact, this technology learns and makes choices autonomously, adapting and providing results that were not foreseen by its programmers. This raises fundamental questions about ethics and safety.

“There is a risk that AI will promote the ‘technocratic paradigm’, which views all of the world’s problems as being solvable through technology alone. This paradigm often subordinates human dignity and fraternity in the pursuit of efficiency, disregarding the essential dimensions of goodness and truth. However, human dignity must never be violated for the sake of efficiency. Instead, AI should be used to promote and serve a healthier, more human, more social integral development.

“Despite the immense potential that AI offers for advancing human well-being, AI cannot ever end up supplanting human moral and ethical judgment or diminishing the unique value of the person.The Holy See underscores the need to develop and implement clear ethical guidelines and regulatory frameworks for AI that safeguard human dignity, ensure transparency, promote accountability, and foster inclusion.”

War, ceasefire: “Of the many crises currently affecting the international community, the war in Ukraine is one of the most profound and painful. Its prolonged existence is turning once-vibrant cities into piles of rubble and extinguishing the smiles of children who should be growing up playing games instead of living amid the constant sound of sirens and in shelters. This war must end now. Not at some undefined moment in the future, but right now. With each passing day, the number of victims increases, the destruction widens and the hatred deepens. Every day without peace steals something from all of humanity. For this reason, the Holy See renews the appeal made by Pope Leo XIV for an immediate ceasefire, which will pave the way for sincere and courageous dialogue. It is only through this that clamour of weapons can be silenced and the voices of justice and peace allowed to be heard. The Holy See calls upon all nations gathered here to reject passivity and provide tangible support for any initiative that could lead to genuine negotiations and lasting peace. The time has come to stand up for peace and reject the logic of dominance and destruction.”

War, ceasefire: “The Holy See is paying close attention to the situation in the Middle East with a view to achieving a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine based on a two-State solution, in accordance with international law and all relevant United Nations resolutions. Pope Leo XIV strongly urges the parties involved, as well as the international community, to put an end “to the conflict in the Holy Land, which has caused so much terror, destruction, and death.” He implored “that all the hostages be freed, that a permanent ceasefire be reached, that the safe entry of humanitarian aid be facilitated, and that humanitarian law be fully respected, especially the obligation to protect civilians as well as prohibitions of collective punishment, indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of the population.” Moreover, an equitable solution to the issue of Jerusalem based on international resolutions is essential for achieving a just and permanent peace. Any unilateral decision or action which alters the special status of Jerusalem and the status quo is morally and legally unacceptable.”

Armed conflict: “In this scenario, the Sahel, Cabo Delgado, and some areas of the Horn of Africa emerge as zones of instability. In fact, the jihadist threat, endemic poverty,illicit trafficking, the climate crisis, and internal conflicts converge in a spiral that puts the lives of millions of people at risk, despite the efforts of local governments. School dropouts caused by the security crisis expose many minors to serious dangers, compromising the future of the continent and fostering new forms of marginalization. In the face of these challenges, the resilience of African communities, especially young people, remains an essential resource that must be supported with targeted investments in education, health, infrastructure, and inclusive governance models.”

Armed conflict: “The deterioration of the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a source of concern for the Holy See. The provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu are experiencing ethnic tensions, violence perpetrated by rebel groups, armed clashes, serious human rights violations, and disputes over the exploitation of natural resources. The country has been facing one of the world’s most complex multidimensional crises for years, characterized by an unstable security situation and an increasingly severe humanitarian emergency involving acute malnutrition and mass displacement.

“The Holy See welcomes the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the DRC and the M23 armed group, as well as the Peace Agreement signed by the Congolese and Rwandan foreign ministers, which aims to end the decades of fighting in the east of the country. However, new waves of violence are feared. Last July the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) carried out a brutal terroristic attach on a church in Komanda, Ituri, resulting in the death of more than 40 worshippers. The withdrawal of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) raises questions about its ability to fulfil its mandate and address ongoing challenges. It is essential to strengthen the support of the international community and diplomatic and political mediation efforts to ensure that the parties fulfill their commitments and find a stable and appropriate solution to the ongoing situation.”

Armed conflict: “The fratricidal conflict in Sudan, is also a source of grave concern, since it continues to cause death and destruction, inflicting suffering on the civilian population. The Holy See strongly renews its appeal for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the commencement of genuine negotiations – the only means by which all Sudanese people can forge a future of peace and reconciliation. Those involved must understand that the time for responsibility, concrete action and solidarity is now. They must promote dialogue between the parties and take urgent action to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The pain of the Sudanese people cries out to be heard, piercing the world’s silence of the world. There is no more space for indifference.”

Militarism: “The Holy See is also worried about the rising tensions in the Caribbean Sea and is calling for restraint to prevent any actions that could destabilise the coexistence between nations and undermine international law.”

Armed conflict: “Turning to Southeast Asia, numerous situations of instability and conflict are further exacerbating long-standing humanitarian concerns. In Myanmar four and a half years of internal conflict have left the local population devastated. In Rakhine State alone, over 2 million individuals are at risk of starvation, and the Rohingya population continues to suffer discrimination from armed groups and military authorities alike.”

Honduras
Mr. Javier EfraÍn Bu Soto, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
29 September 2025

War: “The genocide in Gaza, the devastation in Ukraine, persistent and violent crises, especially in the Middle East, Africa, and Haiti, and the dangerous arms business of global capitalism are all examples of the failure of the multilateral system to fulfill its essential mandate: to achieve peace, prevent barbarism, and halt the advance of the nuclear race that the great powers proclaim as the apocalypse of humanity.”

Ceasefire, war: “We clearly propose… eliminate the right to veto, especially when seeking peace, demanding a ceasefire, or preventing action against genocide, war crimes, or massive human rights violations.”

Militarism: “Likewise, we reject the criminalizing vision of migration: harsher laws and more militarized borders. That route solves nothing; it only perpetuates the tragedy.”

Militarism: “We unreservedly condemn and consider unacceptable any form of occupation foreign policy and threats of military interference in our Hemisphere. Actions like these consist of the denial of the right of peoples to constitute themselves as free and sovereign states. This right is inalienable, and its recognition can no longer be postponed or manipulated. No rhetorical justification can legitimize the violation of sovereignty or the subjugation of nations.”

Hungary
Mr. Péter Szijjártó, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
24 September 2025

War, nuclear weapons: “Unfortunately, it is not an exaggeration to state that we are now living in the age of dangers. And it's not an exaggeration either to say that since the conclusion of the Second World War, currently we are experiencing global security being in its worst shape ever. Wars, the increasing threat of terrorism, ethnic based conflicts, the spreading of extreme ideologies, and open reference to the use of nuclear weapons. This is the age of dangers, a period when the world has been faced with the risk of the outbreak of the Third World War.”

Nuclear energy: “Hungary's strategy has been to become a meeting point between East and West. A meeting point where a cooperation of the eastern and western economies can take place. Maybe two examples here: a very successful German-Chinese cooperation on the field of electromobility in Hungary, or a successful Russian and German-French cooperation on the field of nuclear industry in Hungary, are proofs to what extent the world could take benefits out of a civilized East to West cooperation.”

War: “If I want to summarize the approach of Hungary nowadays, how we address the major challenges of the world, I will do it in the following way:  No war, no migration, no gender.

“Let me emphasize these three points. Hungary stands up for peace. We are proud members of the pro-peace majority of this organization. And we do hope that this year's General Assembly will help us to find solutions to bring peace to parts of the world which are suffering from wars. And we do hope that this time, this hope of ours will not be transformed into an illusion at the end of this week.  Hungary has been living for more than three and a half years now in the neighborhood of the war in Ukraine. We have been confronted with the consequences of this war on a daily basis. A huge wave of refugees, 1.3 million.  Imagine, we are a country of less than 10 million inhabitants. The war inflation skyrocketing energy prices, skyrocketing fuel prices. We do have to make daily efforts in order to be able to stay out of this war, regardless of the efforts to drag us into this war and to provocate us into this war.  It is the obligation and the duty of the Hungarian Government to make sure that the security of the Hungarian people and Hungary itself is being guaranteed.”

Ceasefire, war, military spending, weapons: “Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Hungary has been standing up for ceasefire and peace talks. Unfortunately, we used to be under serious political attacks, accusations, and stigmatization for this position of ours. Very rude accusations by those who are now speaking about the importance of ceasefire and peace talks, by the same countries in Europe. And I have to tell you that if these countries, who used to stigmatize us for this position of ours, had not attacked us for this position, but had they argued in favor of ceasefire and peace talks from the very beginning, as we have been doing so, we could have saved lives of hundreds of thousands of people. And we could have avoided huge refugee waves and they could have avoided, prevented, a lot of destruction.  But Europe, the European Union, has chosen a bad strategy, a failed strategy. Instead of isolating the war in Ukraine, this war has been globalized. The sanction packages the European Union has introduced have absolutely not fulfilled the expectations.  They have caused more harm to the European economy than to the Russian. And parallel to that, hundreds of billions of euros have been sent to Ukraine in the form of cash and weapons. Every day, which goes on in this war, brings forward the risk of escalation. All their spending in this war comes up with new casualties and destruction. And if we look at history, it's obvious that all wars end up around the negotiating table, there's no war which ends up in the battlefield. Therefore, may I express Hungary's respect towards President Trump, and the efforts for President Trump. We do believe President Trump is the only hope to make peace in Ukraine, and we do hope that President Trump will not give up his efforts to make peace, regardless of the fact that many politicians in Europe rather undermine the efforts of President Trump than to support those.”

War: “The Hungarians do have a very sad historic experience. This historic experience of ours says that in case there is a civilized East-West cooperation, the security situation of the world improves. But if there's a lack of civilized cooperation, global security deteriorates. Therefore, we do hope that the high level US-Russia contacts will be maintained. As long as high level U.S. Russia contacts are on, we do have the hope that we can avoid the first case scenario. As long as the high-level US-Russia talks are on, we have a good hope to prevent escalation and to prevent the launch of World War III. So Hungary will continue to support all initiatives aiming at peace, and we will continue to support the peace efforts of President Trump, and we will continue to support the high level US-Russia talks. And we make sure that Hungary is not gonna be dragged into this war. And we make sure that Hungary is not gonna be dragged into this war, we'll stay out and protect the security of the Hungarian people.”

Military spending: “And we have put tremendous efforts in order to protect us from the illegal migrants. We have stopped one million illegal migrants at our southern border by building the fence there. We have spent multiple billions of dollars in order to be able to protect our border and our security. And guess what happens in Europe? The European Commission forces us to pay one million euros in penalty on a daily basis because of protecting our border. 1 million euro penalty on a daily basis for the protection of our borders. This is insane. This is crazy. But I have to tell you that regardless of this penalty, we will protect our border. We'd rather pay 1 million euros per day, but we do not allow illegal migrants to come into Hungary. We protect ourselves.  May I say, this is the best investment into our own security.”

War: “International law speaks very clearly. If someone is being forced to leave her or his home, she or he is entitled to stay temporarily on the territory of the first safe country, but not the second, the third, fourth, or fifth. The first.  And we are an example here. We are a neighboring country to Ukraine. So for those who have to escape from Ukraine because of the war, we are the first safe country, and we let all of them come in. All them, all of them. But at our southern border, those who want to come in, those are illegal migrants, and none of them has been allowed and none of them will be allowed to enter the territory of our country.”

War: “So at the end, Mr. President, our colleagues, it is our goal to make Hungary great again. In order to be able to make Hungary great again, we have to protect ourselves from the war, which has been going on for three and a half years in our neighborhood. In order to make Hungary great again, we have to protect ourselves from illegal migration, making sure that we do not allow any illegal migrants to the territory of Hungary. In order to make Hungary great again, we have to be able to protect ourselves from the aggressive gender propaganda, and we have to be able to strengthen our families.  No war, no migration, no gender. This is the Hungarian recipe.”

Iceland
Ms. Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister of Foreign Affairs
27 September 2025

Militarism: “This erosion of the rules-based international order is deeply dangerous. A world not governed by rules, will be a world where the strong impose their will, and the weaker pay the price. This may appeal to those who possess such power. There are clear indications that it does. But that is a world we cannot, and should not, accept.”

War: “Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is not only a blatant violation of the UN Charter – it is a direct assault on this Organization itself. And the fact that the aggressor sits on the Security Council, entrusted with upholding peace, is nothing short of obscene… Unfortunately, despite Ukraine’s clear willingness and committed efforts by the United States and Europe, the path to peace has not advanced. As the past few weeks have shown, Russia does not want peace. Instead, the Kremlin accelerates brutal attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia’s provocations over Estonia, Poland and Romania should be of concern to all nations.

“Let us be clear: Russia has no intention of ending this war. It escalates, it terrorises, it tears children from their homes. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been abducted – a heinous crime, an attack on Ukraine’s very future. If the dignity and worth of the human person mean anything, it is that these children are returned immediately.

“To the people of Ukraine I say: Iceland stands with you – not only out of solidarity, but because you are on the frontlines defending a rules-based order where law prevails over brute force. You must have a just and lasting peace.”

War: “We must speak with equal clarity about Gaza. We are witnessing crimes against humanity and war crimes in broad daylight, what appears before us is systematic ethnic cleansing.  This needs to end. We need an immediate ceasefire, full humanitarian access, and the unconditional release of all hostages. We need peace for all the innocent people. Iceland unequivocally condemned Hamas’ gruesome terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th. There is no justification for such brutality, nor for the taking of hostages. But nothing – and I mean nothing – can justify the collective punishment of millions of Palestinians. Starvation, bombardment, forced displacement: these acts are cruel, inhumane and illegal. There are children dying every day in Palestine. For the past two years at least one child has been killed every hour in Gaza. Every. Single. Hour.

“Iceland recognized Israel in 1948 and Palestine in 2011. Our position remains clear: both peoples have equal rights to self-determination. Lasting peace depends on it. A Two-State Solution - where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and mutual recognition - remains the only viable path to peace – even if many doubt its feasibility today. If we abandon it, we abandon hope itself. Extremists and spoilers on both sides have long stood in the way of peace. Hamas has no place in the future of Palestine. And when Israeli officials call for annexation or the expulsion of Palestinians, they are not defending Israel’s security – they are calling for violations of international law. And we will call it what it is: hateful, illegal, and a direct obstacle to peace.”

Militarism: “Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, Israeli’s military operations in Gaza, as well as the horrific war in Sudan, are the starkest demonstrations of a deeply troubling global trend: growing disregard for international law and multilateral commitments. We are seeing this when it comes to international courts. The opinions of the International Court of Justice have been ignored, and the International Criminal Court has been defied and targeted with punitive measures. At a time when more accountability is most needed, the very institutions that were set up to exert that accountability are being actively eroded. It pains me to see friends partake in this.”

Disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation: “When the powerful abandon the rules, all nations are at risk. The same applies to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, with troubling erosion of longstanding commitments and the weaponization of emerging disruptive technologies. We must also recognize new challenges: global corporations that transcend borders, shaping economies, technology and daily life without sufficient accountability. This is a reality without precedent – and one that demands international responses. I implore all of you, not least those representing major powers, to think about this. To ponder what kind of world we actually want to live in. I, for one, know my mind in this respect.”

India
Mr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister
27 September 2025

War: “We must ask ourselves today: how has the UN lived up to expectations? And just look at the state of the world. There are two significant conflicts underway – one in Ukraine, and the other in the Middle East/West Asia. Innumerable other hotspots don’t even make the news.”

Armed conflict: “An objective report card will show that the UN is in a state of crisis. When peace is under threat from conflicts, when development is derailed by lack of resources, when human rights are violated by terrorism, the UN remains gridlocked. As its ability to forge common ground diminishes, belief in multilateralism also recedes.”

Armed conflict: “Each one of us has the opportunity of contributing to peace and prosperity. In the case of conflicts, especially Ukraine and Gaza, even those not directly involved have felt its impact. Nations who can engage all sides must step-up in the search for solutions. India calls for an end to hostilities and will support any initiative that will help restore peace.”

Artificial Intelligence: “Artificial Intelligence as a horizontal and cross-cutting technology has a particular promise for development. India’s approach is to harness it responsibly for human welfare. Inclusion and impact will be the watch words for the Summit that India will host in 2026.”

Indonesia
Mr. Prabowo Subianto, President
23 September 2025

Armed conflict, militarism: “Every day we witness suffering, genocide, and a blatant disregard for international law and human decency. In the face of these challenges, we must not give up. We cannot surrender our hopes or our ideals. We must draw closer, not drift further apart. Together we must strive to achieve our hopes. The UN was born from the ashes of the Second World War that claimed scores of millions of lives. It was created to secure peace, security, justice, and freedom for all.”

“We will never forget. And we will never be silent while Palestinians are denied that same justice and legitimacy in this very Hall. Thucydides warned: “The strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must.” We must reject this doctrine. The UN exists to reject this doctrine.

“Indonesia is today one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping forces. We will continue to serve where peace needs guardians — not with just words, but with boots on the ground. If and when the Security Council and this Assembly decide, we are ready to deploy 20,000 or even more of our sons and daughters to help secure peace in Gaza or elsewhere in Palestine as part of a united multilateral force — so that the two‑state solution, so that peace in both Palestine and Israel, can become real, not just envisioned. If and when the Security Council and this Assembly decide, we are ready to deploy 20,000 or even more of our sons and daughters to help secure peace in Gaza or elsewhere in Palestine as part of a united multilateral force — so that the two‑state solution, so that peace in both Palestine and Israel, can become real, not just envisioned.”

“Today, still, a catastrophic situation in Gaza is unfolding before us. The innocent are crying for help. At this very moment, millions of children are facing danger, trauma, and irreparable damage to their bodies. Will we teach them that differences must end in violence and war? Can we remain silent as this humanitarian disaster in Gaza continues? Violence can not be used to answer any political conflict because violence can only beget more violence. This community of nations must take a decisive stance to stop this catastrophe, or the world will enter a very dangerous situation of unending wars and escalating violence.”

“To close, I would like to reiterate again Indonesia's complete support for the Two State Solution. Both Palestine and Israel must be free and independent, safe and secure from threats and terrorism. I repeat, the only solution to is two nations, two descendants of Abraham living in reconciliation, peace and harmony. Arabs, Jews, Muslims and Christians living together. Indonesia is committed to being part of making this vision a reality.”

Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Mr. Masoud Pezeshkian, President
24 September 2025

War: “Let us behold the past two years, the world in these two years was witness to genocide in Gaza, was witness to the destruction of homes and repeated violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity in Lebanon, was witness to the devastation of Syria's infrastructure, was witnessed to assault against the people of Yemen, was witnessed to the for starvation of emaciated children in the arms of their mothers, was witness to the assassination of Iran's scientists, was witness to the repetitious raids infringing upon the sovereignty of nations violating the territorial integrity of states and openly targeting leaders of people. And all of this under the full support of the most heavily armed regime in the face of the Earth, and under the pretext of self defence, would you countenance such things for yourselves? Who is the disturber of the stability of the region in the world? Who is the actual threat against international peace and security? Who is the violator of the gold moral maxim of mankind?”

Explosive weapons, militarism, nuclear facilities: “Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, you all bore witness that this past June, my country was subjected to a savage aggression in flagrant contravention of the most elementary principles of international law. The aerial assault of the Zionist regime and the United States of America against Iran city's homes and infrastructures precisely at a time when we were treading the path of diplomatic negotiations constituted a grave betrayal of diplomacy and a subversion of efforts towards the establishment of stability and peace. This brazen act of aggression, in addition to murdering a number of commanders, citizens, children, women, scientists, and intellectual elites of my country, inflicted a grievous blow upon international trust and the very prospect of peace in the region.”  

Nuclear facilities, armed conflict: “Should we fail to confront such perilous breaches of international norms, these aberrations shall spread to engulf the world? The assault upon nuclear facilities under safeguards and international supervision. The open attempt to assassinate leaders and duly constituted officials of UN member states. The systematic targeting of journalism, members of the press, and the killing of human beings who solely by the reason of their knowledge and expertise are converted into military targets. Again, would you countenance such acts for yourselves? With this behaviour, they have killed at the very least over 35,000 innocent civilians in Gaza. They have deprived them of food, drinking water, medication, and proper health care.”  

War: “In this 12 day defence, the patriotic and Valiant people of Iran laid bare before the aggressors. The fallacy and self delusion of their arrogant calculations, the enemies of Iran unwittingly fortified the sacred national unity. The people of Iran, despite the most severe protracted and crushing economic sanctions, psychological and media warfare, and persistent efforts to sow discord at the very instant the first bullet was fired upon their soil in unison in support of their valiant armed forces, and today, they continued to honour the blood of their martyrs. Here in the name of all Iranian people, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all personalities, nations, governments and international and regional organizations that stood in solidarity with Iran during this war.”

War: “Ladies and gentlemen, today, after nearly two years of genocide, mass starvation, the perpetuation of apartheid within the occupied territories, an aggression against its neighbours, the ludicrous and delusional scheme of the greater Israelis being proclaimed with brazenness by the highest echelons of that regime. The scheme encompasses vast swaths of the region. The map itself lays bare the true intentions of the Zionist regime.”

Weapons of mass destruction, nuclear weapons, militarism: “It is for this very reason that my country has, for many years, been among the staunchest advocates of establishing a region, free of weapons of mass destruction, yet those who themselves possess the largest nuclear arsenals, and who in flagrant breach of the NPT make their weapons even deadlier and more destructive, have for years subjected our people to pressures on the basis of spurious allegations.”  

“Last week, three European states, having failed through a decade of bad faith, and thereafter by supporting military aggression, to bring the proud people of Iran to their knees, had the behest of the United States of America sought by means of pressure coercion, imposition, and manifest abuse to reinstate against Iran, the Security Council resolutions that had already been terminated. In doing so, they set aside good faith. They circumvented legal obligations, they sought to portray Iran's lawful remedial measures taken in response to the United States withdrawal from the JCPOA, and to Europe's breach and utter incapacity as a gross violation. They falsely presented themselves as parties of good standing to the agreement, and they disparaged Iran's sincere efforts as insufficient. All of this was in pursuit of nothing less than the destruction of the very JCPOA, which they themselves had once held as the foremost achievement of multilateral diplomacy. This unlawful measure, which has also meant the opposition of certain members of the Security Council, possesses no international legitimacy and will not garner the approbation of the international community.”

“I hereby declare once more, before this assembly, that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb. We do not seek nuclear weapons. This is our belief based on the edict issued by the Supreme Leader and by religious authorities. Therefore, we never sought weapons of mass destruction, nor will we ever seek them. Whereas those who disturb the peace and stability in the region lies in Israel, but Iran is the one that is being punished for those actions. There is a poem that roughly says something to the effect that “someone in one side of the world does something to disturb the peace and someone else is punished for those actions.”  

Armed conflict: “The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes peace and stability. We believe that the future of our region and of the world must be built cooperation, trust and shared development. In this framework, Iran supports the peace process between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and hopes that that its outcome shall be enduring and serve as a foundation for improved relations between these two neighbouring states.”

War: “Iran also hopes that the efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine may result in a lasting agreement between Russia and Ukraine and bring solace to the human suffering caused by this crisis.”

Militarism: “Iran condemns the criminal aggression of Israeli regime against Qatar, which resulted in the martyrdom of a number of Palestinian and Qatari nationals and declares its support and solidarity with the government and people of Qatar.”  

Nuclear weapons, war: “We Iranians have extended our power in the world, not by producing and employing nuclear weapons, nor by the slaughter of hundreds of thousands in the 20th century, nor by genocide and the imposition of starvation upon the children in Gaza in the 21st century, and not even through the historic empires of Iran, but rather, through a culture of human fellowship and the message of empathy of universal sages such as Saadi Shirazi, who, eight centuries ago declared: “Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul. If one member is inflicted with pain, other members uneasy will remain. If you have no sympathy for human pain, the name of human, you cannot pertain.”

Iraq
Mr. Abdullatif Jamal Rashid, President
23 September 2025

Armed conflict: “What the Palestinian civilians are experiencing in terms of killing, starvation, displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and the demolition of their institutions is a situation that does not benefit us as humans and is a disgraceful state for all of humanity. Therefore, we must work to stop it immediately, and it must not continue. What is happening today in Gaza is morally intolerable, and it is a blatant evidence of selectivity in the commitment to applying human rights and justice among people.”

“We reiterate our call to the international community to act swiftly to achieve a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue by activating international resolutions and enabling the Palestinian people to build their independent state, which is the only gateway to achieving peace and stability in the Middle East and the world. We call for decisive measures against the settlement plans and the policy of land grabbing that the occupying authority practices against the Palestinians to destroy all their hopes for a state that is viable for living in freedom and dignity. In this context, Iraq welcomes the recognition of the Palestinian state as an independent entity in the international community.”

Armed conflict: “We also condemn the attacks of the Zionist entity on the countries of the region, in Syria and Lebanon, and most recently on the sisterly State of Qatar, which is an aggressive act that represents a blatant violation of international law and the charters of the United Nations, and also represents a flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty. We call for comprehensive international efforts to stop these attacks and to prevent a regression into a state of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and to halt the aggression against civilian facilities and infrastructure in Yemen.”

Weapons of mass destruction, nuclear energy: “In light of what we have seen of the catastrophic effects of weapons of mass destruction, we renew our demand for the Middle East to be free of these weapons while recognizing the right of all countries to develop the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and that international oversight should include all nuclear facilities in the region, including the facilities of the Zionist entity, to ensure the establishment of security and stability in the region.”

Nuclear weapons: “In light of the tensions witnessed in the region, Iraq demands an international stance rejecting the targeting of nuclear facilities in military attacks, as this poses a serious and long-term threat to all countries and peoples of the region and the world. Iraq also firmly rejects the unlawful use of its airspace in military operations between the Warring Parties in the Region, for what it represents as a violation of sovereignty and a threat to the security of the world and the lives of our citizens. We demand that all parties respect Iraqi sovereignty.”

Nuclear weapons: “Iraq adopts a position of balance and openness in its foreign relations and encourages dialogue between the countries of the region to resolve all disputes and end the state of tension. Iraq puts all its capabilities to establish peace in the region. Based on that, we welcome all diplomatic efforts to resume and succeed in the dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the international community in order to reach an understanding that guarantees Iran's rights in the peaceful development of its nuclear program in accordance with international commitments.”

Ireland
Mr. Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
26 September 2025

War: “Eighty years ago, the world was emerging from the most savage conflict in our history. 80 million people lay dead. A deliberate, industrial-scale genocide, aimed at obliterating Europe’s Jewish population, saw six million people murdered – a monstrous crime that remains unsurpassed in human history. People were targeted for death because of their ethnic identity, their sexual orientation, their disability.”

Explosive weapons, nuclear weapons: “Cities were laid waste, throttled by siege, fire-bombed into oblivion, or pulverised by the first and only use of atomic weapons in war. Humanity had descended into the abyss.”

Militarism: “At a time when the world risks slipping back into an order in which might is right, and some voices count more than others, it is up to us as leaders to reassert and to insist on the primacy of international cooperation.”

Armed conflict: “Conflict is always and everywhere a sign of human failure. Conflict destroys lives. It devastates economic development. It leaves scars and divisions that take generations to heal.

“We in Ireland know that from experience. On Friday of last week, the Irish and British Governments agreed a new framework for addressing the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement would not have been possible without the support and engagement of the international community. We are ready to offer the same to others.

War: “In Sudan, a grave humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding. It is more than two years since war broke out and it has unleashed the most unimaginable human suffering on the civilian population. More than 150,000 people are already dead. 12 million people displaced. Vicious sexual violence against women and children. Famine declared throughout the country. The world has failed Sudan.

“To our collective shame, we have not given this most destructive of wars the same focus and attention as conflict in other parts of the world. But a child in Sudan has the same value, the same right to life and a peaceful childhood, as a child born anywhere else in the world. The conflict in Sudan is a human catastrophe that risks wider stability in the region. It must be stopped.

“Ireland fully supports the work of the Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Madam Ramtane LamaMadama, to achieve a negotiated ceasefire, an immediate humanitarian response and a durable peace. The perpetrators of war crimes in Sudan must be held to account. The jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court should be extended to all of Sudan.”

War, militarism: “Eighty years ago, Europe had more reason than most to say ‘never again’. Yet today brutal and bloody war has returned to European soil. In February 2022, Russia - a founding member of United Nations and a permanent member of its Security Council - launched a full-scale, illegal invasion of Ukraine, in defiance of international law, in defiance of the UN Charter. It has prosecuted the war with a wilful and reckless indifference to its human consequences. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed and maimed. Millions have been forced to flee their homeland. Millions more internally displaced.”

Explosive weapons, environmental harm from armed conflict: “Russia has deliberately and cynically targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure. It has caused immense environmental devastation. Cities such as Mariupol, Kharkiv and Bakhmut have been bombed to rubble.”

Ceasefire: “President Putin has thumbed his nose at every attempt to bring about a ceasefire and negotiations, including those led by President Trump. There are no signs whatsoever that he is ready for peace. He has refused to meet President Zelenskyy.”

Explosive weapons, drones: “He has again intensified Russia’s attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. He has sought to test the resolve of Ukraine’s neighbours, sending drones into Polish and Romanian airspace.”

War: “I come now to Gaza, a catastrophe of the most monumental and consequential kind. It is not possible to describe the scale of the physical and psychological suffering endured by the Palestinian people for two long and brutal years. Ireland stands in full solidarity with them.

“We acknowledge those who have worked in the most unimaginably difficult circumstances to preserve and sustain life, to treat the injured, to prevent the displacement and destruction of a people and their rich and irreplaceable cultural heritage. At the heart of this vital effort have been UN agencies and workers, most especially UNWRA. We remember those among them who have lost their lives. We pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery of the medics. We honour the journalists who have worked tirelessly and without regard to their own safety to ensure that nobody can ever say ‘we did not know’.”

War, explosive weapons, small arms and light weapons: “What is happening in Gaza cannot be justified or defended. It is an affront to human dignity and decency. It is an abandonment of all norms, all international rules and law. We are witnessing hunger being used as an instrument of war. Babies starving to death while aid rots at the border. People shot while desperately seeking food for their families. The deliberate targeting and destruction of schools, hospitals, mosques, cultural institutions. The killing of doctors, aid workers, journalists. Dislocation and displacement, over and over.”

War, militarism: “We are all witnesses to the immense wrath of one of the world’s most modern and best-equipped armies brought to bear on a trapped and defenceless civilian population.”

War: “Last week the Independent International Commission on the Occupied Territories called it out for what it is. Having examined carefully Israel’s conduct of the war since 2023, as well as the actions and statements of senior Israeli military and political figures, it concluded that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza. Genocide. The gravest of crimes in international law. All signatories of the Convention on Genocide are obliged to act to prevent and to punish it. We cannot say we were not aware.

“In January of last year, the ICJ put all states on notice of the plausibility of the State of Israel committing genocide in its military operations in Gaza. And the Court has been clear, where States Parties are able to contribute to the prevention of genocide they are obliged to “employ all means reasonably available to them so as to prevent genocide as far as possible”. As Navi Pillar, chair of the Independent Commission said last week, “the prevention of genocide is not a matter of discretion of states. It is a legal and moral obligation, and it admits no delay”.”

Arms embargo, arms trade: “All members of this United Nations must reflect on what more they can do. I especially call on those who have influence to use it urgently to maximum effect. I call on those who have provided – and who continue to provide – Israel with the means necessary to prosecute its war to reflect carefully on the implications of their actions and the consequences for the Palestinian people. There cannot be business as usual in the face of genocide.”

War: “As Navi Pillar has made clear, to do nothing is not neutrality, it is complicity. Ireland has intervened in the South African case at the ICJ. We have recognised the State of Palestine. We are legislating against the import of goods from the Occupied Territories. We will act to prevent those members of the Government of Israel who have been instrumental in fomenting the unfolding disaster in Gaza from entering our country. We will continue to work with like-minded partners across the world to bring this human catastrophe to an end.”

Ceasefire: “There must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid and workers to Gaza.”

War: “Those responsible for war crimes must be held accountable – there can be no impunity. We also need to hold to account those responsible for the attack on Israel of 7 October 2023– that too was a monstrous war crime. I appreciate the profound and continuing impact the trauma has had on people in Israel. Hamas, not the Palestinian people, were responsible. Hamas must answer for its crimes. Hamas can have no role in the future governance in Palestine. But no crime, however heinous, can justify genocide.

“We also need to recognise the crimes being perpetrated in the West Bank. The scale and pace of appropriation of Palestinian land by illegal Israeli settlers. The open backing this receives from the Israeli Government. The harassment, imprisonment and abuse of the Palestinian population. The withholding of tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority. It must not be allowed to continue.

“In its Advisory Opinion published in July 2024, the ICJ was clear that all States are under an obligation not to recognise as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the Palestinian Territory. The world knows that what drives this illegal activity is a determination to render the possibility of a two-state solution impossible. It must not succeed.

“A two-state solution remains the only prospect for a peaceful future in which the people of Israel and the people of Palestine can live in peace and security, side-by-side. I welcome the decision to recognise the State of Palestine taken by France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and others. I commend France and Saudi Arabia for the leadership they are providing in working towards a political process that can deliver a just lasting peace and security in the region. They have my full support.”

Israel
Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister
26 September 2025

See statement for references.

Italy
Ms. Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers
24 September 2025

Armed conflict: “We are living through a fast-moving and complex period in time that is rich in opportunities but also, perhaps above all, fraught with dangers. We are suspended between war and peace. According to the Global Peace Index 2024, 56 armed conflicts are currently taking place around the world–the highest number since the Second World War. In other words, we are living in a profoundly different world from the one in which the United Nations was founded. In 1945, 51 nations, which have since become almost all nations, decided to come together to create an international organisation whose primary purpose was to prevent war.”

Militarism: “Peace, dialogue and diplomacy no longer seem able to convince and win. The use of force is prevailing on too many occasions. The scenario we are facing is what Pope Francis described with remarkable effectiveness as a ‘third world war’ fought ‘in pieces’.”

Armed conflict: “Among the main ongoing conflicts, there is of course the Russian Federation’s large-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. Three and a half years ago, on 24 February 2022, Moscow decided to attack Kyiv. I do not think there was enough reflection on the consequences of that choice and on a point which I consider fundamental: the Russian Federation, a permanent member of the Security Council, deliberately trampled on Article 2 of the UN Charter by violating the integrity and political independence of another sovereign State, intending to annex its territory. Still today, it is not showing willingness to seriously accept any invitation to sit down for peace talks.

“As was to be expected, this deep would inflicted on international law has triggered destabilising effects that go well beyond the borders where that war is being fought. The conflict in Ukraine has reignited, and caused to detonate, several other crisis hot-beds, while the United Nations has become even more disunited.

“It is no coincidence that Hamas took advantage of the weakening of this architecture to launch its attack against Israel on 7 October 2023. The ferocity and brutality of that attack, the hunt for unarmed civilians, prompted Israel to a reaction that was at first legitimate because every state and every people has the right to defend itself.

“But the response to aggression must always respect the principle of proportionality. This applies to individuals and all the more so to states. And Israel has exceeded that limit with a large-scale war disproportionately involving the Palestinian civilian population. And it is in crossing this limit that the Jewish state has ended up violating humanitarian norms, causing a slaughter of civilians.

“This choice, which Italy has repeatedly deemed unacceptable, will lead us to vote in of the sanctions proposed by the European Commission against Israel. But we do not side with those who heap all the blame for what is happening in Gaza and Israel because it was Hamas that unleashed the war. It is Hamas that could end the suffering of Palestinians by immediately releasing all the hostages. It is Hamas that seems intent on thriving on the suffering of the people it claims to represent.

“Israel must free itself from the trap of this war. It must do so for the history of the Jewish people, for its democracy, for the innocent, and for the universal values of the free world of which it is part. And to end the war, concrete solutions are needed. Peace is not built only with appeals or with ideological proclamations embraced with enthusiasm by those who in truth do not want peace. Peace is built with patience, with courage, with reasonableness.

“The children of Gaza, like those Italy is proudly receiving and treating in its hospitals, are asking for answers that can improve their condition. And to that, we are committed. Italy is and will be there for anyone willing to work on a serious plan for the release of hostages, a permanent ceasefire, the exclusion of Hamas from any governance dynamic in Palestine, the gradual withdrawal of Israel from Gaza, and the involvement of the international community in managing the subsequent phase of the ceasefire leading to the realization of the two-state Perspective. In this regard, we consider very interesting the proposals that the president of the United States has discussed recently with Arab countries and we are ready to lend a hand.

“We believe that Israel has no right to prevent the future creation of Palestinian state nor to build new settlements in the West Bank to to that end. For this reason, we have signed the New York declaration on the two two-state solution. This is Italy's historic position on the Palestinian question and it has never changed. At the same time, we believe that the recognition of Palestine must have two indispensable preconditions. The release of all Israeli hostages and Hamas's renunciation of any role in the government of Palestine for those who unleash the conflict cannot be rewarded.

“And thus we return to the starting point, the rules, the force of law. In Ukraine, in the Middle East, in every scenario where war dominates and reason seems lost, there's no escaping.”

Japan
Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister
23 September 2025

Armed conflict: “Despite these efforts, the Security Council is still not functioning effectively. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is the most obvious example. A permanent member of the Security Council with a special responsibility for international peace and security has invaded its neighbor. This shakes the very foundation of the international order. Security Council resolutions are vetoed and not adopted, and General Assembly resolutions calling on Russia to withdraw immediately are adopted, but not implemented. Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine, interpreting Article 51 of the UN Charter in a self-righteous way, and labelling its aggression as a right of collective self-defense. This calls to mind the “Prague Spring” in 1968. Article 51 of the Charter must never be used arbitrarily. The veto was an unavoidable safety valve designed to prevent direct conflict between the major powers. However, the inherent limitations of the UN are clear.”

Armed conflict: “The situation surrounding Palestine has reached an extremely serious and alarming juncture that threatens to undermine the very foundation of a "two-state solution", which the international community has long sought, and which Japan has consistently supported. The recent expansion of the Israeli ground operations in Gaza City will further aggravate the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including famine. Japan condemns these actions, which are entirely unacceptable in the strongest possible terms. We call for their immediate cessation. I feel strongly indignant by the statements made by senior Israeli government officials that appear to categorically reject the very notion of Palestinian state-building. We must never overlook the unimaginable hardships the people of Gaza are facing. Japan has consistently supported the lives and dignity of the people of Gaza through humanitarian assistance, including the medical treatment of the wounded in Japan. We will continue to make every possible effort.”

Armed conflict: “For our country, the question is not whether to recognize a Palestinian state, but when. The continued unilateral actions by the Government of Israel can never be accepted. I must state clearly that if further actions are taken that obstruct the realization of a two-state solution, Japan will be compelled to take new measures in response. What matters the most is that Palestine can exist in a sustainable manner, living side by side in peace with Israel. Japan will continue to play a realistic and proactive role in moving even a single step closer toward the goal of a two-state solution. As we invite Palestine to assume its role as a responsible member of the international community, the Palestinian side must establish a system of governance that ensures accountability. As affirmed in the General Assembly resolution of 12 September, we call on Hamas to release the hostages immediately, and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.”

Nuclear weapons: “A permanent member of the Security Council is openly making nuclear threats. I am deeply concerned that the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons may be lowered, which would introduce new uncertainties to the effectiveness of nuclear deterrence. We must address the issue of nuclear weapons head on. We are fully aware of the domestic and international calls on Japan to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, as the only country to have suffered atomic bombings. However, we must maintain a world without nuclear war and also realize a world without nuclear weapons. To this end, the NPT, which brings together both nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states, is the most effective and realistic framework. Japan calls on the international community to embrace the spirit of dialogue and cooperation, so that next year's NPT Review Conference will be a success and so that the world will move one step closer to achieving a world without nuclear weapons. For Japan, which has been placed in an extremely severe security environment concerning nuclear weapons, extended deterrence provided by the United States, including nuclear deterrence, remains necessary to protect the lives and properties of our citizens. We cannot take a position that rejects deterrence theory. This is the reality of implementing a responsible security policy. Yet, the nuclear catastrophe our nation has experienced must never be repeated. While it is a historical fact that Hiroshima was the first place to suffer from atomic bombings, whether Nagasaki will remain the last place to suffer from atomic bombings, depends on the continuous efforts and wisdom of mankind.

“Many people around the world are likely to associate atomic bombings with the image of the mushroom cloud in the photo taken from the air right after the bombings. But what actually happened beneath that mushroom cloud in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 80 years ago? On August 6, I attended the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima where I introduced a “tanka” or short Japanese poem.

These big bones
Must be the teacher’s:
Around them,
Gathering in a circle,
Little skulls are found.

This is a poem written by the poet Ms. Shinoe Shoda, which is inscribed on "the Monument of the A bombed Teachers and Students of National Elementary Schools" located near the epicenter of the atomic bombing. In the midst of the blazing fire, the students relied desperately on their teachers. The teacher was not able to protect those students. This poem evokes their grief. The lives and the futures of many civilians were lost in an instant. Even those who survived have suffered for a long time from the health hazards of radiation. This suffering continues to this day, 80 years later. I strongly hope that world leaders, as well as young people who will shape the future, will visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki to understand the realities of the atomic bombings.”

Nuclear weapons: “It is North Korea that is now challenging these efforts towards a "world without nuclear weapons" head-on. Its nuclear and missile development poses a grave threat to international peace and security. We strongly urge the full implementation of the numerous Security Council resolutions aimed at achieving the complete denuclearization of North Korea. Additionally, there is the issue of Japanese citizens having been abducted by North Korea. With the aging of the abductees and their families, the abductions issue is a humanitarian and time sensitive- issue with no time to spare. Japan seeks to normalize its relationships with North Korea, in accordance with the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, through comprehensively resolving outstanding issues of concern, such as the abductions, nuclear and missile issues, as well as settlement of the unfortunate past. This policy remains unchanged. Japan will continue to call for dialogue with North Korea.We strongly ask for the continued understanding and cooperation of the international community.”

Nuclear weapons: “Please join us in calling for: Reform of the Security Council as soon as possible; A “world without nuclear war” and a “world without nuclear weapons”; A world that can overcome global challenges together; and, Solidarity and tolerance, not division and confrontation. Japan will continue to move forward alongside the international community. We will never waver, and we will continue to lead the way. It is with this determination that I would like to conclude my statement.”

Jamaica
Mr. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister
26 September 2025

Armed conflict: “Yet, as we confront global challenges including pandemics, climate change, armed conflict, and persistent poverty, we must acknowledge that our multilateral system requires urgent reform and revitalisation to meet the needs of the 21st century.”

Armed conflict, ceasefire: “Jamaica once again condemns the heinous October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and deeply regrets the devastating humanitarian consequences of the counter-offensive in the Palestinian territories. A just and peaceful resolution to the conflict is only possible through diplomacy and dialogue. We continue to support United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 and support the call for a ceasefire agreement that includes the release of all remaining hostages and definitively ends the protracted war and human suffering.”

Arms trafficking, weapons: “The Haitian crisis has laid bare a wider truth: transnational criminal networks trafficking arms, narcotics, and people are existential threats to states; organizing violence, and destabilizing institutions. Gangs are now global syndicates with resources that rival Nation States. Jamaica has made significant progress in tackling gangs and reducing our homicide rate by more than 50% in recent years. But we know that unless these networks are totally dismantled, our gains remain fragile. This is why we call for nothing less than a Global War on Gangs—a coordinated international campaign to cut off the flow of weapons, money, and influence that sustain them.”

Small arms and light weapons, arms trade: “This requires deeper engagement from all Member States. We urge full implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the International Tracing Instrument. Major arms-exporting countries must tighten export controls, strengthen end-use monitoring, and ensure rigorous post-delivery verification.”

Jordan
His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King
23 September 2025

Armed conflict, explosive weapons: “Another year, another UN General Assembly, and another occasion when I stand before you to address the same issue: the conflict in the Middle East. And not for the first time, developments on the ground have made me question the worth and utility of words … in capturing the magnitude of the crisis. Yet, not speaking about it, would signal acceptance of the situation and abandonment of our humanity — and that, I will not do. Our UN General Assembly was born 80 years ago, pledging to learn from — not repeat — history. The world vowed: Never again. However, for almost as long, Palestinians have been living through a cruel cycle of ‘yet again’. Bombed indiscriminately… yet again. Killed, injured, and maimed… yet again. Displaced and dispossessed …yet again. Denied rights, dignity… their basic humanity… Yet. Again. So, I must ask… how long? How long will it be before we find a resolution to this conflict — one that safeguards the rights of all sides, and allows a level of normalcy in the lives of the families at its core?”

“How long will it be before I stand before you and speak… not of suffering and devastation in my region… but of prospect, prosperity and potential? Sadly, this is not the only conflict in our world—and some may say that other wars are also devastating. But the Palestinian-Israeli conflict remains unique:

- It is the longest-standing conflict in the world. ...

- ... An illegal occupation of a helpless population by a self-declared ‘democratic nation’.

- ... And a flagrant violation of repeated UN resolutions, international law, and human rights conventions — a failure that should have elicited outrage and action, especially from major democracies ... instead, it has been met with decades of inertia.”

“The war in Gaza marks one of the darkest moments in this institution’s history. But although it is today’s horror, the injustice stretches back decades. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been on the UN agenda throughout its eight decades of existence. How long will we be satisfied with condemnation after condemnation without concrete action? When it comes to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, it seems that what unfolds in the halls of power is theory; the struggles and suffering on the ground is reality. For decades, we’ve seen several attempts to achieve a solution via interim agreements and temporary stopgaps … none that delivered on the end game. In fact, many would argue these processes served as a distraction… as Israel grabbed more land, expanded illegal settlements, demolished homes, and displaced entire neighbourhoods. Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem have been vandalised and desecrated by those under government protection.”

Armed conflict, militarism: “And throughout all these years, Israeli families, too, have not been able to live in true security. Because military action cannot bring them the safety they need. No where is that more evident than in Gaza. More than [60] thousand Palestinians killed; ... [50] thousand children injured or killed… Miles of burnt-out rubble. Neighbourhoods, hospitals, schools, farms, even mosques and churches, in ruins. Widespread starvation. And what we are seeing is only a glimpse. Because never in our modern history… has the lens of international media been obstructed like this, from capturing the reality on the ground. Almost two years in, and the cruelty of this military campaign continues unabated.”

“Furthermore, the current Israeli government’s provocative calls for a so-called ‘Greater Israel’ can only be realised through the blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbours — and there’s nothing great about that. I can’t help but wonder … if a similar outrageous call were made by an Arab leader … would it be met with the same global apathy? The international community must stop entertaining the illusion that this government is a willing partner for peace. Far from it… its actions on the ground are dismantling the very foundations on which peace could stand, and intentionally burying the very idea of a Palestinian State. It has shown how little it respects the sovereignty of other countries… as we have seen in its flagrant violations in Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Tunisia, and most recently… Qatar! And its hostile rhetoric calling for the targeting of Al Aqsa Mosque will incite a religious war that would reach far beyond the region and lead to an all-out clash that no nation would be able to escape.”

“How long before we hold all nations to the same standards? How long before we recognise the Palestinians as people who aspire to the same things you and I do — and we act on that recognition? How long before we recognise that statehood is not something Palestinians need to earn? It is not a reward — it is an indisputable right.”

Ceasefire: “We are seeing more nations stepping up on behalf of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza—one that ensures the release of all hostages, unhindered humanitarian aid, and support for the Palestinian people as they rebuild.”

Militarism: “We all know that force is no foundation for security; it is a prelude for greater violence. Repeated wars are teaching generations of Israelis and Palestinians that their only recourse… is the gun.”

Kazakhstan
Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President
23 September 2025

Nuclear weapons: “For eight decades, the United Nations has played a pivotal role in combating humanity’s global challenges. Over that time, it has led our common efforts on collective security, nuclear non-proliferation, peacekeeping, development, poverty reduction, sustainability, and human rights.”

Arms control, military spending: “Today we face an alarming reality: arms control treaties are collapsing, and with them so are the foundations of strategic stability. Global military spending in 2024 hit a record 2.7 trillion dollars. The global cost of violence reached nearly 20 trillion dollars. Therefore, rebuilding a robust global security architecture should remain a top priority for the international community.”

Nuclear weapons, NPT: “We advocate relaunching high-level dialogue among nuclear powers and stronger multilateral action to drastically reduce the looming threat of nuclear Weapons. More widely, we must begin the hard work of getting rid of the militant mindset. We can do so by tracking closely how much our countries invest in peace. Kazakhstan is ready to host a new dialogue on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. We can focus on informal inclusive exchanges that reinforce the NPT and support progress toward the CTBT.”

Biological weapons: “We also call to advance our proposal to establish International Agency for Biological Safety and Security.”

Armed conflict: “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a disastrous scale that cannot be ignored. This conflict stems from a complex historical background. We cannot ignore the root cause of this belligerence. Kazakhstan calls for full protection of all civilians, and unhindered humanitarian access in strict compliance with international humanitarian law.”

Nuclear energy: “Kazakhstan’s energy strategy is based on four pillars: oil and gas, coal, uranium, and critical minerals. These precious assets are the basis of reliable energy partnerships.”

Artificial intelligence: “Kazakhstan views Artificial Intelligence not as one more technological advancement, but as a major breakthrough that can be a true engine of human progress. Yet as AI accelerates, so do the related risks – specifically deepening technological, economic and geopolitical divides. At the same time, we should not let ethical norms fall behind this rapid evolution. Pressing questions of fairness, accountability, and individual rights must be addressed with clarity and urgency. We must act collectively to ensure that every country can benefit from AI. Kazakhstan welcomes the establishment under UN auspices of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. We stand ready to actively contribute to this platform to help ensure that AI remains safe, inclusive and human-centered. In Kazakhstan, artificial Intelligence will be integrated across all sectors of economy and public services. The basic infrastructure to deliver this plan is being built, and our bright young people are getting ready to turn this vision into reality. Our strategic goal is to transform Kazakhstan into a fully digital power within the next three years.”

“Large-scale digitalization and widespread use of AI have become a national priority in Kazakhstan. E-government is an important pillar of our national development strategy. Around 90% of public services are already digitalized. Kazakhstan has recently launched its fastest national supercomputer ever. But AI and automation are expected to threaten jobs in many countries. That is why digital progress must go hand-in-hand with professional education. Therefore, Kazakhstan believes it is imperative not just to increase employment but to valorize the technical professions.”

Kenya
Mr. William Samoei Ruto, President
24 September 2025

War: “80 years ago, in the aftermath of unprecedented global destruction and devastating war, the international community came together in hope. They created this Organization - the United Nations - as a shield against the horrors of war, as a platform for dialogue, and as a bridge to a better, fairer, more secure global community.”

War, disarmament: “What is often forgotten, or not mentioned today, is that the United Nations grew out of the failure of the League of Nations, that existed between 1919 and 1945. The League of Nations did not collapse for lack of good intentions or noble objectives. Formed at the end of the First World War, and as part of the Treaty of Versailles, it was humanity’s first attempt to build a permanent international organization to stop aggression, end war, and bring nations together. Its ambitions were to achieve collective global security, disarmament, peaceful dispute resolution, and cooperation on humanitarian and social issues.”

War: “Despite these ideals, the League of Nations faltered. The United States never joined, other great powers came and went, and without enforcement authority, its condemnations carried little weight. When Japan invaded Manchuria, when Italy marched into Ethiopia, and when Hitler openly defied its rules, the League stood by, helpless and powerless. By the late 1930s, its credibility had collapsed, and with the outbreak of World War II, it was rendered irrelevant.

“Madam President, this history is both a lesson and a warning. Institutions rarely fail because they lack vision or ideals; more often, they drift into irrelevance when they do not adapt; when they hesitate to act, and when they lose legitimacy. To remain relevant, institutions must be re-imagined, reformed, renewed, and aligned with emerging realities.

“Eight decades ago, the founders of the UN sought to correct the failures of the League by creating a stronger, more inclusive organisation, anchored in the principle of “We the peoples of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. Today, as we gather for the UN@80, the question is unavoidable: Is the United Nations relevant to the demands of our time? Can it continue to serve humanity in the face of current realities? Or has it become a relic of a bygone era?

“Madam President, Excellencies, we meet against a grim global backdrop. Conflict rages in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and beyond. Climate disasters grow fiercer by the year. Inequality deepens, pandemics loom, and technological disruption outpaces governance.”

War, armed conflict: “I can, however, state with absolute conviction, that the United Nations has been one of humanity’s greatest achievements. For eight decades, it has held back the specter of global war, calmed conflicts from Cambodia to Liberia, and stood guard in some of the world’s most dangerous places through the courage of its peacekeepers. Few institutions in human history can claim such a legacy.”

Militarism, armed conflict: “We would be denying the cold, hard truth if we said that the United Nations is delivering as it should. On peace and security, its voice is too often drowned out by the rivalries of great powers, while some nations simply ignore its resolutions and do as they please. Too often, the UN’s Blue Helmet, once a symbol of moral authority, no longer commands the same respect. From the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine to the crises in Sudan, DR Congo, Somalia, and the Sahel, we see actors proceed undeterred by the UN’s calls.”

Armed conflict, ceasefire: “Ladies and Gentlemen, on human rights, our principle is clear and unwavering: the protection of civilians and respect for humanitarian law cannot be applied selectively. We cannot condemn suffering in one place and turn a blind eye in another. Kenya is gravely concerned by the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and by the immense suffering of civilians caught in the devastation of disproportionate military operations.

“At the same time, we call for the unconditional release of Israeli hostages. In line with the African Union and United Nations resolutions, we also call for a permanent ceasefire, for strict adherence to international humanitarian law, and for the launch of a credible political process. Only through such a process can the vision of a two-state solution be realised — where Israel and Palestine live side by side, in peace and in security.”

Armed conflict: “Kenya is equally deeply troubled by the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan, where innocent citizens are caught in the crossfire of a needless war. We fully endorse the Quad—comprising Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States—in affirming that there can be no military solution and that only political dialogue offers a viable path forward. We join the Quad in urging all parties, including SAF, RSF, and external actors, to respect Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and firmly reject any attempts to divide the country, reaffirming our unwavering support for a unified Sudan for the benefit of its people.”

Kiribati
Mr. Taneti Maamau, President
24 September 2025

Nuclear weapons, nuclear-powered submarines, nuclear waste: “Kiribati is proud that, since joining the UN, we have been contributing in our own way to its mandates and initiatives. On international peace and security, Kiribati has actively supported the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, particularly in the implementation of Articles 6 and 7, efforts which we jointly coordinate with Kazakhstan. We fully support the United Nations’ push for a world free of nuclear weapons and are committed to addressing the man-made disasters like dumping of nuclear waste, radio water discharges, traversing of nuclear-powered submarines and testing that pose grave risks to our ocean’s fragile health. Advocating for a nuclear-free ocean and world should be backed by our commitment to peace and security.”

Kuwait
Mr. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, Crown Prince
24 September 2025

Armed conflict: “Our region has witnessed lately dangerous military escalation, and an expansion of conflict, and we have repeatedly warned against this in the past, and warned against its consequences for the region, and we condemn in the strongest of terms in this regard to the brutal Israeli aggression against Qatar.  We consider this attack a blatant violation of all international customs and norms, and an attack against the mediator that is working faithfully for the sake of peace, and we reiterate our complete solidarity with Qatar, and reiterate at any threat against any member state of the GCC, is a threat against every member of the GCC.”

War, ceasefire: “What is taking place in the Gaza Strip for almost two years of collective punishment and the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians and innocent people, most of whom are women, are children. And using starvation as warfare. Is an unfolding of genocide before our eyes, and we have reached this point because of the double standards in the application of international law. We cannot call for respect of international law in one area and ignore the application in another. This leads to undermining trust in the international system. The state of Kuwait once again condemns the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and against all occupied Palestinian territory, and we call for an end to this aggression immediately and to allow for uninterrupted humanitarian aid. And we also applaud the efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States in order to reach a ceasefire.”

War: “We commend the decision by many friendly states to recognize the state of Palestine. and we emphasize the need for the remaining states to do the same. The state of Kuwait also reiterates its firm commitment to support UNRWA because of its critical role in securing the basic needs of millions of Palestinian refugees, and we categorically reject the settlement activities and force displacement of the occupying power, and we call on measures to be taken to hold Israel accountable for its crimes.  The state of Kuwait also reiterates his historical and firm support for the Palestinian people and their just cause and their legitimate right to the establishment of a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital, as per UN resolutions, and the Arab peace initiative of 2002.”

War, nuclear weapons: “Kuwait stands in support of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Republic of Lebanon in their efforts to build a secure and prosperous future that fulfils the aspirations of their people. And we reiterate the need to respect the territory integrity and sovereignty of both states. We follow with great concern the developments in Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and Libya. And we call on our brothers and sisters to prioritize wisdom and dialogue in order to settle the disputes, in accordance with international law. In order to preserve the sovereignty and unity, independence and territorial integrity of these states, and based on our commitment to good neighborliness, we reiterate once again, our call on the Islamic Republic of Iran, to initiate a serious path to build for confidence building measures, and we believe that creating the conducive environment for negotiations will contribute to resolving the nuclear program and all other outstanding issues.”

Kyrgyzstan
Mr. Sadyr Zhaparov, President
23 September 2025

Armed conflict, war: “Despite the many conflicts over the past 80 years, thankfully, the world has not faced a third world war. Of course, the United Nations has been instrumental in avoiding such a catastrophe. The organization has not only remained a platform for international dialogue, but has also played a special role in preventing global conflicts.

“Today, regionalism trends are gaining strength in world politics. Prices are rising, liquidity is tight, and the economy is in a war of sanctions. The threat of terrorism and extremism is affecting all countries. Despite the current challenges, the United Nations remains the only universal organization with moral authority and institutional capacity.”

Armed conflict: “In different parts of the world - in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia - new armed conflicts and wars are breaking out. Millions of people are losing their homes, forced to leave their native lands, Millions are becoming victims. Who suffers the most? First of all - ordinary people! We cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of many peoples: Palestine, Ukraine, Sudan, Syria and others, where military actions continue, civilians are killed, human rights are violated.

“The world community, applying double standards, by prioritizing these conflicts as "this is more important, and that is less important", taking into account its selfish geopolitical interests.

“The conflict in Ukraine has been going on for almost four years, people are dying and fleeing the country. We support the efforts of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to find solutions for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. We are interested in this! Because we are also suffering from the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Unilateral sanctions have a negative impact on us, a country that is just getting back on its feet. Kyrgyzstan is making every effort to independently strengthen its economy. Therefore, we regard unjustified sanctions as interference in the internal affairs of the country and as pressure that hinders the development of our still emerging economy.

Armed conflict: “The UN Secretary General has already described the Gaza Strip as a "graveyard for thousands of children"! What else is needed to stop the war and the horrific events in Gaza? We must stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, who are suffering enormous losses as a result of the inhuman conflict in the Gaza Strip.

“We must not remain indifferent to the unbearable tragedy happening before the eyes of the whole world. We demand that the genocide against the Palestinians be stopped and that an international judicial investigation by the International Court of Justice be launched!

“My country has always strongly condemned violence and terrorism in all its manifestations, including the terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Such terrorists must be severely punished. However, there are methods and ways to combat terrorism and eliminate terrorists. These methods should be used. Millions of ordinary citizens should not die because of the actions of such terrorists. Why are we allowing hundreds of thousands of civilians and innocent children, to be killed? The only way to establish lasting peace is to implement the principle of "Two State solution for Two Peoples". Palestine must gain independence based on the 1967 borders.

“We also condemn the recent missile attacks on Qatar and Iran, as these attacks are an attack on the sovereignty of an independent country, threaten regional stability and security, and violate international law. The fight against terrorism and threats in Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, and other regions must be proportionate to their scale and nature, and innocent civilians, women, and children must not be harmed or sacrificed.”

Nuclear weapons: “We support the strengthening of international treaties, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We must educate the young generation to perceive a world without nuclear weapons! It is important to raise awareness of the younger generation about the devastating consequences of the use of weapons of mass destruction.

“The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, initiated by the Kyrgyz side and supported by UN member states, is an excellent platform for the implementation of this concept. Kyrgyzstan is one of the initiators and depository of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia. We have acceded to all fundamental international documents on disarmament and non-proliferation, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

“In accordance with the principle of consistency, this year the Kyrgyz Republic made a political decision to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We are firmly convinced that our planet should exist without nuclear weapons - this invention of mankind should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes!”

Military spending, weapons, militarism: “Let's use the more than 3 trillion dollars that are spent annually on weapons around the world to improve people's lives, eliminate hunger, protect our environment and clean the air. After all, there are no borders for breathing air. We all breathe the same air. Therefore, I would like to invite you to live with the competition of which country's nature, which country's air is clean, not with the competition of whose weapon is stronger.”

Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister
27 September 2025

War: “In many regions, disputes and armed conflicts continue to persist, inflicting devastating consequences on people across the globe. Therefore we must redouble our efforts and exhaust all possible means to come to collectively address these challenges through dialogue and peaceful settlements, protecting the hardwon gains and preventing further setbacks.”

Armed conflict: “The Lao PDR sincerely hopes that the long overdue question of Palestine, which has persisted for decades, will be resolved by peaceful means. On this note, we call on the international community to intensify our efforts to support recovery and reconstruction work for the Palestinian people to return to normalcy.”

Unexploded ordnance, cluster munitions: “The Lao PDR has adopted the national SDG 18 entitled ‘Lives Safe from Unexploded Ordinance.’ UXO contamination continues to pose major threats to the livelihood of the Lao people across the country and hinders national development efforts. Taking this opportunity, I call upon the international community to increase its support and assistance in addressing the UXO issues, including through the implementation of the International Convention on Cluster Munitions. Particularly, by supporting the Lao PDR’s presidency of the third review conference on the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2026.”

Latvia
Mr. Edgars Rinkēvičs, President
24 September 2025

Artificial intelligence: “Latvia’s three priorities in the Security Council are: First, protect our rules-based international order. Second, advocate for Women, Peace and Security agenda. Also protect the most vulnerable people amongst us. Third, find solutions to emerging security threats. These include climate change, hybrid threats, the challenges related to the safety of artificial intelligence.”

War: “The permanent members of the Security Council undertook to maintain international peace and security. To prevent wars. To prevent devastation and loss of life. But it seems that one permanent member – Russia – doesn’t want this. Russia wants a world where brute force prevails over international law. Russia does not want peace. Russia wants to get what it wants. And Russia is willing to inflict destruction and misery on others. Unfortunately, Russia has partners in crime – notably Iran and North Korea.”

War, ceasefire: “In war, it is the most innocent that pay the highest price. It is our duty to strengthen international cooperation to tackle the escalating crisis in Gaza. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues to spiral. Urgent action is needed to end civilian suffering. Latvia condemns all terrorist attacks. Nothing can justify terrorism. We recognize Israel’s legitimate right to self-defence. But it must be exercised in line with the international law and particularly – international humanitarian law. The law is there to protect every one of us. Latvia calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The terrorist organization Hamas must release all hostages. Hamas must be destroyed as this organization is responsible for so much human suffering in the region. We need to ensure that the access to humanitarian aid in Gaza should be safe and unconditional.”

Armed conflict: “Latvia is keenly aware of the ongoing conflicts around the world. We must work together to resolve the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo. We will not look on helplessly as crises unfold. As a member of the Security Council, we will call on the international community to take collective action and facilitate humanitarian aid. To try to end unnecessary human suffering.”

Artificial intelligence, cyber: “It is not only conventional warfare that threatens peace, security and stability. Emerging threats like climate change, cyber-attacks, hybrid attacks, and the misuse of the Artificial Intelligence are testing us on daily basis. Our modern world is connected in ways that most of us can’t imagine. Today many countries are experiencing a growing wave of hybrid attacks. Also, Latvia. We have to deal with damage to undersea cables, GPS jamming, arson attacks, the Russian shadow fleet.”

Drones: “Russia continues and invents new provocations. Most recently recklessly violating the airspace of Poland and Estonia. The intensity of Russia's drone attacks against Ukraine has created incidents in Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania. This is the new reality. Russia bears full responsibility for these acts and also consequences. This kind of reckless behaviour is a direct threat to international peace and security. And we must act to stop it before such acts spiral out of control.”

Artificial intelligence: “We share the United Nations’ view that we need to develop Artificial Intelligence responsibly. But we should not halt the progress. Artificial Intelligence can promote economic growth, drive scientific progress and innovation. Even improve healthcare and make education more accessible. Artificial Intelligence is already part of our daily lives. We must acknowledge this reality and work to make it safer and more beneficial for the people. The governments should not take years to create regulations. We should act swiftly and do it right.”

Lebanon
Mr. Joseph Aoun, President
23 September 2025

Armed conflict: “While advancing on all these fronts, our country simultaneously shoulders numerous burdens. Most pressing among them are the persistent instabilities along our southern border. In response, we call for the immediate cessation of Israeli aggression, the full withdrawal of its occupying forces from all Lebanese territory, and the release of our hostages, that we shall not forget nor leave behind, and insist on the comprehensive implementation of United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 1701.”

“However, the deep underlying causes of our crisis extend beyond our immediate borders. This is why our moral, human and political obligation is to put an immediate end to the devastation taking place in Gaza. We also urge the revival of a new political track, aimed at finding a just and permanent solution to the Palestinian issue, based on the decisions of the international community and the principle of a two-state solution, ensuring the right of both states to a secure and dignified existence, as voted by your General Assembly with a majority of 142 states out of 164 states, in the New York Declaration.”

Lesotho
Mr. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, Prime Minister
26 September 2025

Armed conflict: “Lesotho remains committed to the maintenance of international peace and security, a core mandate of the United Nations. Yet, we are deeply troubled by ongoing armed conflicts around the world, which pose grave threats to global stability.

“Of particular concern is the protracted conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in immense human suffering, especially among women, children, and other vulnerable groups. We commend efforts by Member States to pursue peace in the Middle East conflict and call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages.”

Armed conflict, ceasefire: “We further call for a permanent ceasefire to prevent further loss of innocent lives. The resolution of international disputes must be grounded in dialogue, justice, and equality. Lesotho continues to advocate for a Two-State solution, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.”

Liberia
Mr. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, President
23 September 2025

War, militarism: “When the UN was founded in 1945, nations came together in the belief that peace could only be secured through cooperation. After two world wars, it became a widely held conviction that nations are stronger when united than when divided. Eighty years later, that conviction is being tested like never before. From wars and displacements to terrorism, threats to technological advances, climate change, and widening inequalities, today, our world faces challenges that no country can solve alone. At the same time, and paradoxically, when the world needs to strengthen multilateralism, its credibility and efficacy are being questioned.

“As one of only four African countries to sign the Charter of the United Nations, Liberia feels morally obligated to call for a renewal—rather than a reversal— of multilateralism. Reversal of multilateralism is not an option for a just and peaceful world. We call for greater inclusion, effectiveness, and respect for international law, recognizing that the credibility of the United Nations depends on our ability to act together in the service of humanity, rather than apart in the pursuit of narrow interests.

“Wars in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa remind us that peace is often fragile and must be constantly defended. Therefore, as in 1945, Liberia once again reaffirms its commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

“In this spirit, Liberia supports all credible mediation efforts aimed at resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Liberia stands on the common African position for the realization of the two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security, in accordance with international law and relevant UN Resolutions.

“We call on the international community to act together and decisively to protect civilians, hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable, and strengthen mediation efforts. Rising from the ruins of civil war, Liberia knows all too well the human cost of conflict and the importance of peace. Since 2003, Liberia has experienced three peaceful and orderly democratic transitions, each marked by smooth transfers of power, making our nation safer, more stable, and more secure after over thirty years of unrest, instability, and destruction. Liberians have also worked hard to achieve this through multilateral cooperation, with support from ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations.”

Armed conflict: “Liberia has endured some of the darkest chapters of human suffering, having experienced one of the most brutal civil conflicts in recent history. Over the past two decades, we have remained firmly on the path of recovery—working to heal our nation and rebuild from the painful legacy of war. My government has taken deliberate and meaningful steps toward national reconciliation. These include honoring the memory of the victims, supporting initiatives for memorialization, and upholding our commitment to justice and the rule of law.

“While we recognize that these efforts are complex and challenging, they are essential steps toward achieving lasting peace and genuine national healing. May I now take the opportunity to renew my government's request for international support and assistance in establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court, which will further the Liberian people’s aspiration for national healing and reconciliation through justice.”

Libya
Mr. Mohamed Younis A Menfi, President
25 September 2025

Armed conflict: “Today, I stand before you as a representative of the will of the Libyan people, still holding on to hope, believing in its ability to shape a stable and prosperous future. Libya is not a geography of conflicts, nor a battleground for settling scores or exporting crises, but a homeland rich in natural resources, with a cohesive social depth and immense youth energies that form the backbone of building the modern state.”

Ceasefire: “We have committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement signed in October 2020, and we established a committee for security arrangements in the capital, Tripoli, under direct supervision, which contributed to enhancing security stability and made the current phase one of the calmest periods in years.”

War: “Our steadfast position on the Palestinian issue stems from our humanitarian principles, our Arab depth, and our Islamic identity. In this regard, we condemn in the strongest terms the positions of some countries that still hide behind an unethical neutrality towards what the Palestinian people are facing, especially in the Gaza Strip, from acts of genocide and a blatant violation of international law. Decades have passed since the establishment of the United Nations, and the Palestinian people still suffer under occupation. We demand responsible international action that ends the occupation and guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”

Liechtenstein
Ms. Sabine Monauni, Deputy Prime Minister
25 September 2025

War: “In Ukraine, our system has allowed the aggressor to veto collective action supported by the vast majority of the house. In Gaza, we have become bystanders, despite the fact that the two state solution was one of the first decisions of the United Nations many decades ago. We are merely witnesses to the unprecedented and unjustifiable suffering of civilians, in spite of our pledge to end and prevent atrocity crimes. The people of Sudan must have concluded that indifference is the guiding principle of our rare discussions, and that the outrage over a cynical veto wears off after a few weeks, if not days. These challenges to the credibility of the United Nations would be massive enough in and of themselves. But if we are looking at the completely uncertain future for this organization today, it is for largely different reasons. The very foundations of the United Nations are being challenged in a way we have not seen before. Such efforts threaten to undermine our joint commitments to solve common problems together on the basis of the principle of sovereign equality, the principle that we set ourselves rules that apply to us all equally, and that they are enforced equally, and the belief in the value of international law as the common ground that allows us to govern world affairs in a way that is predictable, equitable and fair.”

Artificial intelligence: “Artificial Intelligence is developing with lightning speed, largely unchecked, with obvious risks to our social fabric, but without any agreement on rules and boundaries.”

War: “As we look at the flash points around the globe, be it Ukraine, the Middle East or Sudan, we see how the basic rules of international law are violated, not just frequently, but systematically. This is why we have created the International Criminal Court to offer protection for the victims and the vulnerable, but also to safeguard international peace and security. Today, the court finds itself under significant political attack and is targeted by unprecedented sanctions. This is the moment for us to protect this unique institution. One of the most powerful statements we can make to express our commitment to international law.”

Armed conflict, militarisation, war: “The most, among many worrying trends with regard to the respect for the United Nations Charter, is the rapid erosion of the rules governing the use of force. Instances of the blatantly illegal use of force without any consequences or accountability. The threat of the use of force to solve disputes and the suggestion that aggression may not only go unpunished, but in fact be rewarded and incentivized, as part of a political agreement. These dangerous trends can set us back to a time we all believe we have left behind, and they are an attack on the very core of the Charter of the United Nations. Mitigating the fallout of armed conflict will sadly remain part of our daily work. But it is time that we become serious about our central task: preventing war in the first place, ending war where it takes place, and ensuring accountability for illegal war-making. The International Criminal Court, the only institution with jurisdiction over the crime of aggression, is therefore key to enforcing the UN Charter, and thus deserves the support of all states, including those who have yet to join it.”

Lithuania
Mr. Gitanas Nausėda, President
23 September 2025

War: “In 1938, it was Czechoslovakia that was abandoned. Today, we cannot abandon Ukraine. The war in Ukraine is well into its fourth year. The international community has not done enough to stop the aggressor. This is a quest that goes far beyond the usual lines that keep different nations apart. What matters is not the distinction between large or small, or between Global North and Global South nations, but the basic principles of the UN Charter which guarantee peace and security across the globe.”

Missiles, explosive weapons: “The targeted destruction of civilian infrastructure, indiscriminate missile attacks and the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children are not isolated abuses. These are calculated efforts to erase Ukraine’s identity and undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity – all in open defiance of the United Nations’ Charter.”

Militarism: “Lithuania therefore calls on the international community to maintain strong political, military, humanitarian, and economic support for Ukraine. Having already provided more than 1 billion euros in assistance, half of which for reconstruction and long-term recovery, we are setting an example to follow.”

Ceasefire: “Lithuania watches the current situation in the Middle East with deep concern. We join the international community in calling for the full and immediate implementation of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. To prevent starvation, humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach those in need without obstruction. At the same time, the unconditional release of all remaining Israeli hostages remains a crucial step towards ending hostilities.”

Luxembourg
Mr. Luc Frieden, Prime Minister
26 September 2025

War: “The Second World War was the deadliest conflict in history. It took the combined efforts of fifty nations to resist the Axis Powers and end their seemingly unstoppable campaign of conquest and subjugation. But in the course of their struggle, Allied countries, including my own, found a second, even bigger, purpose. They would end the war. And they would seek to end war itself. They were driven by a dream of a world in which conflict is replaced by cooperation, oppression by freedom, and misery by prosperity. They were driven by hope, not fear – unwavering in their belief that the world could be changed for the better.

A world of peace, in which war would be prevented not just for their generation, but for all those to come after them.
A world of justice, in which the relations between nations would be governed not by force, but by law.
A world of freedom, in which people do not face oppression, but enjoy fundamental rights without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.”

Militarism, weapons, war: “These ideals go hand in hand: peace, justice, freedom, dignity, human rights, international law. Looking back – and indeed at the current state of world affairs – it is painfully obvious that we are not always living up to these ideals. The last few years have seen an unprecedented erosion of international norms and violations of humanitarian law. The international order is at breaking point. Too few defend it. Too many have lost faith in it.

“For Luxembourg, the UN still represents the highest of mankind’s ambitions. As much as the United Nations represents these ideals, it represents a different method, a paradigm shift in the way countries deal with each other and their common challenges. Words, not weapons. Diplomacy, not warfare. Solidarity, not confrontation.

“The establishment of the United Nations eighty years ago was not the end of the journey to peace. It was its beginning. That journey must be made anew every single day. Luxembourg will always be ready to pursue that journey of dialogue and cooperation, together with all others willing to work for peace. Because war, with all its horrible results, is nothing but the final expression of that radical unwillingness to compromise at the root of all human conflict, that stubborn refusal to even listen to the other side. It is this uncompromising spirit that starts wars, creates divisions and hinders progress, leaving all of us worse off.”

Armed conflict, militarism: “The United Nations, however, represents the opposite spirit. It stands for the relentless pursuit of compromise, for the formidable power of reconciliation. But the United Nations as an institution cannot work wonders. Its success depends on all of us. It will work, its ideals can be achieved, when we adopt this spirit in all our decisions.

When we work for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine respecting its sovereignty, self-determination and territorial integrity.
When we work for an immediate ceasefire and full humanitarian access in Gaza, as well as for the release of all hostages.
When we work for the implementation of the two-State solution, with the State of Israel and the State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security. To maintain that objective, this week Luxembourg formally recognized the State of Palestine."

War: “Because the sad lesson of history is that, in the end, when the war ends and the dust settles on ruined cities and unnecessary cemeteries, that uncompromising spirit must still give way.”

War: “So, I call on all countries to honor the promise made to mankind in San Francisco: that humanity would work together to abandon war, and seek peace by taking a new approach, by following a different spirit, the spirit of the United Nations. One that puts dialogue first and makes every effort to settle differences by peaceful means, through mutually acceptable compromises.”

Madagascar
Mr. Andry Nirina Rajoelina, President
24 September 2025

War: “Today, in the world we live in, wars present themselves in several forms. There are armed wars, visible and bloody, that destroy infrastructures, entire cities, and take lives from the innocent. There is the war against pandemics, like that of Covid-19, which we have faced together – a global battle that has cost the lives of more than 14 million people. And currently, there is another form of war, the economic and commercial war, quieter but which could be just as destructive because its impact could deprive millions of people of an income, a job, and a future. What do all these wars have in common? They kill. Directly or indirectly. They weaken our societies, they threaten peace, and human dignity. That is why we must be vigilant.”

Malawi
Ms. Agnes Mary Chimbiri-Molande, Permanent Representative to the United Nations
29 September 2025

Armed conflict: “Furthermore, it is important to highlight the significant strides that the Republic of Malawi has made towards promoting participation of women in peacekeeping operations. The Republic of Malawi actively prioritizes the deployment of female peacekeepers in operational roles, recognizing their unique ability to connect with and address the specific needs and experiences of women in conflict zones. This initiative not only empowers female personnel but also enriches the overall effectiveness of our peacekeeping efforts by fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding gender issues in these environments.”

Artificial Intelligence: “To realize this vision [the Pact for the Future], we must strengthen trade and investment as engines of prosperity and harness the transformative potential of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and private sector development for national and global development.”

Artificial intelligence: “In this digital age, Artificial Intelligence presents both unprecedented opportunities and profound challenges. If harnessed responsibly, AI can accelerate development, improve health and education, and unlock economic growth. Yet, without clear governance, it risks deepening inequalities and undermining security. We, therefore, call for a global framework that ensures AI is ethical, inclusive, and accessible to all nations, enabling it to serve as a force for development rather than division. The Republic of Malawi is optimistic that AI will usher in a new era of enhanced productivity for its citizens, helping to propel the country’s development trajectory.”

Malaysia
Mr. Mohamad Hasan, Minister for Foreign Affairs
27 September 2025

War: “80 years after the end of the Second World War, we are watching, in high-definition, as genocide unfolds around the world. 80 years after the fall of the empires, colonialism is still alive. Armed, funded, and justified by some of the supposedly most liberal powers in the world. They have defended and supported the only party who has any real power in a conflict, as it makes a farce out of international law. As we approach the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, I suppose I should say, ‘Congratulations.’ But today, that word rings hollow. Should we congratulate ourselves on our inability to bring an end to the occupation of Palestine? Or should we congratulate ourselves for allowing a rogue State to undermine our Charter and our efforts?

“In Gaza, the clock is ticking, the bombs are falling, and the light is fading. We have failed at least 70,000 people. Israel can no longer hide behind its pretence of victimhood. From London to Dhaka, from Paris to Sydney, from Montreal to Kuala Lumpur, populations have spoken out in grief and outrage. More and more people are standing up for the truth: that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Remember: the eyes of the world are upon us. We must take action now. Sanction Israel. The metastasis of Israel’s brutality in the Middle East cannot go on. Their latest assault on Doha was not merely an attack on a few representatives of Hamas. It was an attack conducted on another State’s soil, and an insult to the efforts of all who have attempted to mediate. And it is a signal that Israel’s violence will continue to destabilise the region. The effects of this will spill over to the rest of the world. The atrocities may have begun with Palestine, but they certainly will not end with Palestine. As the Middle East grows ever more dangerous for its residents, we will feel the reverberations all over the world. And this is why simply advocating for a two-state solution is not enough, Madam President. Malaysia will agree to any measure of support for the Palestinian people, including the New York Declaration. But let us be clear. There are only three real answers to this conflict: One: To take concrete action against the occupying force. Two: To lend our long-term support to the development of a self-governing Palestinian State And three: To reform the United Nations, and ensure that such a travesty of justice never happens again.”

Ceasefire, armed conflict: “Over the course of our Chairmanship of ASEAN this year, Malaysia too has learnt of the colossal efforts that peace requires. As a unique example of an inclusive form of multilateralism, ASEAN has embraced change, expanded our membership, and engaged with the world over the past 58 years. And this is why it has been Malaysia’s honour, and our greatest task yet, to take on Southeast Asia’s challenges this year. When conflict threatened to spiral between our neighbours, ASEAN did not stand idle. We stepped in, convened both sides in Malaysia, and implemented a ceasefire – one that ASEAN is now ensuring takes root through active monitoring on the ground. Yes, challenges remain. But our message is clear: ASEAN will stay at the table, urging both States to honour their commitments. For there is no conflict, whether inter-state or intra-state, that is worth risking the stability of our home. This is why our efforts to cultivate security and stability in Myanmar, and to restore credibility to the Five-Point Consensus, must continue. ASEAN is deeply disappointed that the agreed-upon ceasefires in Myanmar have been broken in some areas, and that violence continues to endanger civilians. Those in power have a responsibility to remember that Myanmar is part of a region, not an isolated country. There is a bright and safe future for all of our peoples if we work together in good faith towards a Myanmar-owned, and Myanmar-led, resolution to the crisis in the country.”

War: “The UN has served the world for 80 years. But the world we live in is shifting beyond any recognition from what it was back then. The test that we now face is an existential one. For the question of Palestine has haunted the UN for nearly its entire life. 80 years of the United Nations, and 77 years of the ethnic cleansing of Palestine. I cannot emphasise this enough, Madam President. If we cannot resolve this, the citizens of the world will lose faith in us. And in the international order. Because there is no longer any way to deny that this is modern-day colonisation. Only the formerly colonised have been able to see it for what it is since the start. And it is genocide, dressed in the cape of Western tolerance. For us to remain relevant, we cannot move forward on the habits of the past. We must summon the same courage that built this organisation from the ruins of war.”

Maldives
Mr. Abdulla Khaleel, Minister for Foreign Affairs
27 September 2025

War, weapons: “In Palestine—especially Gaza—Israel’s ongoing genocide has killed more than 66,000 civilians—more than a half of that: women and children. In the West Bank, settler violence intensifies – trying to force more Palestinians out, and annex more land. Israel has wilfully, shamelessly, and repeatedly, violated international law. It has defied hundreds of resolutions of the Security Council and this Assembly. It has rejected the decisions of the International Court of Justice and sanctioned the International Criminal Court. People killed while begging for food. Mothers holding lifeless babies. Children staring blankly at the ruins of their homes and their futures. These are the images that you simply cannot forget and move past. And the sheer hypocrisy is…

“This genocide is sustained by weapons and money from the very countries that claim to defend human rights—the same countries that helped define the very norms and laws being broken. By their actions, they refuse to see Palestinians as equal human beings, deserving of life, dignity, and freedom. This complicity is the shame of the century. Let me be clear. Famine can never be a weapon of war. Innocents must not be mercilessly maimed, arbitrarily jailed, and ruthlessly killed. The assault on sovereignty is equally clear in Israel’s recent illegal attacks against Qatar, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, and Iran. Each strike is a reminder that borders are trampled when power speaks louder than law.

“In each case, Where laws and norms give way to leverage; Where responsibility gives way to convenience: The pattern is the same. If this erosion continues, the question will no longer be whether it will happen again, but who will be the next victim.”

Mali
Mr. Abdoulaye Maïga, Prime Minister
26 September 2025

Armed conflict: “Yes, peace, mutual aid, development, and the preservation of human rights remain the main objectives, indeed the raison d'être, of the United Nations. Unfortunately, these essential objectives have never been so undermined in the world, and in the Sahel in particular, mainly due to obscurantist armed groups that are manipulated and supported by foreign state sponsors.”

Weapons, ammunition: “The AES Confederation strongly reiterates its firm condemnation of the open and sometimes publicly expressed support of foreign state sponsors who, for imperialist reasons, destabilize our entity on the one hand by providing terrorist groups with advisers, logistical resources, weapons, and ammunition, and on the other hand by granting them political support and offering them rear bases located in certain neighboring countries, in violation of all international rules.”

War: “As distant as it may seem, the war in Ukraine and terrorism in the Sahel are connected.5 As a reminder, after the terrorist attack against a Malian Defense and Security Forces patrol from July 24 to 26, 2024, in Tinzawatène, in the Kidal region, Mali denounced this incident in its 2024 address here and condemned the attitude of Ukrainian officials who publicly claimed responsibility for their participation in the terrorist attack. From this atypical behavior, we simply concluded that Ukrainian officials had unfortunately confused the international stage with the theater stage.”

Drones: “A year later, the situation has escalated and the Ukrainian regime has become one of the main suppliers of kamikaze drones to terrorist groups around the world. In this context, some Western states must stop supplying weapons to Ukraine, at the risk of contributing to the promotion of international terrorism. For others, including the French regime, which is nostalgic for colonization and concerned about its loss of influence in the Sahel, support for the Ukrainian regime is part of a strategy to focus the international community's attention on the war in Ukraine, while sponsoring terrorist groups operating in the Sahel.”

Drones: “As announced, the Algerian junta shot down a Malian drone purchased with its own funds, paid for by Malian taxpayers, on the false pretext that it had violated their airspace. Mali is troubled by the Algerian junta's theory, which defies the laws of physics and claims that an object shot down in the air is capable of traveling 22 km from its point of impact and ending up on Malian territory. Indeed, it is worth noting that the debris from the Malian drone was found on Malian territory, thus validating our arguments.”

Malta
Mr. Robert Abela, Prime Minister
26 September 2025

Armed conflict: “In 1945, at the end of that global conflict, the world seemed in ruins. Thankfully, in 2025, our world isn’t in ruins …. but too much of it is in flames. Eighty years ago, the leaders owed it to the tens of millions who had lost their lives, over six years of slaughter, to NEVER lose hope. So do we, as leaders today, owe it to every citizen we serve to similarly NEVER lose hope.”

Armed conflict: “I know that fine words here in New York won’t, by themselves, end conflict, hunger, or the deaths by malnutrition. But I remain convinced that the resolution we show – and yes, the resolutions we pass here - can make a real difference on the ground. We must never lose sight of the power of collective will, and that of collective action. Because while the eight decades of the United Nations have seen far too much conflict and suffering …. They have also seen human progress on a scale even the most optimistic of the founding fathers, who dared to dream that working together could work to transform the lives of ordinary people, would have never imagined. In 1945 global life expectancy – war aside – hovered in the mid-forties.”

Armed conflict: “Never say peace can’t be achieved. Never give into defeatism, even over the most outwardly unresolvable of conflicts. Sadly, on Malta’s doorstep, two such conflicts, wars, are raging. Ukraine, and Gaza. The world must not turn its back on either, or tackle them with double standards as this would undermine our credibility and effectiveness. We must never wring our hands and consign ANY conflict to the ‘too difficult to deal with’ pile.”

Armed conflict, ceasefire: “It is now three and a half years since Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Malta remains as resolute now as it was then – in demanding a lasting and just peace, that guarantees Ukraine’s sovereignty. That is the only solution which will adhere to the spirit of both the UN Charter and international law. But that can only come about following a full and unconditional permanent ceasefire, and the full participation of Ukraine in any future peace talks and decision-taking. Malta stands firmly with our fellow EU members in believing that we must keep the strongest possible pressure on the Russian economy to force the Russian government to see sense and engage in genuine dialogue. Slava Ukraini!

“So too must there be an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The suffering of so many thousands on innocents civilians must come to an end. NOW! The remaining hostages must be released immediately by Hamas. International humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow, without impediment. It is so morally wrong, and inhuman, that so many innocent people are dying of hunger and severe malnutrition. These atrocities must stop NOW. We cannot allow the further killing of thousands of innocent people, babies, children, youths, the elderly and the frail to continue, and turn our heads the other way because of other improper considerations. We cannot remain silent. Decisive and effective action needs to be taken without any further delay.

“I cannot bear to see anymore the physical and psychological pain and suffering in the eyes of the children we bring over to Malta from Gaza, to give them a better future. Children with mutilated bodies who are supposed to be celebrating the innocence of their youth and the best period of their lives. The parents, who have lost their children. And I ask – WHY? When leadership should be about humanity and empathy, and not about who can inflict the maximum damage to ‘win’ a war, or wipe out a nation.

“I was proud this week to stand with other world leaders and add Malta to the growing list of allies recognising Palestinian statehood. After tens of years of discussions in Malta, we took decisive action.”

War, missiles, drones: “I owed this to Ibrahim, a fifteen year old icon of the resilience and strength of the Palestinian people. Ibrahim is now receiving the best medical care and prosthetics in Malta after having both his legs blown off and severely injured by a missile fired from a drone in Gaza.”

War: “Those are the daily realities in Gaza, and we have to stand up and be counted. Not doing so means we are complicit in what is happening. A viable two-state solution isn’t a ‘reward’ for Hamas. It is the exact opposite. It is the only way to finally banish the evil of Hamas. It is the ONLY solution that can deliver the sustainable and peaceful future that BOTH peoples wish for and deserve. Of course, the road to a fair two-state solution is a long one, fraught with difficulties. But just because something is hard, doesn’t mean it is impossible. The world owes to Israelis and Palestinians alike to pursue this path to peace.”

Marshall Islands
Ms. Hilda Heine, President
24 September 2025

Armed conflict: “The UN was founded on a commitment to never again tolerate aggression, to avoid the very kind of geopolitical tension or even future open conflict between superpowers now openly foretold today, in my own Pacific Islands region and far beyond. At a time when international cooperation is in dire need, the very foundations of global order are now more uncertain than ever.”

Nuclear weapons: “During our decades as a UN Strategic Trusteeship administered by the United States, the UN Trusteeship Council remained an early and important platform for our voices, and to tell the world where right lay from wrong. But it fell short of its mandate - today, our nation bears the legacy of 67 atmospheric nuclear tests between 1946 and 1958, which pose profound contemporary challenges. And while we acknowledge important actions by the former administering authority, the US, significant disagreement remains, including ultimate responsibility for what remains today. Our communities seek justice, a clean environment and safe return to their homes.

“Our Marshallese pleas to the Trusteeship Council to stop nuclear testing were disregarded with assurances of our well-being, with two resolutions assuring our well-being, in 1954 and 1956, remain the only instance in which a UN organ has ever so explicitly allowed nuclear detonations. And the eventual result was a legacy burden of nuclear risk and exposure which has persisted for generations of human rights, environmental and health challenges, as addressed by UN Human Rights Council resolution 57/26 and reported on by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Special Rapporteurs on Toxics, and Internally Displaced Persons.

“Today - the difficult lessons of our past should help drive international efforts to curb and end nuclear threats through any effective means. Rising global tension has only heightened nuclear risk The Marshall Islands has recently become a signatory to the Rarotonga South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone treaty, and we also look forward to completing timely ratification.

“It does not escape attention that the Trusteeship Council is due to meet this December. 79 years after the first nuclear test was conducted in my country in 1946, the UN should now be capable of delivering a contemporary acknowledgment and apology for what took place in its name and under its flag, and for not hearing the voice of our people when we told this body to stop. Perhaps after 34 years since our admission as a member of this body in 1991, the appropriate UN organs can help to bring healing and closure over decisions which never should have been made.”

Nuclear weapons: “The threat of nuclear war that confronted the world in 1961 remains today- though now at an even greater scale.”

Armed conflict: “Starting with the 2014 occupation of Crimea, Russian aggression in Ukraine has lacked any basis in international law, and has pushed the world deeper into global tension. Accountability must be applied to all, and while strong leadership is needed to help fairly resolve and address this difficult crisis, it must also closely and directly involve Ukraine itself. And while the Pacific Islands are halfway across the world, we should have a very direct interest how small and vulnerable democracies are treated in the footsteps of larger powers.”

Militarism: “The UN Secretariat should further end discriminatory practices against Taiwanese passport holders, including journalists - and all member states should understand that these, and other politically influenced practices where Resolution 2758 is misrepresented, will never be justification under international law for military invasion or coercive acts against Taiwan.”

Mauritania
Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Marzouk, Minister of Foreign Affairs
27 September 2025

Artificial Intelligence, war: “It is clear that our world today consists of two contrasting worlds: one is rapidly moving towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution and artificial intelligence, while the other remains trapped in poverty and marginalization. The steadily widening of this gap, in light of the current situation of growing conflicts and wars, places humanity before. A difficult test that requires us to unite our efforts to create solutions capable of narrowing this gap by achieving fair and comprehensive development centered on the human being and their right to a decent life.”

War: “The global context in which this session is being held is extremely complex and fraught with challenges. Tensions, wars, and conflict zones are escalating in various regions, while terrorist threats and natural disasters resulting from climate change are worsening. Human suffering is increasing, and the humanitarian burdens on entire populations are multiplying. This exposes international stability and peace to increasing risks and reinforces the need for a more effective role for our international organization. In the midst of this, the genocidal war that is being waged against Our people in Gaza, the human conscience and the credibility of our international system in general, are facing a fateful test. We, in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, condemn this aggression and renew our support for the Palestinian people.

“The confirmation that violence cannot bring lasting security and peace, and that the stability of the Middle East as a whole inevitably passes through empowering the Palestinian brotherly people to fulfill their right to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the relevant international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

“In this context, we express our satisfaction with what we observe of dynamism in the work towards recognizing the State of Palestine, strongly embodied by the wide voting in the United Nations General Assembly in favor of the New York Declaration regarding the implementation of the two-state solution that resulted from the high-level international conference held in July 2025 at the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic.

“I would like to take this opportunity to extend, on behalf of my country, thanks to both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic for organizing the aforementioned conference despite the challenges and obstacles, praising the positions of the countries that announced their recognition of the State of Palestine, and hoping that other countries will follow suit in prioritizing the logic of truth and justice until Palestine becomes a full member state in the United Nations. ”

War: “In the same context, our country reiterates its strong condemnation of the recent Israeli aggression against the sisterly State of Qatar, which, according to all norms, constitutes a blatant violation of the sovereignty of this sisterly state and international conventions. We also affirm our support for peaceful solutions in Libya, Sudan, Yemen, and Syria, and our support for UN efforts regarding Western Sahara, calling for an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war through negotiations, thus sparing the world further tragedies.”

Mauritius
Mr. Dhananjay Ramful Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and International Trade
26 September 2025

Armed conflict: “Unfortunately, behind these figures, also hides the continued suffering of hundreds of millions of our fellow humans living in conflict zones, subject to violations of their human rights, and for whom basic human needs remain a dream.

“The winds of conflicts are blowing across almost all continents. All marked with blatant violations of international law. Each of them represents the failure of humanity to protect its most vulnerable.”

Armed conflict, cyber, artificial intelligence: “The world today is facing what may be accurately described as a “poly-crisis”: persistent conflicts, climate emergencies, environmental degradation, growing inequalities, cyber criminality, exacerbated by artificial intelligence!”

War: “ Mauritius reiterates its principled and longstanding stance in support of the Palestinian cause, which led to our recognition of the State of Palestine in November 1988. 78 years after the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 181, the State of Palestine continues to be denied full membership of the United Nations. Mauritius welcomes the overwhelming support for a two-State solution and endorses the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. We call on the international community to spare no effort to achieve this solution.”

Artificial intelligence: “The transformative potential of AI and digital technologies are undeniable; but they also represent real challenges for contemporary society. AI‘s capabilities should be harnessed responsibly and collectively. There is need to build a global governance architecture through multilateral negotiations that will ensure safe, secure, ethical and inclusive use of AI. Resource and capacity constraints of developing economies have to be acknowledged and addressed. The digital divide should not be allowed to widen further. We welcome the recent establishment of the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance.”

Mexico
Mr. Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, Minister for Foreign Affairs
25 September 2025

Military spending, arms race, war: “As members of the international community, we face enormous challenges: poverty persists in a world of exorbitant wealth; some countries spend more on servicing their debt than on investments in the health and education of their people; and spending on weapons has grown to three times the size of the global economy, to name a few. The diagnosis has always been clear: the arms race, the immoral concentration of wealth, and violations of international law and human rights are the fuel that feeds war and violence.”

Arms race, nuclear weapons, small arms and light weapons, military spending, armed conflict: “Without attempting to be exhaustive, allow me to share some premises that may contribute to finding a better course for the international community: … 2) Peace, peace is built from the bottom up. Ensuring well-being means addressing the structural causes of violence. Conflict resolution often begins at home, continues in education, in decent employment with fair wages and social security that allows for the inclusion of the entire social fabric. The international community must review, with a more critical and innovative spirit, the alternatives that young people have today.

“Similarly, it is up to the international community to put a stop to the arms race, not only in nuclear weapons, but also in the illicit trafficking of firearms and the maelstrom of arms spending that fuels poverty and exacerbates conflict.

“In the face of the rampant proliferation of weapons, politics, mediation, diplomacy, law, and dialogue must take precedence. The United Nations must play a much more active role in the prevention and resolution of these conflicts. Multilateralism must once again become the forum for resolving disputes. And this brings us to a third premise.”

War, ceasefire, armed conflicts: “3) International law must be upheld alongside human rights. If we truly want to prevent the proliferation of conflicts that impact people's lives and dignity, we must respect international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Whether in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Latin America, or anywhere else on the planet, war causes intolerable suffering and threatens to unleash an even greater escalation of violence that could be profoundly destructive on a global scale. The wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and everywhere else must stop now.

“We will not cease to insist on the urgent call for a ceasefire in order to always achieve a negotiated solution, with the participation of all parties directly involved. There can be no negotiated solution if one of the parties is excluded. The solution must be diplomatic, or it will hardly be a solution at all.

“Mexico will always advocate for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and, therefore, rejects sanctions and trade blockades that only harm the well-being of peoples and do not build regions of peace or prosperity. We unequivocally reaffirm our historic position against the blockade of Cuba and our call to remove this country from the list of those that support terrorism.

“Respecting international law is the safeguard of peace. It is the antidote to a logic of power that violates weaker nations. In the words of our Distinguished Citizen of the Americas, Benito Juárez García, “everything by reason and law, nothing by force.’”

Micronesia (Federated States of)
Mr. Wesley W. Simina, President
25 September 2025

Artificial Intelligence: “Micronesia co-sponsored the first-ever UN resolution on AI alongside 120 member states. While AI holds great promise for economic development, it also carries risks that must be carefully managed. The inclusive and constructive dialogue that shaped this resolution offers a model for future discussions, including those on peace, security, and the responsible military use of AI. As the digital world advances at an unprecedented pace, global cooperation is essential to ensure that AI systems remain safe, secure, and trustworthy.”

Cyber: “Micronesia through our own cybersecurity efforts is committed to developing national strategies and policies to safeguard our digital data and mitigate the risks of malicious attacks.”

Explosive remnants of war: “Food and water security remain pressing challenges for Micronesia, as fragile freshwater sources and climate extremes undermine agriculture, marine ecosystems, reduce yields of traditional crops and increase reliance on costly less nutritious imports. Compounding these challenges, just days ago I was compelled to declare a national state of emergency due to an ongoing oil leak from a World War II sunken vessel in Chuuk Lagoon. This ship, together with more than 60 other wartime wrecks, has rested in our waters for nearly 80 years since the war’s end. But now these remnants of conflict pose new dangers as toxic oil seeps into our ocean, threatening our fisheries, coastal communities, and livelihoods. The scale of this crisis far exceeds Micronesia’s capacity to address alone. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the war’s end, we appeal to the international community to work with us in transforming this legacy of war into an opportunity for cooperation.”

Moldova (Republic of)
Mr. Gheorghe Leucă, Permanent Representative to the United Nations
29 September 2025

Cyber: “But let us be clear: this democratic choice was made against the backdrop of hybrid warfare. Interference began long before election day and will not end with it. Russia has sought to undermine Moldova’s sovereignty through illicit financing, disinformation, cyberattacks, and intimidation of voters. On election day itself, attempts were made to obstruct the diaspora vote, spread false narratives, and target electoral infrastructure…Democracies everywhere are being tested by increasingly sophisticated tools designed to manipulate information, erode trust, and distort elections.”

War, explosive weapons: “We resolutely condemn Russia’s war of aggression. We support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters. Every missile that strikes homes and civilian infrastructure violates international law. Accountability must follow, and Moldova supports the international community’s efforts to document and prosecute such crimes. This war is not only against Ukraine. It is a war against Europe, against freedom, and against the international order established by the United Nations Charter. Moldova will continue to stand with Ukraine and with all those who defend peace”

War: “We once again call for the complete, unconditional, and immediate withdrawal of Russian troops and ammunition from Moldovan territory, in line with Russia’s own international obligations. This withdrawal must be transparent and under international monitoring.

Monaco
Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince
24 September 2025

Armed conflicts: “International security is said today gravely imperiled international tensions, and conflicts are spreading in all four corners of the world, and this makes it all the more necessary for there to be a reaffirmation of the core principles of the United Nations: sovereignty of states, peaceful dispute resolution, and respect for international law and human rights. In this regard, the principality of Monaco firmly condemns the war of aggression targeting Ukraine and the suffering this has inflicted upon civilian populations. And I reiterated this message just now to President Zelensky. I charged the hope that a peace agreement can be found soon to guarantee security and to arise to the expectations of the Ukrainian people. In the Middle East, violence has generated unacceptable human suffering casualties.  The risk of regional conflagration requires that there being an immediate deescalation, protection of civilians, the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance and a sincere re-launch of the peace process and the basis of the two states. Peace is not a utopia. Peace is an overwriting necessity.”

Armed conflict: “There's an urgent need to generate collective commitment to combat violence against women and girls, and against all kinds of persecution which they endure, including in conflict affected areas. No society can be prosperous if such inequality persists there.”

Mongolia
Mr. Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, President
23 September 2025

Nuclear weapons, disarmament, non-proliferation: “Since becoming a full pledged member of the United Nations in 1961, Mongolia has steadfastly supported the Organization's efforts to strengthen international peace and security. Demonstrating its enduring commitments to disarmament and non-proliferation and declaring its territory’s nuclear-weapon-free status.”

Montenegro
Mr. Jakov Milatović, President
25 September 2025

Explosive weapons, nuclear weapons: “Let us imagine the devastated cities around the world in 1945: Warsaw leveled to the ground, St. Petersburg ravaged after years of siege, Berlin in ruins, Hiroshima and Nagasaki struck by unimaginable horror, and my hometown and also the capital of Montenegro – Podgorica, was also almost completely destroyed in the bombings. Despite the wounds.”

War: “However, even after eight decades, we must acknowledge a serious truth: the absence of world war has not always meant the presence of true peace and prosperity. Today, multilateralism faces challenges unlike any seen before. Our world is confronted with devastating conflicts, rising polarization, serious human rights violations, deep economic inequalities, as well as the destructive spread of disinformation.”

War: “To strengthen multilateralism, we must also confront its weaknesses. The Security Council increasingly remains paralyzed and unable to fulfill its primary mandate as the main guardian of peace and security. The latest example is the war in Ukraine, which has inflicted immeasurable suffering on that people. Montenegro welcomes the recent diplomatic efforts of the international community, led by the United States, aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We sincerely hope for the success of these efforts.”

Ceasefire: “At the same time, Montenegro expresses deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people in Gaza. We call for an urgent ceasefire. Montenegro also strongly condemns the horrific terrorist attack that occurred on October 7, 2023, and urges the unconditional release of all hostages. We consistently support the peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution, in full accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions. Montenegro has supported the New York Declaration on the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution.”

Morocco
Mr. Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Government
23 September 2025

Ceasefire, war: “Our action today needs to be based on four priorities. One, an immediate ceasefire, and a return to the negotiation stable in order to put a final end to the war, to ensure the entry of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank without any conditions and restrictions. Three, promote the vital role of the UNRWA.  And four, implement a clear and comprehensive roadmap for reconstruction, the roadmap that was adopted by the Arab summit, under the leadership of the Palestinian authority and under the sponsorship of the Arab and international worlds. Based on the instructions of our Majesty, the king, we continue to believe that the two states solution is the only way to achieve sustainable and comprehensive fees in the Middle East. This is the solution that can no longer be delayed or marginalized.  It needs to be a moral commitment and a political immediate request.”

War: “We also stand in solidarity with the state of Qatar, Syria, and Lebanon, in the face of the attacks they have been under by Israel. In the same vein, we call for the adoption of a peaceful solution to disputes in the sisterly Arab states, including in Libya, Yemen, the Sudan, and Somalia, through dialogue and consensus. These solutions need to be based on the respect of their national sovereignty, their territorial unity, away from any foreign interventions.”

Artificial intelligence: “In a few years, artificial intelligence has imposed itself as a new way to reshape our economies and our way of life.  We are aware of the great opportunities it provides. However, we also recognize the great challenges it poses. Artificial intelligence should not become an alternative.  It should not lead to more generalization. It should rather promote collective development. The tangible implementation of artificial intelligence is imposed today in a number of sectors, such as health, education, agriculture, and others. This is why we are betting on it today. Turning a blind eye to artificial intelligence and not taking advantage of it means wasting economic opportunities. We need to adopt artificial intelligence, to reshape the labor market and adapt with the growing and fast challenges imposed by the need to use AI more responsibly. This is what the kingdom of Morocco is working on right now through its digital strategy 2030.”

Armed conflict: “The kingdom of Morocco stresses its full support to the Secretary General of the United Nations and his special representative, to find a final solution to the regional dispute on the Sahara.  The Autonomy Initiative is the only solution that is realistic.”

Mozambique
Mr. Daniel Francisco Chapo, President
23 September 2025

Armed conflict: “The year 2025 has tested the limits of multilateralism, with the United Nations at its epicentre. We are witnessing the intensification and escalation of conflicts and a growing sense of impunity. Ongoing conflicts in various corners of the world and protracted crises remind us that the promise to “save future generations from the scourge of war”, enshrined in the 1945 Charter, remains unfulfilled.”

Nuclear weapons, war: “Eighty years of building multilateral institutions, safeguards and principles that have governed global affairs are now at risk. The result is clear: wars are multiplying, the climate crisis is worsening, debts are rising, tariffs are growing, disillusionment is spreading and, above all, the nuclear spectre is returning.”

Artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons: “Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies offer extraordinary opportunities, but also serious risks of exclusion, manipulation and even militarisation through autonomous weapons. These advances pose new challenges to the defence of human dignity, justice and labour. Until we fully understand how these models work, we cannot entrust them with critical missions without robust safeguards. That is why Mozambique advocates technological and climate diplomacy capable of regulating risks and democratising benefits through a genuine transfer and sharing of knowledge and technologies, so that science and technology are not factors of exclusion but rather instruments of climate justice and inclusive development. Faced with these interconnected challenges, our continent, Africa, can and must take an active role in defining international norms and standards, formulating principles of scientific ethics and determining research priorities, ensuring that technological innovation is always at the service of humanity.”

Armed conflict: “We also reiterate our support for the two-state solution for Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with Israel, as the only fair, legitimate and lasting way to fulfil the aspirations of both peoples. We congratulate those countries that have recently decided to recognise the State of Palestine, the same right recognised for Israel, thereby contributing to strengthening the legitimacy and irreversibility of the two-state solution.”

Namibia
Ms. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President
24 September 2025

War: “While over the following decades, we have come close to the brink of war, the United Nations has stood the test of time. From decolonization to promoting the right to self-determination, from conflict prevention and securing peace, to the provision of humanitarian assistance, the UN has continued to fulfill its founding mandate under very difficult circumstances. Therefore, the international community must honour the brave men and women who under the blue flag have been at the forefront in securing world peace.”

Artificial intelligence: “Namibia acknowledges the technological advances, in all fields, but ethical boundaries must be respected. However, Artificial Intelligence must not be a substitute for human judgment or responsibility. We therefore, call for global standards that ensure that the usage of AI remains transparent, fair for humanity.”

Armed conflict: “We meet against a backdrop of profound global tensions. The world is fractured by conflict, displacement, and economic instability, straining multilateral cooperation, further fragmenting consensus.”

Armed conflict: “The UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, has just released its findings that, indeed, a genocide is being committed against the Palestinian people. Despite the clear provisions of Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and advisory opinions rendered by the International Court of Justice, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening, and access to humanitarian aid is severely limited.

“A failure to address the crisis in Gaza could become the moral failure that defines this era. We call on the UN Security Council to find consensus and help put an end to this longstanding conflict, between Israel and Palestine. Namibia's history is one of untold suffering marked by Apartheid colonialism and genocide. It is our painful history that compels us to speak out, not out of bitterness, but conviction of the power of international solidarity. The unprecedented human suffering of the people of Palestine should question our human conscience. What we need is constructive dialogue to prevail. The people of Palestine must also benefit from the noble promises of the United Nations Charter.”

Nauru
Mr. David Ranibok Adeang, President
23 September 2025

Militarism, armed conflict: “We gather at a time when the world faces unprecedented challenges to peace and security. Nauru stands firmly against war and conflict, believing that dialogue and diplomacy must always prevail over division. The principles enshrined in the UN Charter—peace, human rights, and international cooperation—remain our guiding light. Nauru may not have military might, but we have moral authority earned through our commitment to peaceful coexistence and multilateral solutions. We call upon all nations to choose unity over discord, cooperation over conflict and shared prosperity as the foundation for addressing our common challenges.”

Nepal
Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, Permanent Representative to the United Nations
29 September 2025

Militarism: “The world itself stands at a crossroads. Peace is in peril. Militarization is mounting. Development is drifting and the climate crisis is culminating. We have seen commitments unmet and promises unkept.”

Disarmament, weapons: “Nepal remains a steadfast advocate for complete and general disarmament. The lasting peace and a safer world depend on the reduction of all weapons, conventional and emerging alike.”

War: “Many parts of the world are witnessing protracted crises. War is raging relentlessly in Ukraine. Suffering is deepening in Gaza, where civilians bear the heaviest toll. We support a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully and securely within internationally recognized borders in line with the relevant United Nations resolutions. Nepal is deeply concerned about the innocent civilians held hostage by Hamas. We call for the immediate release of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student, who has been held hostage by Hamas since October 7, 2023.

“Crises in Sudan, the Sahel, and beyond have left millions displaced, hungry, and vulnerable. The architecture of global peace has been under severe pressure unseen since the Second World War. Institutions designed to prevent conflict and uphold human dignity are tested as never before.”

Military spending: “It is frustrating that the defence budget is skyrocketing while development cooperation is shrinking. Global military spending has reached unprecedented levels -2.7 trillion US dollars in 2024, the highest since the Cold War.”

Armed conflict: “Let me highlight a few areas that deserve urgent global attention. First, peace and security. Beyond words, peace demands action. It demands courage. And, it demands commitment. In these turbulent times, dialogue must triumph over hostility, diplomacy over conflict, and cooperation over division. We must take urgent and coordinated actions to prevent conflict, uphold justice, and foster inclusive development. It is incumbent upon us to address the root causes of conflicts, including poverty, inequality, and marginalization.

Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
Mr. Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria Schoof, Prime Minister
25 September 2025

Armed conflict: ”Back in 1947, a seven-year-old Dutch boy called Dirk Salomons and his father made a long car journey to the German city of Cologne. When they arrived, Dirk couldn’t believe his eyes. ‘It was a shocking sight,’ he said in a recent newspaper interview. ‘Rubble everywhere, people living in abject poverty, the entire city flattened by bombing.’ Today, almost 80 years later, those images are still seared in Dirk’s memory. And that was precisely his father’s intention. ‘He wanted to show me what war can do to a city,’ he recalled in the interview. ‘At the same time,’ he added, ‘we were also hearing radio reports about the establishment of the United Nations in New York. All my father’s hope was invested in that.’”

“Of course, the world has changed dramatically since then. And unfortunately, we must acknowledge that the mission – no more war – has failed. In fact, this year – even as we celebrate the United Nations’ 80th anniversary – we have heard it said that the UN can no longer justify its existence. Anyone who says that, however, has forgotten where we came from.”

Artificial Intelligence: “Changing with the times, also means making the most of today’s opportunities. Such as using AI and other technologies wherever we can. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is already taking the lead on this, by teaming up with donors and partners to explore new ways of boosting the efficiency and effectiveness of multilateral institutions.”

Armed conflict: “We’ve seen that in Ukraine, whose people have been suffering under Russian attacks for three and a half years now. As Ukrainian troops continue fighting every day to protect their country, their families and their right to self-determination, people in the areas occupied by Russia are enduring systematic oppression and grave human rights violations on a daily basis. We’ve seen several initiatives aimed at bringing peace closer since the spring, such as talks in Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the US. But peace still seems like a very distant prospect. Ukraine has adopted a constructive stance, but so far Russia has shown no genuine willingness to accept the US proposals. And in the meantime, the war of aggression and the suffering continue unabated.”

Armed conflict: “And then there are those other matters that we hear far too little about, even though they give cause for grave concern. Just look at what’s happening in Sudan. Since April 2023, more than 150,000 people have been killed, and 14 million more have had to flee their homes.”

“All trade routes and aid corridors have been cut off, so for the past year humanitarian organisations have been unable to provide more aid. As a result, half the Sudanese population is living with the reality of food insecurity. And in parts of Darfur and Kordofan, a famine has been declared. This has to stop. The Netherlands, together with the EU and donor countries, is therefore calling on all the warring parties to respect international law and allow humanitarian aid to reach those who need it.”

“As I’ve said, the horrors unfolding in Sudan have barely registered in the outside world. The same cannot be said of the horrors unfolding in Gaza. Every day we see more heartbreaking images emerging from the region. Images we scarcely thought possible. Images that defy our understanding and even our faith in humanity. There is only one appropriate response: this war, this suffering must end now. That starts with the safe, unimpeded and unlimited access of humanitarian aid for the suffering people of Gaza. Including UN aid.”

Arms trade: “In addition we will continue, at both national and European level, to urge the Israeli government to drastically change its course. For example, we’re supporting the European Commission’s proposal to restrict investment in Israeli companies that develop dual-use technologies. And we’re also stating clearly that we want to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, refuse goods from illegal settlements and stop issuing export licences for arms.”

Armed conflict: “At the same time, these actions must not obscure another truth. Hamas is a terrorist organisation that must lay down its arms. There is no place for Hamas in the future governance of the Gaza Strip. What’s more, the only route to a lasting peace, is through negotiations that ultimately lead to a twostate solution. With the signing of the New York Declaration [this High Level Week], including by the Netherlands, we are taking a step on the path to a lasting peace.”

New Zealand
Mr. Winston Peters, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2025

Armed conflict: “New Zealand is deeply troubled by the humanitarian disasters we see globally. While the international community’s focus is rightly dominated by the suffering in Gaza and Ukraine, humanitarian crises in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Sudan and Myanmar lead us to a deeper concern. Our concern is that the effects of large-scale violence, displacement, and famine will create further inter-generational cycles of violence in countries already wracked by political instability and conflict.

“Nearly 17 million people require humanitarian aid in Syria, with a similarly large number displaced. Over 21 million Congolese require humanitarian support. In Sudan, more than 30 million people, some 65 percent of its population, require urgent humanitarian aid and protection. Basic services have collapsed, vaccination rates plummeted, and violence, including sexual violence, are endemic. Some 13 million Sudanese people have been displaced from their homes. In Myanmar, over 3.5 million people are internally displaced and 22 million in need of humanitarian assistance, making it the worst humanitarian crisis in Southeast Asia. These bald numbers are shocking to contemplate because they say that in too many places our shared humanity is held in contempt, or worse.”

War: “It was courageous leadership that saw Egyptian President Anwar Sadat address the Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem, in November 1977, to extol peace. Sadat would pay the ultimate sacrifice for his courage but his country and Israel have benefitted from his courage in the decades since. In that speech, Sadat said: ‘the struggle which took us from war to war, from victims to more victims, until you and we have today reached the edge of a horrible abyss and a terrifying disaster unless, together, we seize this opportunity today of a durable peace based on justice’.

“We are again on the edge of a horrible abyss in Gaza. But where, we ask, is the quality of leadership that can pull Israelis and Palestinians back from the abyss to project hope to the victims of this intolerable violence? Because without hope, the cycles of violence that fuel and perpetuate this never-ending conflict will not end. It will instead be a terrorist breeding ground, creating the next generation of recruits for those who only hate.”

“That is the current context for the New Zealand Government considering the vexed question of Palestinian statehood. New Zealand is an enduring supporter of the two-state solution and

Palestinian self-determination. Our long-standing policy is that Palestinian state recognition is a matter of when, not if. We noted announcements by some countries in July and August that they intended to recognise Palestinian statehood this week, now confirmed. We have also closely observed the Israeli Government’s actions in Gaza and on the West Bank following those earlier announcements. And we have listened carefully to the arguments made earlier this week at the ‘Two State Solution Conference’.

“Palestinian statehood recognition is, however, uniquely complicated given it is embedded in a seemingly intractable, never-ending conflict situation. Very few New Zealanders can recall any period of sustained peace in the Middle East during their lifetimes. And while New Zealand is furthest away from that conflict in the Middle East, we also acknowledge the strongly held views people have about it.

“New Zealanders were appalled by the barbarity of Hamas’ attack on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023, the worst massacre in Israel’s history. Hamas have no place in any future Palestinian State. They know only hate. Today, nearly two years on from the horror inflicted that day, including the continued holding of Israeli hostages by Hamas, we are shocked to our core by harrowing images of famine in Gaza. We are also revolted by what can only be described as a grossly disproportionate response from the Israeli Government.

“However, there is an old saying that sums up well the vexed question of Palestinian statehood recognition, ‘If the string is too tight it will snap, but if it is too loose, the instrument will not play.’ Those countries who hoped their earlier signalling of Palestinian statehood recognition would protect and promote the two-state solution have instead seen the Israeli Government snap, and continue its widely condemned military actions in Gaza while continuing to develop illegal settlements on the West Bank, in defiance of international law.

“The New Zealand Government agrees with the ends sought by partners, and acknowledges their good intentions. We commend too the leadership efforts of those countries trying to bring an end to the violence through their diplomatic efforts. We desperately want diplomacy to succeed and we believe it is those countries with leverage who are most likely to achieve a breakthrough. That would show global leadership.

“However, we do not believe that the current situation represents the last or even best chance to preserve the two-state solution. Rather, we think a future situation – when Israeli and Palestinian political leadership is an asset, not a liability, and where other situational variables have shifted the current calculus away from conflict and towards peace – would be more conducive for recognising Palestinian statehood.

“Therein lies our dilemma over any decision to recognise Palestine statehood now, because statehood recognition, as an instrument for peace, also does not play because there is no fully legitimate and viable State of Palestine to recognise. Palestine does not fully meet the accepted criteria for a state as it does not fully control its own territory or population. There is also no obvious link between more of the international community recognising the State of Palestine and the claimed objective of protecting the two-state solution. Indeed, what we have observed since partners’ pre-announcement reveals that recognising Palestine now will likely prove counterproductive. That is, Hamas resisting negotiation in the belief it is winning the global propaganda war, while pushing Israel towards even more intransigent military positions.

“Recognition at this time, we also think, is open to political manipulation by both Hamas and Israel. Hamas will seek to portray our recognition of Palestine as a victory, as they have already done in response to partner announcements. Israel will claim that recognition rewards Hamas and that it removes pressure on them to release hostages and agree to a ceasefire. And then, like over 150 countries before it, New Zealand recognition of Palestinian statehood now would serve as little more than an existential act of defiance against an unalterable state of affairs. We are not ready to make that gesture.

“Rather, the New Zealand Government believes that it has one opportunity to recognise Palestinian statehood and it would make better sense to do so when conditions offer greater prospects for peace and negotiation than at present. With a war raging, Hamas still in place, and no clarity on next steps, we do not think that time is now.

“We have, ever since the October 7 attacks, repeatedly demanded a ceasefire, the release of the remaining hostages, and for Israel to allow vital aid to flow into Gaza. That is where our focus remains. To that end, today the New Zealand Government announces a further

significant financial contribution to support the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Our focus will not shift from where it is needed most, in Gaza, right now. Aid must flow and the violence must cease. Ultimately, however, if leaders and their people do not covet peace, or cannot overcome their hate, no actions taken by us will shift them from their destructive and ruinous path. But if they do covet peace; when we see action, not in the form of rhetoric, but of agreements; and when statehood emerges, with institutions to support it, New Zealand will then recognise Palestinian statehood.”

Nicaragua
Mr. Denis Rolando Moncada Colindres, Minister for Foreign Affairs
29 September 2025

War: “In these crucial circumstances of Human history, the dilemma is repeated, the eternal duality, the never-resolved conflict between Peace and War, between Life and Death, between the supremacist claim to annihilate, subjugate and appropriate our Cultures, and our obligation to defend our Spiritual, Social and Material Heritages. These are moments that define us... Either we are for Peace and Life, or we are cowardly promoters of War, Misery and Death.”

War: “The Human Family demands respect for all the Agreements made 80 years ago, when the United Nations was created, to stop Wars and build firm, lasting Peace and Justice, the Treasure and a Patrimony of Everyone.”

Weapons, militarism: “Here we denounce and condemn, once again, all the savage, atrocious, incomprehensible outrages at this stage of Life, that the Imperialist Powers deploy via their economic, cultural and commercial policies, seeking to continue dominating us, and grossly trying to intimidate us with their stupid armaments and ostentatious military designs, directed against Peace, in Asia, Africa and our Latin American-Caribbean…We denounce and condemn all the insulting and vulgar aggression, verbal, political, economic and commercial along with the bellicose outrages, which also constitute Crimes against Humanity, Crimes against Security, Tranquility, Justice and Peace, the Supreme Assets of our Peoples, which they cannot, and should not abuse or snatch away.”

War: “We reiterate our historical and permanent condemnation of the Genocide, the barbaric policy of denial of the Palestinian People... We condemn all the savage, brutal, massacres that are perpetuated and spreading, in clear view with the complacency of the whole world. We condemn the State of Israel, just as we have condemned and do condemn the policies and practices of the other Colonial, Imperial, Neo-colonial and Fascist Powers.”

Niger
Mr. Lamine Zeine Ali Mahaman, Prime Minister of the Transition Government
27 September 2025

War: “Based on these principles, the people of Niger unreservedly condemn the Israeli genocide in Gaza and offer their strongest support for the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state. Similarly, Niger strongly condemns Israeli attacks against Iran and Qatar and protests against the trivialization of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and the Sahel, amid the total indifference of the international community and even the complicity of certain foreign powers on the African continent.”

Armed conflict: “The direct actors involved in open conflicts are not solely responsible for the insecurity and uncertainty that the world is experiencing today. Indeed, Niger also wishes to denounce the inaction of all those who have the means to act in favor of truth and peace, the silence of those whose voices carry weight, the indifference of selfish individuals who are prepared to destabilize countries and entire regions for their own interests, the lack of humanity of those who act deviously to sow death among others, and the stupidity of those who betray their homeland and their continent.”

Armed groups, weapons, militarism: “The usual narrative would have us explain the situation in the Sahel by the fall of Colonel Gaddafi's regime in 2011 and the collapse of the Libyan state which led to the surge of armed groups and the spilling of significant quantities of weapons into our region… As the armies of foreign Western powers have moved into the Sahel countries, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, supposedly to help them deal with it, there has been an extension and densification, both progressive, of the terrorist phenomenon in the region. ”

Disarmament, war: “From this august platform, my country, Niger, addresses the conscience of the world, to point the finger at this hostile force which, since the 19th century, has not disarmed, and is still waging total war against my country today.”

Uranium: “Then, the plundering of our resources, to the detriment of Nigerians and the environment. Indeed, for half a century I speak on behalf of the men who were shot and the beheaded resistance fighters. exploitation, Uranium has brought only misery, pollution, rebellion, corruption and desolation to the Nigerians and prosperity and power to the French.”

Nigeria
Mr. Kashim Shetima, Vice-President
24 September 2025

Nuclear weapons, small arms and light weapons, armed conflict: “The pace of change across borders is a force without pause. It manifests in the tools of technology, in the movements of information and finance, in the corrosive ideologies that preach violence and division, in the gathering storm of the climate emergency, and in the tide of irregular migration. We must own this process of change. When we speak of nuclear disarmament, the proliferation of small weapons, Security Council reform, fair access to trade and finance, and the conflicts and human suffering across the world, we must recognize the truth. These are stains on our collective humanity.”

Militarism: “At home, we confront the scourge of insurgency with resolve. From this long and difficult struggle with violent extremism, one truth stands clear: military tactics may win battles measured in months and years, but in wars that span generations, it is values and ideas that deliver the ultimate victory.”

Armed conflict: “We do not only fight wars, we feed and shelter the innocent victims of war. This is why we are not indifferent to the devastations of our neighbours, near and distant. This is why we speak of the violence and aggression visited upon innocent civilians in Gaza, the illegal attack on Qatar, and the tensions that scar the wider region. It is not only because of the culture of impunity that makes such acts intolerable, but because our own bitter experience has taught us that such violence never ends where it begins.

“We do not believe that the sanctity of human life should be trapped in the corridors of endless debate. That is why we say, without stuttering and without doubt, that a two-state solution remains the most dignified path to lasting peace for the people of Palestine. For too long, this community has borne the weight of moral conflict. For too long, we have been caught in the crossfire of violence that offends the conscience of humanity. We come not as partisans, but as peacemakers. We come as brothers and sisters of a shared world, a world that must never reduce the right to live into the currency of devious politics. The people of Palestine are not collateral damage in a civilisation searching for order. They are human beings, equal in worth, entitled to the same freedoms and dignities that the rest of us take for granted.”

Military spending, militarism: “Point two: the price of peace is eternal vigilance. The increasingly difficult security outlook has prompted many Member States to count the cost of the emerging world order. We in Nigeria are already familiar with such difficult choices: infrastructure renewal or defence platforms? schools or tanks? Our view is that the path to sustainable peace lies in growth and prosperity. The government has taken difficult but necessary steps to restructure our economy and remove distortions, including subsidies and currency controls that benefited the few at the expense of the many.

Artificial intelligence: “The digital divide must close. As our friend the Secretary General has said: ‘A.I.’ must stand for ‘Africa Included’.”

Artificial intelligence, cyber: “The fourth pillar for change that I am advocating, is a dedicated initiative, bringing together researchers, private sector, governments and communities, to close the digital divide. As we stand on the threshold of new and dramatic technological change, we are still absorbing the impact of the revolution in information and communication of the past 20 years. We understand better than we did, the opportunities technology offers as well as the safeguards we need to enable growth and mitigate the potential for corrosion. Some worry about fake news. We have plenty of that, with the potential of devastating real-world consequences in countries rich and poor. I am more worried about an emerging generation that grows ever more cynical, because it believes nothing and trusts less. As technology shakes up public administration, law, finance, conflict and so much of the human condition, I am calling for a new dialogue, to ensure we promote the best of the opportunities that are arising - and promote the level of access that allows emerging economies more quickly, to close a wealth and knowledge gap that is in no one’s interest.”

North Macedonia (Republic of)
Ms. Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, President
25 September 2025

War: “Being the foundation of international law and multilateralism, the United Nations have prevented another world war and numerous conflicts and have alleviated the consequences of many humanitarian crises.”

War, artificial intelligence: “A new geopolitical era is emerging before our eyes. Instead of acting together on the urgent challenges such as peace and security, climate change and environmental destruction, artificial intelligence and growing inequalities, we seem to be heading toward a post-Hobbesian state of war of everyone against themselves. Instead of a single international order, parallel orders seem to be emerging, each with its own rules, values and interests, often directed against one another.”

War: “Being paralyzed and isolated when most needed, I wonder if the United Nations is turning into the League of Nations. The signs are all around us. Instead of creating a sense of shared future, humanity is facing wars and loss of humanness. With international humanitarian law increasingly ignored, hunger is weaponized and humanitarian workers are targeted. Amid everyday violence the world is oscillating between nihilistic pessimism and hedonistic escapism, between hopeless lamentation and heartless indifference, as in the first decades of the 20th century.”

War: “The tremors of the international order have opened deep geopolitical faultlines. One of the most active is in Ukraine, where war has been raging for three and a half years. Russia’s aggression is a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a direct threat to international peace and security.”

Militarisation: “We also express our deep concern over the recent violations of the airspace of Poland, Romania and Estonia, every one of them a NATO member state. We supported the Joint Statement of September 12th and call for immediate de-escalation, full respect for international law and use of preventive diplomacy to reduce tensions and preserve peace.”

War: “We warn that after the war in Ukraine, the blocked European integration of the Western Balkan is not only a political, but also a security issue. With the political door closed for the Western Balkan countries and the door wide open for influence of third geopolitical centers of power, it is ironic that the Union calls for resilience towards them.”

War: “Finally, I cannot but address one of the most geopolitically volatile regions: the Middle East and Gaza. The Middle East has an ancient and rich tradition of interreligious and interethnic coexistence. History has shown that diversity, when respected, can be a source of cultural enrichment and long-term peace. But, also, history teaches that violence, regardless of its origin, deepens divisions, prolongs human suffering and distances the parties from a just and comprehensive solution. We are convinced that sustainable peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy, in accord with international law. The inviolability of human life and dignity must be respected, even in times of war, in accord with international humanitarian law. In that spirit, we reaffirm our support for international efforts aimed at de-escalation, inclusive dialogue and direct negotiations.”

Norway
Mr. Espen Barth Eide, Minister for Foreign Affairs
25 September 2025

Nuclear weapons, war: “Let us imagine for a moment that we are there, in San Francisco, in 1945, as the UN Charter was negotiated. Participants who were at my age, would have experienced the First World War, the short-lived roaring twenties, the great depression of the 1930s, fierce trade wars, the rise of facism and nazism, the Second World War, the Holocaust, and the nuclear bomb - and all of that in their own, adult life.”

Wars: “Our United Nations, imperfect as it is, has since provided an unrivalled global arena for seeking common solutions to common challenges. There is little doubt that the world would have been a more brutal and less prosperous place without the UN. Since 1945, inter-state wars have been fewer and further between. Former colonies gained independence and became sovereign states of their own. Hundreds of millions have been brought out of poverty.”

Wars: “Savage wars are raging in several corners of our world. In Sudan, civilians are facing the largest displacement and hunger crisis in the world. The war in Sudan has been raging for almost 900 days. This is but one of the many horrific wars that receives way too little attention in the power centres of the world. Even in this organisation.

“In Ukraine, Russia has violated the most fundamental principles of international law. There is simply no other way of seeing it: Russia’s invasion of the sovereign state of Ukraine is a blatant violation of Article 2-4 of the Charter. Ukraine is in its full right to defend itself as affirmed by Article 51. Norway, and so many other states, stands firmly with Ukraine’s fight for freedom and independence. We do so in solidarity with the brave Ukrainian people. But we also do so to uphold the respect for international law - an interest shared by all states, large and small.

“In Palestine, Israel is in clear violation of international law. Life in Gaza is a living hell. For almost two years, we have witnessed extreme levels of death, starvation, forced displacement and massive suffering. The fact that these atrocities continue is a disgrace for all humanity. In the West Bank, the illegal occupation, settlements and settler violence continues unchecked. The Palestinian authorities are under massive stress - its finances strained, and its capacity to operate is severely restricted. The war must end - now. Massive humanitarian aid must reach those in need - now. The remaining hostages must be released - now. And the illegal occupation must end - now.

“But, colleagues, there is an alternative to this never-ending cycle of violence. We have made important steps just these past few days. At the Conference on Palestine in this hall on Monday, Member States further developed the roadmap to a settlement to the deeper conflict between Israel and Palestine. By now, 159 Member States have recognised the State of Palestine - as a contribution to the realisation of the two-state solution. However, the recognition of Palestine is only one of elements needed to reach a two-state solution. There are many pieces of this puzzle. Palestinian governance and economy must be strengthened. Hamas must be demobilised. We need security guarantees to both Israel and Palestine. And key Arab states aim to normalise their relations with Israel as part of a broader agreement. In order to put together these pieces of the puzzle, The Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution was launched in New York last year. It continues to gather support for a comprehensive settlement. It is our firm conviction that both Israel and Palestine have the right to live in peace and security, side by side in two states.”

Oman
Mr. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, Foreign Minister
27 September 2025

Armed conflict: “However, there remains another humanitarian and political issue - deeply painful and enduring - that must take precedence in our deliberations and decisions: the Palestinian question. For too long, this conflict has persisted. The suffering has grown unbearable, and the time has come to end the occupation, lift the injustice, and restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people through the implementation of the two-state solution, which is the only just and viable path toward a lasting and comprehensive peace that ends decades of conflict and deprivation.

“The Sultanate of Oman is convinced that just peace is a fundamental pillar for sustainable security, stability, and development. From this perspective, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital must be at the forefront of strategic priorities in the pursuit of just and lasting peace in the Middle East. In this context, the recognition of the State of Palestine stands as the most crucial step in this critical phase of the Palestinian cause. Oman expresses its deep appreciation to the governments that have taken this important step - one that reinforces respect for international law and aligns with the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Recognizing Palestine also reflects the international community's commitment to the two-state solution, as outlined in UN resolutions, the outcomes of the Two-State Solution Conference, and the New York Declaration under the auspices of the United Nations.”

Armed conflict: “The Sultanate of Oman calls upon the international community to adopt measures that limit the Israeli government's ability to continue its policies of genocide, destruction, and illegal occupation of Palestinian land, and its ongoing policies of starvation and blockade against the Palestinian people and the obstruction of humanitarian aid.

“From this very podium, Oman calls for a global peaceful campaign to lift the siege and the injustice imposed on the Palestinian people, and to secure their freedom through the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.”

Armed conflict: “Rooted in its unwavering principles of supporting peace, regional stability, and its categorical rejection of any violation of state sovereignty, the Sultanate of Oman reaffirms its solidarity with the State of Qatar, supporting its right to take the necessary measures to protect its security and sovereignty. We renew our condemnation of the Israeli aggression against Qatar on 9 September of this year.

“We also renew our condemnation of Israeli aggressions against Iran, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, and Tunisia, and we call for sanctions to be imposed on Israel in response to its blatant violations of international law and its unlawful encroachments on the sovereignty of states.”

Artificial intelligence: “The Sultanate of Oman accords top priority to education and health, recognizing them as fundamental rights and key pillars of development. We also place high importance on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, innovation, industrial development, and strengthening social protection, justice, and job security.”

Pakistan
Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister
26 September 2025

Armed conflicts, arms race: “Today is the third time I have had the honor of speaking to this august Assembly, as Prime Minister of Pakistan. Our world is more complex today, than ever before: Conflicts are intensifying; International law is being brazenly violated; Humanitarian crises are multiplying; Terrorism remains a potent threat; Disinformation and fake news undermine trust; Unrestrained arms race, and emerging technologies, aggravates risks of catastrophic miscalculation; and, above all; Climate change threatens our very survival. Multilateralism is no more an option; it is essential.”

Militarism: “India sought to extract political gains from a human tragedy, by spurning my offer of an independent investigation into the Pahalgam incident. Instead, it attacked our cities, and targeted our innocent civilians. When our territorial integrity and national security were violated, our response was in accordance with the inherent right of self-defense, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. Our valiant armed forces, under the stellar leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, mounted an operation of stunning professionalism and bravery. Repulsing the enemy’s attack, under Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Babar Sidhu, our falcons took flight and etched their answer across the skies resulting in seven of the Indian jets turned to scrap and dust—a decisive response to the aggressor that will echo through the annals of history.”

Ceasefire, war: “Though in a position of strength, Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire, facilitated by President Donald Trump’s bold and visionary leadership. We express our deep appreciation to him and his team for their active role in bringing about the ceasefire. President Trump’s efforts for peace helped avert a more threatening war in South Asia. Had he not intervened timely and decisively, the consequences of a full-fledged war would have been catastrophic. We are also grateful to our friends and partners including China, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Iran, UAE, and the UN Secretary-General, for extending their diplomatic support to Pakistan at this crucial time.”

War: “We have won the war and now we seek to win peace! Pakistan stands ready for a composite, comprehensive and result-oriented dialogue with India on all outstanding issues. South Asia requires “proactive”, rather than “provocative” leadership! India’s unilateral and illegal attempt to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance defies the provisions of the Treaty itself, as well as the norms of international law. Pakistan has made it abundantly clear—and let there be no doubt—we will definitely, and ardently defend the inalienable right of our 240 million people on these waters. To us, any violation of this treaty represents an act of war.”

Nuclear weapons, armed conflict: “This latest Indian aggression serves as a stark reminder of the dangerous flashpoint between two nuclear armed rivals—the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.”

War, ceasefire: “The plight of the Palestinian people is one of the most heart-wrenching tragedies of our times. This prolonged injustice is a stain on the global conscience, and our collective moral failure. For nearly eighty years, the Palestinians have courageously endured Israel’s brutal occupation of their homeland. In the West Bank, each passing day brings new brutality, illegal settlers who terrorize and kill with impunity. And in Gaza, Israel’s genocidal onslaught has unleashed unspeakable terror upon women and children in a manner we have not witnessed in decades, perhaps ever. In blind pursuit of its nefarious goals, the Israeli leadership has unleashed a shameful campaign against the innocent Palestinians, which history will always remember as one of its darkest chapters. But speak we must, Madam President. Our words are too little too late for Hind Rajab — a child, nay, a little baby. We have all heard her trembling voice on that phone call, which little Hind made as she struggled to stay alive under Israeli onslaught. Can you imagine that little girl—Hind Rajab—as if she was your daughter? Can you imagine not having the compassion to spare her life? My agony, and the agony of the entire Muslim Ummah, indeed, I think the agony of all nations on the planet is that we failed Hind Rajab. As they say, “the smallest coffins are the heaviest to carry.” I for one would know, for I too carried the tiny coffin of a seven-year-old Irtaza Abbas, during the recent confrontation with India. We cannot—we must not—fail these children of Gaza, or any child anywhere—we must find a path to a ceasefire. Pakistan firmly supports the demand of the Palestinian people for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, with pre-1967 borders, and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Palestine can no longer remain under Israeli shackles. It must be liberated!”

Ceasefire: “Pakistan was among the first to recognize Palestinian statehood in 1988. We welcome the recognition of the State of Palestine by a number of countries recently and urge others to also follow suit. We are further grateful for President Trump’s timely initiative to invite Arab-Islamic states for a consultative session at the United Nations. It has rekindled hope for a ceasefire in the near future for which the credit must again be attributed to his quest for peace.”

War: “Israel’s recent attack on Doha, and its continued violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of numerous countries is reflective of its rogue behavior. Pakistan stands with the brotherly people of Qatar. We also support all efforts for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict, in line with the UN Charter, to end human suffering and global turmoil caused by this protracted war.”

Palau
Mr. Surangel S. Whipps, President
25 September 2025

Armed conflict: “Eighty years ago, nations scarred by war came together to say “never again.” They built this Organization on the belief that cooperation, not conflict, could guide humanity forward. Today, as we reflect on that founding vision, let us remember: the United Nations was not built for the powerful, but for all nations — large and small alike.”

Military spending, war: “The world is at war. Defense spending is at an all-time high, approaching 3 trillion annually! Small island states like Palau are also at war. Our shores are being invaded by seawater. Our homes are being blown away by storms. Our roads are being washed away by torrential rain. Our reefs are overheating. Our fish are disappearing. And our land is on fire. This is our daily battle.”

Armed conflict: “Madam President, Palau knows too well the heavy cost of war, having endured the devastation of World War II on our islands. That history reminds us not only of the suffering left in the wake of conflict, but also of the sacred value of peace. Palau has always stood for the dignity of every human life and for the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and respect for international law. Our positions, whether in support or restraint, are always guided by a deeper purpose — the pursuit of peace that is just, lasting, and stable. We believe that a durable solution — one that envisions two peoples, Israelis and Palestinians, living in two democratic states side by side, in peace, security, and dignity, within mutually recognized borders — is essential for a lasting peace. And we say with equal clarity: Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine is a stark reminder that when international law is disregarded, peace everywhere is placed at risk. It is only through respect for the rules-based order that all nations, large and small, can live in security.”

Palestine (State of)
Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President
25 September 2025

[also in English]

Armed conflict, explosive weapons: “I am speaking to you today, after the passage of two years, in which our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip face a war of starvation and displacement, waged by the Israeli forces that commit collective extermination. During this occupation, they killed and injured more than two hundred thousand Palestinians, including children, women, and unarmed elders. They prevented the arrival of hundreds of medical and food materials, and caused the starvation of two million Palestinians.

“In its entirety, on a people suffocated by siege imposed from more than 80 percent of houses, mosques, churches, hospitals, and schools destroyed, and infrastructure devastated. The aggression is not merely an act of war, but what Israel is doing is documented as a crime against humanity and a war crime. History's newspapers will write and record it, and the chapters of the tragedy will be more monitored, as one of the most horrific in the conscience of humanity in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

“In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the government of Palestine proceeds with its policies of implementing extreme colonial Israeli settlement expansion through legal means, and the establishment of projects to annex settlements. The construction plan in (E1) divides the West Bank into two parts, isolates occupied Jerusalem from its surroundings, and undermines the option of a two-state solution, in violation of Security Council resolutions and a blatant disregard for international law and relevant resolutions, based on resolution 2334.

“Announcement by the President of the Council of Ministers. This is a statement regarding what is called "Israeli plans" which we strongly condemn and reject. These plans include expansion into sovereign Arab countries, in addition to the aggressive attack on the sisterly state of Qatar. This escalation is extremely dangerous, and we denounce it and consider it a blatant violation of international law. These expansionist schemes require decisive action.

“The settlers burn the houses, fields, and uproot the trees, and attack the unarmed Palestinian civilians, and even kill them under the protection of the Israeli occupation army in broad daylight.

“That, to the Islamic and Christian side in Jerusalem, Hebron, and the rest of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, from the assaults and violations that affected the sanctity of mosques, churches, and cemeteries, are explicit violations in the historical and legal context, contrary to the provisions of international law.

“Despite all that our people have suffered, we reject what the Hamas movement did on the seventh of October by targeting Israeli civilians and taking actions that aimed at civilians. These actions do not represent the just struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom and independence.”

Disarmament: “We have confirmed – and we will continue to confirm – that the Gaza Strip is part of the State of Palestine, and that we are ready to bear full responsibility for governance and security in it, and that Hamas will have no role in governance, as it is required from the factions to hand over their weapons to the Palestinian national authority within the framework of the process of moving towards building the institutions of the unified state, the one law, and the unified security forces, reiterating our confirmation that we do not want an armed state.”

Armed conflict: “The seven, and we are deeply affected, and our catastrophe is great. Millions of Palestinians have been living and suffering from the Nakba and displacement since the year 1948. Our people in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, have been living the tragedies of aggression and Israeli occupation for years. For ten years, our people have been living under occupation, killing, theft of property, settlement, and arrests.

“A call without accountability for the continuous occupation and properties and land, and the years of oppression and deprivation and the protection of the occupier. The people under the occupation are in need of empowerment and more violations of the rights of our people in the struggle for freedom and dignity. Palestine is a state on the land of Palestine, with sovereignty and independence since the general occupation of 1967, including East Jerusalem.

“In the United Nations, more than a thousand resolutions have been issued, none of which have been implemented, and many international efforts and initiatives, without reaching an end to this tragic situation that the Palestinian people live under the yoke of occupation.

“In 1993, we signed the Salim Agreement, and we committed to its terms, and Israel recognized the Palestinian Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people. We restructured our institutions, amended our national charter, and renounced violence. We adopted a culture of peace, and we made every effort to build modern Palestinian state institutions that live in security and peace alongside Israel. However, Israel has systematically worked to undermine the signed agreements.

“A conference in our meeting only, three days before a high-level international event in New York, under the Saudi presidency, and the joint Arab and French presence, expressed a unified position with a wide international attendance and positions for this purpose to establish a real international situation regarding Palestine, through historical recognition, ending the occupation, and restoring hope for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples.

“The people, in the name of, I express that here, and I would like to extend my appreciation and gratitude to all the countries that recently recognized the State of Palestine, and we urge all the countries that intend to recognize that they do so, and we demand support for Palestine to obtain full membership in the United Nations. Knowing that we have previously recognized Israel's right to exist in 1988 and 1993 and we still recognize it.

“We thank in this regard, and in France, from Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Britain, Canada, Australia, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Denmark, and Andorra. Thanks to all the 149 countries that previously recognized the State of Palestine, our people will not forget this noble stance.”

“We also thank the countries that support our efforts to stop the genocide, end the occupation, and achieve peace.

“We estimate that all the peoples of the world demonstrated in support of the Palestinian people's rights to freedom and independence, and to stop the war, destruction, and starvation. We reject the conflation of solidarity with the Palestinian cause and the issue of anti-Semitism, which we reject based on our values and principles.

“The conference on international peace, we renew today before the General Assembly our confirmation of the following:

1) The immediate cessation of the war in Gaza is necessary.

2) The entry of humanitarian aid unconditionally through United Nations organizations, including UNRWA, as a weapon against starvation. In this regard, we thank the sister and friendly countries that send aid.

3) From the families of all the sides regarding the Israeli occupation.

4) The complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the rejection of the displacement plans, the cessation of settlement activities, the stopping of settlers' attacks, the theft of land and properties, and the stopping of annexation, all under the Palestinian status of sacred places and historical and legal sites. All of these are unilateral actions that undermine the two-state solution in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.

5) The State of Palestine assumes its full responsibilities, starting with the Minister of the Administrative Committee for the Gaza Strip, which is a temporary administration, and the connection with the West Bank, all with Arab and international support to protect civilians under the umbrella of the United Nations, and it will not be a substitute for it.

6) The residents of the Gaza Strip remain in their land without guarantees of their survival, and the implementation of the recovery and reconstruction plan in both Gaza and the West Bank.

7) The Palestinian Authority that has been deprived of the funds of the economic blockade and the barriers, and raised the right, without Israel detaining the cities and the Palestinian camps.”

“Our efforts to support the presidential and parliamentary elections during the year after the end of the war process have begun with the assignment of the committee for drafting the interim constitution, which will complete its work within three months, to transition from a democratic framework to a state. We want a state that is committed to international law and sovereignty, with a peaceful transition and pluralism. It is keen on empowering youth.

“We announce to the American president Donald Trump to work with the UAE, and with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, France, the United Nations, and all partners, to implement the peace plan that was approved at the conference held on September 22 last, which opens the way towards just peace and comprehensive regional cooperation.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we say it today clearly: Peace will not be achieved unless justice is achieved, and there will be no justice unless Palestine is liberated.

“We want to live as the rest of the peoples of the earth, in an independent state with sovereignty over the 1967 borders, with its capital in East Jerusalem. We want a modern civil state, security and peace with neighbors that respects the law and human rights, and invests in education, technology, and development, free from violence and extremism.

“It is time for the international community to give justice to the Palestinian people, to obtain their legitimate rights in a way that remains free from occupation. We will not deny our rights that are fundamental, and the Israeli policy continues the injustice, oppression, and aggression. We are moving forward on our path, and we will continue the struggle for our rights through peaceful, diplomatic, and legal means.

“In conclusion, we say to our sons and daughters in the homeland, no matter how much we bleed, and in exile and diaspora: that suffering, no matter how long it lasts, will not break our freedom, and life will persist. A dawn will rise, and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies, a symbol of the nation, steadfastness, and liberation from the yoke of occupation.

“Our hearts are Jerusalem, Palestine is eternal. We will not leave our homeland, and we will not depart from our land, steadfast like the olive tree, solid like the rock. Our people will remain rooted, rising from beneath the rubble to build anew, sending from their blessed land messages of hope, the voice of truth, and bridges of just peace to the peoples of our region and to the world.”

Panama
Mr. José Raúl Mulino Quintero, President
24 September 2025

Arms trafficking: “Piracy, arms and narcotics trafficking, and illegal fishing impact global trade and maritime transport systems. As a transit nation and logistics hub for the continent, Panama suggests strengthening cooperation between specialised agencies, including a regional network to promote maritime security, operating under the umbrella of ocean governance, in accordance with international law. The United Nations is a key forum for promoting international cooperation on maritime security issues.”

Papua New Guinea
Mr. James Marape, Prime Minister
26 September 2025

Armed conflict: “Papua New Guinea has known conflict. For a decade, Bougainville suffered violence, but through dialogue under UN oversight we achieved the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement. Not a bullet has been fired since. We continue to resolve questions of Bougainville’s future through dialogue and constitutional process. Bougainville is a reminder that peace, when built on genuine will, can endure.”

Paraguay
Mr. Santiago Peña Palacios, President
24 September 2025

Armed conflict: “The raison d'être, the essence of the United Nations, is and will remain the maintenance of peace. However, as we meet here, more than 120 armed conflicts demonstrate how serious the failure of our institutions can be. Paraguay extends its solidarity to all victims of armed conflict and once again advocates for the peaceful resolution of disputes.”

Armed conflict: “Paraguay hereby reaffirms its unambiguous position: Israel has the legitimate right to defend itself. The terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, against Israeli civilians were grotesque acts of barbarism that no cause can justify. We reject any attempt to equate, in a biased manner, the responsibility of the democratically elected authorities of Israel with that of the leaders of the terrorist group Hamas.”

Armed conflict: “My country will continue to oppose those who deny the sacred value of human life, a fundamental idea in the Paraguayan vision of the human being. We also make an urgent call for the implementation of a solution that alleviates the humanitarian situation in Palestinian territory, puts an end to the violence, and guarantees the immediate release of the hostages, promoting a constructive dialogue that leads to peaceful coexistence between both peoples and is a source of lasting peace in the Middle East region.”

Militarism: “The growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait are of deep concern to us. The increasingly aggressive military exercises, constant air incursions, and warmongering rhetoric all point to a dangerous escalation that could destabilize not only Asia, but the entire global order.”

Peru
Ms. Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, President
23 September 2025

Explosive weapons: “We live under the threat of international organized crime. In Peru, international criminals engaged in extortion resort to terrorist methods such as bombings to subjugate citizens. These criminal organizations, which use weapons of war, have created financial mechanisms to launder blood money, sending large sums to their countries of origin.”

Philippines
Ms. Ma.Theresa Lazaro, Secretary for Foreign Affairs
27 September 2025

Armed conflict, ceasefire: “We must end the suffering of millions who live in starvation and fear in Gaza. Ceasefires must hold. Humanitarian access must be restored without restrictions. Children, women, and innocent civilians must be saved from further violence. Healing must begin. The Two-State solution is the only viable diplomatic solution for sustainable peace.”

Armed conflict: “We must end the conflict in Ukraine. A just peace is only possible with respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity.

“We must double down to address humanitarian crises around the world, looking at their roots and investing in durable solutions. We must protect and assist displaced populations in Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Sahel region, of the Rohingyas and in many other parts of the world.

“This June, the Secretary General reported over 40,000 cases of violations against children in armed conflict, the highest recorded in 30 years. This is unconscionable. We owe our children peace.”

Military spending: “It is regrettable that politics and the demands of war have cut development financing globally, just as we embark on the last-mile of the SDG agenda.”

Artificial intelligence: “Technology is the other defining force of our age: a connector, an enabler, an equalizer. Artificial Intelligence offers promise but carries profound risks. We must help build digital societies that bridges development divides rather than widen them, conforming with safeguards against misuse.”

War: “The Philippines was among the first to respond to the UN call for assistance in the Korean War. A decade later, Philippine troops flew halfway across the globe to aid in peacekeeping operations in the Congo. Since then, we have sent nearly 15,000 troops to 21 peacekeeping missions in Africa, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.”

Poland
Mr. Karol Nawrocki, President
23 September 2025

Armed conflict, militarism: “The Russian invasion of Ukraine is not only the most serious conflict in Europe since World War II, but also a turning point. The existing international order is crumbling before our eyes. The world has entered a new and dangerous era of rivalry between great powers – breaking rules and testing how far one can go before someone says a resolute “enough.” The principle of sovereignty? Increasingly trampled upon. The prohibition of aggression? Reduced to a dead letter. Instead of law, an attempt to use naked force. We are standing at a turning point in history at a time when the decisions made today will have consequences for decades to come. We must all be aware of this, and we all take responsibility for it. That is why now, as a community of democratic states – or states aspiring to democracy – we must view the current situation as a battlefield for principles, the observance of which may determine the future of our civilisation. I think this is actually the last moment to take concrete action.”

Armed conflict: “Moscow speaks of the need to address the “root causes of the conflict.” I share this view, but I believe that the root causes of Russian aggression are primarily ideological. Russia refers to an imperial vision that treats entire nations like colonial property, denies them sovereignty, claiming that they are artificial constructs, and justifies the invasion as a ‘historical correction.’”

Drones: “Unfortunately, the wind of history, which we know and understand so well in Poland, is beginning to blow again. Once again, we are experiencing Russian imperialism also on our soil. Two weeks ago, on the night of September 9–10, the largest attack by Russian drones on the territory of a NATO member state took place. Dozens of drones violated my country's borders deliberately – because, I assure you, it was not a coincidence – it happened on orders issued in the capital of a country that is a permanent member of the Security Council. As a result, for the first time since World War II, Poland was forced to open fire on hostile objects over our territory. As Commander–in–Chief of the Armed Forces and President of Poland, I assure you that Poland will always respond appropriately and is ready to defend its territory!”

Drones, militarism: “The Poles were not intimidated by the Soviet hordes in 1920 and, defending European civilisation, defeated the Soviets. The Poles and the countries of Central Europe did not surrender their spirit of freedom and sovereignty during 45 years of Soviet colonialism after 1945. Neither Poles nor the countries of Central and Eastern Europe will be intimidated by Russian drones. However, ladies and gentlemen, that is not the point. The point is how long we will continue to allow such violations within our international community. That is why Poland is allocating significant funds to the development of our defence capabilities, why we are building the resilience of our country, but also of our entire part of Europe. For the Baltic states, our friends, such as the Estonians, as well as Romania, have also fallen victim to similar provocations by Russia.”

Armed conflict: “The eyes of the world, and ours too, are now looking at the Middle East. Poland is following the situation in this region with concern, where the conflict has escalated as a result of the brutal attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Israel, like any other country, has the right to self–defense. However, its actions must comply with international law, including humanitarian law. Poland continues to advocate for a two–state solution to the conflict in the Middle East, in such a way as to give both: the Palestinians and the Israelis the right to live in peace and security. Poland consistently supports international efforts to improve the situation in the Middle East and calls on the UN to take action.”

Armed conflict: “I am referring to the African continent. We can all see how ongoing wars, conflicts, and terrorist attacks undermine the efforts of proud African nations to live and develop in safe and just conditions. The world must stand with all those affected by insecurity and help them restore peace. We do not consent to neo–imperial powers destabilizing regions such as the Sahel in order to arbitrarily manage global migration flows or impose migratory pressure. Nor do we consent to international criminal groups profiting from human trafficking and slave labor.”

Portugal
Mr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President
23 September 2025

Ceasefire: “Just think of the situation in Ukraine, or the situation in the Middle East, for years one is waiting for the mediation of the most powerful in the world. Do we have a ceasefire? No, we don't.”

Armed conflict: “This year, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Additional Protocol to the Convention of Rights of Children Involved in Armed Conflicts. Children are being victims in every war scenario. We have the legal duty, the political, and the moral duty, of protecting them.  And then, of course, humanitarian international law. Geneva conventions are not suggestions.”

Ceasefire: “We just declared our decision of recognizing the state of Palestine. In the Middle East, now we think that the following step is creating conditions for a ceasefire, immediately, releasing the hostages, humanitarian assistance, but also creating political, economic, and social conditions to strengthen the solution of two-sovereign states, rebuilding economics and societies, giving an opportunity to peace, to the daily life of Israelis and Palestinians, so that they can live, not die. In Ukraine, sovereignty, independence and integrity, with global, total ceasefire, immediate and unconditional, first step for a fair peace, respect and international law, and respecting the chapter of the United Nations.”

Qatar
Mr. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir
23 September 2025

Militarism: “The fallback of this international order in favor of the logic of power means paving the way for the law of the jungle to prevail—where the concepts of law and justice become an irrelevant digression, and where those who transgress against others enjoy privileges merely by virtue of their ability to do so. This is the so-called new political realism, whose definition has been telescoped into nothing more than going along with the ability to impose a fait accompli. Such conduct embodies catastrophic myopia. Those who commit transgressions in international relations interpret tolerance towards them as weakness, and perceive those who tolerate their transgressions as crippled. The issue that should top discussions in international institutions today is how the collective security system could restore its strength in accordance with the UN Charter, and thus reinstate the effectiveness of the international legitimacy.”

War, armed conflict, explosive weapons: “As you know, on September 9, Doha came under a treacherous attack targeting a meeting of the Hamas negotiating delegation at the residence of one of its members in a residential neighborhood hosting schools and diplomatic missions. Six people were martyred, including a Qatari national serving in the Internal Security Force- Lekhwiya, while 18 others sustained injuries as a result of this aggression. This attack was a grave violation of a state’s sovereignty, and a blatant, unjustified breach of international norms and conventions. However, the entire world was also shocked by the circumstances of this heinous act, which we branded as state terrorism.

“Contrary to the Israeli Prime Minister’s claim, this attack does not fall within a supposed right to track down terrorists wherever they may be, but rather constitutes an assault on a mediating, peace-making state whose diplomacy has been devoted to resolving conflicts through peaceful means, and has been making strenuous efforts for two years to achieve a settlement to halt the genocidal war waged against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. It was also an attempt to assassinate politicians—members of a delegation engaged in negotiations with Israel—while they were examining an American proposal to give their feedback. As you know, Qatar, as mediating state, hosts delegations from both Hamas and Israel during the negotiations.”

Ceasefire, explosive weapons, war: “The mediation, in fact, has succeeded—in cooperation with sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America—in securing the release of 148 hostages. Motivated by hope to reach a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza Strip, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the release of Palestinian prisoners, we have continued the mediation even though Israel unilaterally cancelled the latest truce without providing any justification.

“They visit our country while planning to bomb it; they negotiate with delegations while plotting to assassinate their members. It is extremely difficult to deal with this mindset, which does not respect the most basic principles of human interaction. To expect predictable behavior from such actors is almost impossible. Isn’t this the definition of a rogue government? No party resorts to assassinate the very delegation it is negotiating with unless its goal is to derail the negotiations. For them, negotiations are nothing but a continuation of war by other means, and a way to mislead Israeli public opinion.”

War: “If the cost of freeing the Israeli hostages is ending the war, then the Israeli government is abandoning their release. Its real objective is to destroy Gaza — to render housing, livelihoods, education and medical care impossible, stripping away the very foundations of human life, and thus paving the way for the displacement of its population. This is why its Prime Minister insists on prolonging the war. He believes in the so-called Greater Land of Israel. He views the war as an opportunity to expand settlements and alter the status quo at the Al-Haram al-Sharif, and he also has annexation plans in the West Bank. There is no longer any doubt that ethnic cleansing, changing the reality of the occupied territories, and even imposing new realities on the region are the goals of this war.”

War: “Israel is not a democracy in a hostile environment, as its leaders claim. It is, in reality, a state hostile to its environment, complicit in building an apartheid system, and waging a genocidal war. Its Prime Minister proudly declares before his people that he has blocked the establishment of a Palestinian state, and he promises that such a state will never come into being. He boasts of having prevented peace with the Palestinians, and vows to block it in the future.”

War: “We are firmly convinced that peace cannot be achieved in our region if the international community, mainly the Security Council, does not take a firm stance to shifting from following the occupation’s attempts of imposing a fait accompli in its successive wars, to resolving the Palestinian cause on the bases of ending the occupation of Palestinian territories and allowing the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination and establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its Capital on the 1967 borders, in accordance with the resolutions of the international legitimacy and the two-state solution agreed upon by the international community. We treasure the role of the states that recognized the State of Palestine. These recognitions undoubtedly carry moral significance since they convey a message saying that violence and excessive use of violence will not succeed in eliminating a just cause such as the Palestinian cause. We call upon all the other states to recognize the state of Palestine.”

War: “The international community should seize the current opportunity to stand by Syria so that it can successfully navigate this transitional phase and enable Syrians to regain a normal life after decades of hardship. We have learned from our experience in other Arab countries that building state institutions, fostering relationships between the state and general public on the basis of equal citizenship, while respecting religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity, are of paramount importance at this stage. The state of Qatar will spare no effort in providing the necessary support to sisterly Syria. I am confident of the Syrian people’s ability to overcome the hardships of this transitional period, renounce sectarianism in all its forms, violence, and other divisive elements, and reject foreign intervention, particularly Israeli attempts to partition Syria and act as if the areas south of Damascus were areas of Israeli influence.”

War: “Our sisterly Lebanon has also witnessed positive developments with the election of General Joseph Aoun as President of the Republic and the appointment of HE Dr. Nawaf Salam as Prime Minister — this represents a significant step toward stability in the country. The State of Qatar will continue to stand in support of Lebanon, its people, and its institutions, and to support the Lebanese army. We stress the importance of enforcing the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas they occupied during the recent war, and cessation of their interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs.”

Armed conflict: “As for brotherly Sudan, its people continue to suffer an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as a result of the ongoing violence. We reiterate our call for all parties to prioritize the supreme national interests and engage in an inclusive dialogue that leads to sustainable peace, preserves Sudan’s unity, independence, and sovereignty, and fulfills its people’s aspirations for security, stability, and development. We express our support for regional and international efforts aimed at achieving this goal.”

Republic of Korea
Mr. Jae Myung Lee, President
23 September 2025

Armed conflicts: “280 million people are still in a state of extreme hunger. Armed conflicts around the world, including in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as the climate crisis, which has already become a real problem, threaten the survival of humanity. The answer lies in the wisdom of the pioneers who founded the United Nations, as well as the path that the people of the Republic of Korea demonstrated. There is only one way: ‘more democracy.’”

AI, cyber: “Threats to peace are not only physical elements. In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) technology is critical to security capabilities and cyberattacks threaten national security, we must confront not only “visible enemies,” but also “invisible enemies.” If we passively let ourselves be dragged along by the changes of the AI era, we will meet a dystopia of deepening polarization and inequality, unable to shake off the dark shadows of human rights abuses caused by the misuse of technology. However, if we proactively respond to these changes, we can use the high productivity as a driving force to build a foundation for innovation and prosperity, and create a useful base for strengthening direct democracy.”

Nuclear weapons: “Through comprehensive dialogue centered on “Exchange,” “Normalization,” and “Denuclearization,” in other words, “END,” we must end the era of hostility and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula and usher in a new era of peaceful coexistence and shared growth.”

Nuclear weapons: “Denuclearization is undoubtedly a grave task, but it is time to seek realistic and rational solutions based on a cool-headed perception that denuclearization cannot be achieved in the short term. The international community must gather its wisdom in a pragmatic and phased solution beginning with a “stop” in the sophistication of nuclear and missile capabilities, going through a “reduction” process and reaching “dismantlement.”

Romania
Ms. Oana-Silvia Țoiu, Minister of Foreign Affairs
27 September 2025

War: “For almost four years, we have been witnessing a fully-fledged war of aggression against Ukraine started by Russia, unleashing the greatest security crisis in Europe in recent history and challenging the rules-based international order. The latest violations of the sovereign airspace of Poland, Estonia, Denmark and my own country, Romania - by reckless actions aimed to provoke - were condemned by many other countries, here in New York, at the UN Security Council.”

Armed conflict, ceasefire: “Looking at the global map, we are concerned about the escalation of tensions and conflicts in the Middle East. An immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of all hostages, as well as adequate humanitarian assistance are merely the first steps towards a permanent end to hostilities.We fully support mediation efforts towards these goals. We also need to maintain a political horizon for the implementation of the two-state solution. Romania supports this approach for over three decades as the only viable basis towards a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the Middle East.”

Nuclear weapons, non-proliferation: “From our perspective, there are various instruments within the established UN framework, to help maintaining and restoring the international peace and security. The global nuclear non-proliferation regime is one such key instrument, and the constructive cooperation of the Member States with the International Atomic Energy Agency is essential.”

Cyber: “Romania welcomes the adoption of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, which will contribute to preventing and combating the misuse of technology, besides safeguarding fundamental rights and freedoms. Romania has actively contributed to its negotiation and believes that many international and regional instruments should be used in its implementation. For example, the Cybercrime Programme Office of the Council of Europe (C-Proc) from Bucharest has achieved major impact worldwide, benefiting more than 130 countries, since its establishment, more than 10 years ago. The Southeast European Law Enforcement Center – SELEC, also hosted by my country, has brought an important contribution in the fight against transnational crime in all its forms, in the region and beyond.”

Russian Federation
Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs
27 September 2025

War: “One of the enduring outcomes of that war was the creation of the United Nations. The principles of its Charter, agreed upon by the founding fathers of our organization, still serve as a bright beacon of international cooperation. They embody centuries of experience in the coexistence of states and fully retain their significance in the era of multipolarity. It is only a matter of all member states, without exception, adhering to these principles – in all their fullness, entirety, and interconnection. In practice, however, everything looks different. Widespread gross violations of the principle of sovereign equality of states undermine faith in justice itself, leading to crises and conflicts. The root of the problems lies in the unceasing attempts to divide the world into "us" and "them," into "democracies" and "autocracies," into a "blooming garden" and "jungles," into those who are "at the table" and those who are "on the menu." For the chosen ones, who are allowed everything, and the rest, who are not.”

Militarism: “The principle of non-use of force or the threat of force has also been repeatedly flouted by the West. NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia, the US-led coalition's invasion of Iraq, and the military operation NATO on "regime change" in Libya. Today, the illegal use of force by Israel's actions against the Palestinians, aggressive actions against Iran, Qatar, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq threaten to blow up the entire Middle East.”

Explosive weapons: “Russia condemned the attack by Hamas militants on peaceful Israelis on October 7, 2023. However, there is no justification for the brutal killings of the civilian population of Palestine, just as there is no justification for terrorism. There is no justification for the collective punishment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian children are dying from bombing and starvation, hospitals and schools are destroyed, and hundreds thousands of people are being displaced. There is no justification for plans to annex the West Bank of the Jordan River. In fact, we are dealing with an attempt at a kind of coup to bury the UN resolutions on the creation of a Palestinian state. Recently, a number of Western governments announced their recognition of the state of Palestine. Moreover, they announced their intention to do so several months ago. The question arises: why did they wait so long? Apparently, they hoped that soon there would be nothing left to recognize. The situation requires urgent action to prevent such a scenario, which was firmly expressed by the participants of the International High-Level Conference on the Question of Palestine.”

Nuclear weapons: “Strikes on Iranian facilities under the guarantees of the IAEA deserve condemnation, as do the strikes on the capital of Qatar at the moment when negotiations were being held with Hamas, including the participation of American mediators. Yesterday at the Security Council, the West rejected a rational proposal from China and Russia to extend the 2015 agreement on the Iranian nuclear program to give diplomacy time. This is final. This exposed the West's policy of sabotaging the search for constructive solutions in the UN Security Council and its desire to extract unilateral concessions from Tehran through blackmail and pressure. We consider such a policy unacceptable, and all Western manipulations to restore UN sanctions against Iran, as well as those sanctions themselves, illegal.”

Militarism: “We express solidarity with the people of Venezuela under external sanctions pressure and threats. We advocate for the preservation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace and cooperation.”

War, explosive weapons, nuclear energy: “Europe is … obsessed with the utopian goal of inflicting Russia suffers a strategic defeat. To achieve this, the Ukrainian regime is allowed to do everything, including terrorist attacks against politicians and journalists, torture and extrajudicial executions, indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets, and reckless sabotage against nuclear power plants.”

Armed conflict: “Russia, as President V.V. Putin has repeatedly emphasized, has been and remains open to negotiations to eliminate the root causes of the conflict. The security of Russia, its vital interests must be reliably guaranteed. The rights of Russians and Russian-speaking people in territories remaining under the control of the Kyiv regime must be restored and fully respected. On this basis, we are ready to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. So far, neither Kyiv nor its European sponsors show any awareness of the urgency of the moment and readiness to negotiate honestly. The North Atlantic Alliance continues its expansion close to our borders – contrary to the assurances given by even Soviet leaders not to advance "one inch" to the East. Contrary to the commitments made by NATO members in the OSCE to adhere to the principle of indivisibility of security, not to strengthen their own security at the expense of others, not to claim dominance.

“We have repeatedly offered NATO capitals to respect their commitments and agree on legally binding security guarantees. Our proposals have been ignored and continue to be ignored to this day. Moreover, threats of the use of force against Russia are increasingly being voiced, accusing it of almost planning to attack NATO and European Union countries. President V.V. Putin has repeatedly debunked such provocations. Russia has never had and does not have such intentions. However, any aggression against my country will receive a decisive response. There should be no doubt about this among those in NATO and the EU who not only convince their voters of the inevitability of war with Russia and force them to tighten their belts but also do so openly.”

Ceasefire: “We have certain hopes for the continuation of the Russian American dialogue, especially after the Alaska summit. In approaches we see in the current US administration a desire not only to facilitate the search for realistic ways to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, but also a desire to develop pragmatic interaction without taking an ideological stance.”

Militarism: “Discussions about global reforms cannot ignore the fact that the international security situation is deteriorating. I have already discussed the reasons for this.… The main one is the desire to maintain hegemony by relying on military force. More and more countries and regions are being drawn into confrontational schemes. NATO is already cramped in Europe, and it is penetrating into the Pacific Ocean, into the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, undermining the universal mechanisms of ASEAN and creating threats not only to China and Russia, but also to other countries located in the region. NATO leadership justifies this new stage of expansion by citing the "indivisibility of Euro-Atlantic and IPR security" and, under this slogan, is attempting to encircle all of Eurasia militarily.”

Militarism, war: “When talking about the future, one cannot forget the lessons of the past, especially in a situation where Nazism is once again raising its head in Europe, militarization is gaining momentum – under the same anti-Russian slogans. This causes even greater concern, as a number of political figures who have come to power in Brussels and some capitals of EU and NATO countries are seriously beginning to discuss the Third World War as a likely scenario. These figures undermine any efforts to find an honest balance of interests for all members of the international community, trying to impose their one-sided approaches on everyone else, grossly violating the key constitutional requirement of respect for the confident equality of states. It is this equality that is the foundation of the objectively forming multipolarity. Russia does not advocate for a revolution against anyone. Our country has suffered from revolutions more than others. We simply call on member states and the leadership of the Secretariat to strictly adhere to all the principles of the UN Charter without double standards. Only then will the legacy of the founders of the UN not be squandered in vain.”

Rwanda
Mr. Olivier Nduhungirehe, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
25 September 2025

War, militarism: “The United Nations was established to spare succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Yet, eighty years on, conflicts continue to erupt across every continent. Rwanda firmly maintains that lasting peace cannot be achieved through military means. We have consistently held that only genuine, good-faith dialogue offers a sustainable path toward global peace. However, peacekeeping alone is not enough. Too often, wars return because the real obstacles to peace were not resolved. Prevention and mediation, and effective peacebuilding must be our first resort.”

Armed conflict: “For the Great Lakes region, this lesson is urgent. The current conflict in Eastern DRC is not new. It is rooted in decades of bad governance, marginalization and persecution of minority communities, genocide ideology and a persistent colonial legacy. Rwanda believes peace in Eastern DRC is in everyone’s best interest. Our goal has always been—and will remain—the security and wellbeing of Rwandans, and the people of our region. In June this year, Rwanda and the DRC signed a peace agreement in Washington. It provides a comprehensive framework encompassing security, political, and economic components. This achievement was made possible thanks to the strong leadership of His Excellency President Donald Trump of the United States, and of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, whose vision for peace and prosperity in our region, Rwanda fully shares.”

Militarisation, drones, fighter jets: “While meetings are taking place in Washington to implement the June Peace Agreement, the situation on the ground remains deeply troubling. The DRC’s renewed militarization—coupled with its continued collaboration with genocidal and sanctioned armed groups such as the DRC-backed FDLR and VDP/Wazalendo militias—and the deployment of attack drones and fighter jets against civilian populations, particularly the Banyamulenge and other Congolese Tutsi, underscore the gravity of the crisis…Rwanda condemns these developments and calls on the DRC to reject the military solution and implement in good faith the Washington Peace Agreement which is a golden opportunity to end this conflict that has lasted for far too long.”

Armed conflict: “Of particular concern to Rwanda is the emergence of VDP/Wazalendo militias, armed and supported by the DRC Government, which are committing countless abuses. Their brutality, methods and ideology bear an alarming resemblance to that of the genocidal militias of 1994 in Rwanda. Strong action is needed to put an end to this dangerous development before it is too late.”

Weapons: “No claims from a government arming a genocidal militia will change the facts of history. Providing weapons and financing to a group with a proven genocidal record and ongoing intent is nothing less than complicity in the crime itself. If there are crimes in the DRC committed for economic gains, they have clear names: corruption, bad governance, and the embezzlement of public funds.”