General
Statement by Eritrean Delegation on Maintenance of International Peace and Security
https://shabait.com/2025/02/22/statemen ... -security/
Feb 22, 2025
Statement Delivered by the Delegation of Eritrea
During the High-Level Open debate on
Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming and Improving Global Governance,
under agenda item
Maintenance of international peace and security
of the United Nations Security Council
20 February 2025, New York
Mr. President,
Distinguished Delegates,
At the outset, allow me to warmly welcome H.E. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China, and to congratulate China on assuming the presidency of the Council.
Allow me, also, to thank the United Nations Secretary General for his insightful remarks.
The theme of today’s open debate, “Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming and Improving Global Governance,” is timely and reflects the magnitude of the challenges before us.
Multilateralism is struggling under the weight of many years of reckless policies and escalating geopolitical conflicts.
As we approach the eightieth anniversary of the United Nations, we must take stock and ask the important questions, how did we get here? And more importantly, how do we build a multilateral system that truly serves us all?
Mr. President,
The crisis of multilateralism is not new. It is the result of exploitation, coercion, and double standards that have defined the unipolar order. Over the last thirty years, instead of genuine cooperation, we have seen the return of colonial-era tactics—where the wealth of many is siphoned by the privileged few. International law is disregarded, double standards prevail, and coercion has replaced diplomacy—leaving countless lives shattered.
Containment, subversion, military interventions, and the instigation and management of conflicts have replaced the principles and purposes of the Charter. Illicit coercive measures have been wielded as weapons, punishing those who defend their sovereignty and independence.
This must end. If multilateralism is to be effective and credible, we must dismantle these outdated power structures. We must commit to a system based on fairness, mutual respect, and a shared prosperity system where all nations have an equal voice, where sovereignty is sacrosanct, and where the principles of the United Nations Charter are upheld not just in words but in action.
Mr. President,
The Eritrean people embody the ordeal of many nations subjected to a global order shaped after 1945, with the United Nations at its core.
For decades, Eritreans have endured immense sacrifices—first in a 50-year struggle for independence, imposed by external forces that deemed their sovereignty undesirable, and then in decades of manufactured conflicts and unjust sanctions meant to disrupt their peace and stifle their progress.
Eritrea was severely tested—it emerged intact, more determined, and a haven of stability in a turbulent neighborhood.
But Eritrea’s experience is not unique. Across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and beyond, entire nations are subjected to punitive measures that strangle their economies, erode their sovereignty, and obstruct their development.
In many parts of the world, reckless military interventions and proxy wars have wreaked havoc, causing untold human suffering and fueling regional instability.
In our region, the Horn of Africa, the past three decades have generally been a period of missed opportunities, zero-sum games, and repeated conflicts often instigated by external powers. The ongoing conflict in Sudan is a glaring and recent example of this.
Mr. President,
The global order is undergoing profound geopolitical shifts, bringing turbulence and uncertainty.
This precarious reality makes it urgent for the world to unite—with greater determination, resilience, and solidarity—to establish a global order that guarantees peace and stability. This is not a choice but a necessity.
We must go beyond symbolism and technical fixes. We need to reach a global consensus on how to foster cooperation and rebuild trust in an evolving multipolar world.
This requires transformational reform of the United Nations and global governance institutions. True international cooperation rests on the existence of institutions that reflect global diversity, equitably represent all interests, and amplify the voices of every nation—especially smaller states most affected by global decisions.
It is unacceptable that, after eighty years, we still rely on structures designed when a third of humanity was under the yoke of colonialism. It is equally unacceptable that Africa is still marginalized from global institutions, including the Security Council.
If the United Nations is to remain relevant, it must serve as a shield for all, not a sword for a few. We owe it to future generations to build global solidarity, based on respect to the UN Charter and international law.
Thank you.
