The Statement by Gholam Ali Khoshroo, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations was issued before the Security Council Open Debate on “Maintaining International Peace and Security: Reflect on History, Reaffirm the Strong Commitment to the Purposes and Principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”
Khoshroo believed that the current arrangements and practices violated the UN Charter of respecting the nations’ rights to freely choose their own fate and exerted undue pressures on these countries to restrict their freedom of trade, travel, and other affairs necessary to interact with the rest of the world.
The following is the text of Mr. Khosroo’s address.
Mr. President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
I wish to convey to you, Mr. President, the Movement’s appreciation for convening this open debate on this fundamental issue. We hope this open debate contributes to our overall efforts to make United Nations more efficient and effective in maintaining International Peace and Security as well as more transparent, democratic and consistent. At the time when the international community celebrates the 70th anniversary of the organization, it is a high time to reaffirm our strong commitment to the Charter as the cornerstone of United Nations.
NAM has consistently called upon the international community to renew its commitment to uphold and defend the principles of the UN Charter and international law as well as the means provided in the UN Charter for the pacific settlement of dispute and non-resort to the threat or use of force. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the principles of international law are essential in preserving and promoting peace and security, the rule of law, economic development and social progress, and human rights for all.
NAM member states note that the existing, new and emerging threats and challenges, including the multiple inter-related and mutually reinforcing current global crises, continue to impede efforts by states to attain greater economic development and social progress, peace and security, and enjoyment of human rights and the rule of law.
Global peace and security continue to elude humankind as a result of, inter alia, increasing tendency by certain states to resort to unilateral measures, non-fulfillment of obligations, especially in the area of WMDs and conventional weapons treaties, terrorism, conflicts, violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Moreover, the use of double standards in international relations and the continuing failure of the majority of developed countries to fulfill their commitments in the economic and social fields are also undermining peace and security. We underscore the need for the international community to collectively redress these situations according to the UN Charter and the principles of international law.
Mr. President,
NAM member states, guided by the NAM principled positions and recognizing the serious danger and threats posed by the actions and measures that seek to undermine international law and international legal instruments, stresses the need to undertake a wide range of measures, among others:
- Identify and pursue measures that may contribute towards achieving a peaceful and prosperous world as well as a just and equitable world order, based on the UN Charter and international law;
- Conduct external relations based on the ideals, principles and purposes of the Movement, the UN Charter and international law, as well as the relevant Declarations adopted by the UN General Assembly;
- Firmly oppose the unilateral evaluation and certification of the conduct of States as a means of exerting pressure on Non-Aligned Countries and other developing countries;
- Refrain from recognizing, adopting or implementing extra-territorial or unilateral coercive measures or laws, including unilateral economic sanctions, other intimidating measures, and arbitrary travel restrictions, that seek to exert pressure on Non-Aligned Countries – threatening their sovereignty and independence, and their freedom of trade and investment and prevent them from exercising their right to decide, by their own free will, their own political, economic and social systems, where such measures or laws constitute flagrant violations of the UN Charter, international law, the multilateral trading system as well as the norms and principles governing friendly relations among States;
- Oppose and condemn the categorization of countries as good or evil based on unilateral and unjustified criteria, and the adoption of the doctrine of pre-emptive attack, including attack by nuclear weapons by certain States, which is inconsistent with international law, in particular the international legally-binding instruments concerning nuclear disarmament;
Mr. President,
And finally, Mr. President, the Movement has stressed that the UN Charter contains sufficient provisions regarding the use of force to maintain and preserve international peace and security. Achieving this goal by the Security Council should be strictly done in full conformity with the relevant Charter provisions. Resorting to Chapter VII of the Charter, as an umbrella, for addressing issues that do not pose a threat to international peace and security must be avoided. In this regard, the Council should fully utilize the relevant Charter provisions, where appropriate, including Chapters VI and VIII. In addition, and consistent with the practice of the UN and international law, as pronounced by the ICJ, Article 51 of the UN Charter is restrictive and should not be re-written or re-interpreted.
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MNA
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