Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations, during the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security
9 November 2018
Mr President,
We would like to congratulate you on your assumption of the Presidency this month and for convening this debate. The theme of this debate is indeed timely and crucial with regards to the growing geopolitical challenges we are seized with.
The construction of the multilateral system was imposed on us as a consequence of war. 77 years ago in June 1941, “the Allied Representatives of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia met in St James Palace, London. They declared that “ the only true basis of enduring peace is the willing co-operation of free peoples in a world in which, relieved of the menace of aggression, all may enjoy economic and social security, and that they intend to work together and with other free peoples, both in war and peace, to this end”
The aspirations set out in the UN Charter are more important today, than they have ever been. The increased threats to multilateralism undermine the principles that were ascribed to over seventy years ago when this organization was established. The complexities of conflicts have evolved, and we are increasingly more interdependent as nations. This means that we are all affected in some way by conflicts that we might have thought were far from us. The world is a significantly different place from when the UN was founded, and the need for a multilateral approach to address our common challenges is even more necessary and pertinent today.
South Africa, like many other countries, has benefited from the support of Member States of the United Nations, who through this organization were able to mobilize the international community to help isolate and defeat an oppressive and racist regime. The United Nations was a beacon of hope that contributed to the transformation of our country, and for this, we remain very grateful.
For many people in conflict ridden and vulnerable situations, the hope that the international community, through multilateral forums, will stand with them in their pursuit for a just and peaceful solution may be the only real opportunity for lasting peace and a better life and for generations to follow.
Two months ago, during the Nelson Peace Mandela Summit at the General Assembly, our leaders reaffirmed their commitment to global peace in honor and to revive the values for which leaders like Nelson Mandela stood for, by placing human dignity at the center of our actions. They made a strong call for safeguarding multilateralism in recognition of the new challenges and threats that our nations face. Emerging threats to peace and security can threaten any nation, no matter how stable and prosperous, and requires a coordinated and global response in order to overcome these threats.
Through the political declaration, our leaders committed to redoubling efforts to build a just, peaceful, prosperous and inclusive world.
History has taught us painful lessons like the Holocaust, the Rwandan genocide, the Srebrenica massacre, and countless violent atrocities. To prevent such occurrences from ever happening again we should learn from these hard lessons, and collectively correct any trajectory that might lead us back to such actions or we run the risk of repeating the mistakes of our past. So we must ensure that current situations are resolved with renewed vigor for a just and lasting peace.
It is pivotal that we respect safeguard, enhance and implement the multilateral agreements constructed around the development, human rights and peace and security pillars.
Mr President,
We recognize that the Security Council remains the primary multilateral body charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. However, the Council has been confronted with challenges where it is prevented from acting due to structural impediments, which have at times undermined its ability to promote conflict prevention and protect the most vulnerable. It is thus imperative that the Council continues to be united and steadfast in realizing its multilateral commitments to creating peace and yielding tangible dividends for ordinary people on the ground. The Security Council’s central mandate should not be undermined by narrow self-interest, which is the antithesis of multilateralism. It should rather draw on its strength of unity and diversity of perspectives in finding real, proactive and viable solutions to threats to international peace and security.
It is vital that the Security Council continues to work closely in collaboration with regional organizations in terms of Chapter VIII of the Charter. This is fundamental in light of the significant strides that have been registered in the continuously growing relationship with the African Union and the United Nations particularly between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council in support of home grown peace initiatives. In this regard, we should ensure that this relationship is enhanced and becomes mutually beneficial to the aspirations of collective security and also silencing the guns on the African continent as stated in the AU’s Agenda 2063.
Furthermore, we should act with determination in reforming this Council to ensure that it reflects the current geographic realities, and is fully representative of the world today. In this context, we should redress this historical injustice to the 1.2 billion people in Africa. Similarly, the improvement of the working methods of this Council will enhance effectiveness of the work of this important body.
Mr President,
Efforts aimed at creating an enabling environment through prioritizing the prevention of conflict cannot be overstated. Consequently, addressing root causes of conflicts will enable us to better address issues related to terrorism and migration, amongst others. The absence of overt conflict, however, is not the end and peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction and development is essential. Thus, the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development is key as it aims to address poverty, underdevelopment and lays the foundation for achieving sustainable peace.
In closing, Mr President, we would like to reiterate the sentiment of Political Declaration adopted at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, which captures the essence of multilateralism, I quote:
“It is clear that lasting peace is not realized just by the absence of armed conflict, but is achieved through a continuing positive, dynamic, inclusive, participatory process of dialogue and engagement that resolves all outstanding issues in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding, cooperation and long-term vision.”
This supports what South Africa firmly believes, that the only route to a just, and lasting peace is through multilateralism, exemplified by the achievements of the United Nations.
I thank you.
Rev. Monday, 26-Nov-2018 4:54 PM