Permanent Mission of Greece addresses the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on “Upholding the Charter of United Nations to Maintain International Peace and Security”(New York, 10 January)

Ambassador Maria Theofili, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, delivers a statement at the UN Security Council Open Debate on “Upholding the Charter of the United Nations to Maintain International Peace and Security” (Credit: UN Photo/Mark Garten)

The Vietnam Presidency of the Security Council convened from 9 to 13 January 2020 an open debate entitled “Upholding the Charter of the United Nations to Maintain International Peace and Security”. No less than 116 UN Member States participated in the three-day debate, including 10 on Ministerial level. The aim of the meeting was to reaffirm the importance of the Charter, and discuss ways and means for the UNSC, the UN system as a whole, regional and sub-regional organisations, and Member States to promote upholding the Charter to maintain international peace and security. At the beginning of the meeting, Members of the UN Security Council approved a Presidential Statement summarizing the importance of the Charter and calling upon all Member States to comply with its provisions. Additional information on statements delivered during the three-day debate is available at the relevant UN news releases SC/14071, SC/14072 and SC/14077.

Ambassador Maria Theofili, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, delivered a statement focused on the importance of respecting the Charter’s provisions that prohibit the use, or threat of use of force, and encourage prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes, based on the primacy of international law in international relations. In this respect, she recognized the crucial role of the Security Council in addressing international disputes at an early stage and without delay. Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of respecting the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, which contributes to strengthening peace, security, cooperation and good neighborly relations among all nations, and is a factor of stability and security in a challenging international context. Finally, she asserted that Greece’s bid for election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the period 2025 – 2026 is guided by the strong aspiration to uphold the UN Charter.

Statement by Ambassador Maria Theofili, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, at the UNSC Open Debate on “Upholding the Charter of the United Nations to Maintain International Peace and Security.”