LARS LOKKE RASMUSSEN, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, said it is utterly unacceptable that a permanent member of the Council continues to violate the most basic principles of the Charter.  “Wars of aggression and altering borders is — and should remain — a thing of the past,” he said, adding that Denmark will stand by Ukraine.  The Summit on Peace, held recently in Switzerland, clearly showed the strong global support for peace based on the Charter.  “We must all use our influence to further the cause of peace.  But it must be a peace that does not reward the aggressor for his brute use of force,” he said.  “Otherwise we undermine the principles on which the UN was founded.”

Since Hamas’ horrendous 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel, its terrorism has sparked a downward spiral of human suffering and regional instability, he continued, with a real risk of an all-out regional war that would affect everyone.  The international community should be thinking about a promising future for the region, based on a two-State solution.  Further, people are dying and suffering from many other conflicts, he reported, including in Sudan, and the humanitarian consequences for the civilian population with more than 10 million people displaced.  As well, there is an urgent need for political dialogue and halting conflicts in Yemen, Haiti, Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  “The list tragically goes on.  And in the wake of our collective inability to stop the wars — the respect for international law is slowly undermined,” he said.

He went on to say that the Pact of the Future reaffirmed Member States commitment to the Charter and outlined a clear direction towards a transformed system of global governance.  While the existing system has enabled nations to lift people out of poverty, after 80 years, it needs a serious update, including stronger representation of African countries in the Bretton Woods institutions.  At the same time, levels of development assistance to the poorest countries must be sustained and commitments honoured.  Denmark remains a member of an exclusive club of countries that meet the UN target of providing 0.7 per cent of their gross national income for official development assistance.  “It’s a good club.  We invite others to join,” he said.  In addition, Denmark in June was elected to the Council for 2025-2026, he said, noting that the Council needs to be more accountable, reflect the contemporary world and respond to security concerns.  It also needs to be expanded, with more permanent and more elected members.  “And we wish to limit the use of the veto,” he added.