Emmanuel Macron, President of France, said that, after eighty years of serving peace, development and human rights, “we need to take stock of our progress and ensure that we keep pace with today’s world.”  As questions arise about the promise, benefits and utility of the United Nations, we must “not kid ourselves” that this eightieth anniversary is a fact to just accept, he said, adding that international, national and state conflicts are proliferating, as are criminal and terrorist activities, while the Geneva conventions are deliberately trampled upon “as if war was just about terror, revenge and victory”.  He observed that while “alarm bells are ringing out loud”, hope is not extinguished, as a lack of hope did not prevent the Syrian Arab Republic from freeing itself from war.  In the same vein, Ukraine is staying the course, and peace is possible in the Great Lakes regions.  “The world’s complexities are not a reason to throw in the towel on our principles and ambitions,” he said.

He further asserted that the United Nations cannot be replaced, expressing regret that its harshest critics are the same persons who want to change the rule of the game to exert domination, not wanting the common good to prevail.  “We don’t want to see ‘might is right’ prevail” or the “selfishness of some people win the day”, he said, urging respectful relations between peers to achieve peace, address climate change, have a successful digital transformation and fight against military proliferation.  “It is for this reason that, 80 years later, our priority is to really find the crux of effective multilateralism,” he stressed.  There is therefore a need to consolidate existing rules and institutions that guarantee collective authority and effectiveness as well as a respect for international humanitarian law.  He urged nations to support the International Criminal Court in its fight against impunity and implementation of the orders of the International Court of Justice, adding:  “The force of law is our best chance in stopping the rule of ‘might is right’ from prevailing.”

Further, he underscored the imperative for Ukraine to resist the Russian Federation and regain its territory, wealth, children and future, stressing that the Russian aggression is not Europe’s problem but one “which plagues us all”.  He therefore welcomed the proposal by the United States’ President to gradually weaken Moscow’s economy.  Turning to the New York Declaration of 22 September, which was signed by 142 countries, calling for the release of hostages, the stabilization of Gaza, the demilitarization and dismantling of Hamas and the reciprocal recognition of two States between Israel and Palestine, he urged States that have not done so to act likewise.  He expressed pleasure about his country’s work with the United Nations, the United States and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), opining that “Lebanon will breathe easier when Hizbullah is weak”.  He therefore announced the holding of a support conference for the reconstruction of that country and expressed support for a similar conference by Saudi Arabia to support the Lebanese Armed Forces.

He went on to state, “Syria must recover its unity and its sovereignty,” adding that his country is striving to ensure that it respects all components of its civil society.  As for the region’s peace and the nuclear programme of Iran, he said that after opening its doors to the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct inspections, Tehran must go back to the path of peace or face sanctions.  He also called for a mobilization to address the humanitarian situation in Sudan and uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, adding:  “We cannot forget any of these conflicts.  We have no right at any time to lose heart.”