UK takes over UN Security Council presidency for November

On November 1, the United Kingdom officially took over the rotational presidency of the UN Security Council from Switzerland for the month of November. 

Ambassador Barbara Woodward, the UK’s permanent representative to the UN, highlighted the challenging global landscape, noting that "the world is facing more conflict now than at any other point since World War II", Caliber.Az reports referencing foreign media.

During her briefing with reporters, Woodward emphasized the UK's focus on the three major conflicts currently affecting the world, citing "the devastation and the risk of war in the Middle East, Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, and the conflict in Sudan." She pointed out that over 339 million people are dependent on humanitarian aid from the UN and its partners for survival, adding that the organization is under "enormous pressure" from multiple fronts.

"The UN remains in every war zone and every refugee camp, the UN is a beacon of hope for so many, but in particular, I would say at this time, a beacon of hope for Palestinians, and UNRWA is their irreplaceable lifeline," she stated, condemning Israel's proposed restrictions on UNRWA's operations as "totally wrong." She added, "Palestinians need the UN, but we all need the UN."

Turning her attention to the Middle East, Woodward said, "An immediate cease-fire is needed in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas, and also an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah." She warned that "further escalation is in no one's interests" and that no good could come from "pouring fuel on the fire of the flames and escalating this cycle of violence."

The ambassador reiterated that "the only way" to secure not just an immediate but also a lasting cease-fire is a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. "And to achieve this, of course, we need to think about what pathway there is to rebuilding Gaza as part of a viable Palestinian state, including East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank, living side by side with a secure and safe Israel," she said.

Regarding Russia, Woodward stated that the UK will be using its presidency to call out Moscow's "disinformation and expose their crimes." She added, "It may be two and a half years now since Russia first invaded Ukraine, but our support for Ukraine as it fights to defend its sovereignty, its territorial integrity and the principles of the UN Charter remains ironclad."

Earlier, Woodward expressed concern that both sides in the country are committing "egregious human rights violations," including the widespread rape of women and girls, stating, "More than half the Sudanese population are experiencing severe food insecurity."

The Security Council presidency will pass from the UK to the US in December.

By Tamilla Hasanova