President of Ukraine

UN has become "software" that saved the world from critical error, but the Security Council must become more efficient - Volodymyr Zelenskyy

23 September 2020 - 22:45

The United Nations Security Council must become a more representative, balanced, transparent and efficient body. Ukraine is ready to take an active part in reforming the UN. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a speech at the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

In his speech, the Head of State recalled how in October 1945, after the end of World War II, the founding members of the United Nations, including Ukraine, rejected all contradictions and united to build a better world together.

“Undoubtedly, in these 75 years, many achievements have been made in terms of economic development, overcoming poverty, minimizing wars and cataclysms that could have happened without the UN. Mankind has conquered space and can even hold UN meetings remotely, using modern technology. Speaking the language of the same technology, the UN has become "software" that saved the world from critical error,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.

At the same time, he noted that the system is increasingly failing. It is attacked by new "bugs" and "viruses". In order for the UN to continue to play an important role in the establishment of peace in the world, existing mechanisms need to be improved.

“It is unacceptable when the sovereignty of an independent state is violated by one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council. This finally proves that the mechanisms of the 1945 model are not fully operational today. All this could lead to further depreciation of the Security Council. Ukraine will take an active part in the process of its reform. This body must become more representative, balanced, transparent and efficient. It is in the UN's interest to have an effective tool if someone abuses the veto and the status of a permanent member,” the Head of State stressed.

According to the President of Ukraine, the 75th anniversary of the UN should be an incentive to transform the Organization into a more dynamic and efficient structure.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that next year the 75th session of the UN General Assembly will be remembered as a return to effective multilateralism, efficient international solidarity and fundamental principles that underpinned the creation of the United Nations.

“We don’t have a reserve planet. We live here and just once. This is the future we want, this is the UN we need,” he said.

The President of Ukraine also congratulated Volkan Bozkır on his election as President of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly.

“I want to assure you that Ukraine has been, is and will be a reliable partner for you and the UN, even though today we are separated by thousands of kilometers,” the Head of State emphasized.