Amherd and Cassis campaign for reforms at the UN summit in New York
Published: Tuesday, Sep 24th 2024, 04:50
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President Viola Amherd and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis are representing Switzerland this week at the so-called "High-level Week" at the opening of the 79th UN General Assembly. The message from the two Federal Councillors to the statesmen in New York: it is high time to tackle UN reforms and strengthen multilateralism.
At a UN meeting on Monday, Amherd described the world as "increasingly characterized by inequality, democratic backsliding and mistrust". In New York on the same day, Cassis expressed concern about the rising number of armed conflicts worldwide - 120 at present, compared to just under two dozen 25 years ago - as a result of which millions of people are in need of humanitarian aid and protection.
"We have a duty to ensure that our common future is not determined exclusively by national self-interest," said the President of the Swiss Confederation at the UN Future Summit on Sunday.
Security Council in focus
In her speech on Tuesday (around 5.30 p.m. Swiss time), Amherd will also talk about Switzerland's experience as an elected member of the Security Council in 2023 and 2024. In an interview with the Keystone-SDA news agency, the President of the Swiss Confederation praised the work of Swiss diplomats, who actively supported humanitarian aid and the protection of the civilian population in the Council.
Amherd will take part in a meeting of the body on Wednesday on the topic of "Leadership for peace". Foreign Minister Cassis is also paying particular attention to the Security Council, not least because Switzerland will once again chair the most powerful UN body for a month in October.
Mr Cassis will be present in the Council when the situation in Ukraine is discussed on Tuesday afternoon (local time). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will also take part in the meeting. Selensky wants to present a "victory plan" in New York. It is not yet clear whether Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, who is also at the UN, will also attend the meeting.
Protection of humanitarian personnel
Cassis is also concerned in New York that UN staff have increasingly been the target of attacks in the past year. Last summer, Switzerland introduced Security Council Resolution 2730 on the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel, which was adopted with the support of 98 UN member states.
It reaffirms the obligation of states and parties to conflict to respect and protect humanitarian and UN personnel, including national and local staff, and condemns attacks on such personnel.
"Humanitarian workers are a lifeline for millions of civilians around the world who risk their lives every day to help and protect those affected. We must better protect their ability to do this vital work," said Cassis.
©Keystone/SDA
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