At the end of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York, Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib praised the international institution, stating that "it is the only place where 193 states can still come together and think about reinventing themselves."
After a busy high-level week at the United Nations, as she concluded her mission in New York, Foreign Minister Lahbib ended with a few observations. Although the world and its balances have changed, and the UN General Assembly may no longer be a privileged place to address geopolitical challenges, it still remains a necessary forum for international cooperation, she outlined to Belga News Agency.
"We end the week with a record 35 bilateral meetings and events organised or co-chaired," said the minister during a moment of celebration with the Belgian UN delegation on Friday evening.
"Oman, Jordan, Turkey, the Palestinian Authority, the United Arab Emirates, Angola, Burundi, the DRC, Algeria…. This high-level week gives us the opportunity to meet all the partners we needed to talk to, and also forge coalitions with those we don’t see much of. That would take weeks or even months of travelling abroad," said the minister.
Belgian Foreign minister Hadja Lahbib, Queen Mathilde of Belgium and and Minister of Economy and Work Pierre-Yves Dermagne in New York City for the UN General Assembly. Credit: Belga / Benoit Doppagne
"It says that the high-level week is perhaps no longer the preferred place to discuss geopolitical challenges. It is true that the Security Council is weakened by one of its members (Russia), which paralyses discussions on Ukraine or the Middle East," commented Lahbib.
The Belgian minister pointed out that the Russian veto has prevented the Security Council from bringing the crime of aggression against Ukraine before the International Criminal Court. The minister also called for the creation of a special international tribunal this week.
The UN is also being criticised by countries in the South, who say they are not being heard enough."The world has changed since 1945, when the UN was created. There are new challenges and the UN has to reinvent itself, that’s a reality," said Ms Lahbib. "We have to listen to the countries that feel they have no place at the discussion table."
Should other countries be brought into the Security Council, which bears primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security? Should the right of veto within this body be reformed? "It is not up to Belgium to decide," replied the minister, adding that meetings with "small countries" were a "signal that they have a say."
Belgian Foreign minister Hadja Lahbib and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo talk to the press during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Credit: Belga / Benoit Doppagne
Critics had targeted the large number of Federal Government ministers who made the trip – in addition to Hadja Lahbib, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, the Minister for the Economy and Employment, Pierre-Yves Dermagne, the Minister for Development Cooperation, Caroline Gennez, and the Minister for Justice and the North Sea, Vincent Van Quickenborne, were present.
Only one leader from the UN Security Council permanent members was present this week, namely US President Joe Biden. French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as the leaders of China, Xi Jinping, Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the UK, Rishi Sunak, were absent.
