UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Hau Do Suan said Friday that the world needs a stronger UN more than ever.
"At this critical time, the world needs a stronger UN more than ever to harmonize our collective efforts to strengthening multilateralism and maintenance of international peace and security," the Myanmar UN ambassador told a Security Council open debate on upholding the UN Charter.
"The strict observance of the principles of international law and adherence to the obligations under the Charter of the UN by all member states are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security," he said.
"Every state has the responsibility to abide by the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, political independence and non-interference in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of states," said the ambassador.
"All disputes and conflicts must be resolved by peaceful means through political dialogue and negotiations in accordance with the UN Charter and international law," he added.
"Threat or use of force and unilateral coercive measures against other states are against the principles of the UN Charter and international law," said the ambassador. "In this regard, it is most important that the UN and the international community should support the chosen ways and initiatives of the countries concerned in settling their disputes or conflicts."
Briefing the council, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lamented that this year began with fresh turmoil and long-standing suffering and geopolitical tensions reached "dangerous levels," most recently in the Gulf.
He said the Security Council under the UN Charter has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and that the UN Charter remains the world's shared framework of international cooperation for common good.
Recalling the content of the charter, the secretary-general called for peaceful settlement of disputes, equal rights of men and women, non-intervention, self-determination and sovereign equality of member states.
Guterres also spoke of the clear rules governing the use of force as set in the charter.
In addition, he highlighted the prevention of conflicts and outlined many available tools in the charter, including negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and judicial settlement.
The open debate was organized ahead of the 75th anniversary of the UN Charter in June 2020, "as an opportunity for member states to reflect on and reaffirm their commitment to upholding Charter principles, particularly in the context of international peace and security," according to the Security Council Report, whose mission is to advance the transparency and effectiveness of the Security Council.
