Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly
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Preventive Diplomacy in the Changing Landscape of Modern Conflicts: The Role of the UN and Regional Organizations
30 May 2023
(As delivered)
OSCE High Commissioner, my friend, Kairat Abdrakhmanov,
UN Special Rapporteur, my friend, Fernand de Varennes,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure, thank you very much indeed, for bringing us together and providing the opportunity for me to share some notions and ideas with you.
I prepared remarks and I will share them with you.
But I cannot help but reflecting immediately on what the Ambassador of North Macedonia has just said, on one particular point.
And I agree with what he has just told us.
When he was asking the question, what is the nature of the conflict we are witnessing in Europe, in the OSCE – but basically in the broader context as well –and he identified it as a conflict of identities, could I broaden a little bit the picture.
We are witnessing an increased pressure of many societies in the world, including the ones in Europe, in the OSCE region.
And if we try to understand how that pressure is building up – and what are the main elements, main factors of that pressure – then we very easily can identify that we are facing the most complex, interlocking crises in the last 70 years.
And the very complex nature of the crises resulted in the prototype of the Anthropocene-era crisis.
It has never happened to humanity.
Probably it is not time now, here, to analyse, but the manifestation of the crises that is putting our societies under pressure deserves very good attention.
Because if we do not understand the complex nature of the crisis, then we will be doomed to repeat many of the conflicts and many of the consequences of the conflicts.
It is taking a toll on human rights. It is taking a toll on minorities as well.
So, it is in these trying times that the importance of preventive diplomacy that we just heard from the Ambassador becomes more apparent than ever.
By effectively addressing conflicts before they escalate, we can safeguard peace and foster the sustainable transformation of our societies.
Because without transformation of our societies, we are not going to be able to create those conditions that will have much better [inaudible] for safeguarding against these crises.
Last September, I had the privilege to convene the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Minorities.
During that landmark event – and many, many thanks to my friend Fernand de Varennes for preparing it – Member States highlighted the disturbing trends and set forth priorities for the future.
Many inspiring measures were shared, such as quotas for minorities in national parliaments, zero tolerance policies against incitement to hatred, and ensuring access to quality education in minority languages.
It was also shared that in the last 30 years, we have been off track of the implementation of the commitments ensuring minority rights.
To strengthen the stability of our societies, shortfalls must be urgently addressed.
But I would like to draw your attention to another point.
And it goes back to the conflicts that the Ambassador mentioned, including the largest war we now have on Earth.
It was stated in the September discussions that it must be clear that disputes over the fair and transparent implementation of commitments cannot be used as a pretext to launch wars against other countries.
Wars will never broaden trust among parties of dispute.
At the heart of our work lies the conviction that inclusion and integration are indispensable elements for prevention.
Inclusion and integration resonate throughout the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, embodied within SDG 16, serving as a powerful call for the creation of peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.
Regrettably, despite our commitments, violent conflicts still persist.
And if we take into consideration just the armed conflicts, the wars – we have 27 wars going on around the world – most of them have ethnic elements, as well.
People belonging to national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities remain particularly vulnerable to the scapegoating, dehumanization, and discrimination that fuel these flames.
Furthermore, women and girls belonging to minorities endure intersecting forms of discrimination, bearing the brunt of violence in conflict.
Max van der Stoel has been quoted already. But let me join in quoting him when he said:
“Collectively, we must do more to act in response to the warning signs.”
Moving forward, Member States must intensify their commitment to “leave no one behind” by addressing the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination faced by minorities.
If we don’t do that, the complex crises that are pressuring us will just increase the internal tensions within our societies.
Bold action is needed to restore public trust and strengthen the capacity of institutions to secure justice for all.
In this spirit, on 15 June, I will convene a high-level debate titled,“Equal Access to Justice for All: Advancing Reforms for Peaceful, Just, and Inclusive Societies” in collaboration with UNODC.
Let us seize this opportunity to shape the global agenda and drive transformative change.
Because without transformative changes in all our societies, the outcome will not be significantly different.
As Nobel laureate Nadia Murad so forcefully stated, “We must not only imagine a better future for women, children, and persecuted minorities, we must work consistently to make it happen – prioritizing humanity, not war.”
The rule of law is not a hollow concept; it is embodied in the voices of individuals and minority communities, the inclusivity of societies, the strength of institutions, and the leadership that exemplifies respect for all.
I very much look forward to hearing your bold ideas and policy recommendations for fostering a more inclusive future.
Because that inclusive future must be part of our transformation.
Transformation – what we are supposed to commit to during the SDG Summit later in September – and how credible our commitments could be, how credible our policies built before and after could be, that will determine how much impact we can have on our societies
And the outcome of the transformation will indicate the chances of the current and future generations, including minority communities.
Thank you much indeed.
