1. Home
  2. Updates
  3. Liberals call for world peace at UNGA
01 Oct, 2024

Liberals call for world peace at UNGA

On 23-27 September, the United Nations held the 79th session of its General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, bringing together world leaders and representatives for a discussion on the full spectrum of today’s international issues.

Liberals including European Council President Charles Michel, Prime Ministers and Ministers from European Union Member States attended the high-profile assembly, holding speeches on topics that matter the most for our shared European and global future.

President Michel called for an end to global conflicts and emphasised the importance of cooperation in the building of a better future. He positioned the European Union at the forefront of this movement, advocating for its role in fostering peace and hope on the international stage.

''We are all responsible for what is happening outside these windows, but some clearly more than others. The European Union is a power for peace and security, and that will never change. In all the darkness, we must be a spark bringing more light and more hope to the world,” he said.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo underscored the urgent need to halt global conflicts and advocated for multilateralism as a cornerstone for addressing international challenges such as climate change. He also called for a renewed commitment to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

“To all of you who aspire for peace, it will only come about when we force President Putin to stop his aggression against Ukraine. We require more solidarity and cooperation,” he said.

“A new beginning on what the pact for the future calls for, with our recommitment to the UN charter to the rule of law to the respect of human dignity.”

Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Xavier Bettel criticised the international community for its failure to achieve a peaceful global order. He affirmed the importance of upholding the promotion of minority rights worldwide and intensifying efforts to combat climate change.

“Some islands might risk disappearing. If we don't act, we will be leaving a heritage to future generations that we won't be proud of,” he said.

''My dream is to come here one day and address you being convinced […] that in this world, irrespective of where we are, the color we might have, the religion that we might follow, our gender, our sexual orientation, we have the same chances, the same rights, but also the same obligations.”

Ireland’s Tánaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin addressed the global tragedy of ongoing conflicts and underscored the critical importance of upholding international law.

 "We see serious violations of international law go unanswered, and international crimes go unpunished,” he said.

You might also like:

Cookies on ALDE

ALDE uses functional and performance cookies that are necessary for the websites to function as well as possible. These cookies do not use any personal data and no permission is required for this. We also use marketing cookies to tailor the website to your preferences. You can give permission for this below. You can always change your settings on the Privacy Statement page in the cookies section.

Adjust preference
Accept all cookies