EU Statement – UN General Assembly: High-level meeting on Regional zones of peace

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^* and Georgia, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as San Marino align themselves with this statement.

The United Nations was established as a peace project. Eighty years have passed since the nations of the world decided to work for peace and lay down principles that remain the cornerstone of the global order, refraining from the threat or use of force, or acts of aggression. These crimes are fundamentally incompatible with international law and the core principles enshrined in the UN Charter.

The European Union was also conceived as a peace project. We remain steadfast in our foundational commitment to ensure that peaceful cooperation prevails over armed conflict. While we hoped that atrocities committed in the previous century would stay in the past, the ‘never again’ – set as a benchmark of our collective memory – is challenged today. We are confronted with the painful reality that war has returned to the European continent.

The EU reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter, and reaffirms its continued support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We recall the resolutions of this General Assembly, calling for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in line with the UN Charter.

The importance of a functioning, rules-based international order cannot be overstated. During the first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit in April, both regions reaffirmed a joint commitment to cooperate for peace, security, and democracy, to fully respect international law, including the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of respect for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of all states within their internationally recognised borders.

Together, we acknowledge the relevance of the UN General Assembly resolution designating Central Asia as a “Zone of Peace, Trust and Cooperation”, adopted by the initiative of Turkmenistan on behalf of the region.

International law, including the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law, must remain our collective compass. Our highest priority should be to ensure that violations are not met with impunity. We recognise preventive diplomacy as a key instrument for conflict prevention and resolution, in line with the mandate of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) based in Ashgabat.

We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to upholding the rules-based international system and to promoting multilateral solutions grounded in international law, with the United Nations at its core. Let us work together to advance peace in all its dimensions, guided by the principles of the UN Charter. Let us strive for a world governed by principles ensuring our safe and secure co-existence, guaranteeing peace, prosperity, dignity, and development for all, especially for the most vulnerable.

Thank you.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.