António Guterres regretted the difficulty in resolving problems in conflicts, as well as the lack of impunity, but believes there is still time to avoid World War III.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, said on Wednesday that he believes there is “time” and “conditions” to avoid a Third World War, but criticized the multiplication of conflicts and the “sense of impunity” that reigns in the world.
At a press conference in New York, accompanied by Lusa, Guterres assessed that the risks of a new World War are greater today due to the feeling of impunity enjoyed by many countries and militias. But “we are perfectly in time to avoid entering into the Third World War,” he said.
“What we are witnessing is a multiplication of conflicts and the feeling of impunity.. (…) I mean, any country or any military entity, militias, whatever, feel that they can do whatever they want, because nothing will happen to them,” he criticized.
The former prime minister recalled that, unlike the Cold War period, when “there were some protections and rules”, and “when things got out of hand, the superpowers came together and solved the problem”, today “this no longer exists”, lamenting the lack of resolution of problems on the ground and the “enormous level of impunity”.
“I am much more concerned about the dramatic impact on the lives of civilians, women, children and the elderly. – from everywhere, from Sudan to Myanmar and Gaza – with the risk of a Third World War, which I still believe we have all the conditions to avoid,” he added.
The former Portuguese Prime Minister on Wednesday gave a preview of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) and the Future Summit, which starts next week in New York, to the press, and called on member states to “seize this opportunity” to make global institutions more legitimate, effective and appropriate “for the world of today and tomorrow”.
“We cannot know precisely what the future holds. But we do not need a crystal ball to see that the challenges of the 21st century require more effective, interconnected and inclusive problem-solving mechanisms. (…) Change will not happen overnight. But you can start today. (…) It would be tragic if all this were lost,” he said.
The three agreements to be adopted at the Future Summit are in the final stages of negotiation: the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Pact and the Declaration on Future Generations.
Guterres launched the idea for this Summit in 2021, which will take place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week and will focus on the urgent need for greater international cooperation to address pressing challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, while the world grapples with the impacts of conflicts and global health crises.
On Sunday and Monday, the Future Summit will host heads of state and government from around the world, who are expected to adopt the “Compact for the Future,” an action-oriented document aimed at strengthening global cooperation and better adapting to current challenges for the benefit of people and future generations.
Although intensive negotiations are still ongoing, many observers have described the latest version of the text, published at the end of August, as lacking ambition.
Guterres said Wednesday that while he could not provide details on the negotiations, potential progress was being made on several important fronts, including the “strongest language on Security Council reform in a generation – and the most concrete step towards Security Council expansion since 1963.”
Source: Observadora
