Ankara: France's UN envoy stated Tuesday that Paris supports reforming the UN Security Council (UNSC) to increase representation of African nations. 'The upsurge in conflicts is becoming an entrenched trend, and with it the temptation to resort to unilateralism. The resolution we have just adopted unanimously reaffirms our commitment to multilateralism and to the peaceful settlement of disputes,' Jerome Bonnafont declared at an open debate focused on promoting international peace and security through multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
According to Anadolu Agency, Bonnafont emphasized that multilateralism is not merely a concept but a method involving consultation, organization, and management of rivalries rather than unilateral actions prioritizing national interests. He highlighted the United Nations as the main institutional pillar supporting this approach during the UN Security Council event chaired by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
France expressed support for reform initiatives led by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, aimed at making the UN more efficient and adapting it to contemporary realities as part of the organization's 80th-anniversary efforts. A significant aspect of these reforms includes granting African countries a more substantial presence among the permanent members.
Since 2015, France has been promoting, in collaboration with Mexico, an initiative to regulate the veto in cases of mass atrocities. This initiative, joined by 107 States, seeks to prevent the Council from being hindered during such critical situations. Bonnafont criticized the Council's inaction on crucial international crises, specifically mentioning the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. He also urged the Council to take decisive action to restore peace in Sudan.
Bonnafont called for continuous international mobilization to ensure adherence to international law and praised the International Court of Justice for its contributions to peacefully resolving disputes. He further warned that upholding international humanitarian and human rights laws, which have been dangerously violated recently, is fundamental to preventing and resolving conflicts.