Remarks by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at the UNGA, ECOSOC and UNSC High-level dialogue
The 75th anniversary of the United Nations will give us a good opportunity to further reflect on the future of multilateralism. Of course, no one in their right mind would openly declare themselves unilateral. We all think that we are the best addition to multilateralism. I mean each of us, a group of countries, but we all differ: in how we treat approaches to multilateralism, in what we believe multilateralism is.
I often come to hear that the United Nations or the Security Council is not what they used to be. It is said, as if in the past UN Member-States never had any contradictions or disputes, as if everything went smoothly. The thing is, it was not so. What maybe changed over the years is the culture of dialogue. I happened to witness events from not so distant past, so when now people blame the United Nations, I always recall what Margaret Thatcher used to say on that. She said: “Those who blame the UN, go and look in the mirror, because the UN is you”.
We are the UN. The UN is not an abstract notion. It is not just a Secretary-General, who is by all means a very respected personality. Still, UN is all of us collectively.
I will not go deep into defining distinction between consensus and unanimity. I do not think this is the aim of today’s meeting. I finish here. In my view, to strengthen multilateralism, we need to go to the very basis, which is the UN Charter.
Thank you.
