In the wake of a General Meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, provided critical commentary. Dujarric, speaking to Arab News, emphasized the UN’s lack of authority, describing it as a power-deficient entity where the Secretary-General is unable to independently make decisive moves.
Dujarric argued that global peace remains elusive without significant changes within the UN system and a reevaluation of the veto power dynamics.
Dujarric highlighted that the UN was originally created to promote global peace, eradicate international crimes, and prevent war. He further added that the current circumstances reflect the reverse, where nations responsible for war crimes take action against the UN.
Israel’s case illustrates this point; despite accusations of war crimes against its Prime Minister, Israel has prohibited the UN Secretary-General from entry. Israel, along with its allies, has also been involved in efforts to reduce UN funding.
During the interview, Dujarric disclosed that Guterres is focused on two crucial goals. The first is to use diplomatic pressure to resolve ongoing conflicts, an objective where Guterres has been unsuccessful to date.
The second goal is to undertake fundamental changes within the UN. Guterres has previously voiced his support for the inclusion of India, Brazil, and an African nation as permanent members of the UN Security Council.
According to Dujarric, the powerful nations are preventing these changes from taking place. He warned that without these changes, the UN will lose relevance, and its influence will diminish, rendering the organization directionless.
Former US President Donald Trump had previously criticized the UN during a meeting, saying the UN’s actions were limited to issuing letters instead of taking decisive steps to prevent wars. He suggested that the UN was failing in its duties and he had to assume the responsibilities the UN should be undertaking.