site.btaUN General Assembly President: UN's Strongest Asset Is Not Giving Up Even in Darkest Times

Taking a BTA reporter's question here on Tuesday, UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said that the whole lesson of the United Nations and their strongest asset is not to give up even in the darkest times. She gave a news conference at the European Parliament building after a speech in the plenary hall as part of the February plenary session. 

Baerbock began the news conference with a short speech that covered key matters in international affairs. After, the BTA special correspondent asked her what is the best way to finally achieve peace in Ukraine from the UN's perspective, given that it will soon be four years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, and sanctions and attempts at negotiations have not yielded result. Baerbock replied every day in war is one day too long. "So, any initiative on finding peace and also coming to a ceasefire is crucial. Not only for the people in Ukraine, which are going now through the fourth winter of this horrible war, but same accounts for other situations around the world."

In her words, over these four years, the UN member states have made clear that peace only is sustainable if it is based on the international order and the UN Charter. "Therefore, the discussions with regard to the sovereignty of Ukraine, like it would be with every other country, are crucial if we are talking about lasting peace and if we are talking about sustainable peace. And yes, for human beings it is very hard to face a situation where you might think we have tried already now for a couple of years, maybe we should give in. But the whole story and the whole lesson of the United Nations is that their strongest asset is, even in the darkest times, to not give up, but to stand up for the principles," she argued. The aim should be to stand up for the principles and the peace order grounded in the UN Charter, and not finding a deal which in the end invites for further escalation and for further aggression, she specified.

In her brief opening statement, the President of the UN General Assembly said that a transregional alliance of those interested in preserving the international order was necessary. She noted that preserving the international order was key to respecting human rights, peace, and the well-being of people around the world.

Baerbock expressed the opinion that the current situation in the world is very similar to that of four years ago, when Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

The former German foreign minister stressed that the UN needs Europe. She also underscored that the majority of UN member states know that their membership in the organization is their "life insurance."