Luxembourg was represented at the 70th anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations (UN) Charter by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, who visited New York on Friday 23 October 2015 for the occasion.

Minister Asselborn joined several high-ranking politicians to take stock of the progress in the history of the United Nations as well as highlight the areas in which the UN, and the international community as a whole, must redouble efforts to meet current and future chellenges in the field of peace and security, development and human rights.

"70 years ago, Luxembourg, along with many others, was a destroyed country," commented Minister Asselborn in his speech. "It is in the work of the United Nations that our country could find reborn hope at the height of the upheaval". The Minister then detailed the contributions made to the UN in terms of peacekeeping and international security, and its vital role in development cooperation and humanitarian action.

He further emphasised that although "over the past 70 years, the United Nations has undoubtedly helped to promote social progress and better living conditions in greater freedom, the UN has also witnessed serious failures", referring to the Rwandan and Srebrenica genocides.

"And what about Syria today?" the Minister continued, stating that "We must learn from these failures [...] Let us all pledge for a strong United Nations for a better world". He claimed that Luxembourg supports initiatives in which the Security Council can act quickly and effectively when populations are threatened with horrific crimes.

The Minister also used the opportunity of his visit to New York to engage in bilateral meetings with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon and President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Mogens Lykketoft, in order to assess political developments in the Middle East and the refugee crisis.

He additionally attended the launch of the code of conduct by which the 104 Member States, including Luxembourg, are committed to supporting the action of the Security Council aimed at preventing or putting an end to the genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.

 

Photo by MAEE (L-R: Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn; Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon)