Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, at the United Nations headquarters; Credit: MAEE

Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, paid a working visit to the headquarters of the United Nations, from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 October 2023.

In New York, the minister participated in several ministerial meetings, focusing on the situation in the Middle East as well as the “Women and peace and security” agenda.

Minister Asselborn addressed the United Nations Security Council during a public debate on the Middle East situation and later participated in an emergency special session of the General Assembly titled “Illegal Israeli Measures in East Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.

In his interventions, Minister Asselborn reiterated Luxembourg's strongest condemnation of the barbaric attacks of Hamas, which “nothing can justify”, and recalled Israel's right to self-defence, in compliance with international law.

In this context, the minister highlighted the importance of acting in full compliance with international humanitarian law and ensuring the protection of civilians. “The people of Gaza are not Hamas: they cannot be held responsible or collectively punished for the crimes committed by terrorists,” he emphasised.

Minister Asselborn joined Secretary-General Guterres in calling for de-escalation and immediate humanitarian access. Recent events highlight the urgent need for the international community to revive the Middle East peace process, with Luxembourg remaining committed to a peaceful resolution that ensures both Israel's security and the Palestinians' right to self-determination.

In New York, the minister addressed the Security Council during a public debate on 'Women, peace and security.' He emphasised Luxembourg's support for strengthening women as agents of peace through its feminist foreign policy and the expansion of its national action plan 'Women, Peace and Security.'

The minister also noted that 25 years after the adoption of Resolution 1325, women and girls still face challenges in participating in decision-making and are often excluded from conflict prevention and resolution efforts. “It is time for action so that the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peace processes moves from theory to practice, and this at all levels and at all stages of decision-making in matters of peace and security,” declared Minister Asselborn.

Finally, Minister Asselborn took the opportunity of his trip to New York to hold several bilateral interviews. In particular, he had an interview with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, which provided an opportunity to discuss the many challenges facing the United Nations in crisis zones such as Gaza, Syria and Ukraine. Minister Asselborn and the Secretary General expressed serious concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and stressed the importance of de-escalation and rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza.

Finally, ahead of the various ministerial meetings, the minister participated in a coordination meeting with his colleagues from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Albania, the United States, Poland, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. The minister also met with Mariana Katzarova, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia, Mirjana Spoljaric-Egger, President of the ICRC, and Ayman Safadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan. Lastly, Minister Asselborn participated in a working lunch on the situation in the Middle East.