Czech President Petr Pavel urges UN Security Council reform and global cooperation in annual meeting
At the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Czech President Petr Pavel called for reform of the Security Council, which he said must be more effective and inclusive to better reflect the voices of underrepresented regions. At the same time, he applauded African efforts for peace and security even beyond their borders and called for global cooperation in areas such as Russia’s war on Ukraine, cybersecurity, AI, quantum technologies, and more.
“To start with, let me recall that the United Nations was created to protect humanity from war and destruction and to promote peace, justice, and a better quality of life for all humankind. Together, we have managed to build a global system of rules and cooperation with the ambition to advance security and human rights instead of conflict and suffering, fostering economic development instead of overlooking widespread destruction.
“Aligned around the UN Charter, we have subscribed not to repeat the mistakes and disasters of the past. Unfortunately, we still do.”
In his address, Czech President Petr Pavel emphasized the urgent need for a functioning UN that can respond quickly to global crises and deliver on shared commitments. He warned that without an effective multilateral system, the world risks greater fragmentation and unpredictability. This is especially true with regard to Russia’s war on Ukraine, where the president believes much more can be done.
“A comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council is long overdue. Making the Council more effective, inclusive, accountable, and better reflecting today’s realities by strengthening the voice of under-represented regions is crucially needed.
“In the face of Russia's unjust and unprovoked war against Ukraine, we must realise that membership of the Security Council is not a carte blanche. No one has the right to abuse their power and bully other members of the international community without sanctions. Together, we must exercise more pressure on Russia to end this unjust and brutal war.”
In connection, President Pavel stressed that the peace summit in Switzerland reaffirmed that peace in Ukraine must be grounded in international law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
He criticized Russia's lack of interest in meaningful peace talks, noting global consequences such as threats to nuclear security, food and energy insecurity, and the weakening of the rules-based international order. The president called on countries that have yet to support the joint declaration from the Peace Summit to reconsider, urging nations aspiring for global respect to speak up since “silence only strengthens aggressors.”
At the same time, the Czech leader applauded African nations for their efforts in ensuring peace and security and called for Czechia’s partnership with them to foster mutually beneficial relationships and unlock Africa's vast economic potential.
The Czech statesman further highlighted the growing importance of cybersecurity as the world becomes more reliant on digital technologies. He warned that cyber threats, including espionage and attacks on hospitals, media, infrastructure, and institutions, aim to destabilize democratic systems and cross all borders.
Finishing his speech, President Pavel also pointed out the dangers of foreign interference and disinformation, emphasizing the need to safeguard human rights as new technologies like AI, autonomous systems, and quantum technologies evolve.
“The challenges we face today are global. We can only succeed if we fully commit ourselves to collective action and more cooperation. The quality of our governance will be judged by our actions and by whether we leave this world in a better state for future generations.”
