Respect law to preserve peace and security, Polish president tells UN

In his address at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Duda reminded world leaders that the United Nations was established after World War II to prevent further conflicts and ensure world peace.

Duda argued that the world is facing a serious threat to global security. "For the past two and a half years, we have seen Russia's brutal aggression against neighbouring Ukraine," he said, adding that this was a flagrant violation of international law. "We cannot allow this war to turn into another frozen conflict. This is the most important task for the future," he said.

According to Duda, ending the conflict in Ukraine is crucial not only to put a stop to people’s suffering, but also "to prevent such heinous actions from becoming a model for others to follow." He emphasised that Ukraine's territorial integrity must be preserved within its internationally recognised borders.

Duda also spoke of the situation in the Middle East, where "due to the brutal Hamas attacks of October 7th, 2023 the conflict has escalated". He reminded the international community that Poland had consistently supported a two–state solution to the Middle East conflict to guarantee both Palestinians and Israelis the right to live in peace and security, and in good relations with their neighbours.

In his speech, Duda said that global peace and security cannot be achieved without respecting the rule of law. Therefore, Poland - as a country of freedom and solidarity - will apply for a seat in the UN Human Rights Council for the years 2029-2031.

In Duda's opinion, the United Nations remains a foundation for global order, despite its shortcomings. He assured that Poland is ready to join discussions on potential reforms of the UN as well as international financial institutions. "The world is changing, and our system must change as well, in order to better serve the global community," he said. (PAP)
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