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Thank you, Mr. President,
And let me also thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. Denmark pays tribute to the Secretary-General and to the countless UN staff members across the Middle East, working to build and sustain peace.
Mr. President,
No two conflicts are identical. Each emerge from its own history and is shaped by its own specific context. That is also the case in the Middle East. At the same time, many of the conflicts in the region are interlinked. Across the diversity of cause and condition, one truth endures: dialogue and diplomacy are indispensable to the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The tools of preventive diplomacy are well-known to this Council. From the use of mediation to the good offices of the Secretary-General and the deployment of envoys. When used actively and strategically, they can prevent conflict and secure ceasefires as a first step to the path to peace.
Mr. President,
Across the Middle East, we see diplomacy in action, with several fragile ceasefires in place.
The ceasefire between Iran and the US must be sustained. We are alarmed by the renewed escalation and call for all parties to implement the ceasefire. This is imperative not only for regional stability but also for the global economy. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has enormous repercussions including soaring energy prices and rising food insecurity across the world.
The Strait must be reopened and freedom of navigation must be restored immediately. We call on Iran to stop its attacks and engage in negotiations in good faith. We reiterate that Iran should never acquire a nuclear weapon.
The ceasefire in Lebanon is also under profound strain, with the recent escalation worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis with more than 20 percent of Lebanon’s population displaced.
All military action should cease immediately. Hezbollah must withdraw from the South Litani sector. Israel must respect Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and withdraw from Lebanese territory. The fighting has to halt for a ceasefire to be implemented.
In this fragile context, a strong and effective UN presence in Lebanon in support of resolution 1701 remains essential. As UNIFIL’s mandate approaches its end, we must work to avoid a vacuum of attention, engagement and security.
Mr. President,
No less urgent or critical is the ceasefire in Gaza. A ceasefire hard earned through tireless international mediation efforts and followed by the adoption of resolution 2803.
This ceasefire must likewise be fully implemented, as must all the provisions of resolution 2803, including Hamas’s obligation to disarm. We deplore the catastrophic humanitarian situation and deeply regret that restrictions on humanitarian provisions and rehabilitation of essential infrastructure have not yet been lifted. Seven months after this council adopted resolution 2803, there continues to be a lack of food, medicines and other items essential for survival. The human costs of these restrictions are devastating.
It is exactly the human cost that we must never forget. From Iran, over the Gulf, to Lebanon, to Gaza, our message individually and collectively, must be clear. Ceasefires must be respected by all sides, at all times. A ceasefire that only exists on paper will save no lives.
Mr. President,
Ceasefires, however, are not the end of the journey. What lies beyond a ceasefire is the task of lasting peace. It is a task of quiet courage, compromise and a willingness to overcome the past. One that is supported by UN-led mediation paired with regional security mechanisms. One where mediators do not become targets and where civilians across the region can live side by side in peace.
This is why we cannot let the two-state solution, the only viable solution for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians slip through our fingers. Today, however, that solution is under unprecedented threat in particular by the recent developments in the West Bank, including the E1 plan.
The Security Council must act to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution, and work to restore a genuine path towards achieving it. The New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine is instrumental in that regard.
Mr. President, in closing,
The challenges facing the region are complex and immense. But we must resist the temptation of fatalism.
With commitment to fully implementing these ceasefires, with regional security mechanisms, with UN-led and UN-supported mediation efforts and with the leadership of this Council, progress is possible.
These tools must be used more readily, be more adequately financed and supported politically by this Council.
Denmark stands ready to play our part to this important end.
I thank you.
