Guterres says peace is essential for achieving inclusive global growth and sustainable development….reports Asian Lite News Desk
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for peace across conflict zones including Gaza, the broader Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan, saying peace is essential for achieving inclusive global growth.
Addressing the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Guterres said the world was facing multiple conflicts that were having a disproportionate impact on countries and communities across the Global South.
“From Gaza, to the broader crisis in the Middle East, to Ukraine, Sudan and beyond, our world needs peace,” he said.
Guterres stressed that peace was a fundamental requirement for building resilient economies and ensuring inclusive development.
“Across the board, States must respect their obligations under the UN Charter and international law,” he said, outlining the need to uphold international navigational rights and freedoms, sovereign equality, territorial integrity and the political independence of states.
He also called for the peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
The UN chief’s remarks came as leaders of countries directly involved in or affected by several conflicts attended the BRICS gathering. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian participated in the summit alongside senior representatives from Gulf countries, including Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was also among the participants. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had far-reaching consequences for global food and fertiliser supplies.
Guterres also referred to the theme of the summit, set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which focuses on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
“As your Summit’s theme rightly frames it, we must build for resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability,” he said, describing these principles as essential for shaping inclusive global growth.
He said peace was among the key conditions required to achieve those objectives.
The call for peace in the Middle East, Gaza and Sudan was also reflected in the BRICS joint declaration adopted on Saturday. The declaration was endorsed by the group’s members, including Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
The 11-member bloc expressed “deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in the Middle East/West Asia” and urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that could further worsen the situation.
On Gaza, the BRICS declaration called on all parties to maintain the ceasefire and reaffirmed support for the “inalienable rights” of Palestinians. It also opposed the displacement of Palestinians from their homeland.
On Sudan, the declaration expressed “grave concern over the deteriorating situation” and the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by the civil war. BRICS called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
However, the declaration did not refer to the war in Ukraine. The BRICS declaration adopted at last year’s summit in Brazil had made a brief reference to the conflict, noting that member states had expressed their respective positions in international forums.
Guterres’ appeal came amid continued disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following the February attack on Iran by Israel and the United States, affecting a major global route for petroleum and gas supplies.
