Blanar: Unprecedented Erosion of International Law Taking Place in World

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - Unprecedented violations and erosion of international and humanitarian law are taking place in the world, said Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) after the beginning of a meeting of the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly (UNCPGA), which Bratislava is hosting until Wednesday (April 9). Blanar views UN events like this as important in efforts to find a way to halt the aforementioned erosion. "Bratislava has the honour of hosting the prestigious UNCPGA meeting on its territory. This attests to the fact that Slovakia is a respected UN country, and it is a great honour for us to be able to hold such a prestigious meeting on our territory on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the UN," Blanar told the media. The current UNCPGA meeting is being attended by the highest-ever number of the council's ex-presidents, as well as its current president Han Sung-Su. As many as 16 of the total of 25 council members will be present at the talks held in the Slovak capital. Current UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang will join the talks on Wednesday. Three important themes will dominate the discussions: the war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East and the issue of artificial intelligence and its impact on the functioning of the UN, said Slovak diplomat and President of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak. However, the debates will also touch on multi-lateralism and the internal agenda of the UN. In addition, the election of a new UN secretary-general and streamlining the activities of the UN General Assembly will be on the agenda. Lajcak noted that UNCPGA is applying for observer status within the UN General Assembly. A so-called Bratislava Declaration is expected to be formally adopted and signed at the end of the UNCPGA meeting on Wednesday. Once adopted, it will become an official document of the UN General Assembly and will be distributed to all UN-member states. Blanar hopes that this declaration will include strong support for the peace efforts currently being made by the United States regarding settling the war in Ukraine, as well as the conflict in the Gaza Strip. UNCPGA was set up in 1997 to support the president-in-office of the UN General Assembly, to provide diplomatic experience and institutional memory for the Office of the President of the UN General Assembly, and to support the development of international cooperation in general. ko/df