From October 1, 2024, Greece will have observer status at its meetings Security Council of United Nationswhile from January 2025 it will participate as a non-permanent member state.

Greece’s participation in the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member is extremely important for its international position and diplomatic capabilities and gives Greece the opportunity to actively participate in decision-making on global issues, such as peace, security and human rights. In addition, it enables it to promote issues of particular importance, such as the protection of children and women in conflict, the safety of navigation, the promotion of international law.

The foreign minister George Gerapetritis after the work of the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations, he spoke about the importance of Greece’s participation in the UN Security Council at this particular time.

As Mr. Gerapetritis pointed out, the country’s participation in the UN Security Council entails two main responsibilities: First, that Greece will participate in decision-making on important international crises, such as those in the Middle East and Ukraine, based on international law and second, that it will advance critical priorities such as maritime security, the protection of children and women in conflict, leveraging its diplomatic capital to enhance international security.

“Part of the Process”

There are “two extremely critical dimensions connected to the issue of our participation as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council. The first dimension is the great responsibility to participate in the international security architecture, through the decisions of the Security Council”, explained the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“We will be part of the process that concerns the major crises, in the Middle East, Ukraine, Africa, but also the major issues that concern humanity, such as inequalities, hunger, immigration, logistics, the food crisis, climate crisis. It is a great responsibility, which our country undertakes. We must have a point of view, which will connect our national interest with international protection, with international law, which we have agreed to support”, Mr. Gerapetritis continued.

“The second dimension is that Greece will have the opportunity to set the Security Council and the United Nations priorities that it considers to be critical. Beyond the issues of high cutting edge and topicality, Greece, on the basis of a special framework, has chosen priorities, among which are the safety of navigation, the full implementation of international law and, in particular, the law of the sea, the protection of children in armed conflicts and women, peace and security.

»Greece will strengthen these priorities through a series of actions, which will include the large and critical countries of the planet. It is a very big opportunity for the country to highlight its diplomatic capital. We will use this opportunity wisely, with knowledge, with professionalism. Greece is constantly increasing its diplomatic capital and becoming a strong country, with permanent participation in the decision-making process at the global level”.

“To prevent further diffusion of the crisis in the Middle East”

Regarding the escalation in the Middle East, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in response to a question from APE-MPE, noted that “international governance has failed to impose the obvious, that is, the cessation of hostilities, the return of hostages, and the full channeling of humanitarian aid.”

“We are in a very critical phase of the crisis in the Middle East. What we were trying to prevent from the beginning, the spread of hostilities, unfortunately, we are seeing become a reality. It is true that at the level of the Middle East, international governance has failed to enforce the obvious, namely the cessation of hostilities, the return of hostages, the full channeling of humanitarian aid. Even at the last moment, it is necessary to do so and we will have a very crucial role within the Security Council in these matters. We must, at any cost, at this time prevent further diffusion. Already, two hotbeds, the Red Sea and Lebanon, threaten to further upset the already delicate balances in the Middle East. There should be a substantial intervention by the international community to stop this nightmare”, added Mr Gerapetritis.