Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has criticized Russia for its invasion of Ukraineand urged world leaders to take an anti-nuclear stance and for major reform of the United Nations in a key speech in New York.
Ardern, on the end of a busy weekdelivered New Zealand’s national speech two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin began calling people to serve in his army and threatened Ukraine with nuclear action.
“The only way to guarantee our people that they will be safe from the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons is to not let them exist,” she told presidents and prime ministers in the room.
She again warned that the institution risked becoming “irrelevant” if it were unable to act against countries threatening the peace, saying that the tools to act quickly and collectively have been “seriously undermined”.
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“There is perhaps no greater example of this than the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” she said.
“It is a direct attack on the UN Charter and the international rules-based system and everything this community should stand for.”
Bridie Witton / Stuff
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern delivers the national speech at the 77th United Nations General Assembly.
Russia had abused its “privileged position” in the UN Security Council, which prevented the country from acting in defense of international peace and security, she added.
She urged leaders to act and ask themselves, “What if it were us?”
“For the people in Ukraine who have lost loved ones, their sense of peace and security, their livelihood – these are all just words.”
New Zealand would continue its “struggle” for a global response to the use of nuclear weapons, which had a real impact in the Pacific.
“Our history of championing not only non-proliferation but also nuclear weapons prohibition is based on what we’ve seen, but also on what we’ve experienced,” she said.
“It was in our region that these weapons of war were tested. Those tests have left their mark on the people, land and waters of our home.”
Gavriil Grigorov/Kremlin Pool Photo
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine is under intense scrutiny by the United Nations General Assembly. (File photo)
In a nod to Russia, she said it takes one country to “believe their cause is more noble, their power stronger, their people more willing to be sacrificed” to misuse the weapons.
“There will be those who agree, but believe that it is simply too difficult to get rid of nuclear weapons right now. There is no doubt that nuclear disarmament is a huge challenge.
“But if given the choice, and given a choice, we would certainly choose the challenge of disarmament over the consequences of a failed strategy of weapons-based deterrence.”
Her speech also addressed tackling terrorism and violent extremist content online, the need for collective action on climate change and better preparedness for pandemics.
“We support efforts to develop a new global health legal instrument, stricter international health regulations and a strong and empowered World Health Organization,” she said.