The head of state confirmed that Estonia supports the UN80 reform instigated by Secretary-General Guterres, which aims to make the United Nations more efficient, bring about changes in the system, review the structure of the UN as a whole and provide an overview of the implementation of Member State mandates. A report outlining the proposed changes is set to be published by the Secretary-General this summer.
President Karis says the United Nations is important to Estonia, and that it will continue to support it. “The UN needs ambitious reforms if it is to fulfil its goals in the 21st century, and Estonia continues to advocate for those reforms,” he said. “That also pertains to the Security Council, which has failed to meet its responsibilities and expectations in matters of peace and security. This undermines the reputation of the UN as a whole, and must change. Estonia has been pushing the need for reforms for a long time. While it is certainly difficult, it is not impossible, and it will have our complete support.”
The head of state also spoke with Secretary-General Guterres about crisis situations around the world and the UN’s role in alleviating them. “It goes without saying that Ukraine is the closest of those hotspots to us, but we are keeping a close eye on what is happening elsewhere in the world too,” he said. “For Estonia, it is crucial that we continue to give Ukraine our backing until a just, comprehensive and lasting peace is achieved. Unfortunately, there has been no progress towards a ceasefire, and our biggest cause for concern is that Russia continues to carry out mass attacks against Ukrainian civilians, including children, on a daily basis. This shows that Putin is not interested in peace.”
During their conversation, President Karis commended Secretary-General Guterres for underscoring the importance of the principles of the UN Charter, including the preservation of territorial integrity in Ukraine.
