UN Adopts Venezuelan Proposal to Celebrate Multilateralism Day
The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted on Wednesday, during a plenary session, a resolution presented by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, on behalf of the 120 Member States of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (Mnoal), through which it is established April 24 as the “International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace”. The text was surprisingly put to the vote, at the request of the US delegation, who said that the establishment of such celebration was unnecessary. However, the text was approved with a total of 146 votes in favor, while only the United States of America and Israel voted against, reported a press release issued by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry.
In presenting the draft resolution to the full membership of the United Nations, Ambassador Samuel Moncada stressed that the adoption of this resolution, which was co-sponsored by 126 countries, represents a recognition of the role of Mnoal in the promotion, defense and strengthening of multilateralism, as well as its efforts in favor of all diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful and prosperous world, as well as the maintenance of international peace and security, said the bulletin of the Foreign Affairs Office, published through its website.
The Venezuelan diplomat stressed that the commemoration of the aforementioned International Day “will constitute a mean to promote the values of the United Nations, to reaffirm the faith of our peoples in the purposes and principles enshrined in its founding charter, to reaffirm the importance and full validity of both multilateralism as well as international law, and to promote our common goal of achieving a lasting and sustained peace through diplomacy. ”
Likewise, the Presidential Commissioner for Mnoal Issues highlighted in his speech the commitment of the Movement to strengthen its role as an anti-war and peace-loving force, in accordance with its position of principles in favor of the full realization of a culture of peace. in the world.
The adopted text, whose negotiations were facilitated by the Venezuelan delegation for several weeks, recognizes that the approach of multilateralism and diplomacy reinforces the promotion and realization of the three pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, development, and human rights. which in turn complement the efforts of the international community aimed at seeking the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
“This Venezuelan initiative, which constitutes a concrete action in favor of the establishment of a multipolar and multi-center world, was supported by various regional groups and political consensus-building organizations, particularly from the developing world, as well as from other allied countries such as China and Russia, “the note said.
The first occasion on which the “International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace” will be commemorated will be on April 24, 2019, in the framework of a High Level Meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations in which the participation of Secretary General António Guterres is foreseen.
The date is of great historical significance for the Mnoal, bearing in mind that it was on April 24, 1955, when the Afro-Asian Conference ended, in which the foundations were laid for the founding of the Movement in 1961 and in which They agreed on the ten Bandung Principles that continue to govern non-alignment policies to this day.
Translated by JRE
