UN Chief Lauds Germany’s ‘Frontline Role’ – OpEd

By Aar Jay Persius

As Germany and other western European countries struggled to combat the Corona virus, eagerly awaiting the advent of a vaccine to unfetter humanity from the scourge of the ruthless pandemic, UN Secretary-General António Guterres descended on Berlin and declared that the prophesied inoculum must be viewed as a global public good.

Guterres undertook the mission as Germany prepared to complete its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council which is charged with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The visit came on the dawn of the last year of his first five-year term at the UN Secretary-General.

The UN Chief has yet to indicate whether he plans to stay on for a second term following in the footsteps of most of his predecessors in office.

Guterres travelled to Germany on the invitation of the Bundestag (federal parliament’s) President Dr Wolfgang Schäuble on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations this year.

In his address to the Bundestag – in German – on December 18 and his remarks at a joint press encounter with German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass the previous day, Guterres poured Germany with profuse accolades and won thunderous applause and the hearts of his listeners.

He recalled a global UN survey of some 1.5 million participants, in which 99 per cent of Germans “affirmed their commitment to multilateralism, and international cooperation, to solve the problems of today’s world…by far, the largest percentage” of any one nation. 

“And that shows the strong commitment of the German people to the values that the UN represents,” he said, explaining that coming to the Bundestag was “the last activity I will have during this dramatic year”.  

In commemorating the world body’s 75th anniversary and acknowledging the suffering caused by COVID-19, and challenges “from climate change to inequality, to lawlessness in cyberspace to the different fragilities that undermine our world”, Guterres upheld that “Germany has been on the frontline” of all UN activities. 

Over the past two years, through its role on the Security Council, Germany has demonstrated “staunch commitment” to multilateralism and a “principled foreign policy across the broad spectrum of our work from human rights to peace and security, to addressing the challenges of development and humanitarian aid”, said the UN chief. 

He recognized Germany’s contributions on issues, such as pandemics, security, sexual violence in conflict, international humanitarian law and non-proliferation as well as its “crucial” and generous support for the UN Peacebuilding Fund.  

“I want to express my gratitude to the German government and the people for their generous humanitarian and development support”, said the top UN official. 

The Secretary-General elaborated on Germany’s assistance in Libya, the Sahel, Sudan, Ethiopia and several other crises around the world. 

He was appreciative of its role in Libya, including hosting the Berlin Conference last January and its efforts to galvanize the international community to support the Libyan people.   

Guterres also commended Germany for its “continued commitment” to development and stability in the Sahel region, and, among other things, noted its participation in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).   

Referring to Sudan, he lauded Germany’s “important contribution to UN efforts in the Security Council, and for its leadership in the Friends of Sudan group”, which is bolstering the government through a comprehensive international economic support package that coordinates funding and transparency.    

On the efforts to provide relief to the Ethiopian region of Tigray, as well as the general stability and development of the Horn of Africa, the UN chief underlined the importance of “unfettered access for humanitarian assistance as well as the swift resumption of the rule of law, human rights and a secure environment…in which reconciliation becomes possible and public services are delivered”.  

Beyond the immediate protection of civilians, he said: “the UN, together with our partners stands ready to support Ethiopian-led initiatives to encourage inclusive dialogue, reconciliation, and post-conflict reconstruction”.