Chancellor in New York: UN reform plan adopted – Russia causes scandal

Despite a scandal triggered by Russia, the international community in New York has adopted a UN reform plan negotiated under German leadership. In the presence of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the President of the UN General Assembly, Philemon Yang, declared the United Nations’ future pact adopted against the will of Moscow and several other states. Russia distanced itself from the agreement, which was actually supposed to have been adopted unanimously.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin asked to speak contrary to the plan and demanded an additional change to the text. “If our amendment is not included in the text of the pact, we will also distance ourselves from the consensus on this document,” Vershinin threatened. He complained that the countries that were not satisfied with the agreement had not been given the opportunity for further negotiations.

143 states repel Russia’s maneuvers

Immediately after the Russian announcement, Congo submitted a so-called motion for non-adoption. As a result, 143 countries voted not to respond to the Russian motion any further – and thus to reject it. Only six states voted together with Russia, including Belarus, Nicaragua, North Korea and Syria. A short time later, the largest UN body adopted the pact, which is considered a minimum consensus, to loud applause.

In his speech, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) did not address the previous scandal and praised the compromise. “The Future Pact can serve as a compass for us. A compass whose needle points towards stronger cooperation and partnership, instead of more conflict and fragmentation.”

Scholz: Need pact more than ever

The document expresses the determination to jointly tackle challenges such as war, climate change, poverty and hunger, global health threats and artificial intelligence, Scholz continued. “In a time of great tension and uncertainty, we need the pact for the future more than ever,” said the SPD politician.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said it “opens the way to new possibilities and opportunities for peace and security.” It is an important step to reform international cooperation and make the world more interconnected, fairer and more inclusive.

Moscow had already caused unrest in the run-up to the meeting and threatened to disrupt the ceremony. UN member states had prepared themselves on Sunday night to counter a possible disruptive maneuver by Moscow. During the work on the Pact for the Future, Russia had already been viewed by diplomats as a troublemaker, partly because of a flood of objections.

Security Council, Financial System, Artificial Intelligence

The painstakingly negotiated pact includes declarations of intent for a reform of the UN Security Council and calls for an adjustment of the international financial system in favor of the so-called Global South. It is also intended to lay the first foundation for the global regulation of artificial intelligence. The text also opposes an arms race in space.

Despite some bright spots, the final text fell short of Guterres’ very ambitious expectations, according to diplomats. This was also reflected in the fact that the influential veto powers USA, Russia, China, Great Britain and France only sent their foreign ministers or even their deputies to the summit. However, by the end of the event on Monday evening, a total of more than 120 heads of state and government were expected to speak.

The classical singer and five-time American Grammy winner Renée Fleming provided a celebratory atmosphere at the General Assembly on Sunday morning, singing for the delegates in the large hall on the East River in Manhattan.