Norway’s Foreign Minister Warns UN Faces “Crisis” on Both Political adn Financial Fronts
NEW YORK – Addressing the UN General Assembly on the occasion of the organization’s 80th anniversary, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide delivered a stark warning Friday morning (Norwegian time) that the United Nations is at a critical crossroads, grappling with both political and financial instability.
Eide began his address by recalling the pragmatic origins of the UN in 1945, stating, “Those who founded the UN were not naive idealists, but realists who understood that humanity could not continue as before.” He acknowledged the UN’s ancient achievements, citing a reduction in intergovernmental wars, the independence of former colonies, and the lifting of hundreds of millions out of poverty.
However, Eide quickly turned to present-day challenges, declaring, “at the 80th anniversary we find our UN in crisis.” Speaking to TV 2 after his speech, Eide expressed concern that key nations are disregarding essential principles of international law. He specifically cited Russia‘s aggression in Ukraine and Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank as examples.
“We see this, among other things, at Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, and in what Israel does in Gaza, in the West Bank and several other places,” Eide stated. He directly condemned both situations from the General Assembly podium as violations of international law, describing life in Gaza as “a living hell” and stating that the continuation of atrocities is “a shame for all of humanity.”
Eide emphasized the need for consistent application of international law, asserting, “When we condemn Russia in Ukraine, we must just as clearly condemn Israel’s fracture in Palestine. International law cannot be used with double standard.”
Beyond the political challenges, Eide highlighted a significant financial crisis facing the UN, attributing it to funding cuts from major contributing countries. “It is a financial crisis because central contribution countries have cut in funding. The assistance has been cut, and there is much less money available to carry out the assignments the UN has received,” he explained.
The Foreign Minister used his speech to advocate for significant UN reform, calling for an organization that is “stronger, but leaner and more efficient…that prioritizes more clearly and works smarter, not just harder.” He urged support for the Secretary-General’s modernization efforts, and pointed to member states as partially responsible for the current inefficiencies.
“The UN has received too many and partly overlapping mandates…If we are to get a more efficient UN, we must take co-responsibility and stop overloading the system,” Eide said.He suggested that the financial constraints,driven in part by cuts to advancement aid from major contributors like the United States,could ultimately spur necessary change,stating,”A crisis can also be an chance,and maybe the reforms we have really needed for a long time.”
