However insecure the world is today, the answer to our problems will always be more cooperation and more solidarity, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis declared on Wednesday, in New York, in his speech before the UN General Assembly.

"Romania will always uphold the international world order, with the UN at its core. If we want to find solutions, we must have a more responsible vision of the world. To understand its challenges. Let us remember what brought us here together in the first place. Peace as a state of spirit, as a purpose, as a tool", pleaded Iohannis in the national intervention held during the general debates of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York.

He said that "regrettably, we see around the globe that insecurity, violence, conflicts and even war have taken a firm grip on our world. Our main challenge is finding the much-needed solutions to restore and safeguard peace. Otherwise, the international order and the international law are ours to lose. When diplomacy is the most difficult tool to use, it is precisely then when we need to use it most".

In his speech, he spoke about the need to support Ukraine as much as necessary in its war against Russia and about the support provided by Romania to the neighboring country. At the same time, he called for the cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, "the safe release of all hostages and the facilitation of the safe shipment of humanitarian aid for the civilians of Gaza".

"More broadly, around the world, there are alarming calls to stop blatant violations of human rights, under many forms and rooted in different causes. There is a sense of urgency that remains unanswered. Conflict prevention and peacekeeping are essential tools in this regard. At the same time, we must support the cooperation with regional organizations, in view of their role in preventing, keeping and enforcing peace," said Klaus Iohannis.

At the same time, the Romanian president spoke about the impact of climate change, which he said "represents a growing threat to our security, and its consequences are already obvious".

"As these negative events increase, they impact demography, economies, energy, connectivity, and geopolitics.
It is vital to further international cooperation and ensure the much needed civil protection mechanisms. Romania actively participates at international level in the exercises, projects and actions to provide emergency response, especially to limit the impact of wildfires", Iohannis pointed out.

He emphasized that the UN system "is essential to mainstream our efforts and to create synergies. We need to accelerate our work to keep the 1.5-degree Celsius target alive. And, since climate change is a threat multiplier, Romania supports an integrated approach to the climate and security nexus within the UN system. Green transition also includes energy transition, while ensuring energy security, as an important development marker", he said.

Iohannis stated that in an age where the world could fully enjoy the opportunities provided by information, innovation and connections "we see increased distrust and hatred; we see polarisation and rise of extremism instead of coexistence and tolerance".

"Technology misuses, disinformation and other hybrid tools are at the centre of the problem with the aim of undermining our security. In such times, it has become way easier to destroy than to build. But it is now that we need to seek strength in global institutions, principles and values. All of those which serve to safeguard human dignity; and human dignity cannot be secured without human rights. They are never optional and continue to stand as one of the fundamental pillars of the UN system," Iohannis pleaded in the UN General Assembly.

In this regard, he said, international legal instruments have a crucial role. "For example, in digital transition. We see that technology is a global amplifier of trends. It is up to us to decide whether it will contribute to more effective and accessible public services. We also have to recognize the essential role of civil society, the human rights defenders, and the involvement of youth in advancing human rights", emphasized Iohannis.

He also conveyed from the UN platform that Romania is monitoring the situation of gender equality and the fight against gender violence. "Romania is a firm supporter of gender equality, which we promote as a member of the Human Rights Council and, most recently, of the Commission on the Status of Women", he assured. AGERPRES(RO - editor: Mariana Ionescu; EN - editor: Bogdan Gabaroi)