Guterres Condemns Violations of International Law and Describes Wealth Concentration as Morally Unjustifiable
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has criticized countries that violate international law, asserting that the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of just 1% of the global population is “morally indefensible.”
In his address to the United Nations General Assembly at the start of his final year at the helm of the organization, Guterres highlighted that the 193 member states are confronting a global reality characterized by destructive geopolitical divisions, flagrant violations of international law, and significant cuts to developmental and humanitarian aid.
The Secretary-General emphasized that these developments undermine the foundations of international cooperation, especially when the world is in dire need of enhanced collaboration to tackle shared challenges.
He added that there are those attempting to undermine collective international action, but reaffirmed that the United Nations will not yield to this path, stating emphatically: “We will not despair.”
In this context, the Secretary-General renewed his criticisms of Russia for violating the UN Charter, which mandates respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, in light of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He also criticized the United States for military operations in Venezuela aimed at abducting President Nicolás Maduro, along with deadly attacks on boats that Washington claims are transporting drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans.
