05:11Mandatory credit: UNTV/News use only
President of France Emmanuel Macron stated that 'we can't have a war in Lebanon' during his speech to the High-level General Debate at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
"We can't have a war in Lebanon. There can't be a war in Lebanon. This is why we urge Israel to cease this escalation in Lebanon and to Hezbollah to cease the missile launches to Israel. We urge all of those who provide them with the means to do so to stop doing so," he said.
"We have asked for the Security Council to meet today indeed to this end, and I welcome this, and the French foreign minister at the end of the week will head to Lebanon," he added.
Earlier, one of the leading figures in France's left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance Jean-Luc Melenchon claimed that his country was 'complicit' in what was happening in Lebanon 'whether we like it or not'.
Lebanon, which has seen a recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, was formerly part of the French empire, under the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon following WWI. It declared independence in 1943.
Macron also spoke of the UN Security Council, saying that while it could be 'blocked', he didn't believe there was a 'better system'.
"The reform of the composition of the Security Council is not sufficient alone to make it more effective, and so I wish this reform also to, how it should also change the working methods, to limit the right of veto in case of mass crimes," he said.
Meanwhile President of Finland Alexander Stubb told the hall that reform of the UN, and the UN Security Council in particular, was critical.
"We need the UN more than ever and without far-reaching reform, I'm afraid it will be sidelined. It all begins with agency, with a feeling that we all have a say," he said.
"First proposal: All major continents need to be represented in the UN Security Council at all times. It is unacceptable that there is no permanent representation from Latin America and Africa and that China alone represents Asia in the Security Council," he said. " Second proposal: no state should have veto power….my third and final proposal is that if a permanent or elected member of the Security Council violates the UN Charter, its voting rights should be suspended."
"This decision should ultimately be taken by the general assembly and there should be no room for double standards in the United Nations," he added.
BRICS countries have been leading the calls for more permanent seats and a more inclusive Security Council to reflect the 'multipolar world'. The UNGA General Debate continues in New York until September 30.
'We can't have war in Lebanon' - Macron sends FM to Beirut as Finland's Stubb calls for reform of UN 'double standards'
President of France Emmanuel Macron stated that 'we can't have a war in Lebanon' during his speech to the High-level General Debate at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
"We can't have a war in Lebanon. There can't be a war in Lebanon. This is why we urge Israel to cease this escalation in Lebanon and to Hezbollah to cease the missile launches to Israel. We urge all of those who provide them with the means to do so to stop doing so," he said.
"We have asked for the Security Council to meet today indeed to this end, and I welcome this, and the French foreign minister at the end of the week will head to Lebanon," he added.
Earlier, one of the leading figures in France's left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance Jean-Luc Melenchon claimed that his country was 'complicit' in what was happening in Lebanon 'whether we like it or not'.
Lebanon, which has seen a recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, was formerly part of the French empire, under the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon following WWI. It declared independence in 1943.
Macron also spoke of the UN Security Council, saying that while it could be 'blocked', he didn't believe there was a 'better system'.
"The reform of the composition of the Security Council is not sufficient alone to make it more effective, and so I wish this reform also to, how it should also change the working methods, to limit the right of veto in case of mass crimes," he said.
Meanwhile President of Finland Alexander Stubb told the hall that reform of the UN, and the UN Security Council in particular, was critical.
"We need the UN more than ever and without far-reaching reform, I'm afraid it will be sidelined. It all begins with agency, with a feeling that we all have a say," he said.
"First proposal: All major continents need to be represented in the UN Security Council at all times. It is unacceptable that there is no permanent representation from Latin America and Africa and that China alone represents Asia in the Security Council," he said. " Second proposal: no state should have veto power….my third and final proposal is that if a permanent or elected member of the Security Council violates the UN Charter, its voting rights should be suspended."
"This decision should ultimately be taken by the general assembly and there should be no room for double standards in the United Nations," he added.
BRICS countries have been leading the calls for more permanent seats and a more inclusive Security Council to reflect the 'multipolar world'. The UNGA General Debate continues in New York until September 30.
Mandatory credit: UNTV/News use only
President of France Emmanuel Macron stated that 'we can't have a war in Lebanon' during his speech to the High-level General Debate at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
"We can't have a war in Lebanon. There can't be a war in Lebanon. This is why we urge Israel to cease this escalation in Lebanon and to Hezbollah to cease the missile launches to Israel. We urge all of those who provide them with the means to do so to stop doing so," he said.
"We have asked for the Security Council to meet today indeed to this end, and I welcome this, and the French foreign minister at the end of the week will head to Lebanon," he added.
Earlier, one of the leading figures in France's left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance Jean-Luc Melenchon claimed that his country was 'complicit' in what was happening in Lebanon 'whether we like it or not'.
Lebanon, which has seen a recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, was formerly part of the French empire, under the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon following WWI. It declared independence in 1943.
Macron also spoke of the UN Security Council, saying that while it could be 'blocked', he didn't believe there was a 'better system'.
"The reform of the composition of the Security Council is not sufficient alone to make it more effective, and so I wish this reform also to, how it should also change the working methods, to limit the right of veto in case of mass crimes," he said.
Meanwhile President of Finland Alexander Stubb told the hall that reform of the UN, and the UN Security Council in particular, was critical.
"We need the UN more than ever and without far-reaching reform, I'm afraid it will be sidelined. It all begins with agency, with a feeling that we all have a say," he said.
"First proposal: All major continents need to be represented in the UN Security Council at all times. It is unacceptable that there is no permanent representation from Latin America and Africa and that China alone represents Asia in the Security Council," he said. " Second proposal: no state should have veto power….my third and final proposal is that if a permanent or elected member of the Security Council violates the UN Charter, its voting rights should be suspended."
"This decision should ultimately be taken by the general assembly and there should be no room for double standards in the United Nations," he added.
BRICS countries have been leading the calls for more permanent seats and a more inclusive Security Council to reflect the 'multipolar world'. The UNGA General Debate continues in New York until September 30.