NewzUNITED NATIONS (AP) — The world is deeply divided and the U.N.’s most powerful body is paralyzed when it comes to ending conflicts. So says the United Nations’ top official. On his way out of office at year’s end after nearly a decade, U.N.
Secretary-General António Guterres — known for doom-and-gloom speeches about the state of the planet — said Thursday he finds hope and possibility in the coming years. But that, he says, is only if the world’s governments can finally cooperate on curtailing conflict, upending inequality and grappling with the arriving juggernaut of artificial intelligence. “I believe in a number of fundamental things that need to be done, and need to happen for the world to be better — and I’m determined to fight to make those things happen,” Guterres told The Associated Press in a sit-down interview four days before world leaders convene for their annual meeting at the U.N.
His message to leaders and ministers from the U.N.’s 193 member nations coming to U.N. headquarters was no-nonsense: You need to very seriously analyze the fact that the world is facing at least three existential problems — runaway artificial intelligence, galloping climate change, and escalating inequality that is becoming a serious driver of instability and conflict. Guterres also warned that the “huge geopolitical divide” and paralysis in the Security Council have created an environment of impunity with powerful countries flouting international law and the U.N.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the attacks on Iran by the United States, both veto-wielding council members, are examples. “Many countries say, ‘If superpowers can violate the law, why can’t we?’” the secretary-general said. “And so what we are seeing around the world is more and more situations in which countries simply do not care.
They do whatever they want, knowing that there will be total impunity.” Behavior by nations, he says, is adding fuel to the fire The violations and impunity have caused death and enormous destruction, he said, and the combination of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the broader Middle East conflict are having “a dramatic impact” on the world economy. Food and energy prices are going up, interest rates are rising and developing countries face enormous difficulties in responding to the needs of their people. So says the United Nations’ top official.On his way out of office at year's end after nearly a decade, U.N.
General Assembly.His message to leaders and ministers from the U.N.’s 193 member nations coming to U.N.
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