Video message from Prime Minister Edi Rama on Albania’s assumption of the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council:

This is the third decade of the third millennium. The world is in turmoil and we continue to witness unspeakable cruelty, with more than 50 conflicts around the globe. Democracy and the human rights have been seriously challenged in various parts of the world.

For far too long, we have witness mass human rights abuses, from Darfur to Myanmar, from Afghanistan to Syria, and the international community is struggling to hold the perpetrators of serious crimes to account.

In Europe, the wounds of wars following dissolution of former Yugoslavia, particularly in Kosovo, are still open. We are doing everything we can to look ahead without forgetting the past, but committed to building a common peaceful future.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has challenged European security and has shaken the rule-based world order. We cannot and we must not become familiar with impunity.

It is urgent to act now for the countless victims of senseless conflicts, but also for us all, for what we stand, for what gets us together to uphold the law and preserve multilateralism.

We all have a role to play, a part to do.

It is for this reason that the first signatory event of Albania during its first ever Presidency of the United Nations Security Council, which I will have the honour to chair starting on 2nd of June, is dedicated to strengthening accountability and justice for serious violations of the international law.

There is no greater value that the UN could promote than justice and the rule of law. Albania promotes it nationally and defends it internationally.

Justice and peace go together and Albania remains fully committed in this respect.

We are privileged to voice our convictions and to lead the United Nations Security Council with all the will and with all the passion for what we strongly believe.