Kuwait: UN effectiveness depends on applying its principles without double standards
Ambassador Tariq Al-Bunay emphasized that the UN's effectiveness hinges on the consistent and fair application of its principles, free from double standards, while calling for Security Council reform.
Translated by Qiyas from الوسط — Original source
The Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations, Ambassador Tariq Al-Banna, affirmed that this year’s anniversary of the establishment of the international organization coincides with dangerous developments in the Middle East region. He stressed that the effectiveness of the United Nations is linked to its ability to apply its principles consistently and fairly, free from double standards.
In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on the occasion of United Nations Day, which falls on October 24 of each year and coincides this year with the 81st anniversary of the organization’s founding, Al-Banna said that strengthening its role requires continuing its reform, including that of the Security Council, to ensure more equitable and effective representation and to enhance its capacity to respond to contemporary crises and challenges.
He emphasized the necessity of maintaining a balance among the pillars of the UN’s work in the fields of peace and security, development, and human rights, while giving due attention to the priorities of developing countries. He affirmed that protecting civilians, respecting state sovereignty, and enforcing international law are responsibilities that demand clear positions and concrete measures to enhance people’s trust in the organization.
He noted that regional developments have cast a shadow on the security, stability, and prospects of the region’s peoples, pointing out that Kuwait and sister states have been subjected to Iranian attacks that he said violated state sovereignty and territorial integrity, targeted their security and civilian facilities, and contravened international law and the principles of the UN Charter.
Kuwait reiterated its condemnation of these attacks and its rejection of any excuses to justify them, affirming that respecting state sovereignty, safeguarding security, and protecting populations are international obligations that allow for no selectivity or compromise.
Al-Banna called for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817 of 2026, which demands the immediate and unconditional cessation by Iran of all attacks and provocations against Gulf states and Jordan, and full compliance with its international obligations. He stressed the necessity of the Council assuming its responsibilities to ensure the implementation of its resolutions, halt attacks, and prevent their recurrence, thereby preserving peace and security in the region.
He affirmed Kuwait’s commitment to continuing support for diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and resolving conflicts through peaceful means, based on its conviction that regional stability requires respect for the principles of good neighborliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of states, refraining from the use or threat of force, and translating these commitments into actual practices that build trust and lay the foundation for relations based on mutual respect.
On the Palestinian issue, Al-Banna affirmed that the Palestinian cause remains at the forefront of Kuwait’s concerns, stemming from its principled and steadfast position supporting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among which is their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He stressed the necessity of ending the suffering of the Palestinian people, protecting civilians, rejecting forced displacement, and ensuring the safe, sustainable, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, alongside continuing support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to enable it to carry out its mandate.
He reiterated Kuwait’s belief in the pivotal role of the United Nations as the comprehensive framework for addressing shared challenges, and its firm commitment to supporting the organization’s efforts and enabling it to fulfill its responsibilities.
He clarified that Kuwait’s foreign policy, since its accession to the United Nations in 1963, has been based on respecting state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, settling disputes through peaceful means, and building bridges of cooperation and dialogue between states and peoples.
He expressed Kuwait’s pride in its steadfast partnership with the United Nations.
Its specialized agencies, and its contributions to supporting humanitarian and development work and aiding peoples affected by conflicts and disasters, emphasizing the continued support for efforts aimed at alleviating suffering, enhancing resilience, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, thereby contributing to the building of more secure and stable societies. Al-Banna reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to continuing work with member states to promote multilateralism and defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, noting that fulfilling the Organization’s mission is a shared responsibility that requires genuine political will and collective action to translate principles into reality, where the sovereignty of states is upheld and human dignity is preserved. United Nations Day is observed annually on October 24, commemorating the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945. Kuwait joined the Organization on May 14, 1963, becoming its 111th member state.
