Brazil and China coordinate the creation of the Group of Friends of Peace in New York

In a joint statement, South Africa, Algeria, Bolivia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, China, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, Kenya, Turkey and Zambia announced the creation of the Friends of Peace Group. All countries have permanent representation at the UN.

At the meeting in New York, organized by Brazil and China, representatives of countries from the Global South expressed concern about the conflict in Ukraine and the serious risks of escalation.

They reinforced “the centrality of respect for the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, including full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States”.

The group advocated peaceful solutions to international conflicts and called on parties to the conflict to observe principles for de-escalation and the need to avoid expanding the battlefield and intensifying fighting.

They reiterated the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.

Brazil reiterated its commitment to the principles of peace, dialogue and respect for international law. He highlighted Brazil’s interest in supporting dialogue and negotiation between the parties and recalled that a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the conflict will have to be based on diplomacy and be based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, the Chief Advisor of the Special Advisory to the President of the Republic, Ambassador Celso Amorim, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi. 16 foreign ministers or high-level representatives from countries in the Global South who seek a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine participated.

Check out the full statement:

Foreign Ministers and High Representatives from a group of countries from the Global South met on the sidelines of the General Debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly, on September 27, 2024. At the end of the meeting, South Africa, Algeria, Bolivia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, China, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, Kenya, Turkey and Zambia issued the following joint statement:

1. We are deeply concerned about the ongoing hostility in Ukraine and the risks of its escalation. We are concerned about the risks and crises arising from this conflict, which has already affected many countries, including those in the Global South.

2. We call for observance of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, respecting the legitimate concerns of States and taking into account the need to uphold the principles of peace, security and prosperity.

3. We emphasize the importance of peaceful solutions to all international conflicts, while continuing to promote the spirit of solidarity and partnership among nations, as emphasized by the Bandung principles, among others.

4. We emphasize the importance of supporting a lasting solution by the parties to the conflict, through inclusive diplomacy and political means based on the UN Charter. We encourage all sides to facilitate the conditions for such a solution. We take note of the “Six-Point Common Understandings” between China and Brazil on the political resolution of the Ukraine crisis (A/78/972) and other initiatives to this end.

5. We call on the parties to the conflict to observe principles for de-escalation and highlight the importance of not expanding the battlefield and not intensifying fighting.

6. We call for increased humanitarian assistance and protection of civilians, including women and children. Civilian infrastructure, including peaceful nuclear facilities and other energy facilities, should not be the targets of military operations. We support mediation efforts for the exchange of prisoners of war between parties to the conflict.

7. We call for abstaining from the use or threat of use of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons, as well as chemical and biological weapons. Every effort must be made to prevent nuclear proliferation and avoid nuclear war. All parties must comply with relevant international laws and agreements and resolutely prevent man-made nuclear accidents.

8. We call for efforts to increase international cooperation in energy, currencies, finance, trade, food security and critical infrastructure security, to protect the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

9. We agree to continue engagement and consultations at different levels and with all parties. We decided to direct our Permanent Representatives to the United Nations to form a group of “friends for peace” with the aim of fostering common understandings to support global efforts to achieve lasting peace.

With information from Ascom/Itamaraty