Polish president calls Russia's war in Ukraine a crucial test for UN
Polish President Karol Nawrocki told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a test for the UN of whether the organisation's principles can survive.
In his address, Nawrocki warned that Russia's war in Ukraine can erode the foundations of the United Nations.
"We are at a turning point in history – at a time when the decisions made today will have consequences for decades to come," the Polish president said. "We must be aware of this.... That is why now, as a community of democratic states, we must view the current situation as a battlefield for principles, the observance of which may determine the future of our civilisation. I think this is the last moment to take concrete action."
Nawrocki said the world had changed completely since the Russian invasion, with state borders no longer inviolable, and international law being treated more like a suggestion than a principle.
He went on to say that the current international order is crumbling and the world has entered a dangerous phase of the rivalry of great powers, breaking the rules and testing how far one can go before someone says "enough."
In his opinion, Russia's aggression against Ukraine is not solely a regional conflict.
He said it was a test of whether the principles on which the UN is based would stand the test of time or whether they would "yield to the weight of the imperial and colonial ambitions of a state that considers itself above the law and has repeatedly ignored the resolutions of this Assembly and many other assemblies."
Nawrocki urged Russia to end its war in Ukraine and take full responsibility for it.
However, he said, Russia's current actions do not indicate its readiness to reach true peace.
"Declarations of dialogue are accompanied by military offensives and attacks on Ukrainian cities, whose victims are civilians, including children," he argued. "When Moscow says 'peace,' what it actually means is Ukraine's capitulation. Peace talks must include the participation of the Ukrainian authorities and have the mandate of its citizens.
"Holding Russia accountable should be our duty," he continued. "The perpetrators of all international crimes must be tried before competent courts. That is why Poland supports the work of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court and backs the idea of establishing a special ad hoc tribunal to try the perpetrators of Russia's crimes against Ukraine."
Commenting on Russia's most recent provocation against Poland, in which about 20 Russian drones violated Polish airspace overnight from September 9 to 10, Nawrocki said Poland was ready to defend its territory.
A few of the drones were shot down by Polish and allied air defence forces.
Nawrocki said "the drones deliberately violated my country's borders – because I can assure you that this was not an accident – on orders issued in the capital of a country that is a permanent member of the Security Council.
"As a result, for the first time since World War Two, Poland was forced to open fire on hostile objects over our territory," he said.
"And I assure you, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and president of Poland, that Poland will always respond appropriately and is ready to defend its territory," he declared.
He went on to say that Poland's NATO allies Estonia and Romania have also recently been the targets of similar provocations from Russia. (PAP)
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