Critical Reflection

Ahmad Aziz & Nayef AlKhalifa

FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY IN A CHANGING WORLD (6PIRS008W)

Delegation from the Gabonese Republic

UN Security Council Meeting – 27/03/23

Concerned by Restrictions on Religious Freedom, Speakers Warn against Using

Religion to Fuel Conflict, as Security Council Considers Situation in Ukraine

Background The Gabonese Republic expresses its deepest concerns regarding the escalation of the conflict

in Ukraine since early 2022. Commitments to sustained military campaigns from the

perspective of all belligerents are distressing in that the negative consequences as result

become exponentially greater by the day, both internally and on an international level. This is

underpinned by militarism from the Russian Federation as well as reciprocation by European

and NATO states, which combine to fuel an unsustainable war. Gabon strongly underlines its

aspirations and commitment towards a peaceful resolution on behalf of all parties involved.

Firstly, the suffering of all impacted by this conflict is condemned, regardless of their

religious affiliation. As a multi-ethnic pluralistic nation, Gabon is committed to upholding all

liberties relating to freedom of religious expression, as outlined by Article 18 of the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights (OHCHR, 1948), of which all members of this council are

signatories. Any attack on this principle of peaceful coexistence of all peoples, whether in

war or peacetime, is denounced by the Gabonese Republic. The politicisation of religion has

the capacity to further fuel this conflict and, if so, act as an obstacle to peace.

There is a strong concern regarding the spillover of the conflict, both in regard to military

polarisation in addition to the disastrous economic consequences, for all states on the council

and the wider international environment. The conflict in Ukraine has led to rising living costs,

issues with global energy infrastructure, and trade obstacles among countless other negative

externalities which combine to create domestic unrest for all members of the council. Most

worrying of all, this conflict has, and threatens to, increasingly become a barrier to

international development and progression on behalf of all peoples.

Gabon is also highly apprehensive about the human rights situation in Ukraine. War is

unsustainable for all parties. With the conflict now in its second year, it is time to put an end

to the bloodshed. Regardless, any impediments to humanitarian assistance are condemned, as

per the Geneva Convention (OHCHR, 1949). The destruction of civilian infrastructure, in

addition to the use of indiscriminate weapons, obstructs long-term reconstruction efforts and

exasperates the dire human rights crisis.

Justification The Gabonese Republic has previously, and continues to, maintain a stance of non-alignment.

Gabon denounces all military aggression in all wars. This perspective is sustained in relation

to the conflict in Ukraine, calling for all council members to support our campaign for peace.

The arms race and warmongering, occurring on both sides, bring nothing but further

bloodshed. Gabon abstains from resolutions which antagonise council members and

pronounce unconstructive foundations sowing further conflict.

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Gabon reiterates that the politicisation of religion serves to propagate division which

exasperates the conflict in Ukraine. Gabon supports any branches of the Christian church,

both in Ukraine and Russia, as independent non-political entities. As states underscored by

traditional Christian values, there should be and commitment towards achieving peace

through shared common ground rather than division. Religion should not be brought into

matters of international politics. This is rather a subject of mediation for multilateral bodies,

such as the council. The council should be committed to upholding the spirit of international

peace and security, as per Article 27 of the UN charter (UN, 1945) which all members have

ratified upon incorporation with this organisation. Gabon stresses its active role in calling for

collaboration of all members towards peaceful outcomes for the conflict in Ukraine.

The overflow of the conflict presents a potential for progressively detrimental economic

impacts which threaten the global economy and the development environment for the

foreseeable future. The Black Sea Grain Initiative represents “a beacon of hope” for the

world that desperately needs it, in the words of UN Secretary-General Guterres (UN, 2022).

Negotiations of this nature are required to stabilise escalating market volatility which

threatens to exasperate human rights crises, such as famine and energy insecurity. Gabon

calls on all participants to work together in minimising threats amongst our most vulnerable

populations.

Position With respect to its position in recognition of all discussed, the Gabonese Republic reaffirms

its obligation to a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. Issues of our utmost

immediate concern include an end to militarism, collaboration on the economic front,

protection of universal human rights as well as increasing the council’s ability to efficiently

address issues of international security.

1) Commitment to mobilising candid, good faith peace dialogues between all parties –

resembling the framework of the Minsk Protocol (UN Peacemaker, 2014) – built upon

a foundation of an immediate ceasefire between parties in conflict.

2) Renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative provides a ray of hope which will build a

bridge to future negotiations.

3) Commitment to protecting human rights – as per the UN charter to which all states

have ratified – by belligerents upholding international law through unimpeded access

to humanitarian efforts and end to the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

4) A move towards universally removing all veto powers from permanent council

members to address the collective inability to meaningfully resolve security concerns.

Gabon believes that through pragmatism, a shared responsibility among council members to

engage in creating a profound framework for peace as well as the adoption of the above

resolutions, we are able to see an end to this bitter conflict. The continuous arms race

reinforcing this unsustainable conflict, its high probability of overflow, the disastrous

economic element and the capacity for nuclear escalation are issues which affect every state.

Those, in front of the world theatre, who do not act towards this lasting peace are complicit in

supporting the belligerents of war.

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Bibliography

OHCHR, (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights - English. Available at:

https://www.ohchr.org/en/human-rights/universal-declaration/translations/english

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convention-relative-treatment-prisoners-war [Accessed 24/03/2023].

UN Peacemaker (2014). Protocol on the results of consultations of the Trilateral Contact

Group (Minsk Agreement). Available at: https://peacemaker.un.org/UA-ceasefire-2014

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UN (1945). United Nations Charter (full text). [Online]

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https://www.un.org/en/black-sea-grain-

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