Guterres on wars and climate change: The wind of madness is sweeping the world

(Patria) – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the supply of arms to warring parties in Libya, Syria, and Yemen violates the embargo, only intensifying the 'wind of madness sweeping the world'.

Speaking to reporters in New York, Guterres emphasized that external arming of paramilitary formations in Libya creates a vicious cycle that undermines peace and security worldwide – without mentioning which countries are involved in this asymmetric war (through intermediaries) in North Africa.

The head of the UN also said that the Security Council's solutions and proposals regarding Libya (where a civil war is being waged between the forces of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, who leads the UN-recognized government in Tripoli, and General Khalifa Haftar) are violated 'before the ink is dry'.

- I must say that I am deeply frustrated by what is happening in Libya; I consider it a scandal. We see planes arriving, both in Misrata and Benghazi. We have not seen any attempt to stop the violation of the arms embargo, Guterres reveals just weeks after the peace summit in Berlin, attended by the conflicting Haftar and al-Sarraj.

Guterres pointed out that although most countries that attended the summit pledged not to send weapons to the warring parties in Libya – they continue to do so, thus violating the embargo imposed by the Security Council. However, he did not name them, even when pressed by journalists.

He also said that the conflicts in Syria and Yemen are only proof of the failure of diplomatic efforts in 2019.

Asked to comment on the peace plan for Israel and Palestine signed by US President Donald Trump, which has caused shock around the world, the UN Secretary-General said that the UN's position has not changed.

- We are fully committed to the two-state solution... based on international law, Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, as well as the 1967 borders, Guterres underlined, adding that it is 'very clear what we believe in' and that 'we have not changed our position'.

The borders established in 1967 between Israel and a future Palestinian state would require Israel's withdrawal from the West Bank and East Jerusalem, a demand rejected even by moderate political currents in Israel.

Commenting on climate change, Guterres once again used the phrase 'vicious cycle':

- As the oceans warm, the ice melts, the basic function of the ice cover is lost – the sun reflects off the water, and the oceans warm up even more, he explains, adding that 'as the ice melts and sea levels rise, water evaporates, which encourages precipitation that threatens coastal cities and deltas', Euronews reports.