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Statement by the Republic of Lithuania at the Second Committee General Debate on Tuesday, 7 October 2025.

Statement by Lithuania

• Lithuania aligns itself with the statement by the European Union delivered earlier during the debate and would like to add a few remarks in its national capacity.
• Let me begin by congratulating your Excellency, Ambassador Dibba, on your appointment as Chair of the Second Committee for this 80^th session of the General Assembly, as well as the other members of the Bureau. You have our full support during the upcoming intensive session.
• As we meet at the intersection of multiple global crises—including acts of aggression, armed conflicts, deepening inequalities, climate change, as well as such challenges as artificial intelligence, technological disruption and cybersecurity—we must also recognize the important processes underway to address and mitigate these issues but also seize the present opportunities.
• The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the upcoming World Social Summit (with the potential to give a new impetus for social development approach), and the WSIS+20 Review provide essential momentum for efforts mobilization.
• There is no escaping the fact, however, that peace and development are inseparably linked. Conflict, crises, and fragility cause local and global threats to sustainable development, peace and stability. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, in particular, illustrates tremendously negative impact of acts of aggression towards Sustainable Development Goals. It has inflicted unimaginable suffering on the Ukrainian people, particularly children—the most vulnerable group. The war has erased 15 years of Ukraine’s development gains, pushing millions into poverty and displacement, both within the country and abroad. Its impact extends far beyond Ukraine, undermining global poverty reduction efforts and reversing progress in development across Europe and beyond. This underscores the urgent need to mobilize the international community for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, while working to resolve conflicts in other regions as well. Our continued principled commitment to achieve SDGs worldwide remains important. This also serves as meaningful investment in conflict prevention and resilience.

Mr. President,

• Sanctions must be understood as an integral part of a broader political strategy that includes dialogue and diverse instruments of diplomacy. They are a legitimate tool to respond to grave violations of the UN Charter and human rights, while upholding the principles of international law. Properly designed, sanctions help foster peace, security, and democracy; they are not ends in themselves. EU sanctions, in particular, are carefully targeted, measured, and never directed against developing countries. We therefore reject the premise of the biannual resolution on Unilateral Coercive measures that sanctions inherently harm development efforts. What undermines development most severely are armed conflicts and systemic human rights violations, not sanctions that are aimed to prevent these violations at the first place.

Mr. President,

• Chemical munitions dumped at sea represent a latent yet escalating threat of urgent global concern. The environmental, health, social, economic and security risks posed by these munitions are magnified by maritime transport, natural degradation, and intensifying human activity at sea, including and hybrid threats such as undersea infrastructure sabotage. In this regard, discussions on the possible consequences in the Second Committee could be usefully complemented by the expertise of the security community. Lithuania urges all Member States to build on the framework set out in the General Assembly resolution it initiated, “Cooperative measures to assess and increase awareness of environmental effects related to waste originating from chemical munitions dumped at sea” (A/RES/65/149), unanimously adopted and reaffirmed in subsequent resolutions, and to redouble efforts towards establishing a global database, advancing technological tools, and allocating the necessary resources and capacities to address this multifaceted threat.

Mr. President,

• We must also address the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, to advance sustainable development. The WSIS+20 Review at the end of this year will be central to this effort. Lithuania has already contributed by successfully co-facilitating the modalities resolution that paved the way to the review process itself.
• Finally, we must maintain a holistic approach, making full use of the opportunities provided by the UN’s 80th anniversary process, while implementing the Pact for the Future and its annexes. We must recognize that currently we are not on track and work` with renewed determination to achieve the SDGs.