UN SECURITY COUNCIL DEBATE FOCUSES ON LESSONS OF WAR AND SEARCH FOR PEACE
“One fundamental lesson that requires enhanced application is that of conflict prevention”, said Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė, Lithuania’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, speaking at the UN Security Council open debate “War, its lessons and the search for a permanent peace”.
As the causes of conflicts through the history remain hauntingly similar, it is essential to improve significantly the ability to anticipate the warning signs of a looming conflict and to act accordingly, said Lithuanian Ambassador.
“The world is not short of inspiring examples of preventive action. An outstanding case of preventive thinking in Europe after World War II was Franco-German reconciliation, binding two former enemies in a solid framework of interdependence. What started with the emergence of the European Coal and Steel Community, today is a 28-strong European Union, whose membership continues to be sought and inspire democratic transformations among aspirant countries”, said the Ambassador, highlighting the increasing role of regional and subregional organisations in maintaining international peace and security.
“Lithuania’s experience as OSCE chair a couple of years ago and working jointly with our partners to defuse emerging crises, strengthened our belief in the importance of confidence building, use of good offices, and mediation for conflict prevention”, added Ambassdor Murmokaitė.
The Ambassador stressed that a key element for prevention is education. “Through education, we can keep alive the memory of the countless victims of wars, genocides, ethnic cleansings, religious extremism and totalitarian ideologies”, said Lithuanian Ambassador. Knowledge and memory of brutalities of conflict are powerful vehicles for the engagement in seeking better and more effective ways to protect human lives and create durable peace.
The open debate on lessons of war and prospects for durable peace was organized by Jordan, as Presidency of the Security Council in January, 2014. During the debate more than 60 countries shared their views on the issue. The Presidency of the UN Security Council in February, Lithuania, will hold open debates at the Council on the protection of civilians in conflict situations and the rule of law.
