Norway and Iceland concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Anne Beathe Tvinnerheim, Minister for International Development of Norway, addressed the General Debate
Anne Beathe Tvinnerheim, Minister for International Development of Norway, addressed the General Debate

Anne Beathe Tvinnerheim, Minister for International Development of Norway, addressed the General Debate of the UN General Assembly Saturday 23 September.

In her speech the minister stated that the Russian Federation — “our neighbour” — is seeking to deny another UN Member State’s right to exist through an unprovoked and illegal war, while occupying the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, risking a grave nuclear incident.

The war against Ukraine has exacerbated a global, negative economic spiral; however, she noted Norway’s efforts to counter those manifold crises.  Her Government will cut emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and is investing heavily in offshore wind, carbon capture and storage.

 Meanwhile, Norway has provided more than $5 billion to tropical forest countries, and on food security, is providing $500 million this year for developing countries to offset the global ramifications of the war.  She further noted that the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement shows that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea can adapt to evolving challenges.

Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir the Foreign Minister of Iceland
Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir the Foreign Minister of Iceland

Iceland candidate for Human Rights Council

Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir the Foreign Minister of Iceland also addressed the General Debate 23 September.   She said that multilateralism is in serious crisis, with only 15 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goals currently on track for completion by 2030 and the Paris Agreement in jeopardy.  Highlighting increased naturals disasters, food insecurity, poverty and hunger, she said:  “This is an existential threat to us all.”

Recalling that Iceland had formally presented its candidature to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2025–2027 term, she said that, if Member States do not live up to the values and commitments in the Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there need to be consequences.  “This is why the General Assembly rightly voted in favour of suspending Russia from the Human Rights Council because of atrocities committed in Ukraine,” she said.