National Statement of Finland at the UN General Assembly General Debate on Strengthening the role of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution
Read the National Statement delivered by H.E. Ms. Elina Kalkku, Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations on 1 June 2026 in New York.
Mme President,
thank you for convening this timely debate. 10 years have indeed passed since the last General Assembly debate focused on peace mediation. As co-chair of the UN Group of Friends of Mediation with Türkiye, I am pleased to note that the Group of Friends was very supportive to this initiative to have a GA debate, and I am sure they will seize the opportunity to speak during this debate today.
Mme President,
The need for peaceful resolution of violent conflicts through diplomacy and mediation is urgent, as the number of conflicts is higher today than ever, since the II World War.
In our challenging times, multilateral cooperation based on international law, and with the United Nations at its core, must take the historic role it is meant to have.
Peace mediation is at the very core of the Charter based tasks of the United Nations. Finland does believe that the UN must play a central role in peace mediation and peaceful solution of conflicts, as well as in supporting Member States and Regional Organizations, in their invaluable efforts in mediating peace.
Finland wants to commend the tireless efforts of Member States who are acting as mediators, bringing parties together, convening negotiations, and supporting back-channel talks.
At the same time, we have to remind ourselves of the core mandate of this Organisation. The Security Council, the Secretary General and the General Assembly have their Charter-based roles to take. The UN has know-how and capacities for peace mediation. It knows how to sustain peace-building, political missions and peace-keeping. It can help in ensuring humanitarian access, protecting civilians, and monitorin cease-fires and compliance of agreements. It knows how to work in an inclusive way, bringing together civil societies, women and youth, and promoting sustainable peace.
It could even leverage meaningful financial incentives for peace, by working closer together with international financial institutions and Member States and their organizations. The country level actors of the UN are uniquely positioned to help Member States to address underlying drivers of conflict – including poverty, weak governance and climate change.
The UN also has tools for prevention, and it can support interested Member States in preparing their own strategies for resilience and in prevention of fragility and conflict.
The UN definitely has potential. It has learnt a lot over decades and been involved where no others had access. The UN can and must show leadership, and together with Member States, put different instruments together, in a meaningful and efficient way, working across the system. The UN must be able to bring about true focus of all its actions for peace at the right time, and efficiency and results. Finland believes this is what the Pact for the Future and UN80 are all about.
Mme President,
Today’s major conflicts have massive global consequences. They drain resources needed to promote well-being and sustainable development in Member States. They force countries to invest in countering existential threats. In our modern world, no country should need to spend more resources for defence of its territorial integrity or sovereignty. And no country should invest resources in grabbing other’s territories, in acts of aggression, or in hollowing out future prospects of others, in a hybrid or proxy way. The world now spends huge resources in man-made catastrophes, instead of promoting well-being and tackling global problems, such as climate change, together. I dare argue that that the vast majority of peoples in the world believe that humankind should have left behind the gloomiest stages in history. Yet here we are.
We all know that peace mediation is not an easy task. It requires risk taking. But fear of failure is no reason to stop trying. The stakes are far too high.
Mme President,
Past experience shows that the UN is in a unique position to solve conflicts – including the central role of its Secretary-General. Therefore, the Group of Friends of Mediation invited all SG candidates to present their views to the Group, on the future role of the UN in peace mediation and good offices.
Finally, please let me quote my former President and a former Under-Secretary-General of the UN, Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari: “Peace is a question of will”. “All conflicts can be solved.”
I thank you.