New York: Europe and the Arabs

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a spirit of compromise, essential for peace, urging all member states to keep channels of dialogue open and spare no effort in reaching peaceful settlements to conflicts.

This appeal came in his address to a Security Council meeting to follow up on the implementation of Resolution 2788 (2025), which urges all member states to make effective use of the mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes stipulated in the UN Charter, according to the UN Daily News.

The meeting also focused on identifying best practices and gaps in these mechanisms and exploring how diplomacy and mediation can build trust and prevent conflicts.

The Secretary-General referred to the instruments for the peaceful settlement of disputes listed in Article 33 of the Charter, including negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, regional agencies or arrangements, and any other peaceful means chosen by the parties. Guterres said, "These tools were not designed for times of consensus, but for times when consensus seems unattainable," adding, "In other words, they were designed for times like these."

A Situation Spiraling Out of Control
The UN Secretary-General pointed to the increasing number, complexity, duration, and scope of conflicts, as well as a disturbing disregard for international law. He added, "When parties prioritize military solutions over negotiated settlements, it is civilians who pay the heaviest price."

He noted that this is evident in the Middle East, with devastating consequences for the region and the world.

He continued, "The situation is spiraling out of control and teetering on the brink of the unimaginable. The region is being drawn into an ever-widening cycle of confrontation. One crisis feeds into another, and one escalation triggers the next." He stressed that there is no military solution to the conflict, that fighting must stop everywhere in the region, and that international navigation rights and freedoms must be fully restored in the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the surrounding areas, adding: “Diplomacy is the only way forward.”

Dire Humanitarian Consequences

The Secretary-General addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip, stating: “Despite the so-called ceasefire, civilians continue to pay a heavy price every day.”

He warned that people are being killed in their homes, communities, and while going about their normal daily lives, as Israel tightens its grip on the Strip.

Citing the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, he said that while humanitarian aid is saving lives, the number of people facing high levels of food insecurity is expected to rise in the coming months to 1.4 million, or about 70 percent of the population. Regarding the occupied West Bank, Guterres said: “We are witnessing a creeping annexation accompanied by violence, settlement expansion, intensified Israeli military operations, and large-scale displacement.”

In Ukraine, the Sahel, Sudan, and many other places, conflicts are causing immense suffering, disrupting livelihoods, and uprooting populations from their homes, leading to dire humanitarian consequences.

Six Areas for Action
The UN Secretary-General focused on six areas of action through which he said collective mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes could be strengthened, as follows:

Strengthening the full range of good offices and supporting the mediation efforts undertaken by the UN Secretariat. He cited the example of the UN’s work in Sudan, where the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy is engaging with the parties to encourage restraint and help prevent escalation.

The need to make the most of the network of UN regional offices and envoys, and to expand it where appropriate.

The Security Council must not lose sight of its responsibility to act early and decisively. Guterres said that by activating the instruments of Chapter VI of the UN Charter as soon as possible, the Council can help reduce tensions, encourage restraint, and prevent conflicts from spiraling out of control.

The Security Council should conduct fact-finding missions more regularly.

Resolution 2788 emphasizes the importance of integrating a comprehensive approach to the peaceful settlement of disputes. Guterres noted that this begins with ensuring women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation at all levels of decision-making.

He called on every Member State to play its part. In this regard, the Secretary-General said that by taking steps toward the peaceful settlement of disputes, Member States build trust and enhance the space for the vital political engagement of the United Nations, as well as that of regional and multilateral organizations and alliances.