Foreign Minister expressed gratitude to Swiss Confederation for prioritizing women security peace agenda in the UN Security Council.

“Investing in women peace and security is a priority for Albania’s foreign policy, as the country has demonstrated during service in the UN Security Council over the past two years,” Hasani said.

He added investing in women peace and security has direct impact on sustainable peace, international security and economic stability.

Foreign Minister expressed concern over the women rights violations in conflict areas around the world, saying journalist, civil society leaders in particular face violence threats.

Albania’s diplomacy chief highlighted three main points that would significantly advance implementation of the women peace security agenda around the world.

Hasani underlined that Albania has made huge leaps in empowering women and promoting gender equality.

“Albanian government is committed to further enhance women’s participation in public life. In collaboration with UN Women, Albania has integrated responsive gender budgeting both at central and local level,” Hasani said.

He announced that Albania is currently drafting the second national action plan on women peace and security to further strengthen these principles and make sure that the women’s voice is amplified and is on the forefront of the peace-building efforts in the region.

The discussion at the UN Council focused on enhancing the shared commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women in the context of peace-building efforts.

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The meeting was attended by the UN Secretary General António Guterres, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, and the foreign ministers of the UN Security Council members.

Foreign Minister Xhaçka praised France and Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna for hosting today’s conference.

Xhaçka stated that “Russian Federation, a permanent UN Security Council member, has waged an illegal war and aggression on Ukraine.”

“In our view and in the view of the whole world, Russia’s actions outrageously breach the UN Charter. The war in Ukraine and Russia’s flagrant attempt to invade parts of the Ukrainian territory are a dark reminder of fascism and Stalinism,” she stated.

In her address, the Albanian diplomacy chief said that the fact finding missions reveal a horrible criminal brutality against the Ukrainian civil population, while stressing that the international community should hold Russia accountable for these acts.

“We condemn Russia’s new path of confrontation by announcing a partial mobilization in Russia,” she said.

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The Permanent Representative of Albania to the United Nations and Security Council President for the month of June, Ferit Hoxha, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday outlined Albania’s priorities and the Council’s work program for the month of June 2022.

“Albania’s priorities for the month join our overall priorities of our mandate in the Council and they are closely related to five key areas, namely respecting the international law, strengthening accountability, advancement of women, peace and security agenda, the relations of the UN with regional and sub-regional organizations and the working methods of the Council,” Hoxha said.

Ambassador Hoxha underlined that upholding the international law and promotion of the human rights are at the core of Albania’s foreign policy and at the core of Albania’s priority during the country’s mandate in the Security Council.

“For far too long, we have watched mass human rights abuses and the international community is struggling to hold perpetrators of serious crimes to account. We cannot and must not become familiar with impunity. There is an urgency to act now and on behalf and on the name of countless victims of senseless conflicts; the abused women of Kosovo, for the grieving mothers of Bosnia, for the children of Ukraine, for the nameless victims in Tigray region, for the Azara in Afghanistan, for Yazidis in Iraq, for Rohyngias, for the political prisoners in Myanmar and Sudan, for the detainees in Syria, for all the journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty, for everyone, everywhere, whose rights have been denied, whose future has been buried, whose dreams have been shattered  by abuse,” Hoxha said.

Ambassador Hoxha highlighted that there is a need to do more, better and faster to defend UN Charter and to preserve multilateralism.

“We must do everything in our power to recommit to the core norms and values and redouble our efforts to enforce compliance and stop transgression, because if the international law is not respected it would simply remain a paper that is printed upon,” he stated.

Hoxha noted that all the UN members have a role to play and Albania is doing its part.

“This is all about the signature event due to take place tomorrow under the leadership and the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Edi Rama. The briefers of this event also include the President of the International Court of Justice, Joan Donoghue, the UN High Commissioner for  Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, and Oxford University professor Dapo Akande, as well as civil society representatives,” he announced.

Albanian ambassador said that women, peace and security is the second priority of Albania’s Presidency of UN Security Council.

“In accordance with our priorities as a signatory of the Statement of the Shared Commitments with other Council members, Albania will champion women, peace and security and make it a key priority also during our Presidency for the month of June. Therefore, our second signature event will be held on June 15, which is set to be a high-level open debate on women, peace and security entitled ‘Keeping Promises: Role of regional organizations in implementing women peace and security agenda in the face of the political turmoil. The debate will be chaired by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs,” he announced.

According to Hoxha, Albania’s third item of importance relates to the informal working group on documentation and the annual debate on the working methods will be held on June 28.

The fourth item of primary importance, according to Hoxha, is concerns the cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations.

“Albanian Presidency will organize a high-level briefing on cooperation between the United Nations Organization and the European Union. The very turbulent situation in the world caused also by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the huge and increasing humanitarian needs across the world give more incentives to the need for a stronger UN-EU cooperation, especially in the political, humanitarian and human rights aspects. The EU is also involved in the implementation of various UN Security Council mandates,” Hoxha said.

He also announced that the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka will chair the meeting and the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is expected to attend.

According to Albania’s Permanent Representative, the UN Security Council will convene to discuss situation in Ukraine during this month.

“The first meeting on Ukraine will take place on June 6, focusing on issue of sexual violence in conflict zones and trafficking in human beings. We intend to keep issue of Ukraine high on the agenda and we will meet as often as the reality on the ground would require,” Hoxha added.

The Ambassador also said that two meetings are scheduled to take place on political and humanitarian aspects in Syria and Yemen.

Albania was elected a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the period 2022-2023, where it also took over the co-penholder with the United States of America on Ukraine issue.

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