China, Brazil and other like-minded countries of the Global South on Friday launched a "Friend of Peace" platform to move toward ending the crisis in Ukraine.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, and Celso Amorim, special advisor to the President of Brazil, co-hosted a ministerial meeting of the platform, which was attended by representatives from 17 Global South countries, on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly in New York.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said countries such as Brazil, China, South Africa, Egypt, Indonesia and Türkiye, which are all committed to a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, agreed to form the "Friends of Peace" platform at the UN.
The platform does not seek to take sides in conflicts, engage in bloc confrontation, or replace existing platforms, he said.
It aims to gather more Global South countries, make an objective and rational voice, and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, Wang said.
The meeting issued a joint communique consisting of a nine-point consensus reached among Algeria, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Türkiye, and Zambia.
"Friends of Peace" platform on Ukraine crisis launched at UN
"Friends of Peace" platform on Ukraine crisis launched at UN
"Friends of Peace" platform on Ukraine crisis launched at UN
"Friends of Peace" platform on Ukraine crisis launched at UN
Permanent representative of Israel to the United Nations (UN) Danny Danon on Thursday denied that any discussions had occurred between Israel and the UN regarding delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Danon made these remarks at the UN headquarters in response to a query from a China Central Television (CCTV) reporter about the ongoing failure to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Israel blocked the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza on March 2, following the end of the first phase of a January ceasefire deal with Hamas. It resumed attacks on Gaza on March 18.
With no food, no supplies, and no relief in sight, Gazans have been enduring a relentless fight for survival.
In response to mounting international condemnation, Israel has proposed that its military take over the distribution of aid - a move widely criticized by the international community.
Briefing a Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher noted that the UN has met for over 12 times with the Israeli authorities regarding the latter's proposed aid distribution model, yet no solution had been found.
Danon, however, stated that no discussions have taken place in recent weeks regarding the issue.
"I don't know about that. Actually I listened to Mr. Fletcher's remarks at the Security Council the other day, and I can tell you that he visited Israel but he had no discussion about that fund because it was way back and in the last few weeks there was no dialogue about that. I would expect UN officials to engage when they want to speak about issues they know how to reach us, they know how to reach the U.S. mission. We are here to engage," he said.
"They got some information from the media, I assume. But I think they should look into that and to realize that if they want to be involved, that is the way to be involved," he added, reiterating that the UN has not reached out.
In response to Danon's denial, the United Nations reaffirmed its position, standing by the public statement released by Fletcher.
"I heard what he said, and we stand by what Mr. Fletcher has said," Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for UN Secretary-General noted later on the day, commenting on Danon's statement.
"Mr. Fletcher gave the details," he continued.
Israel envoy denies discussions with UN on enabling Gaza aid deliveries
