Albania in UNSC 2022-2023

Albania in the United Nations Security Council

On January 1, 2022, Albania began its two year mandate as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, until December 31, 2023.

The Security Council is one of the central bodies of the UN and the main world decision-making body for dealing with issues related to international peace and security. The UN Charter authorizes the Security Council to impose coercive measures against states that violate the norms and principles of international peace and security, measures that range from the imposition of sanctions to the authorization of forceful interventions against them. From the point of view of international law, the decisions of the Security Council are mandatory to be implemented by all states and do not require the prior consent of the parties to the conflict.

The Security Council consists of five permanent members (the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom) and ten non-permanent members, elected for two-year terms, from different regions of the world.

This is the first time that Albania serves in the Security Council, since its membership in the UN in 1955, which constitutes an event of historical importance for the country.

 

Albania’s priorities in the Security Council

As an elected member of the Security Council for the period 2022-2023, Albania remains fully committed and with its active participation has clearly proven that it belongs to a camp of values and political-strategic alliances consolidated for years, as a country that has and continues to make an inherent contribution to global peace and stability, always prioritizing the region, the continent and beyond. This positioning of ours forms a good part of the work in the Council, both for the two-year term and beyond, combining our principled positions on conflict resolution in full respect of a rules-based world order, international law, human rights. and the UN Charter.

During our mandate we are determined to maintain the principled positions of our country, such as the protection and full implementation of human rights, the promotion of gender equality and the advancement of the agenda of women, peace and security. Our priorities undoubtedly include the strengthening of democracy and democratic institutions as fundamental elements for peace and security in the world, the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts, as well as the strengthening of instruments that enable the continuation of peace in countries and regions where there has been conflict. Albania will continue to keep the discussion alive and deepen engagement on issues related to climate change and security, prevention of radicalization leading to terrorism and promotion of interfaith dialogue.

As in July 2022 Albania was the target of an unprovoked and state-sponsored cyberattack, we are fully aware of the importance of cyber security to the global community. On May 25, 2023, Albania, together with the USA and Estonia, co-organized a meeting of the Arria formula in the Security Council, chaired by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, dedicated to the responsibility and response of states to cyberattacks.

Also, Albania has committed itself since the beginning of the mandate to make a significant contribution to improving the work methods of the Security Council itself, taking the presidency of one of the supporting bodies such as the informal working group for documentation and other procedural issues. of the Security Council (IWG).

In the file of Ukraine, Albania is co-penholder together with the USA. Since the beginning of 2022, Albania has played a very active role, both in the Security Council, but also in the General Assembly, keeping this issue dominant on the Security Council’s agenda. Such a role is widely recognized and appreciated by Ukraine and partner countries.

At the same time, Albania has been active and paid special attention to issues on the UNSC agenda for the Western Balkans, such as Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Beyond our region, Albania has had an inherent commitment in other regional files such as the Middle East, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, Myanmar and Haiti. In 2023, Albania will be co-custody with the USA on humanitarian issues for the DPRK. Also, we are doing our part in terms of renewing the mandates, the sanctions regime for African countries.
 

On the activity of our country in the Security Council during 2022

In the first year in the Council, Albania has been part of the Council’s negotiations and decision-making by approving 54 resolutions, 7 presidential statements and 56 press statements, on issues affecting world peace and security.

 

The Albanian Presidency of the Council in June 2022

The Albanian Presidency of the Council in June 2022, has been one of the busiest presidencies of the year where Albania, in addition to successfully leading the Council in all issues according to its agenda, managed to fulfill its own agenda by organizing four landmark activities, which is the maximum number of such activities that a Presidency can organize.

Under Albania’s leadership, 46 formal and non-formal meetings of the Council were held, 8 decisions were made and 8 joint press statements were issued. Albania also reached a new record in the representation of civil society but also of the gender equality agenda, with 19 civil society representatives, 15 of whom were women.

As the President of the Security Council, Albania placed in the center of the Council’s attention issues of global importance such as accountability for the violation of international and humanitarian law in situations of armed conflict, the protection and promotion of human rights and the strengthening of the women, peace agenda and security as well as improving the working methods of the Security Council by organizing several landmark activities. Three of these meetings were chaired by Prime Minister Rama and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Xhaçka.

It is worth emphasizing the organization of the High Level Open Debate on the role of Regional Organizations in the advancement of the GPS agenda, a topic which was brought up for the first time in the Council. Another moment of success during our Presidency was the organization of an informative meeting on the situation of women and girls in Ukraine, which was also attended by the European Council President, Charles Michel.

Also, during this month, Albania presented two joint statements on behalf of the Shared Commitments initiative, more specifically on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and Yemen.

Another moment that distinguishes the Albanian Presidency of the SC is the high number of women representatives of civil society to inform the Council. Albania set an absolute record by inviting 15 women reporters to inform the Council on various topics, thus fulfilling one of the main commitments of the Shared Commitments initiative. For this, Albania received praise not only from partner countries, but also from civil society, which brings the Albanian Presidency as an example for other countries.

 

Albania’s activity in the UNSC during the first half of 2023

During this year, in the formal and non-formal meetings of the Security Council, Albania has continued to firmly express its positions in the formal meetings and consultations of the Council on issues of peace and security, development, human rights, protection of international law and accountability, women’s rights, youth involvement in decision-making, multilateralism, climate change, peacekeeping and peacebuilding in conflict areas. In this context, while has defended its national interests, Albania  has given and joined press conferences with other likeminded countries over 30 times, and also together with the Council has approved 49 public statements.

Note: For more details on Albania’s positions in the Security Council, you can consult the website of the Mission of Albania to the UN https://ambasadat.gov.al/united-nations/

https://punetejashtme.gov.al/shqiperia-ne-ks-2022-2023/