Mauritania’s Foreign Minister, Mohamed Salem Merzoug, addressed the UN General Assembly on Friday, highlighting the paradox of Palestinians being denied a physical seat at the global body even as their cause remains a top international priority. He stated that this exclusion contravenes the core spirit of dialogue and pluralism upon which the United Nations is founded.
The statement followed the UN General Assembly’s vote to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the session via video link for the second consecutive year, after the United States denied entry visas to him and other members of the Palestinian delegation.
Merzoug emphasized the urgent need for the full implementation of the Gaza peace plan, describing it as a critical pathway toward the territory’s reconstruction and recovery. While welcoming the recognition of Palestinian statehood by several European countries and their imposition of sanctions on Israeli settlers, he argued that these measures must be accompanied by more decisive international action to halt ongoing settlement expansions.
“The systematic destruction observed in Palestinian territories, alongside the resulting loss of life and displacement of populations, represents a shared responsibility of the international community, particularly the United Nations,” Merzoug asserted. He stressed the imperative to protect the Palestinian people and alleviate their ongoing suffering.
Beyond the Palestinian issue, the Mauritanian FM voiced support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity—calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan—and efforts to achieve a lasting, unity-preserving settlement in Libya. He also endorsed initiatives by Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations to support Yemen and called for a mutually acceptable resolution to the Western Sahara conflict.
Expressing deep concern over military escalations in the Middle East and their threat to regional stability, Merzoug voiced strong support for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan in the face of attacks targeting their stability and security.
Reflecting on the more than eight decades since the UN’s founding, Merzoug argued that the Security Council requires comprehensive restructuring to ensure equitable representation for Africa. He detailed that this reform should include both permanent and non-permanent seats for African nations, coupled with a review of the UN’s financial architecture to foster more equal global cooperation and development opportunities.
Concluding his address, Merzoug noted that the global community stands at a pivotal moment that transcends political challenges, facing acute humanitarian, environmental, and economic crises. He called for a renewed, collective commitment to empower the UN to effectively safeguard global peace and security, asserting that future generations deserve a better world than the one inherited.