Speech by the Minister of State, Mr Ahmed Attaf, at the G20 Ministerial Meeting in Johannesburg

Thank you Mr. Chair. Times of great turmoil require great leadership. We are fully confident that South Africa meets this requirement and that it will help this gathering navigate successfully through the mounting challenges our world is currently facing.

As we prepare to celebrate the eightieth anniversary of the United Nations, we all witness the emergence of alarming developments that breed instability and threaten the very foundations of the international system. In Today’s world:

We are extremely worried about the growing pattern of disregarding, undermining and even violating international law, especially when it comes to relations between the powerful and the powerless among nations.

We are equally worried about the increasing tendency to impose might at the expense of right and to perpetuate situations of blatant injustices in Palestine, in Western Sahara and in many other parts of the world, particularly in Africa.

We are finally worried about the rising inclination towards weakening multilateralism and sidelining the vital role of universal organizations, notably the United Nations.

Algeria firmly believes that international law, multilateralism and the United Nations remain the most precious achievements that mankind has ever made during the last eight decades. They represent the symbols of civilization prevailing over anarchy and lawlessness.

Letting the attempts of breaking down this most sacred heritage of mankind is, in our view, a bet on the worst, not on the common good.

We, therefore, call on the G20 to be a driving force in reinvigorating international law, in revitalizing multilateralism, and last but not least, in empowering the United Nations and ensuring that it ably fulfils its vital, crucial and most indispensable role.

I thank you.