As leaders gather this week in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, they are reminded that the very principles underpinning the UN Charter are at stake. Chief among them is the prohibition of the use of force to change borders. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is a blatant violation of this principle. It is not only an attack on Ukraine, but on the international order itself.
From New York to Vienna, the message must be the same: Russia’s war is illegal. Ukraine has the inherent right to defend itself, and Norway will continue to stand firmly with Ukraine. Every state—large or small—must retain the right to live in peace and security within its internationally recognized borders.
The discussions at UNGA have made clear that international law, human rights and humanitarian law are universal. They must be applied consistently—for all people, everywhere, at all times. If they do not hold here, they hold nowhere.
As the UNGA calls for renewed commitment to the Charter, so too must we in the OSCE reaffirm: aggression must not pay, and the rules-based order must prevail.
Thank you.