H.E. Mr. Osman Saleh
Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea
REMARKS – UN DAY
24 October 2025
Asmara, Eritrea
Members of the diplomatic community and the UN family,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a distinct honour and privilege to join you in commemorating United Nations Day.
Eighty years ago, in the aftermath of unparalleled devastation, the nations of the world gathered to proclaim that succeeding generations must be spared from the scourge of war; that the dignity and equal worth of every human being must be upheld; and that relations among nations must be governed not by the tyranny of might, but by the majesty of law, equity, and sovereign respect.
Those timeless principles, enshrined within the Charter of the United Nations, remain as vital, as aspirational, and as urgent today as they were in 1945. Yet, as we mark this solemn milestone, we do so amid a world riven by division and beset by crises of confidence and conscience. Conflicts rage; inequalities deepen; and multilateral institutions, once conceived as instruments of collective justice, are too often repurposed as tools of selectivity and geopolitical contestation.
The world stands at a crossroads. The decisions we take today will determine whether the United Nations shall rekindle its founding spirit or succumb to the disillusionments of inertia and inequity.
Excellencies,
As underscored during the general debate of the Eightieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the charge before humanity transcends the reform of structures; it demands the renewal of our very moral consciousness. For far too long, the architecture of international relations has been shaped by the residue of domination and the inequities of exploitation. From the colonial enterprise to the modern global order, economic and political systems have too often served the ends of power rather than the imperatives of justice.
What the world requires today is not a new hierarchy, but a global order grounded in fairness, mutual respect, and sovereign equality. This is no summons to confrontation, but to transformation: a transformation towards a world in which all peoples may exercise the right to determine their own destinies, to benefit from their own resources, and to live in dignity, peace, and fraternity.
For its part, Eritrea remains steadfastly committed to this vision founded upon self-determination, partnership, and shared prosperity; a vision that rejects dependency and affirms the sovereign right of all nations to shape their own developmental trajectories.
Excellencies,
Notwithstanding the formidable challenges of our age, Eritrea continues to value, and to engage constructively with, the United Nations system. The partnership between the Government of Eritrea and the United Nations Country Team has matured through dialogue, trust, and mutual respect.
This cooperation is anchored in the principles of national ownership, accountability, and results-oriented engagement. The 2025 United Nations Country Team Retreat, convened in Asmara earlier this year, was emblematic of that spirit. It offered a platform to review progress, strengthen coordination, and harmonize joint programmes with Eritrea’s national priorities.
The retreat reaffirmed the shared commitment to advancing Integrated Rural Development. This approach seeks to bridge the urban-rural divide, promote balanced growth, and enhance the quality of life of every citizen, leaving no community marginalized or forgotten.
Furthermore, through the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, we continue to collaborate across vital sectors, including health, education, food security, water and sanitation, climate resilience, and institutional capacity-building. These endeavors, implemented in close concert with national institutions, are designed to deliver measurable progress and durable transformation at the grassroots level.
Admittedly, challenges persist, among them capacity limitations, resource constraints, and the need for greater coherence between national and international programming cycles.
Going forward, Eritrea underscores the importance of further strengthening and integrating the collaboration between the Government and the United Nations Country Team. Such cooperation must remain firmly rooted in national ownership, guided by the country’s development priorities, and responsive to the aspirations of its people. The Government of Eritrea stands ready to deepen this partnership in a manner that reinforces national leadership, coherence, and collective impact in the implementation of shared development goals.
Distinguished Guests,
As we commemorate this United Nations Day, let us return to the essence of the Charter, to its vision of equality among nations, cooperation in place of coercion, and peace founded upon justice. Let us summon the courage to reimagine the United Nations, not as a privilege of the few, but as a sanctuary of justice and shared human aspiration.
On this occasion, the Government and People of Eritrea reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the ideals and purposes of the United Nations Charter, and their readiness to engage constructively, globally, regionally, and nationally, in the pursuit of peace, sustainable development, human dignity, and mutual respect among nations.
Together, through principled partnership and shared resolve, we can ensure that this Organization endures as a citadel of hope, a sanctuary of equity, and a symbol of solidarity for generations to come.
I thank you, and wish you all a meaningful and inspiring United Nations Day.
