In this situation, hope is not a refuge, but a duty: to defend international law against the law of power, human rights against abuses, and human dignity against indifference, he asserted in a message addressed to the Normandy World Peace Forum. He also affirmed that peace is not simply the silence of weapons.

It is built through justice, solidarity, humanitarian access, and trust among peoples. It demands the courage to listen and reach agreements, he noted.

That is the very essence of multilateralism: to prevent conflicts, alleviate suffering, maintain dialogue, and build lasting peace, he added.

On the eve, the UN welcomed the two-week ceasefire agreed upon by the United States and Iran to negotiate an end to the war provoked by the US and Israel, but condemned Tel Aviv’s indiscriminate attack on Lebanon, which left at least 250 dead and nearly a thousand wounded in a span of just 10 minutes.

“We continue to urge all parties to use diplomatic channels, cease hostilities, and renew their commitment to the full implementation of adopted resolutions,” the multilateral organization stated.

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