UNITED NATIONS-Trinidad and Tobago “deeply troubled” by escalation of conflict in the Middle East

UNITED NATIONS, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago says it is “afflicted” by the escalation of conflict and tensions in the Middle East and that it remains “distressed” by the ongoing war on Gaza and by the “chilling flashpoints of expansion” that are being deployed.

“Only someone bereft of humanity would think that it is lawful and just, and even godly, to respond to atrocities committed on one awful day of terror by, in turn, committing atrocities after atrocities,” said Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Dr. Amery Brown in addressing the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly late Saturday.

“How else are we to describe the killing of over 200 UN staff members – the highest death toll in United Nations history – and the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, including women and children?” he asked.

“And this is not being done in secret; the entire world is watching, and the Global South is particularly appalled. The question remains: if innocent civilians, including women, children, and United Nations staff, were being killed at this record rate in the developed world, how would the world’s big powers have reacted? Not likely with euphemisms and platitudes.”

He said the double standards and continued resourcing of these ongoing violations of international law send a chilling message to the Global South. That message is this: “There are some influential people in this world who are of the view that a Palestinian child is less worthy of defense, protection, food, water, and life than another child.

“I am not of that view. The people of my country are not of that view. CARICOM is not of that view. And decent people all over the world, including in Israel, are not of that view.”

“International law is not a tool of mere convenience to be muted for friends and trumpeted against enemies. International law is not a tool of mere convenience to be muted for our friends and trumpeted against our enemies.”

In this regard, Brown said Trinidad and Tobago has joined in the call for an “immediate, full and complete ceasefire” and for the unconditional release of every single hostage.

“The truth is there is no military solution to this conflict, as peace will only be achieved through negotiations in good faith and constructive dialogue among all concerned parties,” he said, noting that Trinidad and Tobago has consistently expressed its support for a two-state solution “where Israelis can live without the daily threat of terror and Palestinians can live without the daily weight of occupation, co-existing side by side as responsible members of the international community.”

The Foreign Affairs Minister said the twin-island republic firmly believes that this is the only credible pathway to end this cycle of violence, “culminating in the establishment of a sovereign and peaceful State of Palestine, alongside a sovereign and peaceful State of Israel within secure borders.

He told the global community that, rooted in this belief, Trinidad and Tobago decided to recognize the State of Palestine in its contribution to the two-state solution and in support of the Palestinian people’s legitimate aspirations for self-determination.

He said six days ago, Trinidad and Tobago and the State of Palestine officially established diplomatic relations and that Port of Spain is looking forward to the day when the State of Palestine would be welcomed to take its seat in the General Assembly as a full member of the United Nations.

Despite its detractors, Brown said evidence “clearly shows” the value, effectiveness, and necessity of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

He said that as a country that advocated for the establishment of the ICC through the tireless work of the late former prime minister A.N.R. Robinson, Trinidad and Tobago remains resolute in its support of the Court’s mandate: “to help put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of the most heinous crimes and to provide a glimmer of hope to all victims of those crimes seeking justice within the jurisdiction of the Court.”

In this regard, Brown said Trinidad and Tobago continues to encourage all states that have not yet done so to ratify and fully implement the Rome Statute of the ICC, noting that the slain American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “‘ It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people.'”

For this reason, he said Trinidad and Tobago “condemns, rejects and repudiates any attempts to impede, intimidate or improperly influence the Court and its very courageous officials.”

The Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister said Trinidad and Tobago is “very mindful” that the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons in the region poses “an intolerable threat to national security and the lives of our citizens.”

He said the proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition has contributed to “unacceptable increases in the levels of gun-related violence and fatalities in our small society and across CARICOM.”

In addition to Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts domestically, he said the country continues to work with regional and international partners to free its citizens from “the horrific human cost associated with the easy access to small arms and light weapons, and their vicious use against citizens and families.”

Brown said that following Trinidad and Tobago’s hosting of the first regional symposium on Crime and Violence as a Public Health Safety Issue last year, CARICOM leaders met in Guyana earlier this year “to further elaborate innovative strategies on this matter of grave regional concern.”

He said Trinidad and Tobago welcomes the renewed efforts of partners. Including the United States, in particular, to work with the region to help solve this “deadly challenge which respects no borders.”

In his wide-ranging address, Brown said that Trinidad and Tobago remains “deeply concerned” by Haiti’s humanitarian and security crisis. He acknowledged that the path towards a stable and secure Haiti requires “an Indigenous, Haitian-led, Haitian-owned solution that the United Nations and the international community ably support.”

He said the appointment of an interim Prime Minister and Cabinet is an important step in confronting the political, security, and humanitarian challenges in Haiti and the presence of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support system.

On the issue of reparatory justice for the slave trade, Brown said, “The brutality of our colonial experience, the trauma of which still affects us to this day, has contributed significantly to underdevelopment.

“Our fore-parents were rooted out and dehumanized, and their blood and sweat and tears and labor were extracted to build empires, and beautiful castles, and bridges, and treasures, which some of us pay money today to visit, and photograph and admire.

“We have been leveraging our collective voice to call for restitution for the historical, evil injustices and crimes against humanity committed against our fore-parents, crimes which still affect us today,” he said, reaffirming Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to the regional campaign.

Like other regional countries, Trinidad and Tobago also discussed the adverse effects of climate change and anticipated “decisive outcomes regarding the New Collective Quantified.”

Goal at the upcoming COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, which should catalyze much-needed reform of the international financial architecture.

“Effective climate finance mechanisms are essential for providing accessible, adequate, and predictable funding, and this requires the operationalization and capitalization of the loss and damage fund.

“Climate finance goes well beyond project funding; it invests in the resilience and sustainability of the most vulnerable nations. The future beckons, a future in which SIDS has the capacity and resources to build infrastructure that can withstand severe climate events.”