President to UN sec-gen: Estonia to continue working toward UN reform

TALLINN - Estonian President Alar Karis held a phone call with United Nations Secretary General António Guterres on Monday evening, focusing on Estonia's involvement in reforming the organization, the growing number of global crisis hotspots, and support for Ukraine.

Karis affirmed Estonia's support for the UN80 reform initiative launched by Guterres, aimed at making the UN more effective, implementing systemic changes, consolidating various agencies, and reviewing how mandates given by member states are being implemented. The secretary general plans to present a report on the proposed changes this summer.

The head of state said that the UN remains important to Estonia, and the country will continue to support it.

"The UN needs ambitious reforms to achieve its goals in the 21st century, and Estonia will continue contributing to implementing those reforms," Karis said, adding that the UN Security Council also needs reform. "The Security Council's work has become dysfunctional, which undermines the UN's credibility and must be addressed. Estonia has long advocated for reform. I acknowledge that it is difficult, but not impossible, and Estonia will provide its full support."

The president also discussed global crises with the secretary general and the UN's role in addressing them.

"Understandably, Ukraine is closest to us, but we are also closely monitoring events elsewhere in the world," the Estonian head of state said. "It is crucial for Estonia to continue supporting Ukraine until a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace is achieved. Unfortunately, no progress has been made toward a ceasefire, and our most serious concern is that Russia continues to carry out massive attacks against Ukrainian civilians, including children, every day. This shows that Putin is not interested in peace."

Karis also commended the UN secretary general for emphasizing the importance of the principles in the UN Charter, including the preservation of Ukraine's territorial integrity.