Tokayev Calls for Radical UN Reform at Antalya Forum

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Türkiye to take part in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where he spoke at a panel session on the future of world politics and global challenges. During the discussion, he outlined the key problems of the international system and presented his vision for UN reform, Orda.kz reports.

In his speech, the head of state said the modern world is facing growing instability, while regional conflicts are increasingly becoming global. According to him, the international system is going through a serious crisis, and previous mechanisms for resolving disputes are no longer fully working.

The UN remains a universal and indispensable platform, but its effectiveness has significantly declined.

We do not see high-ranking UN representatives acting as mediators in these conflicts. This is a serious problem. We are talking about a reduction in the role of the UN. I am very concerned about this, because I myself worked in the UN system and in other international organizations. Now everyone is discussing who will become the next UN secretary-general. I think that is not so important. The most important thing is whether the whole system will survive in its current form.Tokayev said. 

He called for studying the impact of artificial intelligence on the work of international organizations and stressed the need for radical reform of the global body.

It is the Security Council that prevents the solution of the most important international issues. People, diplomats and politicians are forced to negotiate within the framework of other platforms. By the way, this problem was very vividly touched on by President Donald Trump last September at the General Assembly session, and I completely agree with him. He criticized the broken teleprompter and escalator at the UN headquarters, saying that everything was broken at the UN. But the most serious problem is that the entire peacekeeping process has been disrupted both in the United Nations and in other structures. I am a staunch supporter of multilateral diplomacy and still believe in a bright future for humanity, united around the idea of justice as a central element of strengthening peace. the president of Kazakhstan said. 

The president called for a pragmatic and honest approach to UN reform. He stressed that the need for change has been discussed for decades, but no real steps have yet been taken. In this regard, Tokayev said reform should begin with the Security Council as a key element of the entire system.

Separately, Tokayev noted the growing role of middle powers. In his view, countries such as Kazakhstan and Türkiye are increasingly demonstrating responsible behavior and are capable of playing a significant role in solving international problems. He stressed that these states can become an important stabilizing factor amid global turbulence.

Speaking about leadership, Tokayev said modern politicians need responsibility and strategic restraint. According to him, these qualities are becoming especially important amid growing tension and conflict.

The president also touched on the situation in the Middle East, including tensions around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. He stressed that the world community’s main focus should be on the problem of nuclear proliferation, not secondary issues.

In addition, Tokayev pointed to the need to adapt international institutions to new realities, including technological development and the influence of artificial intelligence. He said the UN must abandon outdated approaches and norms that no longer correspond to the modern world.

In conclusion, the head of state stressed the importance of preventive diplomacy. In his view, the international community should focus not only on responding to conflicts, but also on preventing them through forecasting and early response mechanisms.

Original author: Rustam Muratov

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