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Quotable quotes from open debate of UN Security Council on Feb. 23

Xinhua, February 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

The following were quotable quotes from the open debate of the UN Security Council, which started here Monday:

"The 70th anniversary of the United Nations finds an organization with major achievements to its credit, multiple crises on its agenda, and tremendous opportunities ahead. The United Nations was founded to prevent another world war, and it has succeeded in that. Despite the recurrence of genocide and repeated outbreaks of armed conflict, the past seven decades would surely have been even bloodier without the United Nations. " -- Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Facist War and the founding of the United Nations. For countries across the world, it is an important year to be commemorated as well as a historic juncture to reflect on the past and look to the future." -- Wang Yi, the foreign minister of China.

"As we move towards the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Council, we should listen to the UN membership, including the smaller members who are often not heard. We should hear their disappointment and their frustration." -- Murrary McCully, the foreign minister of New Zealand.

"Malaysia welcomes today's debate and believe that it affords a timely opportunity for the Council to take stock of its achievements thus far, and to reflect on the challenges faced in is continuing mission of maintaining international peace and security. Such reflection in our view is both necessary and urgent, given the increasingly complex and multidimensional nature of new and emerging threats and challenges to international peace and security that we -- as a global community -- face and must address together." -- Anifah Haji Aman, the foreign minister of Malaysia.

"The United Nations has played a crucial role in the maintenance of international peace and security, by promoting friendlier relations among nations, the cooperation in solving international problems, and in codifying international law, as the basis of the peace coexistence between states, a trait of international relations in which the United Nations scored remarkable success." -- Manuel Augusto, the secretary of state for external relations of Angola.

"The 21st century depends on our will and skill for it to be better for humanity than the 20th century was. We wish -- need -- to build from the basis of the solid foundation of the (UN) Charter, a future with more democracy and a greater protection of human rights under an international law that is more accomplished and efficient." -- Ignacio Ybanez, the state secretary for foreign affairs of Spain. Endite