KEYNOTE SPEECH Y.B. DATO’ SERI UTAMA HAJI MOHAMAD BIN HAJI HASAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA AT THE 15TH MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE U.N. GROUP OF FRIENDS OF MEDIATION[...]

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Y.B. DATO' SERI UTAMA HAJI MOHAMAD BIN HAJI HASAN

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA

AT THE 15TH MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE U.N. GROUP OF FRIENDS OF MEDIATION

NEW YORK, 25 SEPTEMBER 2025

"RE-AFFIRMING COOPERATION BETWEEN THE U.N. AND REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN MEDIATION"

________________________________________________________________________________________

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. Malaysia thanks the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of Mediation, for their tireless stewardship, and for convening this meeting.

2. It has come at a much needed time. All over the world, from Gaza to Ukraine, from Sudan to Myanmar, civilians are paying the ultimate price for unresolved conflicts.

3. In the Middle East, not only have the killings continued, but mediation itself has come under attack. Israel's assault on Qatar is unacceptable, and severely undermines all attempts at building peace in the region.

4. The ability of the U.N. General Assembly to resolve this conflict, has often been restrained by the abuse of the veto power in the Security Council.

5. And all of this is happening at a time, when the rules-based international system is creaking, under the strain of climate change, technological disruptions, food insecurity, and the spread of divisive online rhetoric (RET-a-rik).

6. Yet, as our disadvantages evolve, so too do our advantages. The future of mediation will increasingly be shaped by the emergence of new actors, as well as the growth of novel technologies.

7. Amid these changes, the best way for the U.N. to do its part, is by empowering regional organisations to act as mediators.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

8. Chapter VIII of our venerated Charter, acknowledges the role of regional arrangements, in the maintenance of peace and security. It recognises that proximity breeds understanding, and understanding builds trust.

9. Malaysia has learnt this firsthand. We managed the Vietnam refugee crisis in the 1970s, and facilitated the peace processes in Mindanao and Southern Thailand.

10. In our present capacity as the Chair of ASEAN, we were called to respond, when tensions broke out between Cambodia and Thailand.

11. Within days, both parties were brought to the table, and a ceasefire was brokered. ASEAN continues to engage both parties in meaningful dialogue, and the fulfilment of their roles in the ceasefire.

12. We aim for the deployment of an ASEAN Observers Team, to maintain transparency on the ground.

13. On Myanmar, we continue to push for the full implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, and to support the Special Envoy's facilitation of dialogue among all stakeholders, to restore a pathway towards national reconciliation.

14. These efforts have been uplifted at all times by the ASEAN Member States. Our work has been enriched by the benefit of cultural context. In a globalised world, we must centre more localised perspectives in peacebuilding.

15. And as we move forward, mediation cannot depend solely on ad hoc initiatives, or political goodwill. The key is to systematise, a stronger cooperation between the U.N. and regional organisations.

16. Groupings such as ASEAN or the African Union, can greatly support the mediation process, as they are able to provide deep contextual insight, early warning capacities, and local legitimacy.

17. Better coordination will lead to better outcomes. This can be achieved by developing more structured frameworks, for joint U.N.-regional mediation deployments, and enabling resource-sharing and technical secondments.

18. It is vital for mediation to be treated, as a core peace and security priority. Member States should consider multi-year, predictable funding for mediation activities, and move away from the current practice, of relying on fragmented resources.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

19. Before I conclude, I would like to record Malaysia's support, for the important work of the Group of Friends of Mediation. We remain committed to advancing a global culture of dialogue, prevention, and peace.

20. As we look towards the next 80 years and beyond, let us re-commit to building a system where we can better support regional partnerships, and trust them as the experts of peacebuilding in their own home.

Thank you.