New York, March 25 (QNA) - The Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly (UNCPGA) called for urgent diplomatic action by the international organization to contain the military escalation in the Middle East, warning of the serious consequences of the ongoing war on international peace and security, as well as on global economic stability and prosperity.

This came in a letter sent by HE President of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly and Chair of the Council Ambassador Nasser Abdulaziz Al Nasser, to HE Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres; HE President of the 80th session of the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock; and HE President of the Security Council for March Michael G. Waltz.

The letter expressed deep concern over the ongoing hostilities and the grave violations they entailed of the UN Charter and international law, including the prohibition on the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

In this context, the Council welcomed the appointment of French diplomat Jean Arnault as the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy to lead UN efforts regarding the conflict in the Middle East and its repercussions.

The letter noted that the scale and nature of cross-border attacks by land and sea, as well as attacks on civilian population centers and vital infrastructure, especially energy and water facilities, were destabilizing the entire Middle East and putting millions of civilian lives at risk.

The Council, in its letter signed by 14 former UN General Assembly presidents, explained that the consequences of the conflict extended far beyond the region. It added that deliberate strikes on major oil and gas facilities, escalating military operations around the Strait of Hormuz, and increasing disruptions to maritime navigation routes had worsened the energy crisis, with negative impacts on global markets, supply chains, economic stability, and the cost of living for billions of people.

It also warned of the risks of rapid escalation of hostilities, particularly threats and ultimatums issued by parties, which could lead to dangerous miscalculations and a swift escalation of the conflict, including nuclear risks, stressing that this necessitated urgent diplomatic intervention before events spiraled out of control.

The Council emphasized the need for the UN Security Council to act urgently to fulfill its responsibilities under the UN Charter, calling on the Secretary-General to invoke Article 99 and convene an urgent meeting of the Council at the level of foreign ministers, focused on halting hostilities and preventing further escalation.

It also called on the President of the General Assembly to convene an urgent session under the "Uniting for Peace" mechanism or through other innovative means to address all aspects of the crisis.

Additionally, the Council urged the Secretary-General to launch an urgent diplomatic initiative under Article 33 of the Charter, Chapter VI, concerning the peaceful settlement of disputes, including appointing a high-level UN envoy to lead mediation efforts with all parties affected by the conflict, in coordination with relevant international and regional actors.

The Council stressed the importance of preparing for a comprehensive conference on peace and security in the Middle East under UN auspices, with the participation of all parties affected by the conflict, recalling UN Security Council Resolution 598 (1987), which it said mandated such a process.

In conclusion, the UNCPGA reaffirmed its full readiness to support all diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis as soon as possible, emphasizing that the world looked to the United Nations not only to respond to the conflict but also to prevent it from escalating into a large-scale catastrophe.

Earlier that day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had warned that the war was spiraling out of control, calling on the United States and Israel to end the war, and on Iran to stop attacking its neighbors.

Following the announcement of Jean Arnault's appointment as his Personal Envoy, Guterres stated that his message to the United States and Israel was that the time had come to end the war, as human suffering was deepening, civilian casualties were rising, and the devastating impact on the global economy was increasing.

He added that his message to Iran was to stop attacking its neighbors who were not parties to the conflict, noting that the Security Council had condemned those attacks and called for their cessation, while reaffirming the need to respect navigational rights and freedoms around key maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.

He said that the UN system continued to work to mitigate the consequences of the war, noting that the best way to achieve that was to stop the war immediately.

The Secretary-General warned that a prolonged closure of the strait was choking the transport of oil, gas, and fertilizers at a critical time for the global agricultural season.

He added that civilians across the region and beyond were suffering severe harm and living under acute insecurity, noting that he had personally witnessed some of those consequences during his recent visit to Lebanon.

Personal Envoy Jean Arnault brought nearly 40 years of experience in international diplomacy, particularly in peace settlements and mediation, with extensive experience leading UN missions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

His most recent roles included serving as the Secretary-General's Envoy to the Colombian peace talks (2015–2018), then as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia. Between 2019 and 2020, he served as the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy to Bolivia, and in 2021, he was appointed Personal Envoy for Afghanistan and regional issues. (QNA)