Kyrgyzstan urged reform of the United Nations Security Council to create a more equitable, inclusive system that better represents developing, small and landlocked states. In a formal address to fellow heads of state ahead of the June vote for non‑permanent UNSC seats, President Sadyr Zhaparov warned that rising geopolitical rivalry and erosion of the universality of international law are increasing the risk of conflict worldwide.
Zhaparov pointed to ongoing armed conflicts across Europe, West Asia and Africa and noted that global military spending now tops three trillion US dollars. He argued those resources could be redirected toward eradicating hunger and protecting the environment, saying such investment would make the planet “a blooming garden.”
The president called the under‑representation of smaller and developing countries on the Security Council a threat to collective global security. Expanding representation, he said, is not merely a political choice but an objective necessity to strengthen the UN’s legitimacy and effectiveness.
Kyrgyzstan, Zhaparov said, is not aligned with geopolitical blocs, enabling it to take independent, balanced positions that reduce polarization and promote dialogue. He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the UN Charter and opposed double standards, the politicization of humanitarian issues and selective application of international law.
As an example of peaceful conflict resolution, Zhaparov highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s negotiated settlement of border delimitation issues with neighboring Central Asian states, describing it as a model approach. He also pointed to domestic reforms, including gender quota policies that have resulted in one of the world’s highest levels of women’s parliamentary representation.
If elected to the Security Council, Kyrgyzstan would push for pragmatic, depoliticized and sustainable measures. Priorities listed by Zhaparov include preventive diplomacy, mediation mechanisms, non‑proliferation and nuclear disarmament, and formalizing the link between climate and security.
He cited Kyrgyzstan’s role in creating the Central Asian Nuclear‑Weapon‑Free Zone and its signing of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as evidence of its commitment to global security. The president also highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, stressing that, despite being landlocked, the country is committed to global environmental protection. He promoted a “from mountains to the ocean” approach based on the indivisibility of the global ecological system.
Zhaparov called for increased international attention to Afghanistan, saying regional stability depends on security there, and reiterated ongoing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. He noted that Kyrgyzstan’s candidacy for the Security Council has unanimous backing from Central Asian states, reflecting regional unity and readiness for a larger global role.
Describing Kyrgyzstan’s election as a matter of historical justice and equal rights for all UN members, Zhaparov asked for support in the June vote and pledged, if elected, to work to enhance the Council’s effectiveness and transparency.
