Hellenic News of America attended the flag-raising ceremony for the new members of the UN Security Council. Evangelos Sekeris, Greece’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, expressed his gratitude and commitment to global peace. Greece also made its first intervention at the Security Council, addressing peace efforts in the Middle East.
New York – United Nations Headquarters
In a ceremony filled with emotion, the Greek flag was raised outside the United Nations Security Council chambers in New York on Friday, January 2nd. The annual event marks the beginning of the term for new members of the Council. Greece, elected as a non-permanent member for 2025-2026 on June 7, 2024, received overwhelming support with 182 votes out of 193 UN member states. This is the third time in its history that Greece has held this position, following terms in 2005-2006 and 1952-1953.
The Flag-Raising Ceremony
Held in a specially designated area outside the Security Council chambers, the ceremony attracted significant media attention. Diplomats, staff from Greece’s Permanent Mission to the UN, and a select group of guests, including family members, gathered to witness the event.
Leading the delegation was Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, who raised the Greek flag and delivered a brief address. He expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for initiating the tradition of this ceremony and congratulated the other new members: Denmark, Pakistan, Somalia, and Panama. He also thanked the outgoing members—Ecuador, Japan, Switzerland, Mozambique, and Malta—for their contributions.
“Standing here, I feel both gratitude and a profound sense of responsibility representing my country,” said Ambassador Sekeris. “Greece assumes this critical role for the third time in its history during a particularly challenging period.” He emphasized Greece’s dedication to the principles of the UN Charter and international law, aiming to act as a “bridge” between North and South, East and West, while contributing to peaceful conflict resolution.
Ambassador Sekeris, addressing the Greek attendees in their native language, reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to UN principles and the importance of resolving disputes fairly and peacefully.
A Symbolic Moment
After the ceremony, Greece’s delegation took commemorative photos in the Security Council chambers, where the country’s nameplate was positioned between Guyana and France. The placement symbolically highlighted Greece’s historical ties to France, a founding EU member and a permanent Security Council member.
Greece’s First Intervention at the Security Council
Later that day, Greece participated in its first intervention during an emergency Security Council session convened by Algeria, the current Council President, to address the situation in Gaza.
Ambassador Sekeris called for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and unhindered large-scale humanitarian aid delivery. He condemned the tragic conditions in Gaza and emphasized adherence to international law, including the prohibition of using hospitals for military purposes and attacks on such facilities.
While affirming Israel’s right to self-defense, Ambassador Sekeris noted that military pressure alone cannot eradicate terrorism or extreme ideologies. He stressed that all actions must align with international and humanitarian law.
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