Dutch king Willem-Alexander addressed the UN General Assembly on Monday evening, congratulating the organisation on its 70th anniversary but also sounding several critical notes.

‘Violence must not rule,’ the king said, referring to the situation in eastern Ukraine. He called on the UN to execute the Security Council resolution on flight MH17.

‘Injustice hurts like an open wound,’ he said. ‘The Netherlands still grieves every day for the loved ones they lost in the MH17 air disaster and await the results of that resolution.’

He also spoke of his concern about the refugee crisis in Europe, saying: ‘We cannot possibly look the other way.’

Other critical notes came in his remarks that African countries are under-represented on the Security Council and that there is still not enough focus on the positive role that women can play.

King Willem-Alexander is the first Dutch monarch to address the United Nations. His 20-minute speech is part of Dutch lobbying for a temporary seat on the UN security council.