UNITED NATIONS: The 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly voted by agreement Tuesday on a resolution requiring the five permanent members of the Security Council to justify their use of the veto.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine resurrected the effort for change, which was received with cheers in the parliament.
The change makes veto-holders United States, China, Russia, France and Britain “pay a heavier political price” when they wield the veto to strike down a Security Council resolution, said one diplomat who requested to remain nameless.
It is uncertain if the five permanent members would use the veto less, or more — since they might offer contentious texts, they know their rivals will veto simply to compel them to defend their stance publicly.
First introduced over two years ago, the bill provides for the General Assembly to be summoned within 10 working days following a veto “to have a debate on the circumstances why the veto was cast,” according to the text.
Almost 100 nations joined Liechtenstein in co-sponsoring the proposal, including the United States, Britain and France — a quick rally of support that created significant astonishment at the UN.
Neither Russia nor China were among the sponsors, though. A diplomat from one of the two nations who asked not to be identified condemned the proposal, saying it will “divide” the UN even further.
‘Not aiming at Russia’
The legislation will “create a new procedure,” said Liechtenstein’s envoy Christian Wenaweser, who stressed the plan is “not against anyone.”
“It is not meant against Russia,” he stressed, although the proposal’s resuscitation occurred as the Security Council could not denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, because of Moscow’s veto power.
From the United States’ perspective, Russia has misused its right of veto for two decades and the suggested wording fixes the problem.
Wenaweser said the statement intended to “advance the function of (the) United Nations, to promote multilateralism and to promote the voice of those of us who are not veto holders and who are not on the Security Council on questions of international peace and security.”
The wording is non-binding, and nothing prohibits a nation that has used its veto from failing to explain its actions to the General Assembly.
But its use “will shine a light” on the use of the veto and on the “blockages” within the Security Council, said one ambassador, on condition of anonymity.
Besides its five permanent members, the Security Council also has 10 members chosen for two years, without the authority of the veto.
Among the co-sponsors of the resolution were – besides Ukraine – both Japan and Germany, who are vying to become permanent members in a possibly larger Security Council.
But neither Brazil nor India, two other prospective contenders for a permanent post on the Council, are on the list of co-sponsors.
