UN To Discuss Security Council Veto Power Nations

United Nations Building

The UN will consider a measure on Tuesday that would compel the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, to justify invoking their veto right.

These countries forms the five permanent members of the Security Council.

The Security Council reform has been discussed at the UN for years, but it has received new traction in the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

At the moment, the five permanent members of the Security Council have the ability to reject any resolution proposed by the body.

The rotating ten other members, on the other hand, do not have this authority.

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Since invading Ukraine on February 24, Moscow has used its veto power to limit U.N. security council activities, instantly rejecting a resolution calling on Moscow to withdraw its soldiers from Ukraine.

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In a statement, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated, “We are particularly concerned by Russia’s shameful pattern of abusing its veto privilege over the past two decades.”

She went on to say that the adoption of the Liechtenstein resolution “will be a significant step toward the accountability, transparency and responsibility of all” permanent members of the Security Council.

Liechtenstein’s current plan has the support of 50 countries, including the United States.

According to the AFP news agency, no other permanent members are already co-sponsors, though France has signaled that it will back the initiative.

The wording of the proposal, acquired by AFP, calls for the 193 members of the General Assembly to convene “within 10 working days of the casting of a veto by one or more permanent members of the Security Council, to hold a debate on the situation as to which the veto was cast.”

As of 1946, when the Soviet Union exercised its first veto, Moscow has used it 143 times, significantly more than the United States (86 times), the United Kingdom (30 times), China, and France combined (18 times each).

 

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES

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