Statement by Ambassador Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations
Statement by Ambassador Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, during the debate in the General Assembly on the Right to Veto. We live in difficult times. The principles and structures built 78 years ago to promote international peace and security are under great threat.
- Once again, the Security Council – which has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security – has been paralyzed by the strategic rivalries of its permanent members and the exercise of the “veto”. It is precisely for this reason that longstanding disputes such as Kashmir and Palestine could not be resolved. The vetoes in the Security Council have for long prevented and hindered the implementation of UN Resolutions.
- Pakistan has supported the efforts initiated several years ago to restrict the abuse of the veto by any of the five permanent members of the Security Council. In the aftermath of the events of last year, Pakistan joined in supporting General Assembly resolution 76/262 calling on the GA President to convene the Assembly within 10 working days after the exercise of a veto by one or more permanent members in the Security Council.
- Past and recent experience has confirmed that the abolition or restraint on the misuse of the veto rights of the five permanent members will have to be an integral part of the reform of the Security Council. And, it is as a result of this experience that Pakistan – together with the UfC Group – remains opposed to the creation of new permanent members on an expanded Security Council. More permanent members and more veto powers will multiply the likelihood of paralysis and inaction in the Security Council.
Mr. President,
- While Pakistan has voted for Resolution 76/262 last year, but we clarify our position once again:
One, the final resolution of the issue of the veto will have to be resolved – not separately – but as an integral part of the reform of the Security Council. The question of the veto has been identified as one of the five inter-related “clusters” for SC Reform. The decisions on all five clusters will need to be adopted together in a comprehensive reform. Therefore, we welcomed the insertion of PP8 in the Resolution 76/262 which notes that its provisions are without prejudice to the IGN on SC Reform.
Two, We have agreed to the processes of the General Assembly to review in the wake of a veto as a means of reinforcing the oversight role of the General Assembly under Article 10 and other provisions of the UN Charter. This does not impinge on the distribution of responsibility under Charter or Article 10-14 of the UN Charter;
Three, any measures adopted to restrict or restrain the abuse of the veto will have to be consistent with all the provisions of the Charter.
Mr. President,
- We understand the motivation of those who wish to find ways to “moderate” the use of the veto. We are reassured that their proposals are designed to re-invigorate the Charter functions of the General Assembly and are not related to or impinge upon the IGN’s consideration of Security Council reform.
- The discussion of the “veto” – which preoccupies so many of us these days – has revealed certain realities. The central issue involved is the negative power of the veto. Pakistan believes that this can be “balanced” by, on the one hand, placing restrictions on the use of the veto, and, on the other, enhancing the role of non-permanent members through larger and perhaps longer representation and by changing the threshold of approval of decisions in the Security Council.
- My delegation remains convinced that the IGN process offers the best avenue to reach an agreed outcome on the reforms of the Security Council. It is only through patient exchanges, mutual accommodation, and compromises that we can broaden the areas of convergence and reduce the points of divergence and thus evolve a “model” for the reform that can be accepted by the widest possible majority of Member States, as stipulated in Decision 62/557 of the General Assembly.
Editor: Raja Kamran