Ukraine: Liechtenstein forces UN Security Council to justify every veto

Alexis Guilleux (in New York), edited by Solène Leroux 10:01 a.m., April 27, 2022

It's a small revolution for the UN.

The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution yesterday which will henceforth oblige the five permanent members of the Security Council, namely the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom, to come and justify the use of their veto before the international representation.

An initiative that finds particular resonance as war rages in Ukraine, and Russia is blocking Security Council resolutions.

Another symbol: this project was supported by Liechtenstein.

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For the ambassador of this small state of 40,000 inhabitants, the observation is simple, the Security Council no longer works: "The latter is having more and more difficulty in carrying out its mission. The increase in the use of law of veto is the most obvious expression of this", he specifies at the microphone of Europe 1. Russia is not the target, we are assured on the side of the UN.

But since 1945, Moscow has vetoed the Security Council 143 times.

That's almost twice as much as the United States.

"The veto is not a privilege"

Since the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin's army, the United Nations has been paralyzed by the Russian veto.

From now on, any use of this right will have to be followed by a justification before the 193 Member States.

An evolution defended by the French ambassador, Nathalie Broadhurst.

"The veto is not a privilege," she recalls.

"It implies duties, a particular responsibility for the permanent members. The aggression against Ukraine demonstrates the need to consolidate our system of collective security", continues the ambassador.

This text is not binding, the veto retains its blocking power.

But the country that uses it will expose itself to direct criticism from the international community.