UK joins call for limiting UN Security Council vetoes
NEW YORK: The United Kingdom has signed on to an initiative urging UN Security Council permanent members to withhold their vetoes on matters concerning mass atrocities, such as genocide, countries leading the push said Monday.
The United Kingdom has joined an international effort calling for the United Nations Security Council to limit the use of its vetoes in matters involving mass atrocities like genocide, according to French and Mexican diplomats. The initiative, first proposed by Mexico and France in 2015, currently has the support of 128 countries, just one country short of the two-thirds majority needed for it to be considered a success.
French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Mexican counterpart Roberto Velasco stated that the support demonstrates a commitment to ensuring the Security Council can effectively maintain international peace and security. The veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council - France, the UK, Russia, China, and the United States - have often been at odds, causing the council to be paralyzed on many issues.
French officials have expressed hope that the resolution could be adopted before the UN General Assembly, which is set to begin this week. Even if the resolution is adopted with a two-thirds majority, it would remain non-binding. However, the goal is to make it more difficult for a permanent member to use its veto in cases of dire emergencies.
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