UAE demands reform of veto in Security Council after misuse of power to stop Gaza war

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

In a discussion in the United Nations General Assembly, on the use of the veto in the UN Security Council, on Wednesday evening, the UAE called for reform and reconsideration of the veto power enjoyed by some major countries in the Council, especially after what was proven by the misuse of the veto power to stop the war on the Gaza Strip.

In her speech at the meeting on behalf of the UAE, the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Lana Nusseibeh, said: “There is no single context that clearly demonstrates the failures of the current Security Council system, and the restrictions imposed on it, more than the situation in Palestine, where the veto was used 37 times, in this the file is from 1972.”

She added, "This dynamic was painfully clear in preventing the Council from calling for a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds first, which would put an end to the devastation in Gaza, in violation of the declared will of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and 153 member states of the United Nations."

The delegate added that the reason why the Council has failed more than once to stop many tragedies around the world, such as the ongoing war on Gaza, and the misuse of the privilege provided by the veto, will make the UN Security Council “an arena in which the protection of national interests trumps the maintenance of international peace and security. This is a matter of concern, particularly during this current period of global polarisation and fragmentation. If the Council once again becomes a forum for intensified great power competition, its inability to fulfil its mandate will increase."

Lana Nusseibeh stressed reform of the Security Council and reconsidering the use of the veto, as "it is clear that we still need to create more barriers against the abuse of the veto."

She said: “From the UAE’s point of view, the veto should not be used when one of the following three conditions is met: First, when the international community speaks with one voice. The work of the Security Council must be guided by the clear will of the overwhelming majority of its members, or members of the General Assembly. Secondly, the Secretary-General’s point of view must be given the weight it deserves, and there is no better example than the rare invocation of Article 9. Thirdly, the veto must not be used to undermine international law, as it is the foundation of our international system, and provides peace, stability and prosperity, and cannot be applied selectively. ".

Lana Nusseibeh warned against insisting on this path, saying: “If we continue on this path, the consequences for the international community are clear and worrying, represented by a shrinking Security Council, a fragile international system, increasing threats to international peace and security, and the return of the principle of might as right.”

She added, "It may be true that the first victims of this will be the smaller countries, but the great powers will also suffer from the consequences of the fluctuations and chaos during their reign." Therefore, "change is urgent and necessary, and it must begin now, because with the privileges granted by the United Nations Charter to the permanent members, there also come responsibilities."

The Permanent Representative of the State to the United Nations concluded by saying: “I would like to end on the following note: the situation in Palestine constitutes an exemplary study, not only of the consequences of unimplemented resolutions, but also of the misuse of the veto. Let it also be an exemplary study to illustrate the reason for the urgent need for reform.”