I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
President,
A veto, or even the threat of a veto, may prevent the Security Council from taking action, but it cannot silence the calls for action by people around the world when the Council fails to respond to grave violations of international law, fails to protect civilians in Sudan and Gaza, or address Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. These failures of the Security Council reflect on the organisation as a whole.
To preserve the credibility of the United Nations, the broader membership gathered in this Assembly must not allow the use of veto to silence the debate on, and action in, matters of peace and security.
The transparency and accountability created by the veto initiative is an essential first step, but the following one must be action. As the primary body in which all Member States have a voice, the role of the General Assembly must be strengthened. It must regain its footing as a platform for action on matters of international peace and security against the backdrop of a Security Council increasingly deadlocked or simply unwilling to act.
We have tools that can help us. The digital handbook, “Assembly for Peace” provides Member States with a practical account of the General Assembly’s Charter-based powers, and evidence of its past practice, and its complementary role alongside the Security Council. We encourage the annual update of the handbook, wider dissemination by the President of the General Assembly, and its use by Member States, including through its new digital web-platform.
We also welcome the informal summaries produced following GA debates on the Use of the Veto, particularly when they clearly identify the recommendations, and proposed actions put forward by Member States. We encourage the President of the General Assembly to continue, and further develop, this practice, as requested by General Assembly in resolution 79/327. We further encourage the Security Council and the Assembly to consider these recommendations for action.
President,
We are deeply concerned by the recent vetoes cast on the renewal of the Panel of Experts of the 1737 Iran Sanctions Committee. It leaves all Member States without the independent technical expertise needed to oversee the implementation of UN sanctions. These vetoes also represent the continuation of a worrying trend from the 2024 veto of the Panel of Experts of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee. Member States are obliged to implement UN sanctions, this implementation is most effective if all Member States have the means and the information to do so. Information which should not be blocked by a veto.
President,
We are also witnessing the disproportionate influence of the veto over the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General. The choice of the United Nations’ highest official must not be reduced to an opaque bargain among the permanent members. The process should be transparent, inclusive, and a joint process with the General Assembly in accordance with the UN Charter and relevant GA Revitalisation resolutions. The legitimacy and independence of the next Secretary-General are strengthened by a credible process that reflects the interests of the entire UN membership, not merely the preferences of those holding the veto.
President,
The Nordic countries are committed to ensuring that the veto does not prevent action in the face of mass atrocities. When populations face the risk of genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes, the Council must be able to fulfil its responsibility to maintain international peace and security. Our countries, and the majority of this Assembly, have signed the ACT Code of Conduct, and expressed support for the French-Mexican initiative on veto restraint. We urge all Member States, particularly all permanent members of the Council, to join us in these commitments.
Finally, President,
The founders of this organisation understood the importance of the fundamental legal principle that no one should be a judge in their own case. Article 27, paragraph 3, of the Charter reflects this insight. It established the principle that a party to a dispute should abstain from voting in decisions under Chapter VI concerning the peaceful settlement of disputes, and under paragraph 3 of Article 52. We must take steps to ensure its consistent implementation.
We all have a responsibility to uphold the UN Charter. Those with the veto bear a particular responsibility to ensure it is never used as a shield against accountability for violations of the Charter. Thank you.