The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Analena Baerbock, stated that the inaction or use of the veto power within the UN Security Council risks undermining the credibility and legitimacy of the entire United Nations system.
Speaking at a General Assembly meeting dedicated to the use of the veto, Baerbock emphasized that the UN has frequently fallen short of fulfilling its primary mandate, as enshrined in its charter: “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”
Baerbock highlighted the “veto initiative,” adopted by the General Assembly in 2022. This initiative mandates that the Assembly convene within ten days of a veto being cast in the Security Council. It provides all 193 member states with an opportunity to demonstrate that the organization is actively listening to the desperate voices of those affected by conflicts and remains capable of taking action to alleviate their suffering.
“The veto initiative,” she added, “is our chance to prove, even in these times of fragmentation, that multilateralism is still alive, and that cooperation between regions has indeed been strengthened through further discussions within the General Assembly on matters of peace and security.”
She cited the “New York Declaration” on resolving the Palestinian issue as an example of the General Assembly’s ability to act, despite the use of the veto in the Security Council.
The President of the General Assembly acknowledged that while it is regrettable that the Assembly must resort to using the “veto initiative” in the first place, she stressed, “Nevertheless, we must appreciate the opportunity it affords us to intervene when needed, to hold ourselves and each other accountable, and to demonstrate intent and take action.”
