Dozens of nations back French proposal to limit use of U.N. veto

Share:
France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius speaks at the U.N. Security Council meeting on counter-terrorism during the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York September 30, 2015.  REUTERS/Darren Ornitz
France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius speaks at the U.N. Security Council meeting on counter-terrorism during the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York September 30, 2015. REUTERS/Darren Ornitz

Dozens of nations signed on to a French proposal on Wednesday that the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council refrain from exercising their veto in cases of mass atrocities and genocide.

Some 75 countries in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia backed the proposal, and French officials say they expect more nations to join. There are 193 U.N. member nations.

“We hope there will be more commitments to ensure that these situations, like in Syria, where there are mass atrocities and the U.N. Security Council is paralyzed by a veto, disappear,” French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters.

He said France, one of the five permanent members with veto power, had already committed to not using its veto in case of mass atrocities and potential genocide, and hoped others would soon follow suit.

None of the other four veto powers – the United States, China, Britain and Russia – have formally signed up for the initiative, according to a map of countries that have joined the initiative provided by France.

“We … consider that the Security Council should not be prevented by the use of veto from taking action with the aim of preventing or bringing an end to situations involving the commission of mass atrocities,” a French-drafted declaration on the veto limitation said.

“We underscore that the veto is not a privilege, but an international responsibility,” it added.

In the case of Syria, Russia and China have used their veto four times to block Security Council action, three times to strike down threats of sanctions against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and another resolution that would have referred the Syria conflict to the International Criminal Court for possible crimes against humanity.

U.N. diplomats say that Britain supports the initiative, while the United States is considering it in a positive light. Both Russia and China, the diplomats say, have suggested they dislike the idea.

Human rights groups have long called for limits on the use of the veto, saying it enables the five veto powers to shield governments guilty of grave crimes.

“The veto … should not be used to defend an ally, which is what we are seeing with the Assad regime today,” said Kenneth Roth, head of Human Rights Watch, a New York-based advocacy group.

While Russia, with the backing of China, has used its veto power to shield the Syrian government from criticism, the United States has repeatedly blocked council action critical of Israel, Washington’s chief ally in the Middle East.

 

REUTERS

Share:

Comments

12 responses to “Dozens of nations back French proposal to limit use of U.N. veto”

  1. Hannibal Avatar

    Finally some common sense. Actually NO veto is better.

    1. Finally you make sense. Who knew.

    2. Hind Abyad Avatar
      Hind Abyad

      La France:)

      1. Hannibal Avatar

        Vive,,, ๐Ÿ˜‰

        1. Hind Abyad Avatar
          Hind Abyad

          Bien sure,,, ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Arabs were killed badly in world war 2…but they still have no weapon industries to protect themselves.No machines or engines made by Arabs so far…they buy all weapons…when its is wars, it is not easy to buy weapons from outside at the times..that why Western and Russian,Israel bullied Arabs at its worse.Arabs will not understand even the whites killing half of them.Now china has been world super power..in future China also would bully Arabs countries with their air craft..I guess they have no hand to do its..Arabs leaders is busy on feuding each others.They have no brain at all.

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    ‘Dozens, and Dozens, and Dozens …’

    1. It’s interesting that dozens was used when they have a exact number. Why not just say 75?

      “Some 75 countries in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia backed the proposal”

  3. Good idea.

  4. Fauzia45 Avatar

    This ^Veto Power^ must stop!It should have a long time ago!

  5. I will support the idea of no veto if that action against those particular atrocities include to stop the atrocities of Israel, UK, And USA. in a way that this three allies of Evil can be judged in the Criminal Court for illegally conspire against other Countries to place puppets serving this three evil allies, and once and for all unmask what We all know, that they create oppositions against legitimate Governments to steal land and natural resources, this oppositions alway start with a “peaceful protest” followed by shots from American snipers and blaming a legitimate government to shift public opinion, all this to favour Israel, stealing Our past, present and future, If the French are serious about action against atrocities, very well then! Start pursuing the culprits, the real ones!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *