After two relatively easy topics, international negotiations on Security Council reform entered rockier terrain, with Member States discussing the controversial issue of veto. While there are divergent views on the usefulness of the veto, and on whether new members should receive veto rights, more convergence can be found in the field of the use of veto. Member States continued to show genuine willingness to discuss the substance of proposals.
A large majority of states would be ready to abolish veto in entirety, but if that does not happen, the same groups and would grant veto rights to new permanent members. Importantly, three of the Permanent Members are not ready to grant veto rights to new members, while one major group would not consider extension in permanent seats, rendering the question on veto moot. Some countries cautioned the Membership not to let the question of veto become an obstacle of reform. Interestingly, even aspiring new permanent members suggest deferring the issue of veto to a review conference in 15 years’ time. There is much more convergence around the possible restrictions on the use of veto, where proposals tend to dovetail elements in the ACT Group’s Code of Conduct.
In his statement H.E. Amb. Zsolt Hetesy, Deputy Permanent Representative expressed support for the consolidation of the text around the main options, and also through regrouping the proposals and by presenting some recurring elements only under one subchapter. The statement supported proposals aimed at restricting the use of veto in case of atrocity crimes and put forward concrete suggestions on how to achieve such outcome. Hungary acknowledges the ultimate responsibility of the Security Council with regard to its activities and working methods. This is precisely why Hungary suggests that the Security Council keep its procedures on the use of veto under review, and regularly inform the broader membership about the outcome of such deliberations.
Please find the full statement here.
