PH Envoy: Veto Power at Security Council Should Not Be Used Without Accountability

Ambassador and Permanent Representative Antonio M. Lagdameo delivers the Philippine statement before the United Nations General Assembly plenary debate on the use of the veto. (New York PM photo)

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 02 May 2023 — Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo, reiterated the country’s view that the veto power has no place in a 21st century UN Security Council, as it is in direct contravention of the principle of sovereign equality of all UN Member States.

During the General Assembly’s plenary debate on the use of the veto on 26 April 2023 at the UN headquarters in New York, Ambassador Lagdameo emphasized that “the exercise of the right of veto is an exceptional responsibility and should not be used without accountability.”

He added that the veto power “must be judiciously used, and should not unduly constrain the Security Council from fulfilling its primary mandate of maintaining international peace and security.”

Ambassador Lagdameo said that last year’s landmark resolution on the veto initiative would enhance the accountability of the Security Council.

“In a mutually reinforcing manner, the resolution could strengthen the General Assembly and allow Member States to be represented and to articulate their views,” Ambassador Lagdameo said. “However, we should pursue every effort to curtail the exercise or use of veto in the Security Council.”

Ambassador Lagdameo pointed out, however, that the automatic mandate given to the President of the General Assembly, and not the membership itself, to convene a formal meeting within 10 working days after the veto has been cast in the Security Council, has the tendency to reduce the power of Member States.

General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi opened the debate on “the use of the veto (that) affects the whole UN.”

The landmark resolution, adopted by consensus last year, calls for the General Assembly to meet within 10 days if any of the five permanent members of the Security Council – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – uses their right of veto. The aim is to hold these countries accountable for exercising this special voting power, which allows them to block any Council resolution or decision. END

Photo credit: Screen grab from UN Webtv

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.