Statement by H.E. Elina Kalkku,
the Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations
on behalf of the Nordic countries
General Assembly 79th session, agenda item 63: Use of the veto
20 November 2024

President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Finland.

The Nordic countries remain firmly committed to the implementation of resolution 76/262, also known as the Veto Initiative. This landmark resolution provides a standing mandate for this Assembly to convene, whenever veto is used, hindering action by the Security Council.

The Pact for the Future, adopted by consensus in September, recognizes the growing urgency to increase the effectiveness of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security. As part of our commitments towards a reformed Security Council, we all agreed to intensify efforts to reach a much-needed agreement on the future of the veto, including discussions on limiting its scope and use. As we continue these efforts, an immediate step would be for all Security Council Members to implement fully Article 27(3) of the Charter, which requires a party to a dispute to abstain from voting. The Nordic states also encourage all Member States to join the ACT Code of Conduct and the French-Mexican initiative on Suspension of Veto Powers in Cases of Mass Atrocities.

The Veto Initiative can play an important role in revitalizing the ability of the UN pursuit of peace. The Charter empowers the General Assembly to consider and make recommendations on any matter within the scope of the Charter, including making recommendations on matters of international peace and security. Throughout its history, the General Assembly has played this role in a number of ways, including through its authority under the ‘Uniting for Peace’ resolution. The Nordic countries are convinced that the General Assembly should play its role more fully, and act more decisively when the Security Council is unable to act. We invite all interested Member States to consider ways for it to do so. The UN, which is at the core of the rules-based multilateral system, cannot be a by-stander while conflicts rage and grow in number and brutality.

We welcome “the Assembly for Peace”, a digital handbook that provides evidence on the important roles that the General Assembly has played in promoting peace and security, in times when the Security Council has not acted. This is a valuable resource to help us consider such action.

President,

Member States have placed the Security Council in the position of trust for the maintenance of international peace and security. Currently, the Council is unfortunately not living up to this responsibility. The Nordic countries remain alarmed by the all too frequent use of the veto in the Security Council. The use of veto, and even the threat of the use of veto, is preventing the Council from acting in accordance with its Charter-based duties in many situations, ranging from Ukraine to the Middle East and beyond. Just two days ago, the Russian Federation irresponsibly vetoed a resolution on cessation of hostilities and protection of civilians in Sudan, where the ongoing conflict has already displaced half of the population and numerous credible reports indicate mass atrocities. Moreover, we just learned that the United States used their veto against a Council resolution on Gaza. Regrettably, veto has also been used to block the Council’s decision-making related to Security Council mandated sanctions and expert bodies supporting their implementation.

President,

Since the adoption of resolution 76/262, each Member State that has cast a veto in the Council, has addressed the General Assembly on the reasons for its veto.

The Assembly debates under this agenda item have enabled a genuine exchange of views on the substantive issue at stake. Expressions of frustration on the inaction of the Council have also been heard. As such, the Veto Initiative has significantly increased interaction, transparency, and ultimately, the accountability between the Council and the Assembly.

Since the adoption of resolution 76/262 the Council has also produced a special report after each casting of a veto. The Nordic countries welcome the resumption of this practice after more than 50 years. We also reiterate that special reports should not only be produced as a result of a veto.

President,

The General Assembly and the Security Council are both principal organs of the United Nations. Both have distinct but shared competence on matters pertaining to international peace and security.

The primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security has been conferred on the Security Council. In the exercise of this responsibility, as enshrined in Article 24 of the UN Charter, the Council acts on behalf of all UN Member States. This is no minor delegation of powers and responsibilities. Indeed, the Council bears a responsibility towards the entire UN membership with regard to its prompt and effective action for the maintenance of international peace and security. When the Security Council fails to act because of veto, it fails in fulfilling this responsibility towards the wider membership. We salute those Permanent Members and particularly the 10 elected members, who have made efforts towards negotiated compromise resolutions.

President,

To conclude, the Nordic countries reaffirm their full commitment to resolution 76/262, which seeks to increase transparency and accountability of the Security Council towards the General Assembly, which represents the entire UN membership, and to enhance the cooperation between the two principal organs.

We also reaffirm our strongest commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and the role of the UN in maintaining and promoting international peace and security.

I thank you.