Kuwait: Veto should not hinder UN objectives

- Al-Ajmi: When the Security Council fails to act, the international community must not fail to raise its voice

Kuwait has called for the veto power not to be transformed into a tool that hinders the achievement of the United Nations’ objectives for which it was established.

This call came during Kuwait’s statement delivered by First Secretary Fahad Al-Ajmi, of Kuwait’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, before the UN General Assembly during the debate on Agenda Item 62, titled “Use of the Veto,” on Monday evening.

Al-Ajmi clarified in his speech that “while the veto is a right enshrined in the UN Charter, it should not become an obstacle preventing the realization of the purposes for which the Charter was established.”

He pointed out that the responsibility of the UN Security Council is to safeguard international peace and security, considering this an international trust entailing obligations toward all countries and peoples.

Al-Ajmi added that while the veto may prevent the adoption of a resolution, it cannot override a right, negate a fact, or absolve the international community of its responsibilities.

He stated that Kuwait’s call aims to enhance the effectiveness of the Security Council and uphold the spirit and purposes of the Charter, emphasizing the need to exercise maximum restraint when using the veto, “especially when the lives of civilians, international peace, and security are at stake.”

He noted the Security Council’s failure to adopt a draft resolution submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain, in coordination with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan, concerning the protection of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, due to the use of the veto.

He continued, stating that this followed the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2817, which condemned Iran’s culpable and unjustified attacks on Kuwait, GCC countries, and Jordan, and demanded their immediate cessation.

Al-Ajmi questioned the repercussions of the Security Council’s inability to take a unified stance when international sea lanes are threatened, affecting energy supplies, trade, and global supply chains.

Regarding the Palestinian issue, Al-Ajmi highlighted the stagnation of draft resolutions before the Security Council calling for a ceasefire, protection of civilians, and delivery of humanitarian aid, due to the use of the veto, while Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip continue to suffer.

He stressed that children who lost their lives in the Gaza Strip were not parties to the Security Council’s disputes, and that civilians awaiting food and medicine are indifferent to the justifications for blocking its resolutions.

Al-Ajmi noted that the General Assembly is not a substitute for the Security Council and does not seek to diminish its powers, stating that “when the Council fails to act, the international community must not fail to raise its voice.”

He added that the General Assembly serves as a platform where the voices of all countries, large or small, are equal, and that within the powers granted to it by the Charter, it can keep critical issues present in the international conscience and push for just and sustainable solutions.

Al-Ajmi expressed Kuwait’s appreciation to the Principality of Liechtenstein for leading the initiative on accountability for the use of the veto, noting that Kuwait was among the founding members of its core group, driven by the belief in the importance of enhancing transparency, accountability, and preserving the credibility of the United Nations.

He concluded his statement by emphasizing the importance of the United Nations being an organization that protects rights rather than merely documenting violations, and a platform where states create peace rather than merely witness missed opportunities to achieve it.