Kuwait: Veto Should Not Hinder UN Objectives - Sarmad

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

This appeal came during Kuwait’s statement delivered by First Secretary Fahd Al-Ajmi, head of the country’s permanent mission to the UN, before the UN General Assembly during the debate on Agenda Item 62, titled “Use of the Veto.”

Al-Ajmi stated that while the veto is a right enshrined in the UN Charter, it should not become an obstacle preventing the realization of the Charter’s purposes.

He emphasized that the responsibility of the UN Security Council is to safeguard international peace and security, describing this duty as 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 rights, erase facts, or exempt the international community from its responsibilities.

He said Kuwait’s call aims to enhance the effectiveness of the Security Council and uphold the spirit and purposes of the Charter, stressing the need for utmost restraint when exercising the veto, “especially when civilian lives and international peace and security are at stake.”

He pointed to 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 noted that this occurred after the Security Council adopted Resolution 2817, which condemned Iran’s unjustified and culpable 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 failure of several 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 protecting civilians and respecting international law and international humanitarian law are not political choices subject to selective considerations, but binding obligations that must be respected and implemented.

He affirmed that the children who lost their lives in the Gaza Strip were not parties to the Security Council’s disputes, and that civilians waiting for food and medicine are not concerned with 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: “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 within the powers granted to it by the Charter, it can keep critical issues present in the international conscience and push toward 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, believing in the importance of enhancing transparency, accountability, and preserving the credibility of the United Nations.

He concluded 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.