Singapore Calls For UNSC Reform, Limits On Veto Rights

SINGAPORE, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Singapore has called for reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), including constraining the exercise of veto by its five permanent members (P5).

Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, in his statement at the UNSC Open Debate on Wednesday, said the P5 -- China, France, the US, the UK, and Russia -- should focus on the broader goal of delivering international peace and security.

“However, the increasing trend in the exercise of vetoes suggests that we cannot leave this to the P5 to voluntarily change their behaviour.

“The wider UN membership must reach an agreement on how the veto is exercised in the future, and Singapore stands ready to discuss this further at the General Assembly,” he said. His statement was made available on the Foreign Ministry’s website.

Balakrishnan said that the approach is not to encroach on the Council’s mandate but rather to safeguard against actions that prevent it from fulfilling its mandate.

He said the UNSC also must do more to prevent conflicts and work more closely and effectively with the other main organs of the UN to facilitate both early warning and response.

“Article 99 of the UN Charter is, in fact, a powerful preventive diplomacy tool. I am glad that the Pact for the Future alluded to this.

“However, this Council needs to react more quickly with a concrete response when the Secretary-General invokes Article 99, particularly for humanitarian catastrophes and mass atrocities,” he said.

Article 99 of the UN Charter states that “the Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which, in his opinion, may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security”.

In December last year, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter to press the Council  and the international community at large  to demand a ceasefire between the warring parties in the Gaza war.

Balakrishnan also addressed the need to strengthen the role of UNSC Elected Members, also known as the Elected Ten (E10), noting that the E10 often bridges the gaps when the P5 are mired in mutual distrust and paralysis.

“Given the powerful bridging role of the E10, Elected Members should have a greater say in penholdership and decision-making and be allowed to lead or co-lead on key issues, particularly concerning their respective regions,” he added.

The E10 are non-permanent members of the UNSC, elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.

The current members are Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

-- BERNAMA