{"id":644777,"date":"2019-06-13T07:09:07","date_gmt":"2019-06-13T07:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"
\"Mary<\/div>

Former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, "},"modified":"2019-06-13T07:09:07","modified_gmt":"2019-06-13T07:09:07","slug":"ex-irish-president-decry-abuse-of-veto-powers-in-un-security-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2019\/06\/13\/ex-irish-president-decry-abuse-of-veto-powers-in-un-security-council\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Irish president decry abuse of veto powers in UN Security Council"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Mary<\/div>\n

Former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, on Wednesday said the United Nations Security Council had \u201cfailed to live up to its responsibilities\u201d in conflict prevention.<\/p>\n

Addressing members of the council at its 8546th meeting in New York, Robinson berated \u201ccertain permanent members\u201d of the Council for wrong use of their veto powers.<\/p>\n

She said the abuse was more apparent during votes on resolutions aimed at conflict prevention.<\/p>\n

The meeting was convened to discuss how best to better utilise the tools at the disposal of the UN and the council for a more effective and efficient multilateral approach to conflict prevention and mediation.<\/p>\n

Robinson spoke as Chairperson of The Elders, a group of independent global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela to promote good governance and ethical leadership.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cOver the decades, the Council \u2013 and, particularly, its five permanent members \u2013 has failed to live up to its responsibilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has favoured realpolitik or short-term power stratagems rather than meeting the solemn commitments outlined in the UN Charter.<\/p>\n

\u201cNowhere has this been more apparent than in the repeated use of the veto by certain permanent members on resolutions aimed to prevent mass atrocities, including the use of chemical weapons on civilians.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robinson urged the Council to approach the issue of conflict prevention and mediation in the \u201cspirit of inclusive dialogue and willingness to work for compromise and consensus in the interests of peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke in similar vein, calling for improvement in the working methods of the Council.<\/p>\n

\u201cFaced with complex, multi-faceted and gravely serious challenges, it is profoundly irresponsible that politicians collude in or deliberately stoke illusions for their own gain.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is in full knowledge that no one country, however powerful, will be able to meet the global challenges on its own,\u201d Ki-moon said.<\/p>\n

The former UN chief called for unity and cooperation among members of the council especially in the area of conflict prevention and mediation.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cWhen the Security Council can cooperate and speak with a strong common voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis strong, common voice is needed more than ever at this current time, when the deceptive allure of populism and isolationism is growing across all continents, from North and South America to Africa, Asia and Europe.<\/p>\n

Earlier in his remarks, incumbent UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said conflict prevention and mediation were two of \u201cthe most important tools at our disposal to reduce human suffering\u201d.<\/p>\n

Guterres also urged the Council and all member states \u201cto strive for greater unity so that prevention and mediation efforts are as effective as possible\u201d.<\/p>\n

This, he noted, is \u201cthe only way to meet our responsibilities to the people we serve\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we act early, and are united, we can successfully prevent crises from escalating, saving lives and reducing suffering \u2013 fulfilling the most fundamental mandate of the United Nations,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

To this end, he told the chamber that the UN was working with various parties to conflict, together with partners for peace, in regions and countries across the world.<\/p>\n

He noted some \u201cencouraging signs\u201d, such as the constitutional transfers of power in Mali and Madagascar, and the rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea.<\/p>\n

Others, according to him, are the revitalised agreement in South Sudan; and, after decades of dispute, \u201cthe designation of the Republic of North Macedonia to be internationally recognised\u201d.<\/p>\n

The UN Security Council consists of 15 member states. These are categorised into five permanent members; namely Russia, United Kingdom, France, China and the United States.<\/p>\n

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