"The veto is not a privilege" [fr]

Thank you Mr. President.

The veto is not a privilege. It implies duties and a particular responsibility for the permanent members. The use of the veto cannot be aimed at paralyzing the Security Council in the fulfillment of its mandate to maintain international peace and security. This would be contrary to the spirit of the Charter and this is why France has not used the veto for over thirty years.

France condemns the unacceptable blocking of the Security Council by Russia in the context of its aggression against Ukraine. France supported the convening of an emergency special session of the General Assembly to allow the international community to react to this exceptionally serious violation of the United Nations Charter. However, the Security Council remains seized and we are fully mobilized to ensure that it continues to assume its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Mr. President,

The aggression against Ukraine demonstrates the need to consolidate our collective security system. France is fully committed to the process of reforming the Security Council in order to make it more representative of today’s world while preserving its executive and operational nature.

These developments must be in strict compliance with the fundamental values of the Organization and the responsibilities assigned to each of the organs by the Charter. In this respect, the General Assembly cannot become the judge of the Security Council or of its members, elected or permanent.

It is in this spirit that France, together with Mexico, has for several years been promoting an initiative on the use of the veto. This would involve the five permanent members of the Council voluntarily and collectively suspending the use of the veto in the event of mass atrocities. According to the French proposal, this framework would apply in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. This voluntary approach, which strictly respects the prerogatives of the Security Council and its members, does not require a revision of the Charter but a political commitment by the permanent members. Today, this initiative is supported by 105 countries and we call on all States, in particular the other four permanent members, to join it.

Thank you Mr. President.