Main image: Prime Minister Ishiba delivers a general debate speech at the UN General Assembly(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine exposes the UN’s inability to function effectively, Japan says
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba made the statement during a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York.
“The UN Security Council is still not functioning effectively. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is the most obvious example. A permanent member of the Security Council with a special responsibility for international peace and security has invaded its neighbor. This shakes the very foundation of the international order,” Ishiba said.
He added that
“Security Council resolutions are vetoed and not adopted, and General Assembly resolutions calling on Russia to withdraw immediately are adopted, but not implemented. Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine, interpreting Article 51 of the UN Charter in a self-righteous way, and labelling its aggression as a right of collective self-defense. This calls to mind the “Prague Spring” in 1968. Article 51 of the Charter must never be used arbitrarily,” the Japanese prime minister emphasized.
Ishiba called for an urgent reform of the UN Security Council.
“It is necessary to expand both permanent and non-permanent membership categories. Although the number of Member States has increased fourfold, the number of permanent members has remained unchanged since its establishment. Simply increasing the number of Security Council members is not enough. However, I believe it is possible to make the Security Council more representative without reducing its effectiveness,” he concluded.
