The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has called for the reform of the UN Security Council, according to member of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE, Yevheniya Kravchuk.
"Just now, PACE called for the reform of the UN Security Council! The Assembly adopted the corresponding resolution ‘The Need for a Renewed International Order Based on Rules’ – 109 votes in favor!” Kravchuk wrote on Facebook.
According to the MP, the Ukrainian delegation also worked on the document and introduced several important amendments.
Kravchuk emphasized that the resolution underscores the need for UN Security Council reform by expanding its membership to increase representation and grant a more significant role to underrepresented and completely unrepresented regions, such as Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Asia-Pacific region, and reevaluating the use and scope of the veto power of permanent members.
The MP noted that the resolution also called for a review of the activities of the UN General Assembly, which should be granted broader powers regarding issues related to maintaining international peace and security, especially in cases where a permanent member of the Security Council exercises its veto power!
“Member states must ensure that any state committing acts of aggression is held accountable and does not benefit from unjustified diplomatic or economic privileges,” Kravchuk explained.
Kravchuk also mentioned that the document contains a call for countries that have not yet done so to join the International Criminal Court and ensure full cooperation with the ICC to hold perpetrators accountable for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression.
The Member of Parliament added that the resolution also stresses the importance of the European Union's enlargement process.
"At the same time, unfortunately, the Assembly did not agree with our amendments regarding Russia’s right to be in the UN as an aggressor state and as the ‘successor state of the USSR,’ which automatically inherited membership. This is disappointing, but we must realize that there is still no consensus among Council of Europe member states regarding harsher sanctions against Russia within the UN system. The resolution should serve as a basis for qualitative changes and a review of the UN's activities. We hope for its proper implementation!" Kravchuk concluded.
As reported, the winter session of PACE is taking place from January 27 to 31 in Strasbourg.
