Russia wants to deprive the veto in the UN

The US warns that Russia's frequent use of the veto in the UN Security Council threatens the legitimacy of an international body.

He writes about it Guardian.

The publication notes that the United States and other like-minded countries may lose confidence in the UN Security Council and begin to act independently.

The warning came before the UN's 70 anniversary and at a time when the Security Council is facing a crisis in Syria. The parliament failed to coordinate actions to try to stop the bloodshed, even after the death of more than 220 thousands of Syrians.

Russia used its veto right four times to block the resolutions on Syria, which Moscow views as a threat to its ally Bashar al-Assad.

Moscow also prevented international action against the war in Ukraine, where it is a party to the conflict, occupying the Crimea and conducting a secret military campaign in support of the eastern separatists.

“And if this continues, and not just in the case of Syria and Ukraine, then there is a risk to the status of the Security Council, its credibility and its function as an international arbiter on security issues that needs to be addressed,” said US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power.

France proposes to introduce a mechanism to block the veto of the permanent members of the UN Security Council in the case of genocide or mass atrocities. The idea was supported by many permanent members of the UN Security Council, but Russia is strongly opposed.

As reported, 67 countries have already supported the initiative to withhold the right of veto in the UN Security Council in cases where conflicts acquire the features of particular cruelty.