Russia opposes UN proposal to limit the veto power of permanent members of the Security Council
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein, Aurelia Frick, 114 countries have already supported the initiative of limiting the veto power of the permanent members of the Security Council, reports RIA Novosti.
According to Frick, "the response to this initiative was exceptional."
"This initiative is based on voluntary self-restraint of the permanent members of the Council in situations when it comes to mass atrocities. It is based on our deep conviction that a Veto is not a right or a privilege but a responsibility," said Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs at the French Foreign Ministry.
However, representatives from Russia opposed this proposal. "Any ideas that lead to the infringement of the prerogatives of the current permanent members of the Security Council, including the power of veto, are unacceptable," said Vladimir Safronkov, Russia's deputy envoy to the UN. According to Safronkov, "the possibility of a veto is an incentive to search for balanced solutions."