UN without veto would fall apart, Russia is ready to explain its use

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UN without veto would fall apart, Russia is ready to explain its use - Lavrov

MOSCOW. April 26 (Interfax) - Russia is ready to explain its use of the veto in the UN Security Council and will support a relevant resolution if there is consensus, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"The resolution presupposing discussion by the General Assembly of situations arising after the use of the veto in the Security Council has nothing to do with [UN SC] reform. It aims to democratize decision-making, and we are ready to join a consensus if there one. Working on a consensus basis is very important here," Lavrov told a press conference on Tuesday after talks with UN Security Council Antonio Guterres.

One could go further and have the GA consider not only cases where the veto is used but also situations where no SC resolution is adopted because a larger part of the UN SC decided to abstain, he said.

"I think that fundamentally it is a healthy process: if a country uses its veto, it means it has something to explain its vote with, and in cases where the Russian Federation is concerned, we will be able to explain convincingly whatever stance we take in the Security Council," Lavrov said.

The resolution submitted to the General Assembly has nothing to do with, "nor will it have any impact whatsoever on the many years of talks about SC reform, he said.

"The power of the veto will not go anywhere, I can reassure you. The power of the veto is a backbone of the United Nations, without which the organization would fall apart," he said.

The UN SC needs reform to be rid of the "domination" of western countries and allies, he said.

On April 26, the UN GA is expected to vote on a draft resolution which would give it the power to obtain explanations for every case where a SC permanent member used its veto. The draft, which compels countries having such power to explain why it blocked a particular document was proposed by Lichtenstein. Even before it came before the UN General Assembly, the document was supported by 57 nations, including the United States.