New York: Pakistan has demanded the abolition of the veto
power in the Security Council and an immediate ceasefire in eastern Congo. It
has also opposed any increase in the number of permanent members in the Security
Council.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, while addressing the meeting of the
Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reforms, said that Pakistan
supports the increase in non-permanent seats so that the effect of the veto
power can be balanced.
He said that increasing the number of elected members will
reduce the balance of power in favor of the permanent members. The main reason
for the deadlock in the Security Council on important global issues is the
misuse or inappropriate use of the veto power by the permanent members.
Extending the veto power or giving this power to new permanent members will
further exacerbate the problems, so Pakistan opposes it in principle.
Pakistan also stressed that the ‘Uniting for Consensus’
group led by Italy and Pakistan is against the increase in permanent seats,
while the G-4 group comprising India, Brazil, Germany and Japan is striving to
obtain permanent seats.
The Pakistani delegate said that the veto power has become
an outdated concept in today’s era and there is a strong global opinion against
it, despite which proposals are being made to increase this power, which is a
contradiction. The reforms of the Security Council should be comprehensive and
all issues, including the veto power, should be resolved together, while there
is a need to increase transparency and accountability in its use.
In the Security Council meeting, Pakistan expressed deep
concern over the deteriorating situation in the eastern regions of the Republic
of Congo and called for an immediate ceasefire and swift diplomatic measures,
and said that the ongoing violence in the region, the severity of the
humanitarian crisis and the increasing number of displaced people reflect the urgent
need to establish peace.
Stressing the need for full implementation of Security
Council Resolution 2773, he said that only a sustainable ceasefire can provide
the basis for lasting stability in the region. Illegal mining and smuggling of
natural resources in eastern Congo are among the major causes of unrest, which
require regional cooperation, transparent supply chains and effective
strategies to address so that these resources can become a source of welfare
for the people.
Reiterating its full support for the sovereignty, unity and
territorial integrity of the Republic of the Congo, Pakistan urged the
international community to seize this opportunity and take joint and effective
steps for sustainable peace in the region.
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