NEW YORK, March 10: Pakistan says use of the veto in the United Nation’s Security Council prevented a resolution of the longstanding dispute of Kashmir and hindered implementation of UN Resolutions on the issue. Speaking in the intergovernmental negotiation process on Security Council reform, Pakistan Ambassador to UN Maleeha Lodhi said those calling today for the extension of the veto to new permanent members of the Security Council at the same time criticise its use or abuse. Reiterating the country’s position that Pakistan was opposed to adding new permanent members to the Council with or without a veto, she said that any privileged role in decision making contradicts the shared goal of making the Security Council more democratic, representative and accountable.
“Pakistan supports expansion of the Security Council only in the non-permanent category”, she added. The debate at the UN was on the issue of veto, which Pakistan’s Permanent Representative insisted must be tackled as part of a comprehensive reform of the Security Council.
Ambassador Lodhi said that Pakistan’s proposal does not create any hierarchy of status or privilege, such as veto; it only provides additional, equitable and equal opportunity for States, that wish to shoulder more responsibility for maintenance of international peace and security.Strongly opposing deferment of veto issue, Ambassador Lodhi said that Pakistan considers veto as an important key issue that needs to be tackled as part of a comprehensive reform of the Security Council.
“This cannot be ignored or deferred. Pakistan does not support any proposal that aims to defer consideration of this key issue or leave open the possibility of its extension to other members through a review process”, she added.
Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi warned the UN that if the values of the 21st like democracy, equal opportunity and non-discrimination were ignored in reforming the Council, it would run the grave risk of making the United Nations, a “Divided Nations”.-DNA
Pakistan supports expansion of UNSC only in non-permanent category: Maleeha
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