Statement by the Republic of Latvia
at the Intergovernmental Negotiations Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council
New York, 17 November 2022
Mr President, honorable Co-Chairs,
I thank the President for convening today’s debate and express our sincere gratitude to Co-Chairs – Permanent Representatives of Slovakia and Kuwait for leading the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Security Council reform, and pledge Latvia’s full support to your efforts.
Today, the UN Security Council remains a principal organ for maintaining international peace and security and its actions have implications with respect to international law, but there is a significant gap between its mandate and execution. This can be attributed to the long-overdue reform of the Council – years have passed, but we do not find ourselves even a step closer to the finish line. In this context, Latvia would like to reiterate its call to start the text-based negotiations without further delay.
Let us recall that under the United Nations Charter, we – the United Nations Member States – have conferred on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and in carrying out its duties the Security Council acts on our behalf. Giving this credit to the Security Council, we believe the Security Council would better represent the interests of the United Nations membership by increasing its accountability, legitimacy and transparency.
Mr. President,
Today, the fact that the Council has not lived up to its responsibility is directly linked to the use or even the mere threat of the use of the veto. Veto use should not be seen as a privilege. Currently, we are witnessing the paralysis of the Security Council because a member of the Security Council is abusing its veto power while committing mass atrocities in Ukraine. Russia’s aggression proves that the reform of the Security Council is now needed more than ever. People all over the globe see the failures of the Security Council to act decisively as the failures of the UN and this we cannot allow. We cannot expect faith in the UN system to last if the Security Council’s hands are tied.
Latvia also commends the call of France and Mexico for the permanent members of the Security Council to voluntarily and collectively pledge not to use the veto in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes on a large scale. We believe that the abovementioned initiative provides necessary impulses for the change in Council’s working methods and output. We call on all UN Member States to join this pledge.
We strongly supported the recently adopted veto initiative, which empowers the General Assembly to address the pressing issues of international peace and security.
As a member of Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group, Latvia is of the view that it is necessary to maximise the UN Security Council’s efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability, in particular regarding the working methods.
Mr President,
The Security Council plays an indispensable role in maintaining the international peace and security. The expectations of the majority of the United Nations membership to have the Security Council more representative of the twenty-first century are summarized in the UN Secretary-General’s Report on Our Common Agenda.
Latvia continues to advocate for equitable regional representation of African, Latin American and Small Island Developing States in the Council. Likewise, we see a merit in the allocation of additional elected membership to the Eastern European Group.
Furthermore, Latvia strongly believes that no matter the size, all countries can have an impact in the Security Council. Latvia is strongly committed to further prove that the Baltic states can influence the processes in the global politics. Therefore, in 2025 Latvia will run for the elections of the non-permanent member of the Security Council which reflects our responsibility to contribute to international peace and security, protect the rules-based international order and advance effective multilateralism.
In conclusion, we confide in the leadership of the Co-Chairs in facilitating substantive results on the reform of the Security Council in a text-based format that would trigger the progress in the negotiations. We believe a consolidated text of positions of the Member States following this session would benefit in taking the next step.
Thank you!