Statement by H.E. Ambassador YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the 47th Plenary Meeting on use of the veto

Thank you, Madam President.
 
Confronted with the deplorable reality that a permanent Security Council member continues to invade a sovereign Member State in contravention of the UN Charter while protecting its own national position through the use or threat of use of the veto, the legitimacy of the Security Council and trust in the UN have been seriously undermined.
 
Given that the veto is a prerogative of significant influence, it must be exercised for the sole purpose of maintaining international peace and security, not for defending a clear violation of the Charter. Japan reiterates the need to fully implement and adhere to all provisions of the Charter of the UN as they relate to the decision-making process in the Security Council, including Article 27 (3) of the Charter, as decided in the Pact for the Future.
 
Madam President,
 
Against this backdrop, the importance of limiting the scope and use of the veto has never been more apparent. In this regard, Japan reaffirms that the “Political Declaration on Suspension of Veto Powers in Cases of Mass Atrocity” initiated by France and Mexico as well as the ACT Group’s “Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes” are valuable initiatives. Japan continues to urge all permanent members of the Council who have not done so to commit to voluntary restraint on the use of the veto without delay, and to implement this commitment accordingly.
 
Japan also reiterates the importance of the “veto initiative” launched by Liechtenstein as a mechanism to hold the Security Council accountable to the entire UN membership.
 
Madam President,
 
Despite all these initiatives, it must be pointed out that they are not sufficient to deter the use of the veto and a more fundamental reform of the Security Council is indispensable to address the existing imbalance within the Council including the veto.
 
It has already been more than a year since our leaders agreed on the urgent need for Security Council reform in the Pact for the Future. As we mark the 80^th anniversary of the founding of the UN, we must make concrete progress in the coming IGN to realize a more representative, legitimate and effective Security Council as soon as possible. Japan is committed to contributing constructively to advancing the reform process together with the wider UN membership.
 
I thank you.