Statement by H.E. Mr. Rytis Paulauskas, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the UN at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on the Working Methods of the Security Council
Updated 2024-03-15
Statement by H.E. Mr. Rytis Paulauskas, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the UN at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on the Working Methods of the Security Council on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
President,
I would like to express congratulations to Japan on assuming the Presidency of the Security Council this month and to wish you all the best in steering the challenging program of work before us.
Appreciate this opportunity to discuss today the Working Methods of the Security Council, indeed, as most rightly noted in your Concept Note, it is essential to seek a more transparent, efficient and inclusive approach.
To effectively fulfil its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the Council must make full use of all experience and instruments available at its disposal. Inclusive dialogue with non-Council interested and affected Member States is essential in this regard.
President,
we seek that the Member States in charge of the Council’s work will interact among themselves and with those effected to achieve its primary mission – assuming the responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security as it is stipulated in Article 24 of the Charter.
The illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified war against Ukraine waged by Russia clearly exposed the structural and procedural weaknesses of this body. The abuse of the veto power illustrates how the permanent member of the Security Council – Russia - continues to hold the Security Council hostage. Lithuania highlights that the veto power should be constrained under Article 27(3) of the UN Charter, which requires a party to a dispute to abstain from voting.
We remain steadfast supporters of the efforts to limit the use of the veto, particularly in situations of mass atrocity, and encourage all delegations to commit to the Accountability Coherence and Transparency Code of Conduct and support the French-Mexican initiative. We once again thank Liechtenstein for its leadership in enhancing transparency and accountability regarding the use of the veto. The adoption of the UNGA resolution "Standing mandate for a General Assembly debate when a veto is cast in the Security Council" during the 77th session marks a significant and overdue step. We trust that this measure will improve Council deliberations and decisions in the long term.
Furthermore, in Council debates on Ukraine, Russia and some other members of the Security Council deliberately oppose and aim at obstructing the implementation of Rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules—an indispensable provision aimed at eliciting the perspectives of all impacted member states. This resistance underscores their rigid opposition to the established norms of collaboration and cooperation.
President,
We encourage the Council to strengthen its engagement with the broader UN membership, focusing on increased transparency in its operations. This includes providing more opportunities for General Assembly members, on whose behalf the Security Council acts, to engage with its work. Unhindered implementation of Rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules must be ensured particularly when discussing aggression in violation of the UN Charter.
It's essential to maintain the various tools available to the Security Council for effectiveness while promoting greater interaction with the General Assembly. To achieve this, advance notices on the opening of the speakers list and timely information on the decision taken whether request to take a floor was granted, is important.
While supporting increased communication and meetings among the Presidents of the Security Council, General Assembly, and Economic and Social Council, we propose the inclusion of chairpersons from the main General Assembly committees in certain meetings.
We also would encourage early sharing of draft products and reports presented to the Council for its consideration, this would assure better transparency and provide possibilities for informal consultation.
President,
In conclusion, allow me to reiterate my appreciation for holding this timely discussion and I will look forward to an analytical summary to be produced as the outcome of the proposals made in this open debate.
Thank you.
