Statement by Lithuania at the GA Plenary meeting "Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council"
Statement by the Republic of Lithuania at the GA Plenary meeting "Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council" on Thursday, 22 October 2026.
President,
At the outset I would like to reiterate Lithuania’s position that the Intergovernmental Negotiations remain exclusive state-led platform for Security Council reform discussions. We are prepared to take constructive part in the work of IGN.
We welcome recent decision by the President of the General Assembly to re-appoint the IGN co-chairs.
We thank co-chairs for their efforts up to now, including for the bridging proposal made and subsequent issuance of the new Revised Co-Chairs' Elements Paper on Convergences and Divergences.
Considering all models presented so far and understanding that some may still be tabled, we look forward to continued IGN work, including towards the text-based negotiations, which we would support.
In this regard, allow me to reiterate Lithuania’s key long-standing positions regarding the future composition of the Council:
First, we are in favor of enlargement in both categories, permanent and elected, with the due attention paid to redressing historical injustice against Africa regarding representation.
Second, we also remain open to further discussions and decisions on the formation of those categories, if that contributes to a consensus on advancing Security Council reform both in form and the substance.
Third, Lithuania believes that in ensuring better regional representation in the Council and in reflecting changing geopolitical realities an additional elected seat for the Eastern European states should be established.
President,
The question of veto also remains a critical issue to be addressed. Particularly, the use, or rather abuse, of veto power by Russia, can no longer be ignored.
Shielded by the right to veto, with an ability to block any Security Council decision to put an end to its war against Ukraine, Russia has assumed a hypocritical role of justifying its own aggression.
Meanwhile Russia’s armed forces are waging a brutal war of territorial conquest, in gravest violation of international law, the UN Charter and Russia’s own commitments as a permanent member.
It should not be surprising that when a state in a Security Council permanent member seat perpetrates a war to annex the territory of a neighboring state, this raises serious doubts about sustainability of the privileged status of such Council member.
Moreover, there are also broader questions regarding legitimacy of Russia’s assumption of the Council permanent membership at the end of Cold War.
More generally, Lithuania supports efforts to achieve limitations on the veto powers, particularly by adhering to the Code of Conduct initiated by the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group and to the France-Mexico initiative.
We will also support a demand for full implementation of Article 27.3 of the UN Charter.
To conclude, I would like to reiterate that Lithuania’s position on a way ahead is that of constructive support to building consensus for Security Council reform, towards ensuring its representativeness, transparency, inclusiveness, effectiveness, democracy and accountability.
I thank you.
