Any talks about cancelling right to veto at UN SC pointless - Russian UN ambassador

UNITED NATIONS, September 27. /TASS/. There is no point in any talks about cancelling the right to veto at the United Nations Security Council, since it will take another charter, Russian Permanent Representative at the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said on Sunday. "I have afeeling that some countries just don’t understand what ‘the right to veto’ is," he said. "They are picturing the situation as though it is an egoistic right of the permanent members." "But as a matter of fact, the right to veto is what makes us take steps to look for a compromise on the documents at the United Nations Security Council day by day," he underscored. "One is free to think about cancellation of the right to veto but to do that it is necessary to change the United Nations Charter," he said. "There is no such word as ‘veto’ in the Charter. It just says that Security Council resolutions are passed by five unanimous votes." "To change this provision, it is necessary to adopt an amendment to the United Nations Charter," Churkin explained. "But to pass an amendment, it is to score the votes of two thirds of the United Nations members and later two thirds of members, or 129 states, including the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, are to ratify this amendment, and this is the "smartest" thing." "None of the permanent members would ever ratify such an amendment to the Charter," the Russian diplomat stressed. "So, any talks on that subject are senseless." "Now, a game is being played to exert political pressure on Russia. When asked whether the French initiative to restrict the right to vote had any prospects to be accepted, the Russian diplomat said, "Practically no." "This initiative may win support from some 60 countries, but I am practically sure the Americans and the Chinese would not join it. Maybe, the British may join, for company," he added. Read more