UN/Veto: General Assembly Meets on Tuesday to Discuss Veto Use, not Moroccan Sahara Issue

United Nations (New York) – The United Nations General Assembly is holding a plenary session on Tuesday to examine Russia’s use of the veto against the US draft resolution on the renewal of MINURSO’s mandate, which was supported by eleven members of the Security Council.

The focus of this meeting is the Russian veto, not a new item on the Moroccan Sahara. This purely procedural meeting concerns the use of the right of veto in the Security Council, in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 76/262, adopted on 26 April 2022.

Initiated by Liechtenstein, this mechanism aims to subject the exercise of the veto to public scrutiny by all UN Member States, thereby enhancing the transparency and political accountability of the five permanent members of the Security Council.

This procedure provides for the automatic convening of a General Assembly debate within ten working days of a veto being exercised, to enable Member States to examine the circumstances and, in particular, to allow the State that exercised the right – in this case, Russia – to explain its reasons to the international community.

Since 2022, this mechanism has been invoked on 15 occasions, notably in relation to Ukraine, Syria, Iran, Mali, the space arms race, North Korea, Sudan, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and Gaza.

The meeting in November 10th is therefore part of a pre-existing institutional procedure concerning the use of the right of veto. It does not, in itself, constitute a procedure for reviewing or revising the Security Council’s decision. The aim of this mechanism is to reflect the international community’s desire to increase the political and diplomatic cost of exercising the veto and, ultimately, to discourage its use.

Furthermore, this debate does not imply either the automatic adoption of a resolution or the adoption of a new decision by the General Assembly on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara. 

In accordance with established practice, the exchanges are the subject of a purely factual report drawn up under the authority of the President of the General Assembly, without any decision or recommendations. This report will be forwarded to the President of the Security Council, as part of the institutional dialogue between the two United Nations bodies.