Türkiye's U.N. envoy Sedat Önal warned against the U.N. Security Council's prerogative to use veto, which he said exacerbates humanitarian crises.
The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution one year ago aimed at holding the five permanent members of the Council – U.S., U.K., China, Russia and France – accountable for their use of the veto.
The 193-member Assembly gathered on the first anniversary of the adoption of the landmark resolution.
"Exactly one year ago, member states took an important step to enhance the role of the General Assembly," Önal told the Assembly. "It was also an equally important step to make the Security Council more accountable."
He said the Council failed in fulfilling its responsibility to maintain international peace and security and the "veto lies at the heart of the problem."
"The use or threat of use of veto frequently caused paralysis," he said. "On many occasions, the veto gave rise to the perpetuation of the crisis and exacerbated humanitarian costs."
He said the General Assembly now has a useful tool that was adopted last year, at its disposal when it comes to issues pertaining to international peace and security.
