The Russian Federation tried to block the UN reform plan, demanding the adoption of an amendment to the text of the pact. The UN expected such actions by Moscow and adopted the document.

Russia  tried to block the adoption by all 193 member states of the United Nations (UN) of a plan to reform the UN, the so-called Pact for the Future, developed under the leadership of Germany. Thus, on Sunday, September 22, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Vershinin asked during the Future of the UN Summit in New York in the presence of German Chancellor Olaf  Scholz to make an additional amendment to the text of this plan. “If our amendment is not included in the text of the pact, we will also distance ourselves from the consensus regarding this document,” said Vershinin, quoted by the dpa news agency.

The Russian official complained that countries dissatisfied with the agreement were not given the opportunity for further negotiations. In its amendment, the Russian Federation emphasized the “principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states” and called on the UN to avoid duplicating efforts. Russia’s objection was supported by its traditional allies – Belarus, North Korea, Iran, Nicaragua and Syria, the AFP agency notes.

However, the organization itself did not give in to pressure from the Russian Federation. Earlier in the UN, many countries did not rule out a demarche from the Russian Federation regarding this plan. So, almost immediately after the Russian statement, the Congolese representative offered to reject the Russian proposal . Therefore, it was rejected by a majority of 143 votes of the members of the UN General Assembly. 

Subsequently, the UN announced the adoption of this plan to reform the Organization. 

Future Summit in New York

The Future Summit takes place on September 22-23 in New York. During the meeting, the participants plan to take measures that could make the UN a more effective organization and reform its institutions created many decades ago, including the UN Security Council.

The Germany-Namibia-brokered Pact for the Future, adopted on Sunday, is a blueprint for tackling the challenges facing humanity, with 56 “actions” covering everything from peacekeeping to the potential threats posed by artificial intelligence. . In particular, the plan covers the topics of sustainable development, international security, cooperation in the field of science, technology and innovation, in particular the application of technologies based on artificial intelligence (AI) , problems of youth and future generations, as well as the transformation of global governance. In addition, the chapter on international peace and security of this document contains provisions regarding the need to eliminate the root causes of armed conflicts, protect the civilian population, prosecute war crimes, combat threats at sea, prevent terrorism, etc. Among other things, the pact also calls for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

The pact also provides for the reform of the UN Security Council, whose work is often paralyzed by Russia, which has veto power in the body. But the document does not say what exactly this reform could be, in particular the right of veto.

Earlier, Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for UN reforms . In his opinion, it is necessary for the community of states to have more opportunities to act against the background of numerous crises and wars, as well as to achieve greater justice in the world. Demands for the need to reform the UN and, in particular, to abolish the right of veto in the Security Council, intensified against the background of Russia’s war against Ukraine , because the Russian Federation is a permanent member of the Republic of Belarus.

(C)DW 2024