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The meeting of the UN Security Council in New York should mark a new beginning. A picture of helplessness presented itself.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it as briefly as possible right at the start of the seat: “There is a great risk that lawlessness will increasingly rule the world instead of the law. From the illegal development of nuclear weapons to the illegal use of force, states fout about international law – without being punished for it. Unconstitutional changes of government and coups are back in fashion.”
There was no shortage of examples
Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis sees the foundations of the UN Charter under pressure. He called the Russian attack on Ukraine a concrete and flagrant violation of the principles of international law: “The rule of law is the backbone of the system for which the UN Charter stands.”
There was no lack of examples and no lack of blame. The American ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, severely criticized Russia, China and the North Korean regime in particular. A regime that is in turn protected from further sanctions by the veto of the Russian and Chinese rulers. “Are we using our powers?” asked the American. The answer is obvious.
Helplessness in New York
But what is to be done? Above all, Thomas-Greenfield calls on the powerful UN veto powers to live up to their special responsibility. Ignazio Cassis calls for “organs and organizations such as the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Supreme Court, the International Criminal Court or UN investigative missions to be strengthened.”
Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, whose country had convened the special session, concludes from the criticism of the UN Security Council that its members “must meet again to discuss the principles of law”. The American ambassador to the UN puts it more drastically: “International law can save the world from hell. And bring them closer to peace.”
Nothing can be said against all of this. Everything is correct. And badly needed. But at the same time it sounds like whistling in the forest. Unsure, not very confident. The words “should” and “must” were the most used. The meeting in New York should mark a new start. Instead, it signaled helplessness at least as much.