<
https://theconversation.com/with-the-un-powerless-the-greatest-danger-now-may-be-russia-beginning-to-lose-in-ukraine-182512>
"There could be no better example of the United Nations’ failure to live up to
its founding ideals than the recent visit by secretary general António Guterres
to Russia. Attempting to calm the dangerous war in Ukraine, he obtained nothing
of significance.
No peace deal, no blue helmeted peacekeepers in the warzone keeping the
belligerents apart. Relegated to the role of an aide to the Red Cross, his
single achievement was an agreement in principle to help the beleaguered
civilians in Mariupol.
Guterres then went to Kyiv where he criticised the Security Council for failing
to prevent the war. Russia applauded with a salvo of missiles fired at the same
city he was speaking in.
This is far from what the drafters of the UN Charter envisaged. They had wanted
to avoid history repeating. The organisation’s predecessor, the League of
Nations, had failed precisely because the great powers felt their interests
were better served by not joining.
To entice the five most powerful post-war nations (America, Russia, France,
Britain and China) to join the new UN, it was split in two. The General
Assembly was where the talking took place. The Security Council had the real
power over peace and security.
Above all, the big five were offered the power of veto over Security Council
actions, meaning any one of them could block any initiative to prevent or end
war. Therein lies today’s sad reality."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
