Ministry Statements & Speeches:
We meet again today to discuss the use of the veto.
New Zealand is a long-standing opponent of the use of the veto. We have actively supported the Veto Initiative from its inception and remain a strong proponent of Resolution 76/262.
This resolution created a mechanism to ensure accountability between UN organs, in accordance with the Charter, and to ask permanent members of the Security Council that have cast a veto to explain themselves to the wider UN membership.
New Zealand was pleased to cosponsor the first ever Security Council resolution on outer space, alongside 64 other member states.
We emphasise that any breach of the Outer Space Treaty – including Article IV, which prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons in orbit – would raise serious concerns. We call on all states to abide by their international commitments and to refrain from placing nuclear weapons into orbit, or from developing the capability to do so.
As host to the fourth most frequent orbital space launches in the world, New Zealand takes its role as a gateway to space seriously and is committed to promoting the peaceful, safe, and sustainable use of space.
The peaceful use of space is fundamentally linked with respect for international law on Earth. At its core, this draft resolution called for States not to develop nuclear weapons, or other weapons of mass destruction, specifically designed to be placed into orbit.
The resolution emphasised the need for all Member States to carry out space activities in full compliance with existing international law, including the Outer Space Treaty, and it underlined the grave consequences of a nuclear detonation in space.
The resolution further highlighted the importance of preventing an arms race in outer space, and of advancing space science and technology. Any conflict in space could put into jeopardy the systems we rely on for so many purposes. Importantly, the draft resolution also complemented discussions taking place in other multilateral fora.
It is for these reasons that we regret Russia’s exercise of the veto on this resolution.
This resolution was subject to extensive negotiations, and in our view, the veto presents a missed opportunity for the Security Council to support measures to prevent an arms race in outer space.
We call on the Council to fulfil its primary responsibility to maintain peace and security, and to reaffirm key obligations and principles under the Outer Space Treaty, international law and the UN Charter.
Thank you.