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Poland Wants United Nations to Limit Russia’s Influence Poland Says Russian Veto Should Be Limited at U.N.
(about 11 hours later)
WARSAW — Frustrated by the United Nations’ passive response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, President Bronislaw Komorowski of Poland has said he intends to call on the organization to change its rules to prevent Moscow from vetoing Security Council actions on the region. WARSAW — Frustrated by the United Nations’ passive response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, President Bronislaw Komorowski of Poland has said he intends to call on the organization to change its rules to prevent Moscow from vetoing Security Council actions on the region.
“My main message will be that perhaps the United Nations should be reformed to make the institution capable of addressing the threats that really exist today,” Mr. Komorowski said in an interview this week at the presidential palace here in advance of his visit to the United Nations in New York next week. “I think blocking the Security Council on Ukraine is a token, a symptom, of the general weakness of the U.N.”“My main message will be that perhaps the United Nations should be reformed to make the institution capable of addressing the threats that really exist today,” Mr. Komorowski said in an interview this week at the presidential palace here in advance of his visit to the United Nations in New York next week. “I think blocking the Security Council on Ukraine is a token, a symptom, of the general weakness of the U.N.”
Like the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — Britain, China, France and the United States — Russia has the power to veto any of the Council’s actions. But actually removing Russia’s veto on the Council is nearly impossible. Under Article 108 of the organization’s charter, removing the right to veto would require both a vote of two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratification by whatever constitutional process is in place in two-thirds of the member nations, including all five permanent Council members.Like the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — Britain, China, France and the United States — Russia has the power to veto any of the Council’s actions. But actually removing Russia’s veto on the Council is nearly impossible. Under Article 108 of the organization’s charter, removing the right to veto would require both a vote of two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratification by whatever constitutional process is in place in two-thirds of the member nations, including all five permanent Council members.
In other words, Russia has a veto over removing its own veto.In other words, Russia has a veto over removing its own veto.
Still, Mr. Komorowski’s call is a sign of Poland’s unease over the international response to the Ukraine conflict and the country’s growing confidence and rising profile in European and trans-Atlantic affairs.Still, Mr. Komorowski’s call is a sign of Poland’s unease over the international response to the Ukraine conflict and the country’s growing confidence and rising profile in European and trans-Atlantic affairs.
With a thriving economy — Poland was the only nation in Europe to go through the recent economic downturn showing growth in every quarter — it has become a more prominent voice in European Union and NATO affairs, particularly on issues concerning the region’s eastern flank.With a thriving economy — Poland was the only nation in Europe to go through the recent economic downturn showing growth in every quarter — it has become a more prominent voice in European Union and NATO affairs, particularly on issues concerning the region’s eastern flank.
The most visible sign of this was last month’s election of Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister, as president of the European Council. “Next to his personal merits, which are very significant, this is a reflection of the attitude of the Western world to Poland and to Polish achievements,” Mr. Komorowski said. “It is a source of great satisfaction that our voice is better heard and the Polish prominence in European politics is growing.”The most visible sign of this was last month’s election of Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister, as president of the European Council. “Next to his personal merits, which are very significant, this is a reflection of the attitude of the Western world to Poland and to Polish achievements,” Mr. Komorowski said. “It is a source of great satisfaction that our voice is better heard and the Polish prominence in European politics is growing.”
Mr. Komorowski will make his call in an address to the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, part of the parade of dignitaries that ushers in every September assembly gathering. It is part of an official visit by the Polish head of state that will include a stop at Fort Bragg, N.C., and an address to the World Leaders Forum at Columbia University, as well as a tour of the university’s Polish studies program.Mr. Komorowski will make his call in an address to the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, part of the parade of dignitaries that ushers in every September assembly gathering. It is part of an official visit by the Polish head of state that will include a stop at Fort Bragg, N.C., and an address to the World Leaders Forum at Columbia University, as well as a tour of the university’s Polish studies program.
A former defense minister, Mr. Komorowski became acting president of Poland in 2010 after the plane crash that killed his predecessor, Lech Kaczynski, and later won his own four-year term that year. Mr. Komorowski has not officially announced his intention to pursue another term in national elections next year, though he is widely expected to run.A former defense minister, Mr. Komorowski became acting president of Poland in 2010 after the plane crash that killed his predecessor, Lech Kaczynski, and later won his own four-year term that year. Mr. Komorowski has not officially announced his intention to pursue another term in national elections next year, though he is widely expected to run.
Sipping tea in the White Room of the presidential palace, overlooking gardens and surrounded by aides and security officers, Mr. Komorowski reiterated Poland’s commitment to strengthening European unity as well as trans-Atlantic business, political and military ties.Sipping tea in the White Room of the presidential palace, overlooking gardens and surrounded by aides and security officers, Mr. Komorowski reiterated Poland’s commitment to strengthening European unity as well as trans-Atlantic business, political and military ties.
At a time when many European states have drifted away from strong support for the European Union, Poland has been among the most vociferous voices for strengthening it.At a time when many European states have drifted away from strong support for the European Union, Poland has been among the most vociferous voices for strengthening it.
“This is a permanent tenet of our foreign policy, to remind the Western world that the very foundation of freedom will be safe and unshaken as long as we have cooperation between Europe and America,” Mr. Komorowski said. “This is the cornerstone of our commitment, and that is why we also expect, by way of reciprocity, that the United States will sustain its interest in upholding the security of the Western world.”“This is a permanent tenet of our foreign policy, to remind the Western world that the very foundation of freedom will be safe and unshaken as long as we have cooperation between Europe and America,” Mr. Komorowski said. “This is the cornerstone of our commitment, and that is why we also expect, by way of reciprocity, that the United States will sustain its interest in upholding the security of the Western world.”
Poland was largely pleased with the outcome of the recent NATO summit meeting in Wales, he said, including the alliance’s decision to establish military supply installations in Eastern Europe on which NATO troops could descend in response to an emergency.Poland was largely pleased with the outcome of the recent NATO summit meeting in Wales, he said, including the alliance’s decision to establish military supply installations in Eastern Europe on which NATO troops could descend in response to an emergency.
“I think it is the type of operation and reaction that can be an effective answer to the kind of nonclassical threats that we have seen happening on the Russia-Ukraine border,” Mr. Komorowski said. “That being said, we must regularly take stock of the security situation along the Eastern flank. Something that is sufficient nowadays may need to be expanded in the future.”“I think it is the type of operation and reaction that can be an effective answer to the kind of nonclassical threats that we have seen happening on the Russia-Ukraine border,” Mr. Komorowski said. “That being said, we must regularly take stock of the security situation along the Eastern flank. Something that is sufficient nowadays may need to be expanded in the future.”
Russia has shown that it intends to “rebuild its imperial position and far-reaching zone of influence” with the clear intention of growing “back to the size of a superpower,” he said.Russia has shown that it intends to “rebuild its imperial position and far-reaching zone of influence” with the clear intention of growing “back to the size of a superpower,” he said.
But Mr. Komorowski is confident that one of the outcomes of the Ukraine crisis has been a growing realization that Russia remains a palpable security threat — as Polish leaders had warned for two decades. “We know this is not the right time to reset relations with Russia,” he said. “This is not the right time to limit any commitment to Euro-Atlantic relations. No, just the reverse. This is an important moment to contain Russia from any dangerous expansion in order to pursue its neo-imperial vision.”But Mr. Komorowski is confident that one of the outcomes of the Ukraine crisis has been a growing realization that Russia remains a palpable security threat — as Polish leaders had warned for two decades. “We know this is not the right time to reset relations with Russia,” he said. “This is not the right time to limit any commitment to Euro-Atlantic relations. No, just the reverse. This is an important moment to contain Russia from any dangerous expansion in order to pursue its neo-imperial vision.”