Singapore says UN at an ‘inflection point’, seeks limits on Security Council’s veto powers

In a statement at the UN Security Council open debate on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said the world is in an “acutely dangerous phase” and that civilians in “multiple trouble spots” are paying a terrible price.

“The United Nations is at an inflection point. We need to reform multilateral and UN institutions to address both current and future challenges, including reform of this very Security Council,” he added.

Balakrishnan is in New York for the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly from September 19 to September 28.

In his statement to the Security Council, he urged them to “constrain the exercise of the veto”.