Salmond tells Berlin Peace Conference that “The United Nations cannot stand by helpless while the innocents are slaughtered in Gaza.”

Former First Minister, Alex Salmond, was speaking today at the World Forum on the future of Democracy in Berlin. In a session on reform of the United Nations Mr Salmond said;

“The Security Council veto has stopped meaningful intervention in Gaza to end the conflict even when 90 per cent and more of the General Assembly have voted to end the war and stop the killing.

Despite the good work the UN carries out for peace, sustainable development and human rights, if it is immobilised in the face of manifest injustice and suffering, then it will fall into disrepute.

I propose that all member countries incorporate UN studies into their school curricula so that world popular opinion can be eventually brought to bear against the vested interests in the Security Council. In addition the General Assembly should be empowered to override the veto if a huge majority of members vote for UN peacekeeping intervention or indeed sanctions.

In this way, Gaza could be made to be be the last conflict in which the International community was forced to look the other way while the innocents were slaughtered”

Also addressing the Conference was the eighth Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon who has long argued for Security Council Reform, while the event was co-hosted by actress Sharon Stone and artist Bob Geldof.