Azerbaijani expert urges CICA to curb veto power with new decision format

Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Board of the Centre for Analysis of International Relations (AIR Centre), has proposed a structural reform within the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), aimed at limiting the obstructive use of veto power by individual member states.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 13th session of the CICA Think Tank Forum, Shafiyev called for the creation of a "minus one" decision-making format — a model in which no single country could unilaterally block collective action by the organization, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"Problems arise because we cannot adopt a budget, and things are not moving forward," Shafiyev said. "Yes, the organisation operates on the basis of consensus, but joint action is also important in the future. In my opinion, a 'minus one' format should be created so that one country cannot paralyse the entire organisation."

The comments come amid increasing frustration over the slow pace of decision-making within multilateral structures where unanimity is required. Shafiyev cited the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) as a cautionary example of what can happen when consensus-based mechanisms lead to institutional gridlock.

"The OSCE was a product of the Cold War, and its goal was to conduct negotiations on the basis of consensus. Now we see that this organisation is effectively paralysed," he noted.

Turning to broader geopolitical challenges, Shafiyev highlighted the ongoing instability in the Middle East and the complex situation in Southeast Asia, both of which underscore the need for more agile and coordinated responses from regional institutions like CICA.

"Conflicts continue in the Middle East, and their resolution in the near future seems unlikely," he said. "The situation in Asia, especially in Southeast Asia, remains difficult."

He stressed that greater coordination and policy consistency within CICA is essential, especially in post-conflict phases. "If they had voluntarily said, ‘Let’s do this,’ or if measures had been taken in the post-conflict phase, there would have been at least some coordination," Shafiyev remarked.

By Vafa Guliyeva