Distinguished Co-Chairs,
At the outset, I would like to congratulate you both, Ambassador Michal Mlynár and Ambassador Tareq M. A. M. Albanai, on your appointment as Co-Chairs of this important process and express my appreciation for early convening this informal meeting. Please rest assured that you will have my delegation’s full support throughout the session.
Today, the multilateral system, in its entirety, is under serious strain because of a set of multiple complex and interlinked challenges, namely climate change, conflict, the food, energy and financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. Our common hope for peace and development is in jeopardy. These challenges can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateralism, keeping the UN as the center of people’s hopes and aspirations.
Co-Chairs,
17 years have passed since world leaders expressed their support in 2005 for early reform of the Council as an essential element in the overall reform of the Organization and 13 years since the launch of the intergovernmental negotiations process. Our mandate is to deliver a solution on Council’s reform, not to just continue our annual repetition of well-known positions.
As the main guarantor of international peace and security, we need to reform the Security Council to make it more transparent, inclusive, representative, accountable and effective to take on the challenges of the 21st century. We cannot and should not wait indefinitely for the reform of the Council. We must do something now, and something that is concrete.
In this regard, allow me to highlight a few points and I will limit myself in iterating our positions on Regional Representation and its interlinkage with other clusters as indicated in the Co-chairs letter on 05 December 2022:
First, there is no debate on the need for the Security Council reform. We all agree that the Council’s membership and structure is not in tune with the current realities on the ground. We reiterate that an expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories is crucial to make this body more representative, legitimate, transparent, effective, and fit for purpose.
As for the size, anything in the range of mid-twenties would perhaps do justice to the larger membership.
Second, enlarged Council must allow for fair and equitable representation of all regional groups, as well as cross regional balances. Historical injustice done to certain regions need to be redressed as a matter of priority. We must ensure that certain underrepresented regions, such as, Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America have due representation in the enlarged Council. Furthermore, due consideration must also be given so that the developing countries, including small island developing States have an opportunity to serve in the Council.
Third, in order to improve equitable representation, Security Council reform must be an inclusive process that reflects the constant changing geopolitical realities of our world. The concerns of various regions must be heard to strike a cross-regional balance. In this regard, text-based negotiations, in line with the rules and procedures of the General Assembly, may help all Member States to make swifter progress on the Council issue. While doing so, we also underscore the necessity of inclusivity and in-depth dialogue among member states.
Finally, there cannot be more significant reasons than the current global realities that dictate the urgency of the reform of the United Nations. While there are divergences on some key reform issues, there is also a strong collective desire that the reform of the Security Council is in the core interest of Member States as reflected in the Co-Chairs Element Paper circulated on 19 May 2022. My delegation will continue to promote approaches for a meaningful Council reform that enjoy widest possible consensus.
Co-Chairs and distinguished Colleagues,
Let me conclude by reminding that if we fail to do the most needed reforms now, we may not need to do it ever.
I thank you.