New Delhi, Jan 22 (.) India has cautioned against delays in implementing timely reforms of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and suggested increasing the number of seats from 15 to 25 or 26 in both permanent and non-permanent categories by giving adequate representation to the African region and the Asia Pacific.
India’s Permanent Representative at the UN, Ambassador P Harish, making a statement on behalf of G-4 (India, Brazil, Germany and Japan) in New York, said a reformed UNSC must have balanced geographic representation by enhancing the presence of unrepresented and underrepresented regions.
There must be six new permanent members – two from the African region, two from the Asia Pacific, one from GRULAC, and one from WEOG, and 4 or 5 additional non-permanent members, he said.
‘The means for achieving this is by enhancing the presence of unrepresented and underrepresented regions. There must be six new permanent members – two from the African region, two from the Asia Pacific, one from GRULAC, and one from WEOG; and 4 or 5 additional non-permanent members – one or two from Africa, one from Asia Pacific, and one each from GRULAC and the Eastern European Group (EEG).
(GRULAC—Group of Latin America and the Caribbean–is a regional bloc of 33 countries in the Americas, operating primarily within the United Nations system and other international fora like the Inter-Parliamentary union (IPU), to foster consensus, dialogue, and coordinate positions on global issues like human rights, environment, and sustainable development.
WEOG–the Western European and Other States Group–is composed of 28 member states. Most of these are in Western Europe, but the group also includes countries of North America, the Eastern Mediterranean and Oceania.)
India’s suggestion came a day after US President Donald Trump slammed the UN in a press conference at the White House, saying the UN had never lived up to its potential. He was justifying the setting up of the ‘Board of Peace’, which, many believe, weakens the UN. ‘Had the United Nations done more, there would have been no need for a Board of Peace. … I wish the United Nations could do more, I wish we didn’t need a Board of Peace,’ he said, adding that the UN just hadn’t been very helpful and had never lived up to its potential.
Ambassador Harish said the need for reforming the UNSC is getting more pronounced by the day, and further delays in implementing timely reforms would result in more human suffering and misery.
He said the ongoing conflicts come at a high cost – countless innocent lives are lost daily. ‘We do not have the luxury of time to engage in cycles of meetings that are devoid of outcomes. We must collectively make every moment count.’
Pointing out that the world is going through unprecedented times, Ambassador Harish said challenges of a diverse nature are emerging almost daily. The United Nations, a universal multilateral organisation, is no exception either.
He warned that the credibility and efficacy of the organisation are being called into question, and said the limitations of the UN in meaningfully addressing raging conflicts across the globe are a driving reason for this phenomenon, although it is a part of much wider power dynamics.
He said the UN’s shortcomings in terms of delivering on its vital function of maintaining international peace and security are inherently linked to the lack of effectiveness of the UN Security Council.
Pointing out that reflection of contemporary geo-political realities is the fundamental principle driving the G-4, he said a reformed UN Security Council must have balanced geographic representation.
Ambassador Harish said the G-4 has been consistent and categorical about the essential ingredients for an outcome-centric process. Negotiations on the basis of a text, which stipulate clearly laid out milestones and timelines, are central to this. G-4 remains committed to working towards a consolidated model, as this could be the precursor for text-based negotiations.
He said the G-4 model is aligned with addressing the gross lack of appropriate representation of the Global South on the Security Council. It is based on established norms in the UN.
‘We subscribe to giving due consideration to the case of SIDS for their continued and adequate representation in the non-permanent category. Proposals to introduce new parameters, such as religious affiliation, run counter to established UN practice and add considerable complexity to an already difficult discussion.
(SIDS–Small Island Developing States–is a group of 39 UN member countries and 18 associate members facing unique sustainable development challenges, categorised by region: Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, South China Sea)
Asserting that G-4 support for unrepresented and underrepresented regions is ‘clear and firm’ he said G-4 has specified its formula to address the historical injustices against Africa.
He lamented that for decades, status-quoists had been posing hurdles and impeding forward movement, thereby contributing to the failure of the Security Council, which helps fuel serious questioning of the legitimacy and credibility of this Organisation.
. RB 1515
