Pakistan Mission to United Nations

Statement by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations IGN on Security Council Reform (13 June 2017)

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

Yesterday, we offered our views on some aspects of your “Food for Thought” paper. Today I would like to comment on some views expressed in the meeting thus far.

Yesterday, we heard two interventions against a sentence mentioned in Section I, Para 1(d). Let me read out that sentence - “the principles of democracy and representativeness shall also be taken into consideration”.

I have to say, the objection to this sentence left us dumbfounded.

• One because this is the first time, we are hearing someone speak against the notion of democracy and representativeness in the august chambers of the United Nations.

• Two, because the sentence only calls for taking these principles into consideration. Should we deduce from this that the principles of democracy and representativeness should not guide reform of the Security Council?

• Three, and most important, we wonder, is reform of the Council not fundamentally about equitable representation on the Council?

How then can we differ on these principles as important considerations for Council reform?

So we agree on practicing democracy at home but  some countries here argue that it should not be practiced at the UN!

I would nevertheless like to respond in some detail to the arguments advanced by those who opposed this sentence:

• It was said that these principles did not emanate from any previous document. This makes us wonder whether the language of previous documents is the only yardstick to identify a commonality in the “food for thought” paper. We believe that the purpose of this year’s IGN was to find areas that can serve as a common denominator.
• Then it was argued that because the IGN process lacked democracy, this should perhaps not be a guiding principle for reforming the Council. We can hardly agree with this assertion. Juxtaposing the absence of a text to the lack of democracy is disingenuous. We do not think that the onus for lack of a text can be placed on the shoulders of the IGN Co-Chairs. The fact is that any delegation can bring a text and subject it to democratic procedures.
• Another argument advanced was that because the Security Council was not democratic at present, its future should also be shorn of democracy andapplication of the principle of democracy to its reform should be cast aside. We agree that the Council’s present composition is not sufficientlydemocratic. But this is precisely the reason why any reform should strive to make it more democratic.

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

During the IGN in the 69th session, the then IGN Chair, Ambassador Rattray of Jamaica, made an apt remark.

He said that in the IGN process, the Member States talk ATeach other rather than talking to each other. This was all too obvious yesterday. The UfC statement, in the meeting in May this year, had clearly said that its proposal of 2006 seeking expansion only in the 2-year non-permanent seats was still on the table.

Yesterday, Italy, on behalf of the UfC, reiterated this proposal again. Yet, some interventions that followed immediately after claimed that no one supports expansion only in the 2-year non-permanent seats. This makes us ask - are we not hearing each other or have we chosen to ignore inconvenient facts?

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

We respect the right of every negotiating group to call for inclusion of its proposal in the document. By the same count, we also expect them to support, or at least respect, our call for inclusion of our proposal. But we were startled yesterday when some countries that called for inclusion of the proposal of one negotiating group in the document, in the same breath, opposed including our proposal.

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

Based on the reasons I elaborated, I urge you to maintain Section 1, Para 1 (d), as well as reflect in Section II, Para 4 (b) the option of expansion only in the 2 year non-permanent seats – a proposal to which the UfC and Pakistan still firmly subscribe.

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

We listened carefully to your response to our comment on the paragraph on categories of membership in the section on “commonalities” (Section I, Para-4). We appreciate your assurance that the latter part of this paragraph did not reflect any political preference.

But while we fully understand your predicament in balancing the conflicting views of Member States, this paragraph actually does not present such a challenge. No political position needs to be at stake in this paragraph. If the options for expansion need to be negotiated, they are obviously an issue for further consideration. This is a fact. It needs to be reflected as such.

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

Reflecting on some of the other comments made yesterday let me briefly share our views:

• We think that the language in Section II, Para 1 (a) does not need to be modified. It is an issue for further consideration and delegations can bring forth relevant subjects when this issue is considered in future.
• In Section II, Para 6, we thought that ratios were useful in relation to some of the questions asked in this part. As a matter of fact, during the initial meetings of this year’s IGN, statistics were indeed discussed in detail, in particular for identifying the magnitude and nature of underrepresentation. It is useful to keep these benchmarks in view as we strive for a more representative democratic accountable and effective Security Council.
• My colleague, the Ambassador of Singapore, raised some useful points with regard to the Working Methods of the Council yesterday, in particular the absence of the key issue of Working Methods from Section II.
• Finally, in Section II, Para 1 (b) it is stated, “Might contributions of Member States to the maintenance of peace and security be reflected in the duration of their presence in the Council”.

Perhaps a simpler construction of this paragraph could be more useful. Nevertheless, it is important that any objective assessment of such contribution deals with it in all its aspects.