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Distinguished Co-Chairs,
Let me thank you for sharing the elements, which you referred to as “food for thought”, at the conclusion of yesterday’s session. In my view, you made important points and raised some key questions.
Pakistan endorses your view that seeking a common definition of the principles of reform cannot be avoided, if we want to take a serious step towards reforming the Council. We believe that the principles you quoted from Decision 62/557 related to the conduct of the IGN process rather than the substance of Security Council reform. But we do believe that just as those principles on procedure helped to establish the IGN forum, the principles on the substance of reform will pave the way for a solution that could garner the widest possible political acceptance. As I mentioned yesterday, the principles of reform will provide a common reference point – the ideals that we all aspire to – a destination we all wish to reach. It will then help us to see clearly what takes us closer to those ideals and what puts us adrift.
Pakistan and the UfC have long been stating what those principles could be. Many of those principles are embedded in our past work as well. For example, the need for equity and representation is evident from the title of the agenda item under which we are having these discussions. The concept of Council’s accountability, effectiveness and transparency are mentioned in the “elements paper” of the last IGN Chair.
Yesterday, while talking about the size of the reformed Council, you mentioned the need to balance “representativeness of the Council with its efficiency or effectiveness”. If these two areas represent the “ideals” that all Member States aspire to, this should be applicable not just to the size of the Council but also to other key issues of reform.
We acknowledge that you raised similar fundamental questions pertaining to other key issues of reform. And while we agree that this represents a logical approach to reform of the Security Council, unfortunately the membership has only listened to such questions without ever attempting to address them.
You also encouraged us to consider approaching all issues pragmatically. Sadly, such calls have been acknowledged without paying heed to them.
Distinguished Co-Chairs,
Pakistan and the UfC’s approach has always been to address the fundamental questions on reform, such as the ones you raised yesterday. We believe that if they are addressed in an open, objective and pragmatic manner, the broad contours of a possible reform model would emerge quite easily. As the UfC’s ideas on reform are a product of this approach, we remain confident of their positive contribution to making the Security Council more accountable, representative, transparent and effective.
Distinguished Co-Chairs,
We also heed your call to develop a clearer understanding on the red lines of everyone.
For us, any expansion in the permanent category of seats is a red line. Because, as I explained yesterday, it undermines each and every principle to which we attach importance.
Also, our position on text-based negotiations is clear. We believe that it is a natural end-point of the IGN process. But we do not support putting the cart before the horse. For us, the text is a vehicle for facilitating an outcome when a broad agreement exists among Member States. It does not “create” an agreement among fundamentally different positions. This is the reason why such an approach has not worked inside the IGN – or even outside it - if we have not forgotten the efforts undertaken by some negotiating groups outside the IGN process a few years ago.
Distinguished Co-Chairs,
The need for reform is amply manifested by the basic statistics, such as you outlined yesterday. But the same statistics also convey other important facts. For example, in 1945, only 6 seats were available for 46 members of the GA. In 1965, 10 seats were available for 112 members of the GA. Today, the same 10 seats are available for 188 members of the GA – a ratio of 1:19! To us, it is clear that there is neither logic nor room for more permanent members in the Council.
I thank you.