Statement at the Eighth Round of Intergovernmental Negotiations on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council Thank you Mr. Chairman. I have the honor of making a joint statement on behalf of the G4.

Apr 10,2012

Mr. Chairman,

You had given us the opportunity, in January, to introduce in more detail the rationale and the content of our initiative, which has come to be known as the “short resolution”.

We are encouraged by the strong show of support that the short resolution initiative, and the principles for which it stands, had received during the previous three debates. This support has come from a large, diverse, and cross regional group of Member States – big and small, from the developing and the developed world.

Like numerous other Member States, the members of the African Group share with us the conviction that only structural reform of the Security Council will ensure that the Council is adequately adapted to effectively meet the challenges of the 21st Century. This structural reform will include, at its core, the addition of new permanent and new non-permanent members.

Mr. Chairman,

Brazil, Germany, India and Japan are bound together by a common vision of an enlarged Security Council that better reflects the geopolitical realities of the 21st Century.

This Council should be expanded in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership, taking into consideration the contributions made by countries to the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as the need for increased representation of developing countries in both categories.

On numerous occasions, we have reconfirmed our view that Africa should be represented in the permanent membership in an enlarged Council.

Mr. Chairman,

We the G4 countries are convinced that agreement on the two key principles of expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories and improvement in the Council’s working methods would enable Member States to finally move towards real negotiations. We see the G4 short resolution as a vehicle towards this outcome.

Let us agree on these principles and then focus on the actual substance and modalities of how to implement this agreement in real negotiations. This is a realistic and results-driven approach.

Mr. Chairman,

The debates we have had so far, and surely today’s debate as well will prove that a wide coalition of Member States supports expansion of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories and improvement of its working methods.

This is a reality that needs to be acknowledged. It also needs to be adequately reflected in the intergovernmental negotiations.

There are many ways of going ahead to accomplish this task. As we have repeatedly stressed, streamlining the negotiation text Rev.3 is one way, to have a straw poll is another.

In this regard, we are looking forward to seeing the Chair’s strong leadership to guide us towards the next stage to start real and comprehensive negotiations.

We, the G4 members, are ready to work closely with you, Mr. Chairman, to achieve a concrete outcome during this session of the General Assembly.

This, Mr. Chairman, concludes the G4’s statement and I would like to add a few points in my national capacity.

First of all, permit me to align myself with the statement delivered by Ambassador Raymond Wolfe of Jamaica on behalf of the L69 Group.

Mr. Chairman,

The Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone has very clearly outlined the position of the African Group as well as the efforts made by them in taking this IGN process forward. We welcome such engagement not only because the African Group constitutes more than one-fourth of the entire UN membership but also because we find merit in their basic position.

Like the C-10, India also wants structural reform of the Security Council that responds to the pressing need for credible improvements in the global governance architecture.

The clamour for such change is increasing by the day. In fact, even as we speak concrete developments are being witnessed in other international institutions such as the IMF, World Bank etc. We delay reform of the Security Council at our own peril.

Mr. Chairman,

We have spent considerable time exchanging views on how and when to start real negotiations. The starting positions of the various delegations and groups are known.

The four meetings, including today’s, have clearly shown that the large majority of the membership wants expansion of the Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories. The UN Charter has been accepted as the lodestar for identifying the criteria for the new permanent and non-permanent seats.

We believe that the expanded Council should have a total of 25 or 26 members. The large majority also demands improvements in the Council’s working methods while acknowledging the progress made till date. Also, there is an emerging consensus that reform will be complete only when the question of the veto in all its aspects and manifestations is comprehensively addressed.

This we feel provides sufficient basis for streamlining the current negotiation text.

Mr. Chairman,

I would like to conclude by reiterating that India is of the view that reform and expansion of the Security Council are essential if it is to reflect contemporary reality. Such an outcome will enhance the Council’s credibility and effectiveness in dealing with global issues. Early reform of the Council must be pursued with renewed vigour and urgently enacted.

Thank you.