Pakistan's Call for Patient and Comprehensive Approach to UN Security Council Restructuring

In a recent session at the United Nations, Pakistan emphasized the significance of the ongoing Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) concerning the reform of the U.N. Security Council. Ambassador Usman Iqbal Jadoon, the deputy permanent representative to the UN, stressed that a patient and comprehensive approach through the IGN process is crucial for achieving the goal of expanding the Security Council.

 

Ambassador Jadoon cautioned against a rushed or piecemeal approach, highlighting that any new process would face similar challenges as those addressed in the IGN process. He noted the renewed efforts by India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan (Group of Four) to secure permanent membership in an expanded Security Council. However, Ambassador Jadoon underlined the necessity for patient exchange, mutual accommodation, and compromise to achieve a model for reform accepted by the majority of member states.

 

The ambassador expressed the common desire to see a more representative, democratic, transparent, effective, and accountable Security Council. He emphasized that comprehensive reform should consider the interests of all member states, irrespective of size. Ambassador Jadoon discouraged a disproportionate focus on reform models, as it could polarize positions and hinder meaningful outcomes.

 

The Security Council reform process, initiated in 2009, has faced challenges. The IGN process addresses five clusters: categories of membership, the question of veto, regional representation, the size of an enlarged Security Council, and working methods. Despite a general agreement on enlargement, member states differ on the details.

 

The Group of Four advocates for expanding the Council by 10 seats, with six additional permanent and four non-permanent members. In contrast, the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group, led by Italy and Pakistan, opposes additional permanent members. UfC proposes longer-term elected seats to ensure representation for less-represented regions, with a focus on equitable geographical representation.

 

Ambassador Jadoon argued that adding more permanent members could worsen the paralysis of the Security Council, while longer-term elected seats align with the principle of regional representation. He highlighted the need for equitable geographical representation, especially for under-represented regions like Asia and Latin America.

 

Regarding veto power, Ambassador Jadoon suggested that extending the veto to more states without addressing the privileged position of the current permanent members could exacerbate inequality. He proposed increasing the number of elected members as a feasible way to balance veto power.

 

On the size of the Security Council, Ambassador Jadoon supported the idea of enlarging it to the mid-twenties, a convergence among member states. Regarding working methods, he proposed measures like offering more opportunities for member states to interact with subsidiary bodies and providing informative briefings for non-Council members.

 

In conclusion, Ambassador Jadoon emphasized the need for text-based negotiations based on broad agreement covering all five clusters. Reconciling divergences on size, regional representation, categories, veto, and working methods is crucial for a successful outcome in the Security Council reform process.