The Security Council was shaped way back in 1945 and since then has not been changed significantly. Although the reflection of geopolitical powers in the world is different from the post second world war era, the Security Council experienced its only renovation in 1965.
Since then numerous wishes, initiatives and even demands have been raised by different states or coalitions of states. So far we have experienced five key categories that should be reformed: the number of permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council, the question of veto power, the issue of balanced regional representation, ideas of expanding categories of membership and the relationship between Security Council and General Assembly.
These are the main topics that will be readdressed on new round of negotiations in the UN. Many representatives of states believe that this round of negotiations will be productive finally. India, second most populous country in the World and country that does not hide their ambitions for the potential new permanent seat, share this optimism and big expectations. ''The Security Council reform is finally getting the attention it deserves - also in the United Nations General Assembly,'' says Maša Tiselj, Indian delegate to the UN. She believes that current structure of the Security Council does not reflect the contemporary realities and does not include developing countries. ''In order to be legitimate and to reflect the contemporary realities the Council needs to expand its membership in both the permanent and non-permanent categories with a greater presence of developing countries in both categories.'' She also pointed out that Security Council is out of tune regarding current events in the World. ''India will do all that it can to try and get it back in tune,'' she concluded.
However, mere optimism is not guarantee for the success. Two-third majority is necessary and all five current permanent members of the Security Council has to be in favor for new structure and new role of Security Council. Although Iva Petković, representative of the UK, did not give us any reason for pesimism. ''UK will support Security Council reform as long as it stays representative and does not reduce the effectiveness of the Council''. We will see what does that mean exactly very soon but we can conclude that international society is prepared to negotiate Security Council reform more than ever.
Luka Kavčič
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This information is fictive and serves for the purposes of the UN simulation only.
We do hope that Member States of the GA are able to find some consensus regarding reform. The UK believes that there is a general agreement that reform is necessary, but with such diverging views on the actual substance of the reform it is hard to tell what the outcome will be.
ReplyDeleteIva Petković
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
USA would like to support the statement made by the representative of the United Kingdom. Debate on this matter is certainly more than only necessary! However, premature decisions might do more harm than good to the work of the UNSC. Our support for these negotiations is firm and we will consider all proposals.
ReplyDeleteUrška Učakar
Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary