Draft Resolution 2 enjoys the support of G4, P5 and African group

Last night we talked to permanent representative of Egypt to the United Nations, Ms. Tamara Čakić. We discussed about the meaning of meeting that took place this week between all groups that are most involved in the negotiation process regarding Security Council reform - G4, P5, Uniting for Consensus and finally African group. As Egypt is one of the co-sponsors of the Draft Resolution 2, Ms. Čakić was answering in the name of all four sponsors. Two of the sponsors are from African group (South Africa, Egypt) and two of them are from G4 group (India, Germany). According to interview, P5 countries are also more in favor of Draft Resolution 2, however Uniting for Consensus countries are still insisting on their own positions.

Yesterday there was a meeting between delegates of G4, P5, African group and Uniting for Consensus group. Have you reached any compromise as we know that you have different positions towards SC reform?

The Tuesday's meeting was a scheduled meeting of G4 and African states with the P5 members of the Security Council in order to bring closer our positions and finally adopt a resolution that will enable the members of the UN to implement the changes to the current SC membership and working methods. After discussing possible common points with the P5 members the Representative of Italy and Spain (in the name of the UfC) joined us in the final attempt to negotiate our proposals in order to gather broadest support in the GA. However, positions of the G4 and African states differ from the position of the UfC in the most essential points and that is the reason we did not succeed in forming a common draft resolution. However, we have very similar positions regarding the working methods, which is also an important perspective of the reform and we will definitely aim at furthering our cooperation in this field. The result of negotiations with the P5 group is reflected in the proposed G4-African draft resolution and the support we gained among the P5 states.

What are your expectations for tomorrow's session? Which draft resolution is most likely to pass?

We of course firmly believe that Draft Resolution 2 sponsored by South Africa, Egypt, India and Germany is the best possible way to start reforming the SC. If we would not believe in the possibility of success of our proposal there would not be any sense in discussing and representing the draft at tomorrow's GA Session. We do expect a heated debate in the GA and at the same time hope that it will prove itself to be a fruitful one too.

Did African group achieve any supporters?

African group has the support of the G4 and of course vice versa. In addition, support for the candidacy of the G4 as well as for the permanent seat for Africa was expressed by the two P5 states; UK and France. The other states that expressed interest in our proposal are named as signatories of the Draft Resolution 2. However, at the session, as well as we already did before, we will join our efforts in retaining the support of signatories as well as with arguments of our proposal convincing other states to support the Draft Resolution 2 and thus finally reforming the SC.

Luka Kavčič