African Group and The G4 are calling for broad cooperation regarding SC reform

Yesterday, on 7th May 2013 delegates of two different groups met at the Faculty of Social Sciences in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Geopolitical regional group of African states was represented by the delegates of Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Ethiopia. G4 group consisting of Germany, India, Brazil and Japan that was established with the sole purpose of achieving more permanent seats in the Security Council was represented by the delegates of Germany and India.

The main goal of the meeting was to compare the expectations and ambitions of both interest groups, as well as to discuss the possible common position regarding the Security Council reform. It looks like that delegates from both groups found many similar standpoints from where they will be able to cooperate. Moreover, in there common statement they expressed the clear intention to establish 'a common position that will be reflected in a working paper.'

In fact, they stated they are really satisfied 'with the quick development and achievement of strong common position.' At same time they are calling for 'broadest cooperation possible' regarding this topic and expect that other states will share their ideas and suggestions. They are open to discuss and cooperate to everyone who share the ideas of legitimacy, transparency and inclusiveness regarding Security Council reform.

However, in the common statement African Group and The G4 countries were also very clear about not tolerating any 'destructive suggestions or actions'. It looks like that both groups are willing to talk and cooperate with everyone that does not oppose to enlarging the number of permanent seats. According to events in the history we can assume that their common position will include the preposition of five new permanent Security Council members consisting of Brazil, Germany, India, Japan and African representative.

Luka Kavčič

Bellow you can read the whole common statement made by African Group and The G4:

The representatives of the African Group (Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia) and the G-4 coalition (India, Germany) met today at 11 am at the Faculty of Social Sciences to establish a common position, that will be reflected in a working paper on the reform of the Security Council.

We are happy with the quick development and achievement of strong common position. We are open to suggestions of other states and call them to share their ideas and positions so that we can reach the broadest cooperation possible. However, we would like to emphasise that we will not tolerate destructive suggestions and actions that go against our common position and endanger the whole idea of inclusiveness, legitimacy and transparency of the reform of the Security Council. 

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African coalition under construction

Representatives of the African countries met on the semi-formal meeting for the first time before negotiations in the UN. They might have been discussing possible coalitions regarding different issues such as minorities, forced migration and Security Council reform. What is know to the public, they have not reached the agreement yet.

Tamara Juričič, delegate of the Republic of South Africa, told us that ambitious proposals were raised during the meeting but states still need more time to realize the ideas. ''We haven't reached the decision, since we are planning another event,'' she concluded in a short statement. We will keep you posted about further developments in potential African coalition.

Luka Kavčič

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This information is fictive and serves for the purposes of the UN simulation only.

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Is it time for Africa?

The most effective way to attain and maintain power and influence is to join with others who share your particular interest. Staring with neighbours and others in your community is the first rule of creating coalition, knowing that in such established groups it is high possibility that partners will be working on the same or similar issues. On the other hand, some partners can turn out to be a group that you have very little in common, but on one specific issue you can always find a common ground. Since we are just a few weeks from the formal start of the General Assembly negotiations it seems that some disempowered states are already developing their power base and thereby defending their interests.

Today, the 23rd March, South Africa announced that »It is time for Africa« and invited all the participating African states in this year's General Assembly to meet and discuss following topics: United nations Security Council Reform, Forced Migrations and Inter-ethnic Issues involving Minorities. Since we know that there is no African state being in Permanent Five of Security Council, it is possible to gather from what the honourable representative of Nigeria said this week, that Africa will strive for getting a permanent seat in United Nations Security Council. Nigeria is of the opinion that each continent should have it's representative in Big Five.

Below you can read the letter sent by honourable representative of South Africa to the following states: Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria and Tunisia.

»Honourable representatives of African states,

the General Assembly negotiations are about to start soon and South Africa sees a great potential in cooperation and common positions of African states. Therefore South Africa would like to invite you all to an informal meeting to discuss possible cooperation in the GA. See the details in the invitation enclosed. Please confirm your participation until Monday, 25 March. In case the date doesn't fit you, please reply and we can schedule the meeting with the help of Doodle. 

Best regards,

Tamara Juričić, Representative of South Africa«

According to information from invitation letter, the meeting will take place at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Kardeljeva ploščad 5, 1000 Ljubljana, at the cafe bar NetCafe, on Wednesday, 27 March 2013, at 2 pm.

Aleksandra Đurđević

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This information is fictive and serves for the purposes of the UN simulation only.

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