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

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Video Interview with the delegate of United Kingdom

Due to some technical issues were are publishing the video interview with the delegate of United Kingdom, Ms. Iva Petković with a short delay. This interview was taken at the end of the last week before the preparation of working papers. In a videoclip you can found out more about United Kingdom position towards increasing number of permanent and non-permanent seats in Security Council, reforming the veto structure, its cooperation in different working groups and finally, its expectations before thursday's session.

Luka Kavčič

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USA and UK disappointed after not being included in the negotiation process on SC reform

The editorial of UN Herald received joint statement made and sent by the permanent representatives of United Kingdom and United States of America to the United Nations yesterday. Ms. Iva Petković and Ms. Urška Učakar expressed observations, praises and some complaints about the ongoing negotiation process between states' representations regarding the SC reform. In the last part of statement they shared their own position about the adoption of any potential draft resolution that might be written in these days. They made it clear that they will support only such resolutions that are predicting efficient and effective Security Council.

The delegations of UK and USA are very pleased with all the effort and time that some states are investing in finding the acceptable solution for new Security Council reform. According to UK and USA Security Council reform is a topic of great importance and is needed. Assuming that two of the current permanent members and other countries are recognizing the need for reform and are expressing will to discuss this topic, we can only expect that SC reform will move from the dead-point in which it is stuck from previous negotiations.

However, in joint statement there are some other very important ideas that UK and USA wanted to express. First is that they were disappointed about not being included in the negotiation process and construction of working papers or draft resolution. As we reported African Union and G4 are preparing working paper and also Uniting for Consensus is very active on this field. Nevertheless, according to the statement they were not approached by those countries during the negotiations. Today, we discovered that African Union group have sent the working paper to UK and USA, who had submitted their comments on it. We also found out that delegations of African Union countries have already invited UK delegate to a meeting that will take place next week. We can hope that cooperation and communication between the P5 and other states is improving.

Second idea expressed by USA and UK can be understood as a warning, because it is sending clear signal that some states should not make plans without discussing to current P5 countries. "A strategy that leaves out members of P5 is perilous, because it will be particularly hard to coordinate some opposing and diverging positions in the short space of time before the actual debate," was pointed out in the statement. UK and USA delegations go on saying that: "We will not be supporting any proposal for Security Council reform simply because it enjoys the most support in the General Assembly or is preferable to all other proposals." In their opinion, SC reform is one of the most delicate and risky project that has be dealt with a lot of patience and prudence. "Its efficiency and effectiveness must be at the forefront of all proposals," they concluded.

Luka Kavčič

Bellow you can  read whole joint statement:

Joint Statement by the Delegations of the

United States of America and

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and United States of America wish to express their joint recognition for the need to reform the Security Council, as well as their support for efforts of some State representatives in finding a viable solution.

The two Governments would however also like to express their disappointment that the coalitions developing working papers did not include UK and USA in the negotiation process that has been unfolding for the past weeks. We are very pleased the African Union States sent us their working paper, which is still in draft form and we have submitted our comments.

A strategy that leaves out members of P5 is perilous, because it will be particularly hard to coordinate some opposing and diverging positions in the short space of time before the actual debate. We hope that in the next few days, the UK and USA delegations, and other P5 delegations will not only be kept informed of the development of negotiations and working papers, but continuously consulted on any and all changes to working papers. This is particularly essential for those groups of States that have not approached us with their ideas and we have consequentially only speculated what their plans may be. We also expect State representatives to take into account our concerns and find ways of incorporating our suggestions into their proposals.

The Governments of USA and UK have come to an agreement that we will not be supporting any proposal for Security Council reform simply because it enjoys the most support in the General Assembly or is preferable to all other proposals. The reform of the Security Council, although necessary, is one of the most delicate, but also risky projects to be undertaken by the international community. Since the Security Council is the principal organ in the UN system charged with addressing threats to international peace and security, its efficiency and effectiveness must be at the forefront of all proposals. The PR teams of the two delegations have made it clear that Security Council reform is not about compromise, but inspired ideas.

Last, but not least, the two delegations would like to emphasize our commitment to the P5 statement on the veto structure. The delegation of the UK has pointed out on numerous occasions to some delegations, such as South Africa, who is one of our closest partners, that we would be willing to consider extending veto to new permanent members, if a pragmatic intermediate solution would included in the proposal, whereby a new category of seats with a longer mandate would be established and accepted as permanent seats after the completion of this intermediate period and a review process. Since it has been made clear to delegation of the UK that despite growing support for this idea in the UN over the past 3 years, it would not be incorporated into a proposal, the UK delegation will continue to support the current veto structure.   

Iva Petković

Permanent Representative of United Kingdom to the United Nations

Urška Učakar

Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations

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