APP
Pakistan has reaffirmed its opposition to the push by the ‘Group of Four’ bloc – India, Brazil, Germany and Japan – for permanent membership of the UN Security Council, and advocated instead for expansion of elected non-permanent category to make the 15-member body more representative and effective.
With conflicts multiplying, the Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, told the UN General Assembly that the Security Council’s inability to respond effectively underscores the importance of reform for more effective maintenance of international peace and security.
In this regard, the Pakistani envoy identified the main impediments to restructuring the Council in order to make it more effective, representative and accountable. “Permanent membership and veto”, he said, “have contributed to the Council’s paralysis and inability to respond effectively to threats to international peace and security.”
“Expanding the permanent category, with or without veto, would entrench inequality rather than democratize the Council, ” the Pakistani envoy told the 193-member Assembly.
“Pakistan therefore opposes the creation of additional individual permanent seats.” Instead, Ambassador Jadoon added, “An expansion of the elected, non-permanent category, based on fair rotation through regular elections can provide more democratic and inclusive path forward.”
Full-scale negotiations to reform the Security Council began in the General Assembly in February 2009 on five key areas — the categories of membership, the question of veto, regional representation, size of an enlarged Council, and working methods of the Council and its relationship with the General Assembly.
Progress towards restructuring the Security Council remains blocked as the “Group of Four” block continues its campaign for permanent seats in the Council, while the Italy/Pakistan-led Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group opposes any additional permanent members, arguing it would create “new centers of privilege”.