Clamour for UNSC Reform is Growing by Day: India

 

UNITED NATIONS  (NNN-PTI): Pitching for an early reform of the UN Security Council, India has said several countries yearn to be recognised for their contribution to world affairs and resistance to expansion of the body was "unacceptable" to the large majority.

Singh Puri said there was "palpable desire" among the membership for early reform of the Security Council to make it reflective of contemporary reality and also to acknowledge the manifold changes that have taken place in the world since the Council was created in 1945.

"There is the unmistakable yearning among the several countries to be recognised for their effective contributions to world affairs, including the maintenance of international peace and security.

"The subtle response from some quarters that the patrimony is either indivisible or can only be shared in bits and pieces is unacceptable to the large majority of the membership," Puri said at the 8th round of intergovernmental negotiations on equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council.

He said the demand for a reform model that encompasses expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories is a fundamental one and should be the starting point of real negotiations adding that those who oppose this tenet are in a clear minority.

Puri noted that there is not one dissonant voice in respect of enhanced representation for Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Caribbean region.

"The clamour for treating new permanent members on par with existing ones is loud and clear and growing stronger by the day," he added.

Puri said India supports African aspirations for permanent membership with the veto.

The reformed Council is expected to have a size in the mid-20s as opposed to the current 15 members.

There is also strong desire among the membership to continually improve the Council's working methods and see the General Assembly transforming itself into the chief deliberative, legislative, policy-making and representative body of the international community.

Puri expressed hope that these suggestions would be captured in a draft resolution or in a report that the Assembly could adopt.-NNN-PT