Boost for UN Security Council reforms, India’s UNSC bid

UNITED NATIONS: In a historic step, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a negotiating text for the Security Council reforms, giving a boost to India’s ambitions for a permanent seat in the UNSC. This paves the way for continuing the negotiations as it would be a part of the UN agenda for the next year on the “Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council.” There was no voting on the decision to continue text-based UNSC reforms in the 70th session of the General Assembly, which begins September 15, and it was adopted by consensus. The adoption of the text comes as a shot in the arm for India, Germany, Japan and Brazil, part of the G4 aspiring to become permanent members in an expanded UN Security Council.

Hailing the decision of the UNGA, India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “Government of India welcomes the decision by the UN General Assembly to carry forward the text presented by the President of the General Assembly on the issue of Security Council reform.” “This is a significant development as after more than two decades of discussions, we can now commence text-based negotiations. Adoption of this text by consensus by all UN Member States is reflective of the broad support of the international community to move forward on this issue.”

The outgoing UNGA President Sam Kutesa also circulated letters containing the positions of key countries on the negotiating text including Russia, the US and China which refused to contribute to the negotiating text. India has been vocal about text-based negotiations and stressed that negotiations over the past seven years were made without the basis of any text, which led to interminable delays and stonewalling by those opposed to the expansion of UNSC. The reforms process will now move ahead as the draft is agreed upon by the UN member countries and after negotiations it will be put to vote at the General Assembly, where a two-thirds vote is needed to pass it.

The adoption of the negotiating text is only the beginning of a long process of realizing the much-needed reform of the UNSC. There are conflicting positions on the size of a reformed council and differences over veto powers of would-be new members of UNSC. The Uniting for Consensus (UFC) group comprising of 13 countries including Pakistan, demands a 25-member Security Council with more non-permanent members instead of a few more permanent members.

While this decision to move ahead with the text- based negotiations is a step forward, there still is a long way to go before the expanded Security Council can become a reality.

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