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UNITED NATIONS, July 12: Calling the resolution tabled by Japan, Germany, India and Brazil on the enlargement of the UN Security Council “divisive “ and “selfish “ Pakistan on Monday called on 191-member UN General Assembly to reject their proposal and to opt for a decisive dialogue.
“At stake is whether or not we can achieve important decisions on development and genuine UN reform or squander our political energies on a selfish and ultimately fruitless demand of a few ambitious states for unequal privileges,” said Pakistan’s Ambassador to United Nations Munir Akram after Brazil formally introduced a resolution on behalf of the G-4 on the Security Council expansion.
“The seekers of special privileges and power masquerade as the champions of the weak and disadvantaged, asserting that the special privileges they seek would make the council more representative,” Akram said adding “history has witnessed many such who proclaimed that they came ‘to bury, not to praise Caesar.’”
He said that “if we are to achieve a result that can accommodate the interests of all major groups within the United Nations, what is required now is not a divisive and precipitate vote but a wise decision to initiate a process to achieve such an outcome.
“What is at stake is the credibility, and perhaps the survival, of the United Nations. What is at stake is peace and tranquillity in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. We urge that the Assembly step back from the brink. Instead of a divisive vote, let us opt for a decisive dialogue. It is only through dialogue and consensus that, together, we can build a new era of friendly relations among equal and sovereign nations at the dawn of the 21st century,” Mr Akram said.
Pakistan’s chief delegate underscored that the draft resolution circulated by members of the “Uniting for Consensus” was an approach that could accommodate the legitimate interests and concerns of all member states, regions and sub-regions.
Mr Akram observed that the single greatest virtue of the UFC proposal is its inherent flexibility. “This proposal can -– through variable geometry -– better accommodate aspirations and interests of the majority of the membership as well as regional groups, such as the African Union.”
AFRICAN UNION: Addressing the concerns of the African Union which aims to table a separate resolution of its own on the expansion of the Security Council, Mr Akram said: “If the African Union wishes to designate two countries for continuous (i.e. permanent) membership of the Security Council, it could do so under the proposal of the Uniting for Consensus.”
“The only difference would be that, under our proposal, the African Union would retain the power to ensure accountability on the part of the nominated state or sStates through periodic election and/or re-election. In case the African Union wants more than two countries to occupy its two permanent seats, i.e. to opt for some form of periodic rotation, this would also be possible under the UfC proposal. Such periodic rotation could ensure, furthermore, equitable and balanced representation of all the five sub-regions of Africa.
ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE: Noting that the Organization of Islamic Conference -– whose 57 members constitute over one-fourth of the UN membership -– has asked for adequate representation on the Council in proportion to its membership of the United Nations and that the Arab League also wants adequate and continuous presence on the council, Mr Akram said: “Under the UFC approach, the Arab countries could be assured of one seat each from Africa and Asia. The OIC could also obtain one or more additional elected seats from the non-Arab sub-regions of Africa and Asia.”
CENTRAL AMERICA: Mr Akram said that under the UFC’s proposal, the CARICOM and Central America could also hope for adequate representation for their respective sub-regions. Similarly, the States of the Pacific Islands Forum could seek adequate representation within Asia. It must be noted that the representation of smaller states would be significantly enhanced under the UFC formula rather than G-4 proposal. They could compete for 20 elected seats under the UFC proposal versus 14 under the G-4’s proposal.”
In his speech, Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya called on UN member states to avoid a showdown on the issue of the council expansion.
