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| India dares opponents of UNSC expansion for a straw poll |
| Press Trust of India / United Nations Sep 03, 2009, 11:17 IST |
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Hitting hard at the countries who have been blocking the expansion of UN Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, India today dared such nations to schedule a straw poll in the UN General Assembly to prove that they have the numbers.
"If there is genuine doubt about the basic premise that most delegations support expansion in both categories, then, my knowledge of mathematics tells me that we should test the hypothesis scientifically," Indian's permanent envoy to the United Nations Hardeep Singh Puri said.
"So, let me ask, why do they not want us to schedule a straw poll to ask who really objects to an expansion in both categories? I suspect the results would clearly demonstrate that this is a small minority. Perhaps this is already evident to them, hence their desire to avoid further highlighting their isolation," Puri said as the General Assembly resumed closed-door talks on reforming the 15-nation body.
India along with Brazil, Japan and Germany – known as G-4 – have proposed expansion in both permanent (six) and non-permanent (four) category of membership of the Security Council so as to give the most powerful wing of the UN a more contemporary and realistic look – reflecting the realities of the 21st century and not a globe of post-World War II.
A small group of countries lead by Pakistan, Italy and Argentine have been opposing to this proposal; as a result of which the reform of the Security Council has not been able to make any head way.
Without identifying any particular country, who have been strongly opposing the G-4 proposal, Puri said: "The issue is simple – only 12, or at best 15, delegations have ever objected to an expansion in the permanent membership. The rest, even the P-5, have not objected, not once, in repeated rounds of open negotiations, or even in the OEWG process that preceded it."
Puri said: "Yet, using specious and wordy arguments, this tiny minority would have us believe that most delegations are not in favour of expanding the UNSC in both categories."
"Unfortunately, even today, there are some amongst us whose principal objective in attending these meetings sometimes seems solely to ensure that there be no progress whatsoever, either today or in any meeting that substantively discusses expansion in both categories of membership of the Security Council," he argued.
"Therefore, to these distinguished colleagues of mine, the naysayers, I would say: do not remain on the wrong side of history. It is evident that we are at a juncture where the prospects of substantive reform of the Security Council are visible. To remain in this negative mould only defers the inevitable; it does not change it," he said.
Asserting that the G-4 proposal has overwhelming support, Puri said it is only a handful of countries that persist in their opposition to this model.
"If we are to have a serious negotiation aimed at reaching substantive conclusions in the near future, we should focus our attention ahead, and not revisit old and discredited arguments," he added.
Reiterating the G-4 formula, Puri said it seeks the need to increase the membership of the UN Security Council by six permanent and four non-permanent members. Two each of the new permanent members would be from Asia and Africa, and one each from Latin America and Europe.
The four new non-permanent seats would be equally filled between Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. This was the proposal put forward by the G-4 in a draft resolution and this remains India's preferred option.
"Naturally, new permanent members would have rights and responsibilities on parallel with existing permanent members, including the right to the veto. However, they would not exercise the veto power until the question of the extension of the right of veto to new permanent members is decided through a review after 15 years from the date of entry into force of the reform measures," he said.
"Indeed, as various rounds of discussions demonstrate, this remains the most comprehensive proposal. It is also the tidiest. No other option comes remotely close to satisfying the varying concerns of the membership in this important issue," Puri argued.
"The way forward is clear: we must begin work by identifying the various proposals made by delegations regarding ways of expanding membership of the Council in both categories. Thereafter, detailed negotiations can commence urgently," he said.
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