UNGA president 'heartened' by backing for Security Council reform

In his efforts to break the logjam in the Security Council reform process, General Assembly President Sam Kutesa reported some progress, saying he was "heartened" to find support for discussion based on a negotiating document.

"I have had wide consultations with the member states and regional groups and I was heartened to hear support for the start of the intergovernmental negotiations, as well as the effort to move the process toward text-based negotiations," Kutesa said Wednesday at a preparatory meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform (IGN).

The current round of Council reform initiative began in 2005 at a summit of world leaders but has trapped in a Catch 22 situation because some countries oppose the creation of a negotiating text while the negotiations have not been able to move forward without a document on which to base the discussions.

In his vigorous push for the negotiations to move forward in time for the 70th anniversary celebrations of the UN's founding in September, Kutesa focused on the creation of a negotiating text.

"It is now time to move this process forward, to enhance the Council's effectiveness, legitimacy and implementation of its decisions," he said.

Kutesa, who appointed Jamaican Ambassador Courtenay Rattray to head the IGN last year, said: "It is my hope that you will afford him your full support and flexibility to steer the negotiations in a manner that moves the process forward."

A reason for some countries opposing the creation of a negotiating text is that they feel that it would give nations mentioned on it an advantage in seeking permanent membership.

Since its founding in 1945, UN's membership has grown from 51 members to 193 now. But the Council has not kept pace with the changed environment, retaining the original five veto-wielding permanent members while adding four temporary elected members in 1965 for a total of 15 members.

India, along with Japan, Germany and Brazil, has been lobbying for expanding the permanent seats on the Council. That has been opposed by a group led by Italy and includes Pakistan.

Earlier this month, in an interview to the Observer in his home country Uganda, Kutesa reiterated African demands for two permanent members from the continent.

"The African continent has taken a consensus known as the Uzulwini Consensus (which) demands that Africa must get two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats which are rotational within Africa," he was quoted as saying.

"It's not necessary whether we have Ethiopia, Uganda or else to become permanent members; we want two permanent seats for Africa and we can always appoint anyone from within to represent our countries."

The Uzulweni Consensus on UN reform was adopted by the African Union's executive committee in 2005.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in)