IBSA to intensify cooperation to achieve UNSC reform

The IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) group said it will intensify cooperation to achieve a "decisive" conclusion of the reform of the UN Security Council by next year, including expansion in its permanent and non-permanent categories to better reflect present day realities and to make it more representative.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, her Brazilian counterpart Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado and South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane met here on September 25 on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The ministers underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the global institutions of political and economic governance.

They stressed that the UN Security Council must be enlarged in both permanent and non-permanent categories in order to better reflect present day realities and to make it more representative, legitimate, efficient and effective.
"Noting that the year 2015 is the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and the 10th year following the collective mandate of the Leaders at the 2005 World Summit calling for an early reform of the UN Security Council, the Ministers agreed to intensify their cooperation for a decisive conclusion next year on reforming the Security Council with the addition of new permanent and non-permanent members.

"They expressed full support for each other's candidature for a permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council," a joint communique issued after the IBSA meeting said.

On terrorism, the three nations termed it as a grave challenge to international peace and security.
They called for a comprehensive and determined international action including strengthening of international normative regime through the early conclusion and adoption of the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism to address the menace.
The group reaffirmed that the UN has a central role in coordinating international action against terrorism and urged the international community for concrete and coordinated response to fight the scourge.

It further said that inclusive political processes are the best way to address internal conflicts against the backdrop of the current security situation in parts of the Middle East and Africa.