India seeks ‘genuine reform’ in U.N. Security Council

Describing “genuine reform” in the U.N. Security Council as essential, India has strongly favoured the G4 proposal of expanding the prestigious body by including six new permanent members having veto powers and four additional non-permanent members.

“We remain convinced that this is the optimum expansion that meets both the tests of representativeness and manageability,” the Indian Ambassador to the U.N., Hardeep Singh Puri, said in his address to the informal meeting of the U.N. General Assembly on start of the third round of inter-governmental negotiations on Security Council reforms.

The G4, comprising of India, Brazil, Japan and Germany, had made such a proposal in 2005. “New permanent members would have the same rights and responsibilities as existing permanent members, including that of the veto. Nevertheless, recognising the complexity of the issue, the G4 proposal offered to defer its utilisation until a review is undertaken,” he said.

“Looking back at the first two rounds, two messages emerged loud and clear: first, that an overwhelming majority of member states believe that the status quo is untenable, in response to which genuine reform of the U.N. Security Council is essential,” Mr. Puri added.

“Second, substantive reform requires an expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership, and significant improvement of the Security Council’s working methods,” Mr. Puri said.

Making a strong case for the expansion of the Security Council, Mr. Puri said only an expansion of the membership of the U.N.SC in permanent and non-permanent categories will be credible, effective and genuine. “Only such measures will meet the aspirations of the membership at large,” he argued.