Annex XXXI
Previously issued as A/AC.247/1998/CRP.21.
Letter dated 10 July 1998 transmitted by Egypt in its capacity as coordinator of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries: paragraphs related to the reform of the Security Council, which appeared in the final communiqué of the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries [original paragraphs 53 through 65] held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on 19 and 20 May 1998
1. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation comprehensively reviewed discussions on the reform and restructuring of the Security Council, in the light of the position papers adopted by the Movement on 13 February 1995 and 20 May 1996, the negotiating paper of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries dated 11 March 1997, the decisions of the Cartagena Summit, the twelfth Ministerial Conference held in New Delhi from 7 to 8 April 1997 and those adopted on this matter at the Ministerial Meeting in New York on 25 September 1997.
2. In conformity with the New Delhi declaration regarding the necessity of attaining general agreement, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and heads of Delegation reaffirmed their determination that any resolution with amendment implications for the Charter of the United Nations must be adopted by a vote of two thirds of the members of the General Assembly, as referred to in Article 108 of the Charter.
3. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation recalled that discussions in the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters related to the Security Council have shown that, while a convergence of views has emerged on a number of issues, important differences still exist on many others. They noted that the Open-ended Working Group has resumed its discussions and underlined the need for the Movement to maintain its unity and solidarity on this critical issue. They reaffirmed that the Movement should, in the ensuing negotiations, continue to pursue directives given by the Cartagena Summit and contained in the Movement's position papers. The Movement would be guided by the considerations set out in paragraphs 4 through 8 below in approaching the issue of Security Council reform in discussions at the United Nations.
4. Both reform and expansion of the Security Council should be considered as integral parts of a common package, taking into account the principle of sovereign equality of States and equitable geographical distribution, as well as the need for transparency, accountability and democratization in the working methods and procedures of the Security Council, including its decision-making process.
5. The non-aligned countries are grossly under-represented in the Council. This under-representation should, therefore, be corrected by enlargement of the Security Council, which should enhance the credibility of the Council, to reflect the universal character of the world body and to correct existing imbalances in the composition of the Security Council in a comprehensive manner.
6. The extent, nature and modalities of the expansion of the Security Council should be determined on the basis of the principles of equitable geographical distribution and sovereign equality of States. There shall be no partial or selective expansion or enlargement of the membership of the Security Council to the detriment of the developing countries. Attempts to exclude the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries from any enlargement in the membership of the Council would be unacceptable to the Movement.
7. Increase in the membership of the Security Council should be by not less than 11 members, based on the principles of equitable geographical distribution and sovereign equality of States.
8. The negotiation process should be truly democratic and transparent, and negotiations on all aspects should be held in all cases, in an open-ended setting.
9. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed that efforts to restructure the Security Council shall not be subject to any imposed time-frame. While recognizing the importance of treating this issue as a matter requiring urgent attention, no effort should be spared not to decide this issue before general agreement is reached.
10. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries proposal that if there is no agreement on other categories of membership, expansion should take place for the time being, only in the non-permanent category.
11. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed the proposal of the Movement that the veto should be curtailed, with a view to its elimination, and that the Charter should be amended so that, as a first step, the veto power should only apply to actions taken under Chapter VII of the Charter.
12. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation underlined the need for a coherent and coordinated approach by the Movement in the ensuing discussions in the Open-ended Working Group. Mindful of the importance of reaching general agreement, as reflected, inter alia, in General Assembly resolution 48/26 of 3 December 1993, they called for fuller discussions of various proposals submitted to the Working Group.
13. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation stressed the importance of enhancing the transparency of the Security Council through the improvement of its working methods and its decision-making process. They called on the Open-ended Working Group to agree on and the General Assembly to recommend specific and substantive measures to be implemented by the Security Council based on the measures proposed in the negotiating paper of the Movement on cluster II issues. They also urged the Security Council to institutionalize such measures and stressed that a commitment to institutionalize them should be an element of a package agreement on the reform of the Security Council.
