Global Policy Forum

The debate on Security Council reform has been raging for over 15 years in the UN General Assembly. Recently, the discussions moved into a formal intergovernmental negotiation and the temperature has been rising. At odds are the "G-4" aspirants who hope to gain new permanent seats and the opposition grouping known as "Uniting for Consensus." This GPF page provides an analysis and posts a number of key documents from the latest round.

Former UN Assistant Secretary General, Denis Halliday, argues that the UN has become a body of unrealistic expectations. The five veto powers corrupt the UN charter by acting out of the interests of states rather than "we the peoples". Halliday suggests that regional permanent seats in the Security Council would entail less corruption of international law and the UN Charter. He believes that the rights of the worlds poorest would be properly addressed for the first time if all regions were presented. (Global Research)

During the UN General Assembly debate, several European leaders have expressed an urgent need for a Security Council reform. According to some, reform is urgent because further delay in will undermine the Council's credibility. In addition, the structure of the UN needs improvement for more effective and successful peacekeeping operations. (UN News)

According to Ian Williams, member states of the UN have presented many suggestions for a reform of the Security Council. However, other states reject the proposals to protect their own power in the UN. Williams believes that reaching an agreement on a reform of the Security Council is not likely in the near future. He urges citizens of the permanent members to put pressure on their governments to agree to democratic reform. (Foreign Policy in Focus)

Open-Ended Working Group has been working for past 15 years on revamp of 15-member Security Council of the UN. An overwhelming majority agrees that membership should be increased; however there is no consensus on the choice of members. This article reviews the deadlock condition of the reform effort. While talking to IPS, James A. Paul of Global Policy Forum expressed that "beyond the doomed idea of enlarging the oligarchy, other reform ideas stand a better change of adoption."

A third round of negotiations on Security Council reform is scheduled to begin on August 27, 2009. Zahir Tanin, the ambassador of Afghanistan and facilitator of the negotiations, has presented an overview. He announced that there is a consensus among all states on continuing the process. Tanin said that he saw "a light at the end of tunnel" after the first two sessions, but "there is a long way to go." (United Nations)

Spain's ambassador worries about member states' lack of flexibility and willingness to compromise on UN reform questions. According to him, some states refuse to give their opinion on the most essential issues such as the question of the veto and the debatable relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly. To move forward in the reform process, all countries must stop beating around the bush and state their true opinion. (Reform the UN)

As part of the G4 group, Brazil argues that a more diversified group of permanent members will lead to a more representative Security Council. Viotti explains that Brazil's interests and needs are similar to countries in the developing world, and a Brazilian permanent seat in the Council would therefore make it more representative. She suggests that the majority of member states in the UN should elect the permanent members. Viotti argues that the only solution to alter the balance of power in the Security Council is to expand the Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories. (Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations)

Ambassador Terzi argues that the greatest obstacle for a Security Council reform is the G4 group's persistent request for permanent seats. According to Terzi, expanding the Security Council with five permanent members would make the council neither more democratic nor more representative. Furthermore, identifying five countries that deserve these permanent seats would be close to impossible, since the role of international actors in the world constantly changes due to political and economic factors. (Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations)

Mr. Gerard Araud announces France's support of granting Germany, Japan, India and Brazil permanent seats in the Security Council, as well as adding an African permanent member. Araud stresses the necessity for a will of flexibility among member states when discussing a Security Council reform. In addition, he emphasizes that France has not used her veto power since 1989, thereby implying that France is not one of the permanent members misusing this power. (The UN Permanent Mission of France)

Ambassador Peter Maurer of Switzerland presented this brief statement on behalf of the Small-5 Group (Liechtenstein, Singapore, Switzerland, Jordan and Costa Rica). He emphasized that reform of the Council should be extended beyond membership change to include reform of the Council's working methods. The S-5 wants change in the way the Council meets, the way it conducts its business, the way it interacts with the General Assembly and the means by which it is transparent and responsive to the international community. The S-5, which has been working for several years, has submitted a formal proposal and requests Council action on it.(Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN)