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Report of the Working Group on the Security Council, 1997 Report of 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
Annex XITEXTS SUBMITTED BY EGYPT ON BEHALF OF THE MOVEMENT OF NON-ALIGNED COUNTRIES*
I. Declaration adopted at the Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at New Delhi on 7 and 8 April 1997**The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, meeting at New Delhi on 7 and 8 April 1997, addressed the question of reform of the United Nations, with particular attention to expansion of the Security Council. While reiterating the basic position of the Movement, as reflected in the Final Document, and in keeping with the essential need for democratization of the United Nations they emphasized the following:
At this decisive juncture in the evolution of the United Nations, the Ministers urged the leaders of the developed world to seize the opportunity of working together with developing countries to bring about necessary reforms in the United Nations on an equitable and democratic basis. The Ministers stressed that, at this historic moment, the international community has a joint responsibility collectively to reshape this unique world body to meet the aspirations of all humanity.
- There shall be no partial or selective expansion or enlargement of the membership of the Security Council to the detriment of developing countries;
- Efforts at restructuring the Security Council shall not be subject to any imposed time-frame. While recognizing the importance of treating this issue as a matter of urgent attention, no effort should be made to decide the question before general agreement is reached;
- The Ministers decided to remain seized of the issue and its development, which they will review at their next annual meeting on the occasion of the fifty-second session of the General Assembly;
- Use of the veto should be curtailed with a view to its eventual elimination;
- Improvement of the working methods of the Security Council should be given equal importance.
II. Section of the final document of the Twelfth Ministerial
Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries
related to the reform of the Security Council***27. The Ministers 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 decisions of the Cartagena Summit and the Movement's negotiating paper on cluster II issues dated 11 March 1997.
28. The Ministers 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 necessity of the Movement maintaining 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 following considerations in approaching the issue of Security Council reform in discussions at the United Nations:
29. The Ministers reaffirmed the Movement's proposal that if there is no agreement on other categories of membership, expansion should take place only, for the time being, in the non-permanent category.
- 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;
- 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;
- 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. Attempts to exclude the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries from any enlargement in the membership of the Council would be unacceptable to the Movement;
- The membership of the Security Council should be increased by not less than 11 members based on the principles of equitable geographical distribution and sovereign equality of States;
- 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.
30. The Ministers reaffirmed the Movement's proposal that the veto should be curtailed, with a view to its elimination, and that the Charter of the United Nations should be amended so that, as a first step, the veto power should only apply to actions taken under chapter VII of the Charter.
31. The Ministers underlined the need for a coherent and coordinated approach by the Movement in the ensuing discussions in the Open-Ended Working Group. The Ministers, mindful of the importance of reaching general agreement, as reflected, inter alia, in General Assembly resolution 48/26, called for fuller discussions of various proposals submitted to the Working Group.
32. The Ministers stressed the importance of enhancing the transparency of the Security Council through 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 Movement's negotiating paper 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.
33. The Ministers recalled General Assembly resolution 51/193 and, in this regard, called for a significant improvement in the annual report of the Security Council to the General Assembly. They also urged the Security Council to provide, when necessary, special reports to the General Assembly in accordance with Articles 15 and 24 of the Charter.
34. The Ministers underscored the need to operationalize Article 50 of the Charter, particularly by establishing a mechanism, including a fund, to provide relief to third-party countries affected by United Nations sanctions.
35. The Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the active participation in and contribution to the work of the open-ended working groups on United Nations reform by the non-aligned countries and encouraged them to continue to defend the Movement's positions.
*Previously issued as A/AC.247/1997/CRP.10 of 27 June 1997.
**Previously issued as Movement of Non-Aligned Countries document NAC/FM 12/Doc.12.
***Previously issued as Movement of Non-Aligned Countries document NAC/FM/Doc.1/Rev.3.
