Mr. President,
On behalf of the Uniting for Consensus group, I would like to begin by expressing our sincere thanks for your leadership throughout the Security Council reform process during the 79th session. We also welcome the overview of the process that you presented in your opening remarks.
Furthermore, we wish to express our continued gratitude to the Chair of the intergovernmental negotiations (IGN), Ambassador Albanai, for his dedicated leadership throughout this year’s cycle. His guidance – together with that of Ambassador Marschik, who served as Co-Chair earlier in this session – has enabled Member States to engage in productive and focused discussions on the five clusters and their interconnections, as outlined in General Assembly decision 62/557.
This session marked positive forward movement in the process, including an effective structured dialogue on concrete proposals for Security Council reform.
Ambassador Albanai’s update of the Elements Paper on Convergences and Divergences provides a useful reflection of the discussions held during this IGN session, bearing in mind, of course, that said document was transmitted to you under his own prerogative.
As a group advocating for a comprehensive reform, Uniting for Consensus has consistently participated in this process with a proactive, flexible and constructive mindset, fostering open and inclusive dialogue with all delegations and negotiating groups.
The negotiation process on Security Council reform remains ongoing, and we look forward to its continuation during the upcoming 80th session of the General Assembly. Beyond our strong views on the substance of reform, we believe the shared objective of all Member States should be to build consensus for a credible, comprehensive and effective Security Council reform within the IGN framework, in accordance with General Assembly decision 62/557 and Resolution 53/30. On substance, our common goal should be to work towards a more accountable, representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, and democratic UNSC, that is able to deliver on its mandate to maintain international peace and security – something that is critically needed in today’s complex global environment.
Mr. President,
In this spirit, the Uniting for Consensus group supports your oral draft decision, which will facilitate a smooth transition of these crucial negotiations into the 80th session of the General Assembly.
Reaffirming that Security Council reform is a process driven by Member States, we look forward to continued fruitful and productive discussions in the IGN, as the only agreed and accepted platform where divergences on the issues within the five clusters of reform can be further reduced, the structured dialogue on proposed models of reform advanced, and ultimately, in the spirit of genuine flexibility by all sides, where consensus can be reached on a reformed Council that benefits all Member States and accurately reflects the realities of the 21st century.
Thank you.
