Sachin Malik: India Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador P. Harish, has Presented an important and Practical Proposal on reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) during the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) meeting on behalf of the G4 Nations — India, Brazil, Germany and Japan. Representing India at the meeting, Harish Clearly Stated that there cannot be any “Sub-Category” within the Permanent membership category and that new Permanent members Should, in Principle, have the same responsibilities and rights as the current Permanent Members.
However, India also Clarified that the G4 Proposes that the new Permanent members Should refrain from using veto Power for a review Period of 15 Years.
India Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York issued an official Statement on May 19 Quoting Ambassador Harish. The Statement said that the G4 respectfully requests that the “Elements Paper” to be Prepared for this session Should accurately and fairly reflect the views and sentiments of the majority of member States. The G4 reiterated that most member countries support expansion in both categories of membership. Furthermore, limiting this support by merely calling it “Significant” does not correctly represent the views of the majority of members. The Group once again expressed hope that the issue would be appropriately addressed in the Session Elements Paper.
The Statement further said that the outcome of the unified model Should emerge in the form of “text-based Negotiations.” Such a model Should be Prepared in a completely impartial manner and Strictly in accordance with the views expressed by various Groups and member States during the IGN discussions. The world has waited far too long for Genuine UNSC Reforms and the consequences of this delay are now Visible.
India and all G4 member countries have repeatedly reiterated that the total membership of the Security Council Should be increased from the current 15 to 25 or 26 members. The G4 supports the addition of Six new Permanent seats in the UNSC — two from Africa, two from the Asia-Pacific region, one from Latin America and the Caribbean and one from Western Europe and other States.
On the issue of veto Power, India and the G4 nations have adopted a flexible approach by Proposing that even if the new Permanent members are not allowed to exercise veto Power for 15 Years, the matter Should be reviewed after that Period.
