‘A quarter of a century has passed, how much longer… The world cannot wait’: India on UN Security Council reforms

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj stressed the need for immediate reforms at the United Nations Security Council.

New York: India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj, while addressing the informal meeting of the 78th session on Saturday, emphasized the need for immediate reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Stressing that discussions on the reforms have been going on for a decade, Kamboj said: “The world and our future generations cannot wait any longer.”

“Discussions on Security Council reforms have been going on in earnest for more than a decade since the early 1990s. The world and our future generations cannot wait any longer. How long do they have to wait?” Kamboj questioned the inordinate delay in introducing reforms in the world body.

As the world approaches the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and a crucial summit in September, Kamboj urged concrete progress toward reforms, emphasizing the importance of listening to the voices of the younger generation and addressing historic injustice, especially in Africa.

Kamboj cautioned against maintaining the status quo and proposed a more inclusive approach, suggesting that limiting the expansion of the Security Council to only non-permanent members would risk widening disparities in its composition. She emphasized the need for representativeness and fair participation in the composition of the Council to enhance its overall legitimacy.

Responding to concerns about the veto, Kamboj stressed that it should not hinder the reform process. She advocated flexibility on the veto issue for constructive negotiations and suggested that new permanent members should not exercise the veto until a decision has been made during a review.

“Let me also say that while the new permanent members would have the same responsibilities and obligations as directors as the current permanent members, they will not exercise the veto until a decision on the matter is taken during a review,” Kamboj also said. said.

“Nevertheless, and that is why I say that we should not allow the veto issue to have a veto over the reform process itself,” she added.

The G4, comprising India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, reiterated India’s call for greater representation in the non-permanent category and emphasized the importance of reflecting the diversity and plurality of views of the 193 member states.

As a practical measure, Kamboj suggested identifying specific groups or countries that deserve special attention in the reform process and listening carefully to their voices.

“Member States should also make full use of the possibility of inter-regional arrangements to ensure that the diversity of the membership of the General Assembly is adequately reflected in the Council. To move the discussion from the abstract to the concrete, we believe it would be helpful if Member States first identify and define which specific groups or countries deserve special attention in this regard and then listen carefully to their voices,” she also said. .

Earlier on February 17, Kamboj also highlighted that India supports comprehensive United Nations Security Council reforms in all five clusters, including expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories.