NAM Security Council Reform

JOINT STATEMENT BY BRAZIL, GERMANY, INDIA AND JAPAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS  ON SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM

JOINT STATEMENT BY BRAZIL, GERMANY, INDIA AND JAPAN
INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS 
ON SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM

Delivered by
Ambassador Dr. Christoph Heusgen
Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations
New York, February 1, 2018

 



Dear co-chairs,


Distinguished colleagues, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the G4 countries, Japan, India, Brazil and Germany. 
Firstly, let me thank the President of the General Assembly, for being with us today.


Secondly, let me congratulate you, Ambassador Nusseibeh, Ambassador Imnadze, for having assumed the role of co-chairs with such dedication. 
I would like to express our gratitude to you for convening today’s meeting.


You have invited Member States to reflect on our activities in the Intergovernmental Negotiations and asked us to engage in a frank dialogue on the assessment of the IGN. 


Rest assured, we, the members of the G4, will participate constructively in this process. It is in this spirit, that we have three messages to convey today. 


Our first message is: Let us not lose time and energy in discussions and repetition of positions which do not take our work forward. 


In previous rounds of the Intergovernmental Negotiations, the G4 have listened carefully to all the views expressed, and we trust that you, distinguished colleagues, have done the same. While every substantive question has been discussed, and every position has been presented already. We do not need to repeat the same exercise. This is also why we are not repeating our substantive G4-position today – it is well known to all. 
We need to go beyond a mere exchange of positions. We need to begin what we were tasked to do in 2008, namely to negotiate. It is really quite simple: It is in the framework of concrete, result-oriented negotiations that Member States will be able to narrow down the differences – and eventually reach a compromise. 


Our second message, therefore, is: We need a text that can be negotiated. A text which adequately captures all positions expressed.And we would like you, Co-chairs, to facilitate these negotiations. We would like you as Co-chairs to help us fulfill the responsibility that we were given in 2008, namely to conduct inter-governmental negotiations.


An overwhelming 85% of member states have requested that we begin text-based negotiations. We need to look at all positions in a holistic manner, and let’s be frank, in a political manner. Because we all know: this is not technical discussion.This is not an academic exercise. This is a political discussion. One which should be based on give-and -take and negotiations.So let’s not tip-toe around this fact, but let’s confront it head-on –and, if we are serious about the credibility of this process, then we need to get going!


Our third message is: We would like to join others in the call to you, our esteemed Co-chairs, to develop your own text to be presented at the next meeting of the IGN.

Such a text should be based on the work done by us, Member States, in the previous years reflected in the documents listed in decisions of the General Assembly relating to IGN. Focusing our discussions on a text is the only way we can do justice to our responsibility and the wish of theGeneral Assembly to achieve an early reform of the Council. 


Let me be very clear: In such a text, the positions of all the groups should be duly and comprehensively reflected. Just as much as we would wish to see our position reflected in this text, we would strongly wish to see explicit references to and adequate reflection of the African common position. Further there needs to be recognition of the wide support to the representation of Africa in the permanent category.

 
Ladies and Gentlemen, 


We must not lose more time, if we are to assure the future authority and relevance of the Council’s decisions.
Action at this stage, Co-chairs, is crucial for the credibility of this process and the credibility of the General Assembly itself. You will find us always on your side with all our support and possible assistance. All of us here share the great responsibility to make the Security Council more legitimate, effective and representative, and, in so doing, create a strong, legitimate United Nations that can help us restore confidence in global governance and cooperation.   

 

Thank you.