Agenda item 111

Statement by Ambassador Munir Akram Permanent Representative of Pakistan, in the Plenary of the General Assembly-17 September 2007 Agenda item 111: Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters

Madam President,

1. I would like to first of all congratulate you on the adoption by consensus of the Report and Recommendations that you have presented (A/61/47) on the reform of the Security Council. Over the last year, you have led an open and transparent process with a view to reaching general agreement on Security Council reform. You have done this with energy, zeal and honesty.
2. Let me recall that this process commenced with the Dinner Meeting co-hosted by the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Italy on 20 September 2006 to which all Member States were invited and where we offered to open such a process of consultations and negotiations. The 19 April Report presented by the 5 Facilitators subsequently appointed by you, added a new and positive dynamic to the whole process, which was not witnessed before. The "Notions on the way forward" concluded that interim approach was the only feasible option. For the intermediate category, the Report suggested four options that included extended seats and other options that provide for re-election and rotation. The Report also noted that the General Assembly should opt for a Security Council reform formula that can garner the widest possible political acceptance by the membership, and in any case, well above the required majority in the General Assembly.
3. The Report of the 5 Facilitators and the complementary report (of 26 June) were widely welcomed and appreciated among Member States. We fully agree, Madam President, with your call in your letter of 10 September that we must "preserve and build on the positive momentum and spirit created in the 61st Session."

Madam President,

4. The adoption of your Report and recommendations were disturbed this year by the unilateral proposal by some - draft resolution L.69 - seeking to prescribe and impose their unilateral "elements" and "modalities" on the Security Council reform process. Fortunately, this unilateral approach gathered "weak" support and we are glad it has not been pressed to a vote. But perhaps a lesson has been learnt i.e. voting is not an option on the sensitive issue of Security Council reform. Pakistan and the UFC have always supported a negotiated outcome. Consensus can only be achieved through negotiations. It cannot be achieved through vote. But negotiations must be based on and built upon the progress that has been achieved. That foundation is provided by the 2 Reports of the Facilitators, which are annexed to the Report just adopted.
5. We are happy, therefore, that the recommendations of the Report in it paragraph 21 state quite clearly that:

   One efforts at the 62nd session are to be aimed at achieving 'general agreement' repeat 'general agreement' among Member States in the consideration of 'all' repeat 'all' issues relevant to Security Council reform.

   Two further concrete results are to be achieved by "building on the progress achieved so far, particularly at the 61st Session". This progress is reflected in the 2 Reports of the Facilitators.

Madam President,

6. We need to proceed, at the next stage, to agree on the evolving consensus on the basis for a negotiated outcome, which is reflected in the 2 Reports annexed with the Report we have just approved.
7. In conclusion I would only like to recall that over the course of history there have been many occasions where the seekers of power and privilege have professed that they have come not to praise but to bury the Caesar. It is, however, clear that their real design is to seek privilege and power for themselves.

Thank you.