STATEMENT

                 by Mr. Yuriy VITRENKO,  

Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine

to the United Nations

at the informal meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations

 on Security Council reform

(New York, 27 July 2013)

        

Mr. President,

         Like delegations before me, let me start bythanking you for the initiative of convening today’s meeting.

We appreciate your commitment and personal involvement in the process of Security Council reform. Your decision to chair this meeting is quite telling in this respect.

Having said that, my delegation remains supportive of the mandate and efforts of Chair of Intergovernmental Negotiations (ING) Ambassador Zahir Tanin.   

Mr. President,

         Ukraine completely shares your view that Security Council modernization is one of the most significant and sensitive processes on the General Assembly Agenda.

         We believe that making Security Council more representative and balanced and its work more effective and transparent, especially with regard to the decision-making process, is vital for adapting the United Nations to the global realities of the 21^st century. 

As pointed out by the President of Ukraine at the GA General debate last September,  my country is open to discussing all progressive conceptsof the Security Council reform which can lead Member States to the broadest possibleagreement.

Guided by your, Mr. President, call for a forward-looking discussion, I would like to make a few suggestions as to the elements which, in out view, could be helpful for ensuring viability of any of the reform models.

  Firstly, Security Council reform should be implemented in strict compliance with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter. Secondly, it has to envisage an increased representation in the Security Council of developing countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Thirdly, the overall enhancement in the Security Council composition should be based on the existing regional groups.

Last but not least, any formula will only gain in legitimacy by envisaging enhanced representation in the Council of the Group of Eastern European States, in a way stipulated in the Position Paper of its members eligible for non-permanent membership (A/59/723). 

It seems to us that once accommodated in any existing or potential formula, these elements will help it better withstand the test of time and, ultimately, lead to the long overdue outcome.

Mr. President,

         Given exceptional significance of the Security Council reform process, we can not but join others in expressing serious concern over its current procrastinations.  In this regard my delegation fully supports your personal engagement as well efforts by Ambassador Tanin aimed at overcoming this stalemate. In  particular, we see merit in further consideration of relevant assessments and recommendations by the ING Chair made in his letter in July of last year.  

In closing, Mr. President, my delegation sincerely hopes that today’s meeting will help bring us closer, and not further apart, in reaching our common objective of Security Council reform. We also have no doubts that your decision on the next steps during this session, based on this and previous rounds of negotiations, will contribute to this goal.  

I thank you.