Informal meeting of the plenary on the intergovernmental negotiations on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council Statement by Mr. Jeem Lippwe Deputy Permanent Representative New York, 2 February 2018

Co-facilitators,
Distinguished colleagues,

I join colleagues in thanking the President of the General for being with us this morning, and for his opening statement and engagement. I want to congratulate the Permanent Representatives of Georgia and the United Arab Emirates for their appointments to lead this important process this year. We thank them for their letter of January 17, 2018 with their set timeline and, acknowledge the series of constructive consultations they have undertaken with the various groups up to this point.

We associate our statement with the statement made by Ambassador Rhonda King, on behalf of the L69, and reiterate some points in my national capacity. We are of view that our work going forward has to build on the work of your predecessors in past IGN sessions. The only way we can find true convergence and compromise and progress towards a feasible reform is through political discussion and negotiations facilitated by a sense of trust and mutual respect. The first step towards such a process is to have a text which contains all positions and proposals in a crystalized form, and be member state driven. 

Co-facilitators,

The UN Security Council needs to reflect a more representative membership that is democratic, transparent and accountable. This can only happen thru a reformed Security Council, and the time is ripe given simultaneous UN processes to reform our organization. This can only be mutually reinforcing to make our organization fit for the challenges of our time.

Co-facilitators,

We encourage you to produce your text when we next meet for the second session. We look forward to your able leadership and You can be assured of my delegation’s full support to you.

Thank you.