Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Informal Meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform

Madame and Mr. Co-Chairs,
 
I will now make a National Statement on behalf of my own country.
 
I am compelled to mention the serious ongoing situation that has erupted since our last IGN meeting. I take this opportunity to express our full solidarity with the people of Ukraine and to call on Russia to heed to the overwhelming voice of the international community as reflected in the General Assembly resolution adopted last week.
 
Russia's recent attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants is an outrage that must not be tolerated. Japan, as the only country to have suffered nuclear attack during war, condemns this action in the strongest terms.
 
There is one truth we all should recognize.
 
The current Security Council has demonstrated certain systemic problems in discharging its responsibility as a main organ to maintain international security and peace due to its outdated composition and the improper working method including the question pertaining to the use of veto; the starkest case of this was just seen on Friday, 25 February.
 
There is unprecedented momentum and necessity to commence concrete discussions on Security Council reform now. It is now or never.