安保理改革に関する政府間交渉（IGN）における山﨑大使ステートメント

 
Thank you, Co-Chairs.
 
Japan fully aligns itself with the G4 statement delivered by Brazil and let me add some points in our national capacity.
 
First of all, Japan highly appreciates you, Tareq and Axel, and your team, for your devotion and determination to facilitate the substantial discussions on the input to the Pact for the Future. Together, we have come a long way since the beginning of this session.
 
Obviously, there remain some issues to be discussed and room for improvement from each country’s point of view. However, the IGN is supposed to submit its input on Security Council reform to the Pact in June, and we are very close to the end of the month. As the Co-Chairs have suggested, we should wrap it up after this round of the IGN session and send it to the Co-Facilitators of the Summit of the Future. We do not believe that reopening the submitted language at another forum would be productive for any of us.
 
Co-Chairs,
 
As we have consistently stressed, since this will become our leaders’ document and be widely read by the people of the world, the description must reflect the objective reality at the IGN. We believe this is a matter of integrity and responsibility for present and future generations.
 
In this context, regarding categories of expansion, we do not appreciate simply mentioning “an expansion of 2-year term non-permanent seats will be part of a comprehensive reform.” Deleting “include, but not limited to” departed from the existential dynamics of the negotiations. It will mislead UN stakeholders and the international society, including ordinary citizens of our States, by making an impression that the expansion of 2-year term non-permanent seats is the outstanding common parameter in comparison with that of permanent seats. The expansion of 2-year term seats would be an element of the entire package, but for the vast majority of those in this negotiating room, the expansion of permanent seats is a critical element as well. 
 
Though we note that the fact that the majority supports an expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories can be confirmed with your reference to “the documents of the IGN,” ordinary citizens on the planet, who are our constituents, would hardly understand. This is why we strongly urge the Co-Chairs once again to mention the significant support for expansion in both categories, for the sake of clarity and fairness.
 
As for limits on the use of the veto, we appreciate that the current language is more clear to ordinary citizens, thus an improvement on the last one.
 
Co-Chairs,
 
We should commit ourselves to the urgent reform of the Council, which the majority of Member States and their people have long been desiring, to reflect today’s realities rather than those of 80 years ago. Japan reiterates our position regarding the necessity of an early start of text-based negotiations, as well as advancing concrete discussions toward a consolidated model as articulated in the G4 statement.
 
As always, we look forward to a fruitful exchange of views in this round of the IGN. We believe this is the last spurt. Let us finish the goal together.
 
I thank you.