(as delivered)
Statement by H.E. Mr. Motohide Yoshikawa
Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
On Agenda Item 119:
The Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Related Matters
12 November 2014
Mr. President,
I would like to start by thanking you for your leadership, since you assumed the post of the President of the General Assembly in September, to steer the important agenda items before us, which include the reform of the Security Council. Allow me to associate myself fully with the statement delivered earlier by H.E. Ambassador Antonio Patriota of Brazil on behalf of the G4 countries. I would like to congratulate H.E. Ambassador Courtenay Rattray of Jamaica as the new Chair of Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN). Ambassador Rattray has already shown his superb ability of consensus building by his chairmanship of the First Committee. I will extend full support and cooperation to the new chair. My special gratitude goes to former President of the General Assembly, H.E. Ambassador John Ashe and to the former Chair of the IGN, H.E. Ambassador Zahir Tanin of Afghanistan. In particular, Ambassador Tanin worked tirelessly as the Chair over the past six years to move the process forward. Rev.3 issued in 2011 and his assessment of the IGN process issued in July are among his important legacies.
Mr. President,
As pointed out by many speakers before me, we are facing an enormous opportunity as the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the United Nations approaches. Next September also marks 50 years since the Security Council was reformed for the first and only time. All of us here remember the call from our leaders at the 2005 World Summit for an early reform of the Security Council. I believe that now is the time to move forward to fulfill the mandate given by our leaders at the Summit.
Mr. President,
We are all aware that 50 years ago when the Security Council was expanded, the membership of the United Nations was 117 countries. Today, we are 193. Despite the addition of 76 countries, the Security Council membership remains the same. The Council should reflect the geopolitical realities of the 21st century by expanding both permanent and non-permanent membership. I strongly believe that more countries, most notably in Africa and Asia-Pacific, should be on the Council.
Mr. President,
I attach great importance to the Intergovernmental Negotiations. It is the only forum where all Member States can negotiate for their shared goal of Security Council reform. The non-paper of the Advisory Group of former PGA John Ashe, as well as the former Chair’s assessment, generated positive momentum for the negotiations. In spite of all the efforts made so far, however, we must admit that discussions are still at a stalemate. We cannot afford to allow “business as usual” to continue in 2015. Let us not make our negotiations an endless exercise. In order to launch “real” negotiations under your leadership, Mr. President and the new Chair, we must work on the basis of a negotiation text. In this context, I was pleased that, in your letter of 10 November, you encouraged Member States to move the process to text-based negotiations. The G4 Foreign Ministers decided in September, here in New York, to reach out to Member States to discuss models of an enlarged Security Council. I believe this outreach will create positive momentum for producing a negotiation text, and revitalize the discussion in the Intergovernmental Negotiations.
Mr. President,
Before closing, let me refer to the question of the veto, which is one of the most difficult issues to deal with when discussing Security Council reform. We have seen an initiative proposed by France to refrain from using the veto in situations of mass atrocities. We welcome the French proposal. Its significance is that a permanent member of the Council made a proposal to limit the use of veto power. Japan hopes that other permanent members will join the French proposal.
Mr. President,
In concluding my statement, let me reiterate Japan’s firm support to you. Japan is resolved to continue cooperating with you on this critical issue at this critical moment in time.
I thank you very much.
