GENEVA
\nPakistan has called for preserving principles of the UN Charter and the structure of constructive and cooperative multilateralism.
\nThis was stated by Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Munir Akram while delivering statement in the General Assembly Plenary \u201cQuestion of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council\u201d.
\nHe said Pakistan welcomes this annual General Assembly debate on the reform of the Security Council. He said today, the principles of the UN Charter and structures built 77 years ago under its framework are under extreme stress due to revived great power rivalry and competition.
\nThe Ambassador said General Assembly has agreed – repeatedly – that the Security Council needs to be reformed through its expansion on the basis of equitable geographic representation. He said we need a more representative, democratic, transparent, effective and accountable Security Council.
\nMunir Akram said reform of the Security Council involves the vital national interest of each and every Member State.
\nHe regretted that unfortunately, consensus on Security Council reform has been impeded, from the outset, by the demand of four countries that they be selected as new permanent members in an expanded Security Council.
\nHe said their demand violates the principle of sovereign equality of States; it ignores the reality that permanent membership and the veto are often the cause of the Council\u2019s inaction. The problem cannot be offered as the solution.
\nThe Pakistani envoy also underscored the need for flexibility to achieve the required consensus among all UN member states to overcome the stalemate in the reform negotiations.
\n\u201cUnfortunately, consensus on Security Council reform has been impeded, from the outset, by the demand of four countries that they be selected as new permanent members in an expanded Security Council,\u201d he said, referring to the relentless campaign by India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, known as the Group of Four, for elevated status.
\n\u201cTheir demand violates the principle of sovereign equality of States; it ignores the reality that permanent membership and the veto are often the cause of the Council\u2019s inaction,\u201d Ambassador Akram said.
\nFull-scale negotiations to reform the Security Council began in the General Assembly in February 2009 on five key areas \u2014 the categories of membership, the question of veto, regional representation, size of an enlarged Security Council, and working methods of the council and its relationship with the General Assembly.
\nProgress towards restructuring the Security Council remains blocked as G-4 countries continue pushing for permanent seats in the Council, while the Italy\/Pakistan-led Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group firmly opposes any additional permanent members.
\nAs a compromise, UfC has proposed a new category of members \u2014 not permanent members \u2014 with longer duration in terms and a possibility to get re-elected. The Security Council is currently composed of five permanent members \u2014 Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States \u2014 and 10 non-permanent members elected to two-year terms.
\nIn his remarks, Ambassador Akram drew attention to UfC proposal for a 26-seat Council, with the additional seats being distributed proportionally among the five regions. Each region could be allocated some longer-term seats with possible re-election, whereas small island developing States should be allocated one floating seat
\nPointing out that the European Union (EU) speaks on behalf of its member States during major negotiations, he suggested that the bloc\u2019s representative take the place of the two European permanent members to better reflect the continent\u2019s regional interests and contemporary global realities.
\nAs regards the criteria for Security Council membership, as set out in the UN Charter, is the members\u2019 contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security as well as the other purposes of the Organization,\u201d it was pointed out. \u201cThe four seeking permanent membership have not really distinguished themselves by their contributions to peace and security in the \u2018contemporary world\u2019,\u201d Ambassador Akram said.
\n\u201cIn the current war in Ukraine, apart from the parties directly involved, the State which has contributed the most to promoting a peaceful solution is Turkey, he said, adding, \u201cIn the Afghanistan conflict, apart from the parties directly concerned, the country which made the most significant contributions to peace and dialogue, and in addressing the humanitarian fallout, is Pakistan.
\nOn Myanmar, it is the ASEAN countries; on the Rohingyas\u2019 plight, it is Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, the OIC and the EU; in the Sahara, the brunt of the responsibility rests now with the regional African States and the UN.\u201d
\nThe four \u2014 India, Brazil-Germany and Japan \u2014 were largely \u201cmissing in action,\u201d the Pakistani envoy remarked. Besides equitable regional representation and capacity to contribute to peace and security, one additional criteria requires UN members to accept and carry out the decisions, he said.
\n\u201cOne of the four States seeking permanent membership has repeatedly refused to declare that it is committed to implement the resolutions of the Security Council,\u201d Ambassador Akram said, referring to India.
\n\u201cIndeed, it has \u2013 through force and fraud \u2013 prevented, for 75 years, the implementation of the Security Council resolutions demanding a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir,\u201d the Pakistani envoy said said.
\n\u201cInstead,\u201d, he added, \u201d it (India) has embarked on a campaign of massive oppression and human rights violations to deny the recognized right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to self-determination.\u201d That remarks drew a response from India.
\nIndian delegate Pratik Mathur, speaking in exercise of his right of reply, said that Pakistan\u2019s reference to Jammu and Kashmir was \u201cunwarranted\u201d, claiming that the disputed territory was an integral and inalienable part of India.
\nPakistani delegate Bilal Chaudhry countered by saying that Jammu and Kashmir is not an integral or inalienable part of India, nor has it ever been, adding that the Indian claim was \u201cfactually incorrect.\u201d
\nThrough several resolutions, he said, the Security Council has recognized Jammu and Kashmir as disputed territories where a final disposition will be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite under the Organization\u2019s auspices.
\nIndia\u2019s continued assertions negate the principle of the right of self-determination and are a direct affront to the Charter and the Council, said Chaudhry, a clounelor in the Pakistan Mission to the U.N.
\n\u201cWe wonder how India, who is seeking permanent membership, will add to the effectiveness and transparency of the Council when India has blatantly proven over the last 74 years that it could not care less about the Council\u2019s resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir,.\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GENEVA Pakistan has called for preserving principles of the UN Charter and the structure of constructive and cooperative multilateralism. This was stated by Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Munir Akram while delivering statement in the General Assembly Plenary \u201cQuestion of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":270939,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-296028","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n