UNITED NATIONS, Aug 13 (APP): : Pakistan has called for rectifying historical injustices by enhancing the representation of Africa within the UN Security Council as part of the reform process to make the 15-member body more effective, inclusive and accountable to combat the growing challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe acknowledge the historic injustice against Africa \u2013 its occupation, oppression and exploitation \u2013 and in the structure of the Security Council of the other international institutions,\u201d Ambassador Munir Akram, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pakistani envoy was speaking at a high-level debate on addressing the historical injustice and enhancing Africa\u2019s effective representation on the Security Council, convened by Sierra Leone, the Council President for the month of August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 serve for two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pakistan, he said, agrees that Africa\u2019s demand, set out in the \u201cEzulwini Consensus\u201d for equitable representation of the region of Africa, stressing that it is critically different from the demand of four States \u2014 India, Brazil, Germany and Japan \u2014 who are campaigning for permanent membership of the Security Council for \u201cthemselves\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe demands of Africa for regional seats are designed to rectify injustice not to exacerbate injustice,\u201d Ambassador Akram said, noting that Council\u2019s structure reflects the 1945 power realities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pakistani envoy proposed the creation of \u201cspecial regional seats\u201d to enhance equitable geographical representation, suggesting that these seats could be rotated among member states within the region or even represented by regional organizations like the African Union, the European Union, the Arab League, and the OIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, he reiterated Pakistan\u2019s stand against adding more veto-wielding permanent members, pointing out that in recent months the Security Council\u2019s frequent inability to take effective collective action, especially in ending the Israeli war in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMore vetoes will multiply the prospects of paralysis in the Council. It is for this reason that Pakistan has opposed the addition of new permanent members on the Security Council.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pakistani envoy said the African position that either the veto power of the existing 5 permanent members should be abolished and, if not, the African \u201cpermanent\u201d seats should be given the same veto rights was \u201cunderstandable\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, he said, the question is whether the 5 permanent members will be willing to give up their veto rights and, if not, whether the veto power can be provided to the designated regional seats, as demanded by Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the course of Friday\u2019s meeting, some permanent members publicly expressed support for new permanent members, but Ambassador Akram said during consultations some of them conveyed that they are not prepared to give up their veto right. \u201cAnd,\u201d he added, \u201cthey are also not prepared to accept the veto power for new \u2018permanent\u2019 members including any new African permanent members.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnfortunately, each one of these permanent members is in a position to block the adoption of a UN Charter amendment that seeks to take away their veto rights or give this right to others,\u201d he said, urging consideration of alternative ways<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this regard, Ambassador Akram said The Uniting for Consensus (UfC), of which Pakistan is a leader, has proposed the concept of longer term and re-electable seats within each region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf Africa, and other regions, and cross-regions, were to contemplate some form of rotation of representation against their \u2018special\u2019\/ \u2018permanent\u2019 seats, this objective could be achieved through the concept of longer-term and\/or re-electable seats. The States occupying these longer term or re-electable seats could be selected or designated by the region or cross-region itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If veto right cannot be abolished, he said that equity demands that it must be severely constrained, noting \u201cconsiderable support\u201d for the proposition that the 5 permanent members should be persuaded to offer commitments not to use the veto in the case of the genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other ways to balance the influence of the permanent members include ensuring that the representation of developing countries is significantly enhanced, in proportion to their numbers in the UN membership, and that they enjoy a majority in an expanded Council as they do in the General Assembly, he said, highlighting that majority in the Security Council would enhance the influence of the developing countries and the Council\u2019s elected members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThus, expansion should be large enough \u2013 the UfC has proposed a Council of 27 members \u2013 to ensure that developing countries have a majority in the Council.\u201dAmbassador Akram said. \u201cThe objective of equitable geographical representation may also dictate a concomitant reduction in the size of an over-represented region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u200bPakistan, he said, was confident of evolving an agreed \u201cmodel\u201d for Security Council reform, and accommodate Africa as a \u201cspecial case\u201d by adopting the regional approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis will require a spirit of flexibility and compromise from all sides,\u201d the Pakistani envoy added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opening the debate, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for urgent reform of the Security Council, criticizing its outdated structure and lack of representation for Africa, which he argued undermines the body\u2019s credibility and global legitimacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasized that its composition reflected the balance of power at the end of World War Two and has failed to keep pace with a changing world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn 1945, most of today\u2019s African countries were still under colonial rule and had no voice in international affairs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe cannot accept that the world\u2019s preeminent peace and security body lacks a permanent voice for a continent of well over a billion people\u2026nor can we accept that Africa\u2019s views are undervalued on questions of peace and security, both on the continent and around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guterres underscored the need for redress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The secretary-general recalled his policy brief, New Agenda for Peace, launched in July last year. That framework lies at the heart of negotiations over the Pact of the Future, which is to be adopted at next month\u2019s Summit of the Future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Summit provides a critical opportunity to make progress on these issues, and help ensure that all countries can meaningfully participate in global governance structures as equals\u201d, the UN chief told the Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI urge all Member States to attend and contribute their views and ideas so that African voices are heard, African initiatives are supported, and African needs are met,\u201d he urged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following Guterres\u2019s remarks, Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly, also addressed the Security Council. He highlighted Africa\u2019s key role in global peace and security, further underscoring the need for reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He drew on his own visits, citing firsthand experiences in South Sudan, where he met a few weeks ago with internally displaced persons (IDPs) and witnessed the vital work of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Francis also pointed out that the General Assembly is actively addressing the issue through intergovernmental negotiations, and urged Member States to engage constructively towards substantial reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur objective is to create solutions, along a well-designed process. And most importantly, to win back the trust and the confidence of \u2018we the peoples\u2019 of the United Nations,\u201d he said, recounting the first words of the Preamble of the UN Charter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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