United Nations, April 10 (IANS) The negotiations for reforming the UN Security Council have not “begun in earnest” and the process is stuck in “informal discussions,” according to General Assembly President Dennis Francis. He mentioned that the member states themselves will determine the timing of the commencement of formal negotiations.
Francis clarified that the current discussions are informal and not part of formal negotiations. He addressed concerns about the Council’s inability to address crises like Ukraine and Gaza, stating that the reform process has not failed but is still in progress.
He highlighted the importance of the IGN process, which involves discussions on various models for reforming the Security Council. The current structure of the Council is dominated by the five permanent members with veto powers, prompting calls for more inclusive representation.
Countries from the Global South, including India, have advocated for expanding the ranks of permanent members to reflect the global landscape more accurately. However, a group led by Italy and including Pakistan has blocked efforts to adopt a negotiating text to move the reforms forward.
The deadlock stems from a Catch-22 situation where consensus is demanded for a negotiating text, but consensus cannot be achieved without serious negotiations based on a text. Despite these challenges, efforts to reform the Security Council are ongoing, with member states yet to determine the timing for formal negotiations.
