India calls for decisive push for UNSC reforms

United Nations, September 23

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the foreign ministers of Brazil, Germany and Japan, whose countries make up the G4, met virtually on Wednesday and called for a “decisive push” for UN Security Council reforms.

Foreign Ministers Ernesto Henrique Fraga Araujo of Brazil, Heiko Mass of Germany and Toshimitsu Motegi joined Jaishankar in keeping the annual tradition of meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's high-level session, which has gone digital this year.

Batting for text-based negotiations: EAM

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting, “Participated in #G4 Foreign Ministers Meeting that called for a decisive push for UNSC reforms during #UN75. Unanimous call for text-based negotiations in a fixed time-frame. Reformed multilateralism guides India's approach to the United Nations (sic).”

Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting, "Participated in #G4 Foreign Ministers Meeting that called for a decisive push for UNSC reforms during #UN75. Unanimous call for text-based negotiations in a fixed time-frame. Reformed multilateralism guides India's approach to the United Nations." The reform process has been blocked by a small group of countries, Uniting for Consensus, led by Italy and including Pakistan that use procedural tactics to prevent the adoption of a negotiating text that can move the negotiations forward.

At their meeting, the ministers take stock of the state of the reform process and coordinate their strategies.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari said the Council must be reformed "to reflect the diversity and dynamics of the 21st Century. Africa deserves permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council." The view was echoed by several others. — IANS