Intergovernmental negotiations on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council - 5th IGN plenary, Informal meeting, General Assembly, 80th session General Assembly Date: 19 May 2026 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/ar/asset/k1f/k1fv3rvcj5?lang=en Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- IGN · Co-Chair [0:01]: Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I call to order the 10th informal meeting of the plenary on the question of equitable representation and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council. We continue with the list of speakers remaining from our first meeting this morning. And it's my pleasure to give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan. Japan [0:38]: Thank you, co-chairs. Japan fully aligns with India's statement on behalf of the G4. I will make additional remarks in my national capacity. As has been repeatedly stated, reforming the Security Council is urgently needed to restore trust in the UN. as the center of multilateralism. At the same time, the reformed Security Council must evolve into a more legitimate, representative, and effective body capable of addressing the growing perception by the wider public that the Council, a symbol of the UN, has been unable to fulfill its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. In this regard, Japan reiterates that expanding both permanent and non-permanent categories is essential. An expansion only of the non-permanent category, including the addition of longer-term non-permanent seats or so-called fixed regional seats, can neither resolve the existing imbalance of the Council nor lead to realizing a Council which can respond effectively to the challenges the UN is facing. and discharge its mandate under the UN Charter. Furthermore, it is only the expansion in both categories that will make the Council truly more democratic and accountable. This could also increase the chances of seriously exploring newer approaches to the veto, which is of great concern to the wider public. As we move forward with the development of a consolidated model, Japan reiterates that the fact that the majority of member states support the expansion of both categories must be reflected in the model in a balanced and equitable manner. Japan would also like to underscore the issue of improving the representation of the underrepresented and unrepresented regions must be addressed, in particular, from the perspective of Asia-Pacific region. It should be highlighted that its representation on the Council remains limited to just one permanent seat and two non-permanent seats, a mere one-fifth of the total, although the Asia-Pacific group comprises 54 UN member states and accounts for more than half of the world's population. Co-Chairs, it is regrettable that some delegation made groundless statement against Japan. Since end of World War II, Japan has consistently followed the path of peace-loving nation and made innumerable contribution to the peace and prosperity of international community. Having served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for 12th time until the end of 2024, Japan will continue such contributions as a responsible member state of the United Nations. With regard to the statement regarding Japan's position on history, I will refrain from refuting each one individually. The current administration has upheld in its entirety the positions of the previous cabinets on history and will continue to do so. In conclusion, Japan reiterates its commitment to continuing to contribute constructively toward developing a consolidated model. I thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [4:06]: I thank the distinguished representative of Japan. And I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ecuador. Ecuador [4:16]: Your Excellencies, Co-Chairs, the review of the five clusters should be comprehensive and it should include their interrelationships and the impact this may have on the legitimacy and functioning of the Security Council. It is under this premise that I will address the first of the three points raised in your letter of the 12th of May, which goes to the heart of the debate as it refers, even though it only refers to one of the five clusters, it allows us to see clearly that the interrelationship with the other four that were established in resolution 53/30 and in decision 62/557. And so we cannot consider the question of the size of the Security Council and its working methods without also discussing whether or not to expand the number of permanent seats and therefore the two categories of membership. This leads to a discussion about new permanent memberships and use of the veto as possible catalysts for existing asymmetries, which would be to the detriment of the principle of the sovereign equality of states, which is a central issue of any discussion on Security Council reform. And all of this in turn leads to a discussion on the need to broaden regional representation as a core element of the legitimacy of the Security Council, and so far as geographical representation that would be more equitable and more suited to the realities of a contemporary world would be achieved. So in this scenario, given how clear Article 30 of the Charter is and the real difficulties in terms of the expeditious reform of the Security Council, its working methods are essential to ensuring that this body can carry out its daily activities in an efficient, transparent, inclusive and effective manner. especially because the decisions of the Security Council have a direct impact on the entire membership of the United Nations. And so the distinguished representative of Japan who spoke just before me, his country has contributed in a very significant way, for instance, through updating a letter 507. And the decisions of the Security Council have an impact on all of the nations or on an individual state, as is also clear from Article 31 of the Charter, we must agree that it is therefore essential to strengthen the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly. The General Assembly, as a body of universal representation, must play a more active role in the area of oversight and accountability. Thus, favoring a more balanced interaction between these two principal organs. So, on all of these points, Ecuador has expressed a clear position that is contained in the relevant repository. I won't repeat this now. In relation to the five clusters, I just want to refer back to what we've already said about each of these five topics, these five clusters. taken the three minutes that we had to five in this session, but I'm already using up a lot of the time, so apologies for that. The idea that I really wanted to set out is that the five clusters cannot be analyzed or pushed forward individually or independently. They must move forward together in an interrelated way. In the second point of your letter of the 12th of May, my delegation simply wishes to agree with a general view of the important momentum generated by the Pact for the Future in the process of Security Council reform. And specifically, the references contained in actions 39 and 40 reflect the recognition of the need to move towards reform of the Security Council that strengthens its representativeness, transparency and effectiveness. We must continue to identify, as you have already done, co-chairs, the areas of convergence that will allow us to ensure gradual and sustainable progress within the IGN process. So in conclusion, what is established in the Pact for the Future? Without leaving aside the scope of resolution 5330 and decision 62/557, this we read as a call for us to move towards tangible results that are going to address the expectations of the international community. And this cannot be achieved without a genuine exercise of and a display of flexibility and political will on the part of all of the UN's members. Thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [9:24]: I thank the distinguished representative of Ecuador and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nicaragua. Nicaragua [9:35]: Co-Chairs, we're grateful for the convening of this important meeting. Nicaragua aligns with what was expressed by the permanent representative of Saint Lucia, Ambassador Melissa Rambally, on behalf of the group of the L69. Co-Chairs, we consider the principle of equitable geographic representation. There is an injustice in the current makeup of the Security Council, and this is manifested in the underrepresentation of the lesser developed countries and developing countries, sorry, and the over-representation of Western countries. And these, furthermore, have taken advantage of their position within the Council. It is absolutely an imperative that we obtain a new composition for the Security Council based on justice and equity, based on a new structure of two-thirds of members of the expanded council in both categories having to come exclusively from developing countries. Given the aspirations of small and medium-sized countries, the African Group, the Arab Group and the SIDS. Co-chairs, we cannot deal with the world as with the United Nations that only serves the interests of the most powerful. and their main weapon being unilateral coercive measures. The purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations continue to be fully in force. All that we need do is put them into practice on the basis of international law, without selectivity or double standards. Nicaragua reaffirms its willingness to collaborate towards achieving true reform that is comprehensive, and aligned with realities in order to consolidate this new multipolar world where all have a voice for the good of humanity, for peace and international security. I thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [11:31]: I thank the distinguished representative of Nicaragua for her statement, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Maldives. Maldives [11:40]: Thank you, Co-Chairs. The Pact of the Future gave renewed political direction to our work. It reminded us that the Security Council reform is a test of whether this organization can adapt to the world it serves. For the Maldives, reform must deliver three outcomes: a Council that is more representative, a Council that is more accountable, and a Council that is better able to act. On categories of membership, the Maldives supports the expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories. Reform that adjusts only one category will not correct the imbalance. The historical injustice against Africa must be redressed as a priority. At the same time, reform must also guarantee a dedicated rotating seat for small island developing states. SIDS make up one-fifth of the UN membership, yet our voice remains structurally limited in the organ entrusted with primary responsibility for international peace and security. SIDS bring direct experience of transnational threats, including climate change, sea level rise, disasters, pandemics, maritime insecurity, and economic shocks. These risks can affect peace, stability, and development. A dedicated SIDS seat would make the Council more representative, more informed, and more legitimate. On the veto, the Maldives remains clear: the veto should be abolished. If this is not yet possible, its use must be restrained. It must not prevent action in situations involving genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, or serious violations of international humanitarian law. Any new permanent members must have the same rights and responsibilities as existing permanent members. Reform must not create a second class of permanent seats. On size and working methods, an enlarged Council must be representative, but also be able to function. Better working methods are therefore essential. The Council should consult more systematically with affected states, troop and police contributing countries, regional organizations, and the wider membership. Panel leadership should be more inclusive and reporting to the General Assembly should be more substantive. Interim measures can build trust, but they cannot replace comprehensive reform. The Maldives believes that convergence is possible, but convergence must be built around ambition, After decades of discussion, Member States must now move from repetition to negotiation. We therefore call for the IGN to enter text-based negotiations in a transparent and inclusive manner with all positions duly reflected. And I thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [14:16]: I thank the distinguished representative of Maldives, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine. Ukraine [14:24]: Dear Co-Chairs, Ukraine expresses its appreciation to the delegation of Kuwait and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for their leadership in advancing the IGM process. Security Council reform remains a matter of exceptional importance and a cornerstone of broader UN reform. It's also a test of our collective ability to uphold the credibility of the organization in the face of growing threats to international peace and security. On the size and large Council and what's working method, Ukraine, the score that those two dimension must advance in parallel. A reform Council must be more representative, transparent and accountable, while preserving its ability to act decisively. We support improving working methods, including strengthening accountability to the General Assembly, enhancing transparency, ensuring more inclusive participation of the wider and membership. On equitable representation, Ukraine reiterates its principal support for correcting the current geopolitical imbalance. This requires increase of representation of development countries, particularly from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. At the same time, any expansion of non-permanent membership must include enhanced representation for the Eastern European group, which remains underrepresented. Written in the Pact of the Future, including Action 39 and interim measure under Action 41, Ukraine views those provisions as a useful consolidation of existing reform discussion and reaffirmation of the urgency of making Security Council more representative, transparent, and effective. Action 39 appropriately reflect key parameters of the IGM processes. including the need to address historical injustices, improve regional representation, ensure a balance between representativeness and effectiveness, and to continue substantive engagement on the question of the veto. At the same time, Ukraine considers that these interim measurements outlined in Action 41 are important for improving the working methods of the Council and strengthening its relations with the General Assembly. particularly in terms of transparency, accountability, and responsiveness. Finally, Ukraine stresses a fundamental point: Discussion on the Security Council reform risks losing credibility if they ignore the issues of membership responsibility. A state that commits aggression while as a UN Charter or perpetrate war crimes cannot credibly uphold the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. The continuous presence of Russia in the Security Council, acquired under highly questionable legal circumstances, an abuse of the letter and violation of the UN Charter, undermines the legitimacy of this body. No reform will be completed or meaningful without addressing this reality. And I thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [17:28]: I thank the distinguished representative of Nigeria for his -- sorry, for Ukraine for its statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nigeria. Nigeria [17:39]: Co-Chairs, Nigeria aligns with the statement delivered by the representative of Sierra Leone on behalf of the African Group and the representative of Saint Lucia on behalf of the L69 Group. The Security Council's permanent membership has remained unchanged since the Council was established in 1945. When the enlargement of 1965 added non-permanent seats to the council, no provision was made for permanent African representation. Six decades later, the largest regional group comprising 54 member states remains unrepresented in the category of permanent membership, despite African issues dominating the council's agenda and African personnel forming a substantial part of peacekeeping operations under the authority of the council. Nigeria speaks from a record of five elected terms on the Council, decades of contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations, and the loss of Nigerian personnel in service of this organization's mandate. The adoption of the Pact for the Future and its commitment to redress the historical injustice against Africa has placed a clear political obligation on this body, which should be achieved without further delay. Co-chairs, Nigeria reiterates its request for two permanent seats with all the prerogatives and privileges of permanent membership, and five non-permanent seats in line with the common African position. With 54 member states and the greatest share of the Council's substantive workload, Africa requires permanent representation in the category that matters most. On the question of the veto, Nigeria's position is principled and pragmatic. We oppose the veto in principle as an undemocratic privilege. However, justice requires that veto should be extended to all new permanent members so long as it exists. For to withhold the right of veto from non-permanent members is to entrench a second tier of permanent membership. On the remaining clusters, Nigeria continues to support the common African position for an enlarged council that delivers meaningful regional balance, working methods that are accountable to the wider membership, and a council that respects the General Assembly's primacy as the chief deliberative organ of the United Nations. Co-chairs, after over 40 years of consideration, more has been said than done. We therefore call for the commencement of text-based negotiations based on a single consolidated negotiating text with clear timelines for a concrete outcome. Nigeria stands ready to engage constructively in this process. I thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [20:31]: I thank the distinguished representative of Nigeria for his statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mongolia. Mongolia [20:41]: Thank you, Co-Chairs, for convening today's meeting. Mongolia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished representative of Saint Lucia on behalf of the L69 group and wishes to make the following remarks in our national capacity. We reiterate our long-standing position that comprehensive reform of the Security Council remains necessary to ensure that the Council better reflects today's international realities. Mongolia further recalls that the Pact for the Future underscored the urgent need to make the Council more representative and effective. We support balanced and equitable expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation for developing countries and underrepresented regions, and we welcome the current presentation of the African model. Mongolia believes that the use of the veto should be exercised with restraint and responsibility, with a view to its eventual elimination. Greater transparency and accountability in the use of veto remain important. Reform of regional representation should address the under-representation of many member states in the Council's work. In this regard, particular attention should be given to about 60 Member States that have never served the Security Council. A reformed Council should provide more meaningful opportunities for these Member States to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security. We further underscore the importance of improving the Council's working methods, including its transparency inclusiveness, and engagement with the broader membership. We continue to support the commencement of the text-based negotiations as an important step toward achieving concrete progress. Lastly, we stress the importance of strengthening accountability, communication, and cooperation between the Security Council and General Assembly. Distinguished Co-Chairs, we will remain committed to reform process that delivers more representative, accountable, effective Security Council through constructive engagement with all member states. I thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [23:10]: I thank the distinguished representative of Mongolia for his statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines [23:23]: Good day. Good afternoon, Co-Chairs, and thank you. On behalf of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, I align the statement I'm about to deliver with the statements delivered by Guyana on behalf of CARICOM and St. Lucia on behalf of the L69. Excellencies, there is broad agreement that the Security Council's current structure does not reflect the realities of today's world. Reform is critical for the Council to be well equipped to respond to the complex global challenges we face. What we need right now is a political will to move beyond discussion and deliver meaningful reform, which is grounded in equity, justice, and fair representation. The global South represents the majority of the UN membership and is often the focus of the Council's deliberations. Yet, developing countries are systematically underrepresented, especially in the permanent category. This imbalance undermines the Council's credibility and legitimacy. With the Pact for the Future, we are offered a momentum and an opportunity that crucially recognizes the need to redress the historical justice against Africa as a priority and to increase representation of developing countries, including small island developing states. Co-chairs, on the core clusters of reform, we reaffirm that both the permanent and non-permanent categories must be expanded. with enhanced and fair representation for Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific region. We also maintain that ideally the veto should be abolished. Nevertheless, principle dictates that so long as it exists, any new permanent members should enjoy the same rights and privileges of current members. A second-class permanent membership category would add unnecessary complications, we believe. Transparency, inclusivity, and accountability must guide both the reform process and outcome. Improving the working methods of the council is essential to shaping the council's functioning and its ability to deliver on its mandate. Key areas that can be identified for improvement include the access and engagement of the wider membership to the council's work. Additionally, the IGN's working methods must also be standardized. A consolidated model reflecting the various proposals from member states could be instrumental in narrowing differences to advance genuine negotiations. Co-Chairs, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will continue to engage constructively to address existing divergences with a view to achieving meaningful reform. I thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [26:07]: I thank the distinguished representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for her statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Togo. Togo [26:17]: Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. The reform of the Security Council of the UN is not simply possible, but rather is an absolute imperative. It concerns the very survival of multilateralism, which for years now has been experiencing severe turbulence that seriously affects global stability. The current negotiation cycle has allowed us to renew our commitment to a reformed Security Council, but it has failed to actively seek compromise through which the Council could be reformed in the public eye. We thank the co-chairs for the orientation questions proposed to guide our discussions of the five thematic clusters. that my delegation would like to proceed in a different way. What is in question here is not the issues suggested themselves, which remain clearly relevant, but the impasse that they risk extending by forcing us to repeat well-known positions. With the presentation a few weeks ago of the African reform model, in addition to the previously proposed models, our negotiations framework now enjoys a variety of visions which are a source of enrichment for our discussions. Thus, we ought to make the most of the positions presented in these various models, which we have already sufficiently repeated, to make our process a true platform for negotiations as it is supposed to be, because the IGN can be compared to a body that recognizes its challenges but is still hesitant to overcome these challenges, thus perpetuating the long-standing paralysis that it finds itself in. We're preparing now to turn the page on the current cycle and to open the next chapter. Therefore, it is time for us to break the inertia that has marked our process and to take real steps toward the desired reform. Co-chairs, the Pact for the Future means that we need to make our negotiating framework a process that is future facing, but not facing a far away future, rather the near future, the nearest possible future. Therefore, the Togo-Least delegation proposes that the next cycle of negotiations be dedicated to examining a consolidated model that would be built upon submitted models and expressed positions. To strengthen the effectiveness of our process, we propose that the consolidated model ought to be considered and negotiated based upon a roadmap proposed by the Co-Chairs. We are committed to the prospect of reform multilateralism in its structure that is effective in its action. We continue to take active part in future negotiations so that the Council's reform can become part of a near future as opposed to an ideal far away one. Therefore, my delegation would like to align itself with the African model and defends the following priorities, the urgency of Council reform, and the reparation of the historic injustice done to Africa. In closing, Togo will always remain committed within the IGON framework to make the Security Council a representative and modern body that reflects the world in all of its diversity and geography and the momentum of its history. Thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [30:20]: I thank the distinguished representative of Togo for his statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile. Chile [30:31]: Thank you very much, Madam Chair. We value the convening of this new session of a negotiation process on reform of the Security Council. As regards the size of an expanded Security Council, Chile has continuously sustained that this body should reflect the new geopolitical realities with a view to strengthening the legitimacy and efficacy of the organization as a whole on the basis of criteria that would give greater representativeness to the decisions that it adopts for this reason A number of the delegations present here have supported an expansion of the Security Council in order to correct the situation of injustice that has affected a number of regions, including Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and, of course, our very own region, Latin America and the Caribbean. A new Security Council must provide an equitable balance in the Security Council for all of these regions, and therefore, in a lot of discussions, We have mentioned that any increase in the number of members of the Security Council should favor developing countries, advancing towards better representation of the different geographic zones and align with this and continue with the idea that the Security Council should achieve something in the region of 25 members. In this way, it would allow opportunities for participation for those member states who to date have not been part of this body, and it would strengthen the historically underrepresented regions' presence on the Council as well. Madam Chair, we think that it is important to point out that expansion of the Security Council implies the expansion of the categories of membership. We have been clear in stating that any eventual expansion of the permanent seats does not necessarily involve an expansion of the right of veto, because We must find a balance in the decision-making. Expanding the right to veto to new members would worsen the crisis of inaction and make its functioning more complicated. We have also expressed our flexibility as regards those proposals relating to the eventual immediate re-election of non-permanent seats, as well as the creation of a new category of non-permanent members with longer terms with or without the possibility of re-election. And finally, as regards the relationship between the Security Council and the GA, we think that it's important to continue going deeper in the channels of communication and interactions between both bodies while respecting the purview of their respective remits. And so we call for strengthening of exchange of information through the establishment of mechanisms for regular consultation between both presidents. In this regard, we wish to highlight the importance of promoting transparency in the decision-making of this body and also enhancing accountability as regards its decisions. I thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [33:53]: I thank the distinguished representative of Chile for his statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Croatia. Croatia [34:03]: Thank you, Chair. Distinguished co-chairs, Excellencies, we meet at a time of profound geopolitical uncertainty. Russia's aggression against Ukraine, ongoing conflict in the Middle East, growing polarization, and increasing challenges to multilateralism demonstrate the urgent need for an effective, credible, and representative United Nations system. In such circumstances, the role of the United Nations and, in particular, the Security Council remains indispensable for the maintenance of international peace and security. At the same time, the current structure and functioning of the Security Council no longer adequately reflects contemporary geopolitical realities. If the Council is to preserve its legitimacy, relevance and effectiveness, the reform is not only necessary but long overdue. Furthermore, Especially in these challenging times, it is essential to ensure respect for international law, particularly its principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. As Croatia itself faced aggression and occupation in the 1990s, our own experience has demonstrated the critical importance of an effective multilateral system and international solidarity. All countries must continue to have confidence that the United Nations system works for all member states equally. Croatia therefore strongly supports comprehensive reform of the Security Council, including enlargement in both categories of membership. We believe that increasing both permanent and non-permanent representation is essential for improving the Council's legitimacy, inclusiveness, and effectiveness. In particular, Croatia continues to advocate for one additional non-permanent seat for the Eastern European group, whose representation remains inadequate in comparison with the significant increase in the number of its member states. We also support greater representation of African states in the council, reflecting the importance of equitable geographical representation. Furthermore, we believe that in order to maintain the council's relevance and ability to effectively perform its function, one of the key issues of the council reform includes questions arising from the veto power. Its use should be responsible, but above all, limited in the cases of atrocity crimes. While it is encouraging that the General Assembly can act when the Council is blocked, this should remain an exceptional remedy rather than a substitute for the Security Council's primary responsibility under the Charter. Finally, Croatia supports moving the process forward through text-based negotiations. We believe this approach can help accelerate discussions, increase transparency, and allow member states to make tangible progress towards meaningful reform. The credibility of the United Nations depends on our collective ability to adapt its institutions to present-day realities. Croatia remains committed to constructive engagement in this process. I thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [36:58]: I thank the distinguished representative of Croatia for his statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ethiopia. Ethiopia [37:09]: Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. My delegation would like to thank the co-chairs for their leadership in facilitating this very important intergovernmental process. Ethiopia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Sierra Leone on behalf of the African Group, and my delegation fully subscribes to the terms of the common African position on the UN Security Council reform. Ethiopia believes that all the elements of the reform outlined under General Assembly resolution decision 62/577 must be implemented fully and comprehensively. All the five clusters must be treated as a package. My delegation does not support any approach that isolates one of the elements of the reform from the others. As clearly outlined in the Common African Position, the question of the size of the Council cannot be isolated from that of the question of the veto. My delegation would like to underscore the fact that Africa remains the only region with no representation in the permanent category of the Council. Not only that, in the existing composition, while all regions have at least one permanent seat and three or at times four rotating seats in the Council, Africa remains with fixed three rotating memberships. This situation prevents the African members not only from adequately representing our cause, but it also constrains our ability to make meaningful contribution while being in the Council. The Pact for the Future under Action 39 reiterates the common African position with regard to redressing the historical injustices against Africa and treating Africa as special cause with regard to its representation, both in the permanent and non-permanent category of the Council. This must entail granting Africa no less than two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats in the Security Council, with all its prerogatives, including the veto, if veto continues to exist. In conclusion, Ethiopia supports a reform that would ensure a more accessible, democratic, accountable and more effective Security Council. I thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [39:27]: I thank the distinguished representative of Ethiopia for his statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of El Salvador. El Salvador [39:39]: Thank you very much, Co-Chairs. Allow me, first of all, to extend to you our thanks for convening this meeting. We're also grateful for your continued efforts to lead this process in an innovative and results-oriented way. We're also grateful for the guiding questions. They also contribute to structuring our discussions and to help us go deeper in the different visions as regards reform of the Security Council. As regards the working methods, El Salvador reiterates that enhancing these is crucial in order to strengthen the legitimacy, transparency and inclusivity of the Security Council. While we aspire to a more democratic, representative and effective Council, we must guarantee conditions that are equitable for participation of all Member States. In this regard, we underscore the importance of ensuring full and meaningful participation of elected members in all phases of the work of the Security Council, from generating initiatives right through to the adoption of decisions. More equitable distribution of responsibilities, including penholdership and co-penholdership, as well as the presidency of the subsidiary bodies, continues to be a key aspect of moving towards a more representative Council. It is also essential that we strengthen the interaction of the Council with the rest of the membership, including the TCCs and PCCs, and also guaranteeing timely access to information and documentation as a basis for informed and meaningful participation. Co-Chairs, we wish to place particular emphasis on the need to strengthen the relationship between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, the PBC. PBC represents an essential platform for providing comprehensive and sustained approaches and also in terms of supporting the efforts of the Council beyond the management of the immediate crisis phase. More systematic interaction between both bodies would not only improve the coherence of the system as a whole, but also strengthen the prevention and peace consolidation approaches, which are crucial for more effective action by the Council. As regards the impacts of the Pact for the Future, my delegation wishes to underscore our full commitment to implementing and abiding by all provisions of the Charter of the United Nations as regards the process of decision adoption by the Security Council for El Salvador. This commitment reaffirms the centrality of the Charter as a fundamental part of the multilateral system and represents a more concrete way for promoting more responsible, coherent and transparent practices within the Council. We also wish to highlight the importance of strengthening the relationship between the GA and the Security Council. The GA, as the most representative body and the most universal body of the United Nations, has a fundamental role to play in matters relating to peacekeeping and international security. In this regard, we consider that it is essential that we continue making progress in the implementation of the revitalization process of the GA that seeks precisely to strengthen the interaction between the GA and the Council, including aspects relating to the working methods. This strengthening finds a base in the Charter itself. Article 24 establishes that the Security Council acts on behalf of all member states. This provision clearly reflects the need for a relationship that is not only complementary, but also accountable between these different organs that allows the actions of the Council to truly address the interests and priorities of the membership as a whole. In this context, We need to ensure that action by the Council is credible, timely and decisive in the exercise of its primordial responsibility, which is peacekeeping and international security, and especially putting an end to genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. By way of conclusion, El Salvador reiterates its commitment to continue participating constructively in this process with a view to moving towards a Security Council that is more representative, transparent and effective. I thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [43:54]: I thank the distinguished representative of El Salvador for her statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Greece. Greece [44:03]: Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. At the outset, allow me to congratulate both Co-Chairs for your leadership in steering the AGN process during the 80th session of the General Assembly. Greece reiterates its firm belief that the Security Council reform remains a matter of utmost importance for the entire UN membership. Reform should ensure that the Council becomes more credible, effective, transparent and representative, so that it can better respond to today's realities and deliver on its responsibilities under the Charter. The AGM process, established pursuant to General Assembly decision 62/557, remains the only comprehensive and inclusive framework for discussions on Security Council reform. We also highly value the structured discussions held thus far on concrete reform models as an important means of advancing convergence among Member States. In this context, Greece wishes to underline the importance of equitable regional representation as a central element of any meaningful reform of the Security Council. As recognized in Action 39E of the Pact for the Future, the overall size of an enlarged Council should strike a careful balance between representativeness and effectiveness. In this context, redressing the historical injustice against Africa must remain a priority. We also recognize the underrepresentation of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the Asia-Pacific region. Improving representation for these regions would enhance the legitimacy, credibility and representativeness of an enlarged Council. At the same time, Greece believes that the veto carries a special responsibility and that its use should remain exceptional and fully consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter. We support initiatives aimed at voluntary restraint and enhanced accountability in the use of the veto, including the ACT Code of Conduct, the France-Mexico initiative, and General Assembly resolution 76262. Turning to today's questions, Greece considers the improvement of the Council's working methods to be of particular importance. During 2025 and 2026, the Security Council faced serious challenges related to its working methods, including unprecedented delays in the allocation of chairs of subsidiary bodies. In this regard, Note 507 and the relevant presidential notes should be fully implemented, including the provisions related to the monthly programme of work and monthly forecasts, meetings, informal consultations of the whole, the drafting of outcome documents, interaction with non-council members and bodies, as well as Security Council missions. At the same time, we see scope for further strengthening the Council's working methods through the inclusion of additional practical provisions in Note 507. In addition, we support more institutionalized interaction between the Security Council, its subsidiary bodies, and other principal UN organs and regional organizations, including the European Union. Moreover, the Council should also promote more substantive and interactive open debates while continuing efforts to ensure the safe, meaningful and inclusive participation of civil society briefers, including women representatives. Co-chairs, the Pact for the Future, particular actions 39 to 41, provides an important framework for our work moving forward. Pending agreement on comprehensive reform, Interim measures reflected in Action 41 could contribute to improving the Council's efficiency. In this regard, we took note of the recent presentation of a draft General Assembly resolution on the implementation of Article 27.3 of the Charter, and we acknowledge the core rationale of the initiative. In conclusion, Co-Chairs, Greece remains fully committed to a meaningful and comprehensive reform of the Security Council and stands ready to continue engaging constructively with all delegations under your guidance. I thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [48:40]: I thank the distinguished representative of Greece for his statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representation of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone [48:50]: Many thanks. Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. distinguished co-chairs, I'm sure this is quite unusual, but Sierra Leone delivers this further statement in its national capacity and wishes to clarify the issue regarding the endorsement of member state giving initiatives relating to the use of the veto. Sierra Leone has the honor to coordinate the African Union Committee of 10 Heads of State and Government on the United Nations Security Council reform, which is entrusted by the African Heads of State and Government to canvas support for, promote, and advance the common African position as articulated in the Ezewini Consensus and Siet Declaration. In its capacity as coordinator and post one to the mandate of the C10, Sierra Leone regularly engages with partners including during the recent African Forward Summit. However, Sierra Leone has not endorsed any member state-driven initiative relating to the use of the veto, bearing in mind the imperative of achieving comprehensive reform through the intergovernmental negotiation process, in line with the principles contained in Decision 62/557, and in line with the common African position. We acknowledge the importance and relevance of such initiatives, including as reflected in Action 41 of the Pact for the Future. Nevertheless, Sierra Leone has not endorsed any such initiative, but we continue to engage with Member States and interest groups to achieve consensus in line with Decision 62557 and as the African Union Summit may direct. Thank you. IGN · Co-Chair [50:48]: I thank the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone for his statement. And with that, we have heard the last speaker of the list. And I would like to thank all delegations for their contributions. And since this meeting will continue in a closed format, the webcast will cease-- will not cease streaming. Everybody for engaging today. I really appreciate you responding to the questions put forth. by the co-chairs and for the rich, sometimes long, but sometimes necessary interventions by member states. So I really appreciate, we both really appreciate this going forward. I wanted to react to a couple of things before we move to the webcast. One, the full title of the intergovernmental negotiations is the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council. This is significant and should guide our understanding of the scope of this process. The inclusion of other matters related to the Council underscores that our discussions are not limited solely to the composition of a reformed Council, but also extend to how the Council functions, both in its present form and in any future configuration. Working methods, therefore, cannot be viewed exclusively as an issue deferred to a reformed Council. They are inherently tied to the Council's effectiveness, transparency, accountability, and legitimacy today, while also informing how a more representative Council would operate tomorrow. While some hold the view that the IGN's mandate is confined to considering the working methods of a reformed Council, a broader reading of the title suggests that matters related to the Council encompass both its current practices and the institutional arrangements necessary to ensure that any reform is meaningful, coherent and responsive to the expectations of the wider membership. At the heart of this discussion lies the principle of sovereign equality of states, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, which reminds us that all Member States, regardless of size, geography, or political influence, possess equal dignity and equal standing within this organization. If Security Council reform is ultimately about strengthening legitimacy and representativeness, then sovereign equality must remain a guiding principle in how we approach both membership and decision-making. The question before us, therefore, is how we move closer to that principle in practical terms. We can do so by ensuring a Council that is more effective, more reflective of contemporary geopolitical realities, more regionally representative, more transparent in its working methods, and more accountable to the wider membership. Sovereign equality may not require identical roles for all states, but it does require a structure in which access, participation and voice are not unduly concentrated and where reform meaningfully addresses long-standing imbalances while preserving the Council's ability to act effectively in the maintenance of international peace and security. And with that, I kindly ask our team to ensure that the webcast ends as we end this webcast version of our meeting today.