General Assembly: 23rd plenary meeting, 81st session

Good afternoon to all. The 23rd plenary meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. This afternoon, the Assembly will continue its consideration of Agenda item 125, that is question of equitable representation on an increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council. Just a reminder, speakers will issue their statements from their seats or from the rostrum. They can make that choice. There are 58 delegations took the floor when we previously held this debate. Our first speaker this afternoon will be the delegation of Malaysia. I now give the floor to the delegation of Malaysia.

Thank you, Mr. President. Malaysia congratulates the Permanent Representatives of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the State of Kuwait on their appointment as Co-Chairs of the IGN for this session. They can count on Malaysia's full support. Mr. President, the composition of the Security Council has not changed since 1965. The United Nations had 51 members in 1945. Today, we are 193. A Council that has stood unchanged for 61 years cannot fully reflect the membership of the Organization, nor the world as it is. It must be made more democratic, inclusive and representative. It is for this reason that Malaysia supports expansion in both categories with equitable and fair regional representation. We also see merit in exploring a semi-permanent category with longer tenure but no permanent status. Reform must improve the representation of regions that remain underrepresented, including the Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as SIDS. Africa stands as a special case, and Malaysia reaffirms its support for redressing the historical injustice against Africa. At the same time, a bigger Council will not be a better one if the veto remains. As Malaysia's Foreign Minister stated before this Assembly last month, expansion alone will not cure the Council's failures. Malaysia remains firm that the veto should ultimately be abolished. So long as the veto exists, it must be strictly regulated. It should never be used where mass atrocity crimes are taking place. No single permanent member should be able to block the Council alone. Any veto should require at least two permanent and three elected members of the Council, with the endorsement of a simple majority of this Assembly. General Assembly resolution 76/262, the veto initiative, must be given full effect so that every veto is explained and explained before the whole membership. Mr. President, In closing, Malaysia urges all Member States to turn decades of discussion into a decision. We are ready to do our part. Malaysia stands ready to serve again on the Council as a candidate for the term 2036-2037. Let us move forward with openness, with flexibility, and with greater political will for a more democratic, accountable, and representative Council. I thank you.

I wish to thank the delegation of Malaysia. I now give the floor to the delegation of Mauritania.

Excuse me?

Bismillah Rahman Rahim.

Wasalat wasalam.

On in the name of God the merciful Mr. President Mauritania aligns itself with these statements that have been made on behalf of the African group and the Arab group we wish to issue this statement in our national capacity I wish at the outset to congratulate his Excellency Mr. tarik alban the Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait. I also wish to congratulate Ambassador Lies Grigoel van Haren, the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. I congratulate them both on their reappointment as co-chairs of this IGN process on Security Council reform. We laud the efforts they deployed during the previous session. The Islamic Republic of Mauritania renews its commitment to serve the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law and international humanitarian law. We will uphold those principles. Our foreign policy is based on multilateral cooperation and partnership. It goes without saying that no state can alone undertake the efforts required. That is why we need international cooperation to step up our efforts and to launch initiatives that aim to usher in a fairer, safer, more prosperous and more sustainable world, a world free of crises and wars and pandemics. Mr. President, After more than 80 years, indeed 80 years have elapsed since the inception of our organization, we need now genuine reforms. This in order to ensure that we properly reflect today's realities, the realities we confront as an international community. We need essential reforms because the old order can no longer be tailored to the breakneck speed of change on an international level. It is high time for the Security Council to fully assume its responsibilities in accordance with the United Nations Charter. This work must be done by strengthening the Security Council's working methods so that it is fairer, more equitable, and more global in outlook, so that it is a Council that guarantees the full participation of all Member States. This is a crucial component of our work if we are to guarantee proper Security Council reform. This reform process must guarantee equitable representation of all countries and all regions. This is why Mauritania cognizant of its pivotal role as a bridge between Africa and the Arab world and aware of our regional position. This is why we call for emphasis to be given to the African continent in accordance with the Ezulwini Consensus adopted by the African Union. in March 2005 in Eswatini as well as the Siut Declaration adopted in Libya in July 2005 because Africa, whose surface area exceeds 30 million km2, in other words, it's around 20 times land area of other continents and the population exceeds a billion. This is why these positions need to be respected. Our continent is rich in natural resources and cultural heritage. It is a true cradle of humankind. You will of course be aware that the first human being was born in Ethiopia. Africa, consequently,

the speaker's microphone.

Has been cut off.

I wish to thank the delegation of Mauritania. I wish to thank the delegation of Mauritania. Unfortunately, please, sir. I thank the delegation of Mauritania. Please, sir. You're welcome. You're most welcome. I now give the floor to the delegation of France. I now give the floor to the delegation of France. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, President. President, the United Nations Charter bestows upon the Security Council the main responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. However, largely because of an architecture inherited from the end of the Second World War, and that is no longer relevant, The Council is experiencing difficulty in the fulfilment of its mandate. When faced with the multiplying numbers of armed conflict, this Council needs to become once again effective and representative, but it seems impossible. We could not help but wonder, much like the President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, from this rostrum last month, "Who could accept procedural impasse when faced with barbarity?" President, Council reform is urgent and France wants to drive this forward to conserve the authority of the Council and preserve its executive and decision-making nature, an expansion is required. This expansion should cover the two categories of members, permanent and elected, to reach up to 25 members of the Council and achieve geographic representation that reflects the time. The new permanent members should be chosen given their will and their capacity to take on this responsibility. Africa Given its demographic importance and the number of situations in Africa that require Council intervention, it should have two permanent seats. Thus, a seat should be given to each member of the G4 because of the responsibilities that they all have on the international stage and each of these new states should benefit from the rights associated with its status of permanent member, in particular the veto in line with the charter. That is France's position, it has remained unchanged since discussions began on this issue. But council reform would be incomplete if it did not without a managed use of the veto. This is a question of credibility and effectiveness. Often the veto opens the door for a war to continue. Situations in recent years, and some of them are still of concern today, in Ukraine, in Gaza or in the Sudan, remind us of this. Credibility. When a veto is used in a spirit other than that which inspired its creation, it does not serve the Council, nor the UN more broadly. France will not resign itself to the normalisation of the veto. In this connection, France and Mexico have been leading, since 2015, an initiative to limit the use of the veto in case of mass atrocities. Separate from Council reform, because it does not require modification of the Charter, this initiative is gathering steam. Seven months ago, 107 States supported it, but today we have 128, including the UK, the second permanent member to join, and we thank them. The aim here is clear, as indicated by our Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Barrow. This will be a case of, at the opportune time, present a political initiative to raise the cost of the unreasonable, irresponsible of a veto in the case of mass atrocities in order to protect civilians. In order for the reform to be successful, France calls for continued intergovernmental negotiations in a spirit of responsibility, because that is the credible way to make reform more concrete through the adoption of a resolution with a two-thirds majority at the General Assembly. These negotiations were launched almost around 20 years ago, and they were supported by the work of co-facilitators who loyally reflected the positions of member states. This allowed for progress to be made, particularly through presenting the model of the African group and of CARICOM. And we also are noting the increased support provided to expanding the Council across the two categories of members. France calls on all member states to engage in these negotiations with bearing in mind the need to build the broadest consensus possible so that reform can be successful and quickly. President France reaffirmed his determination to participate in the next negotiation sessions, which will be led by Ambassador Liese-Gregoire Van Hooren. and Ambassador Tarek Al-Banai. I'd like to congratulate them on resuming their roles and express our full support. The expansion of the Council is within reach. Let's work on this in a spirit of effectiveness for the benefit of international peace and security. Thank you.

I wish to thank the delegation of France. I now give the floor to the delegation of Senegal.

We are going to hear first the delegation of South Africa.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. At the outset, I would like to congratulate the Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait, His Excellency Mr. Tarek Al Banai, and the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Her Excellency Ms. Lies Reggiora van Haren, on their reappointment as the Co-Chairs of the 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 during the 81st session of the General Assembly. Member States have debated the issue of Security Council reform for decades, and our view is that we need to move beyond repetitive exchanges of positions towards meaningful negotiations capable of producing tangible results. We had hoped that the IGC discussions during the 80th session would have concluded with the development of a consolidated model, following the presentation of the African model on Security Council reform as a concrete step forward in the reform process. However, progress in the IGC remains disappointingly slow. at a time when the Security Council is unable to respond effectively and consistently to threats to international peace and security. These realities have made the need for reform more evident and urgent. They further demonstrate that maintaining the status quo is neither acceptable nor sustainable, as they risk undermining confidence in the Security Council and the broader multilateral system in general. Mr. President, South Africa believes that the current session taking place in the context of the broader United Nations reform under the UN80 initiative is a decisive opportunity to advance long overdue Security Council reform. The commencement of text-based negotiations can no longer remain an aspirational objective. It should be an agreed next step. The session should therefore focus on consolidating progress achieved across regional groupings through the development of a consolidated model reflecting areas of convergence across the five pillars. Such a model should constitute the basis for the immediate commencement of tax-based negotiations and provide a structured pathway towards achieving consensus. Mr. President, the commitment to redress the historical injustice against Africa as a matter of priority and to treat Africa as a special case in the Pact for the Future was accompanied by the recognition of the need to improve the representation of underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups, consistent with the guiding principles of the IGN process. South Africa, therefore, reiterates its support without qualification for the common African position that Africa must be accorded no fewer than two permanent seats with all the prerogatives and privileges of permanent membership, including the right of veto, for as long as it exists. In addition, Africa must be allocated five non-permanent seats. Anything less would fail to address the historical injustice that Member States themselves have acknowledged. Mr. President, we cannot continue to acknowledge the deficiencies of the Security Council while failing to take decisions necessary to correct them. South Africa would like to encourage the CoChairs to determine a clear roadmap for achieving measurable progress in the IGE during the current session, including through tax-based negotiations. Without agreed timelines, benchmarks, and a defined negotiating process, the progress that Member States have repeatedly called for will remain elusive. I thank you.

I thank the delegation of South Africa. I now give the floor to the delegation of Senegal.

I thank you, Mr. President. The delegation of Senegal fully endorses the statement made by Namibia on behalf of the African Group, and we wish to make the following comments in our national capacity. Mr. President, Senegal regrets that a new session of the General Assembly is opening without a clear and tangible path towards Security Council reform having yet emerged on the horizon. The current international security situation is marked by manifold crises and a recurrent state of gridlock within the Security Council that increasingly makes it patently clear every day that there is an urgent need for reform. Without such a reform, the Security Council will struggle to muster the effectiveness and legitimacy that Member States rightly expect of it. President, my delegation notes with satisfaction the quick kick-off to and the holding of this General Debate. We hope that this exchange of views will culminate in tangible progress. Senegal congratulates Ambassadors Tarek Al-Banai of Kuwait and Liesbeth Groot-Haren of the Netherlands for their reappointment as co-chairs of the intergovernmental negotiations. We assure both of our full support as they steer the work of this session. Against this backdrop, my delegation wishes to hail the efforts that they made during the previous session namely by continuing dialogue on models for reform. Indeed, Senegal wishes to recall the importance of establishing a consolidated model for reform in accordance with commitments made in the Pact for the Future. For Africa, only a reform which includes an expansion to the permanent member category and improved regional representation is viable. In addition to the two additional non-permanent seats, Africa must have two permanent seats, the holders of which will be appointed by the African Union with a view to being elected by the General Assembly. It always bears repeating that Africa advocates an abolition of the veto across the board. However, for as long as the veto power exists, new permanent members must be able to enjoy all of the prerogatives that come with this status. That indeed remains the thrust of the common African position enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sert Declaration. That was the thrust of the African reform model presented last year too. President, there is an urgent need to give tangible form to the aforementioned reform, that is indisputably clear. Bringing that reform to fruition would provide a response to those asking themselves questions about how... proper our working methods are, and those questioning the genuine capacity of the Security Council to produce tangible results. Here, we invite new, once again, rather, stakeholders, more specifically the permanent members, to engage with greater resolve in bringing this reform to pass, including by presenting their own reform models. The involvement of permanent members remains essential to foster progress in both dialogue and the reform process. Africa has unstintingly continued to espouse its message of urgency and justice. The words of the President of the General Assembly were to the effect that Africa had to be at the table and not on the menu. They indeed were repeated in the statements of many heads of delegation at the General Assembly High-Level Week. The corollary of this message must be the the treatment of the continent as a special case and as a priority in full accordance with the Pact for the Future. It is for this reason that my delegation invites the IGM to consider in concrete terms how this commitment can be implemented. In this regard, we wish to recall that Africa will not settle for intermediary or hybrid solutions that do not guarantee Africa full-fledged representation. Here, we welcome the efforts of the co-chair to take of African concerns with the so-called fixed regional seats arrangement. However, this solution is not acceptable insofar as it fundamentally contradicts the African reform model. Insofar as Africa is calling for permanent seats in the name of equality, we reject all inequality in how this seat is achieved and enjoyed. We remain committed to a result-oriented process. That's why we will remain committed to discussions in order to bring about the ideal model for reform. Thank you.

I thank the delegation of Senegal. I now give the floor to the next speaker. the delegation of Romania.

Thank you, Mr. President. We welcome this annual debate that offers a moment for reflection and recalibration of our common efforts to make the organization more agile, responsive, and responsible when it comes to the maintenance of international peace and security. We face critical and unprecedented challenges to the international peace and security. We are confronted with an increasing number of conflicts and escalating tensions around the globe, fueled by economic, food, and energy insecurities, but also social and political challenges. Moreover, I would like to point out that Russia's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine has already been longer than World War I. This challenging context requires strong and efficient institutions. The world is looking at the UN. But what the world is seeing now, especially when looking at the Security Council, is frequent paralysis and a legitimacy deficit. The UN Security Council holds a unique and privileged position in the international system. Through the UN Charter, this body is empowered with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and holds the legal authority to take decisions that are binding on all member states. Calling five core strategic functions, it holds tremendous responsibility on authorizing the use of force, imposing and reinforcing sanctions, deploying and mandating peace operations, conflict management and crisis response, normative and agenda-setting power. However, the UN and its Security Council need to deliver better, and for this, there is an increased need to adapt and reform. Reform is a condition for the United Nations' continued relevance and role in representing the international community. For this, we have tools, including the commitments agreed in the Pact for the Future. And what we need now are decisive actions. Thus, Romania recognizes the need for a more representative Security Council, reflecting the current realities, being able to discuss openly and find constructive solutions to any ongoing tension or conflict for an appropriate maintenance of international peace and security. However, this process has to enable a more democratic and legitimate decision-making process, not a more cumbersome, multi-layered process. We need to show strong political will and a constructive spirit, avoiding radical options and applying gradually more feasible ones. Hence, we need to approach the Security Council reform through the lens of increased legitimacy and representativity. For this to be achieved, we need to carefully prepare a GA decision on the Security Council enlargement with additional elected seat allocation for regional groups. When approaching reform, There is another key aspect for shaping Security Council's public image and the legitimacy of UN as a key actor responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security: the veto power. Having in mind the impressive weight and responsibility it carries, the veto power has to be coupled with transparency and accountability with correlated political costs. Moreover, striving for consensus on the reform path and outcomes is critical. Without a consensual reform, the Council risks further erosion of legitimacy. Transparency is also a key aspect in improving the Security Council accountability and its public credibility. Enhancing the interaction of the Security Council with the General Assembly would also help increase public transparency and member states' ownership and subsequently increase the legitimacy of the decisions. To conclude, we look forward to continue the work in the IGN process under the able facilitation of the recently reappointed co-chairs, Ambassador Tarek Albani of the State of Kuwait and Ambassador Liese-Gregoire van Haren of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. I thank you.

I thank the delegation of Romania and now give the floor to the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Mr. President. My delegation would like to express its appreciation for convening this important debate. Mr. President, today, international peace and security, the face of serious threat and challenge as a result of the armed conflict and blood clash erupting across the world. Yet the Security Council, entrusted with the responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, has fallen into a state of serious dysfunction. The delegation of the DPRK maintains that the Security Council must be reformed in keeping with the demands of the current international security environment, and wishes to clarify the following principal positions. First, The Security Council must be reformed so that it can faithfully fulfill its mission and role enshrined in the UN Charter on the basis of the principle of impartiality and objectivity. As the world has witnessed today, since the beginning of this year, United States has repeatedly perpetrated grave act of the state terrorism against sovereign state. However, Security Council has failed to issue even a single presidential statement or press release condemning these grave acts of the state terrorism. This has prompted criticism from international community that the Council has lost its impartiality. Double standard of the Security Council are most starkly evidenced in the issues of the Korean Peninsula, one of the world's most flashpoint. United States constantly escalating tension on Korean Peninsula by conducting large-scale joint military drill against DPRK. Unfortunately, the Security Council turned a blind eye to the United States' actions that escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula, while branding our legitimate exercise of the right to self-defense as a threat to international peace and security. This is a clear manifestation of impartiality and selectivity. As long as the Security Council continues to apply double standards, it cannot regain the trust of the international community. Second, Security Council must be reformed on the principle of ensuring equitable representation for developing countries. Today, ensuring equitable representation for developing countries has become a matter of paramount importance for enhancing the authority and strengthening effectiveness of the Security Council. In this regard, my delegation calls for priority to be given to ensuring equitable representation of developing countries, with expansion of non-permanent seats to be undertaken first, as this is the area in which consensus can be reached. Third, Japan must never be permitted to become a permanent member of the Security Council. As a defeated country, still referred to as an enemy state under the UN Charter, Japan is seeking to become a major military power. instead of acknowledging and apologizing for crimes against humanity it committed in the past. In the last century, Japan invaded many Asian countries and committed grave crimes against humanity, including mass killings and sexual slavery. However, Japan has neither offered sincere apology nor provided compensation. Instead, it continued to distort history and glorify its past crimes against humanity. In particular, Japan is exploiting current international turmoil as a golden chance to remove all shackles that have constrained its military expansion. Under the pretext of acquiring counterstrike capability, it is intent on rebuilding It's a self-defense force, it's a modern military force capable of launching preemptive strike. A nation that denies its past has no future. A country that glorifies its past wars of aggression and crime against humanity must never be allowed to become permanent member of Security Council under any circumstances. My delegation strongly asserts that the Security Council should be expanded to include peace-loving countries that make a genuine contribution to international peace and security. I thank you.

I thank the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. I now give the floor to the delegation of Turkey.

Thank you, Mr. President. Turkey fully aligns with the statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Italy on behalf of the Uniting for Consensus Group. I would also like to add the following in my national capacity. We warmly welcome the reappointment of the Permanent Representatives of Kuwait and Kingdom of Netherlands in their capacities as co-facilitators of the IGN. Mr. President, without mincing the words, our message has been clear. Reforming the Security Council is an undeniable and inevitable necessity, and this delicate process can no longer be deferred. But this does not mean that the steps towards Security Council reform must be undertaken in haste. On the contrary. This painstaking process necessitates narrowing differences in order to achieve the broadest political acceptance on the main parameters identified by this General Assembly. Reform process will have to prioritize common good over narrow national interest for the benefit of all member states, not a select few. The end result must be a reformed Security Council that is effective, democratic, and accountable. Mr. President, the Security Council's responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security is inseparable from its legitimacy and the confidence it commands among the wider membership of the United Nations. Reform is not only about achieving equitable representation for its own sake, but more holistically, it is about ensuring that multilateralism remains responsive to the needs and aspirations of all member states, as well as restoring trust in multilateralism itself. Council's current formation was established for another and now bygone era and fails to reflect today's realities that fits to address contemporary challenges with the capacity to fairly represent the entirety of the membership. Turkey, therefore, reaffirms its support for the Security Council reform that will address the questions of representation, with the objective of strengthening the legitimacy, effectiveness, and capacity to act in accordance with the purposes of the principles of the Charter. Mr. President, The use of veto is a clear impediment on the way forward, and it should ideally be abolished. And if not, its use should be limited, especially in case of mass atrocities and war crimes. Turkey believes that reform must address these questions substantively with a view to enhancing the Council's accountability and preventing the paralysis of collective action. A Security Council that ensures fair, democratic and inclusive representation is only attainable with a system of rotation of more non-permanent members through regular elections. Increasing the number of elected seats will also ensure that underrepresented regions are rightfully represented in the Council. It is the only feasible and constructive approach to address the historic injustice against Africa and developing countries and allow cross-regional groupings such as the OIC to make their voices heard. More permanent seats, on the other hand, will only hinder wider representation and suppress the diversity of voices. Furthermore, a strengthened coordination and cooperation between the Council and the General Assembly is also a necessity. Turkey attaches great importance to the IGN, the sole legitimate platform to discuss this delicate matter as member state-led process for addressing the Security Council reform. Mr. President, conflicts are becoming increasingly devastating and widespread, and the experience of recent years has clearly demonstrated that no country can tackle the challenges of the modern era. Therefore, Security Council must be equipped to respond to today's crisis and tomorrow's challenges. The reform is not an end itself. It is a means of reinforcing the effectiveness of multilateralism, upholding international law, and strengthening our collective capacity. A genuine, consensual approach reached through compromise to improve the Security Council should focus on the most feasible model, which can swiftly garner the large.

I thank the delegation of Turkey. And I now give the floor to the delegation of Zambia.

Mr. President, at the outset, Zambia wishes to thank you and the co-chairs of the intergovernmental negotiations for their continued leadership and effort to advance discussions on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council. We also acknowledge the contribution of all member states in pursuant of a reformed Security Council that is more representative, transparent, accountable, and effective to discharge its mandate. Zambia aligns itself with a statement delivered by Sierra Leone on behalf of the Committee of Ten. Mr. President, the United Nations was established on the foundation of sovereign equality, collective responsibility, and the shared determination to maintain international peace and security. Eight decades after its establishment, the organization remains indispensable to multilateral cooperation. However, the world has undergone profound political, economic, and demographic changes, while the composition of the Security Council has not kept pace with these developments. Zambia believes that comprehensive reform of the Security Council is both necessary and urgent. The Council must reflect contemporary geopolitical realities and the interests of the wider membership if it is to retain the confidence of Member States and strengthen its legitimacy in the eyes of the international community. The continued absence of Africa from the permanent membership of the Security Council, coupled with the continents under representation in the non-permanent category remains a fundamental issue that must be addressed. Africa constitutes a significant part of the United Nations membership and is deeply affected by the Council's decision on international peace and security. It is therefore neither equitable nor sustainable for a continent of Africa's size and importance to remain without permanent representation in the Council. Zambia reaffirms its support for the common African position on Security Council reforms, as articulated in the Ezuleni Consensus and Saiti Declaration. This position reflects Africa's legitimate aspiration to correct the historical injustice of its exclusion from the permanent category and its inadequate representation in the non-permanent category. Zambia considers the full and effective implementation of this position essential to achieving a Security Council that is more inclusive and representative. We call upon member states to engage constructively with the African position and to work towards a comprehensive reform that addresses Africa's legitimate concerns. Mr. President, Zambia further emphasizes that Security Council reform must be comprehensive and address all five clusters under consideration in the intergovernmental negotiations. The categories of membership, the question of the veto, regional representation, the size of an enlarged Security Council and its working method, and the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly. These issues are interconnected and should be addressed in a balanced and coherent manner. An expansion of membership without meaningful improvement in the regional representation, transparency, and accountability would not fully respond to the concerns of the wider membership. Equally, improvements in working methods alone cannot substitute for a council whose composition reflects the realities of the contemporary international system. We urge member states to demonstrate the political will necessary to advance this process towards a meaningful and lasting outcome. Zambia stands firmly with the African Union Committee of 10 in pursuing the full realization of the African Common Position. Let us translate our commitment into concrete progress and build a United Nations system that truly reflects the aspiration of present and future.

I thank the delegation of Zambia. And I'll give the floor to the delegation of Australia.

President, thank you for continuing dialogue towards meaningful reform of the Security Council. Australia congratulates the permanent representatives of Kuwait and the Netherlands for their reappointment as IGN co-chairs, and we thank them both for their dedication to progress in this sometimes incremental but very essential discussion. As an aspiring member of the Security Council in 2029 and 2030, Australia remains firmly committed to Council reform. Our position on reform is guided by how we conduct ourselves at the UN. First, we listen with respect. Australia supports reforms that expand membership and improve regional balance. We have listened carefully to the views of member states, and particularly calls for greater representation for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Asia Pacific. We support a Security Council that better reflects today's geopolitical realities, and are committed to amplifying the voices of smaller, mid-sized states, including through further exploration of options to strengthen the representation of small island developing states. Africa also deserves greater representation on the Security Council. Much of the Council's work focuses on Africa, and the continent should have more input into those deliberations. The underrepresentation of Africa is not only outdated, it is an historical injustice. Second, we partner as equals. Australia believes meaningful Security Council reform can only be achieved through dialogue, compromise, and collaboration among states. As a proud co-sponsor of the veto initiative, we support greater transparency and accountability around the use of the veto. We also support the France-Mexico initiative to voluntarily refrain from using the veto in situations involving mass atrocities, as well as the ACT code of conduct to limit the use of the veto in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. And we call on other member states to join. Finally, we protect what matters most. Australia remains committed to a Security Council that can more effectively uphold international peace and security. Through our support for sanctions and a rules-based international order, we seek to protect the norms and the institutions that underpin our collective security. We also support improvements to the Council's working methods, and we encourage steps to resolve the current impasse over subsidiary body chairs and to better enable the Council to discharge its responsibilities. President, Australia stands ready to work with all States to prioritize practical, incremental improvements to the Council's operations and to its structure, to increase its effectiveness, transparency and accountability. I thank you.

I thank the delegation of Australia. And now I give the floor to the delegation of Portugal.

Portugal welcomes this annual debate, remain open to engaging constructively towards this consolidated model of the Security Council reform based on the convergences on the five clusters as expressed in the Pact for the Future. To this end, no element must be considered in isolation. Categories of membership, regional and cross-regional representation, the veto, and working methods are deeply interlinked. Reform must include a continuous improvement of working methods. Portugal will continue to strive for increased transparency, effectiveness, and legitimacy, including as a member of the Security Council starting in January. We welcome initiatives that promote responsibility in the use of the veto. including the ACT Code of Conduct, the Veto Initiative, and the Franco-Mexican Declaration. We also support strong relationship between the Security Council and this General Assembly. We support a Council that strengthens conflict prevention and partnerships, including through closer cooperation and complementarity with regional organizations such as the African Union, and more regular exchanges with the Peacebuilding Commission. Conflicts and geopolitical tensions are undermining our international order. We need a Security Council that reflects the geopolitical reality of the 21st century. This is indispensable to guarantee the effectiveness of the UN. Reforms must encompass broad political support for extending both permanent and non-permanent membership, without undermining the Council's efficiency. Portugal has been a long-standing supporter of the common African position. Turning to Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean, Portugal recognizes that these regions are underrepresented, despite their size, diversity, and sustained contributions to international peace and security. We have consistently supported Brazil and India's aspirations to become permanent members. Furthermore, small and medium-sized countries' representation must be strengthened, in particular SIDS, whose security challenges are critical. Mr. President, as we begin yet another cycle of intergovernmental negotiations, we commend the tireless efforts of the reappointed co-chairs. After 18 years, there has been no substantive breakthrough. The wider membership needs to demonstrate political will to take concrete steps towards a long overdue reform. During our mandate in the Security Council, Portugal stands ready to engage constructively with all and to help identify areas of convergence that strengthen the Council's representativeness, effectiveness and legitimacy. I thank you.

I thank the delegation of Portugal. I now give the floor to the delegation of Ukraine.

Mr. President, Ukraine thanks for convening today's debate. Reform of the Security Council is central to the reform of the United Nations as a whole and is long overdue. It is also a test whether we are ready to stand up for the Charter while the threats to international peace and security keep growing. In the Pact for the Future, our leaders committed to making the Council more representative, inclusive, transparent, effective, democratic and accountable. And it's now time to implement that commitment. And I would like to emphasize the following points. First, the Security Council and the General Assembly must reinforce each other, each acting with its mandate under the Charter. Ukraine welcomes General Assembly Resolution 76/272, adopted by consensus, under which the Assembly meets whenever a veto is casted. Those who use the veto must answer to the entire membership. Second, Ukraine supports enlargement of this Council in both categories of membership. Enlargement will strengthen the Council legitimacy and credibility. The last such reform was done in 1965. Third, the veto is at the heart of meaningful reform. Ukraine has consistently called for limits on its use. Russia's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine shows why it's urgent. Moreover, the veto must not be used in situations involving genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes, nor should a permanent member be able to block action in conflict to which it's party. Article 27, paragraph 3 of the Charter already requires a party to dispute to abstain from voting, but we need to make all important changes So this stillborn provision works. Fourth, the geographical imbalance in the Council must be corrected. Developing countries need greater representation, particularly those from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Caribbean states. Any expansion of non-permanent membership must also include enhanced representation for the group of Eastern European states, which remains underrepresented. Finally, and most importantly, no reform can be credible if it ignores the responsibility that comes with membership. A state that wages a war of aggression, violates the Charter, and commits war crimes cannot be entrusted with the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. And the Russian Federation has never been admitted to the United Nations in accordance with Article 4 of the Charter. Article 23 still names the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, not this Russian Federation, as a permanent member, yet Russia occupies the seat and uses it to shield its own aggression. This erodes both legitimacy and the effectiveness of the Council. And Security Council reform cannot be credible, complete, or meaningful unless it is confronted to this reality. Ukraine stands ready to work with all the members to achieve meaningful progress in this critical issue. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the delegation of Ukraine. And now I give the floor to the delegation of Libya.

Mr. President, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, My delegation appreciates the opportunity to take part in this important debate on Security Council reform. It is a fundamental issue. It goes to the credibility of the collective security system the future of international multilateralism, and the ability of the United Nations to meet the aspirations of the peoples of the world. Mr. President, Security Council reform is no longer just a political demand. It has become a historic and a moral necessity imposed by international change. More than eight decades after the founding of the United Nations, the Council still reflects the balance of power of 1945. Yet the world has changed, the organization's membership has grown, and the threats to international peace and security have multiplied. It is unacceptable that Africa, a continent of 54 states, should remain deprived of permanent representation on the Security Council. This is so even though African peace and security issues take up a large share of the Council's work. Mr. President, the state of Libya reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the common African position as embodied in the Izolani Consensus and the Sir Declaration. Libya supports Africa's legitimate demand for at least two permanent seats with all prerogatives and privileges, including the right of veto for as long as it exists, as well as additional non-permanent seats in this context. My delegation wishes to inform the General Assembly that Tripoli, the Libyan capital, hosted on the 10th and 11th of October the 14th ministerial meeting of the Committee of 10 Heads of State and Government of the African Union on the reform of the United Nations Security Council, the C-10. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Tripoli Document 2026. It reaffirmed the fundamentals of the common African position. It reaffirmed the need to redress the historical injustice against the African continent. And it called for stronger coordination and joint diplomatic action to mobilize international support for Africa's legitimate demands. Libya stresses that the importance of the Tripoli outcome lies not only in renewing our commitment to principles. It lies in the need to translate African unity into effective political and diplomatic action, action that moves the intergovernmental negotiations towards tangible results. From Sirt, whose name is historically linked to the common African position, to Tripoli, which has renewed the commitment to it. From here to there, Africa's message remains one and unchanged. Justice for the continent is not a political favor. It is a historical entitlement. No just reform of the Security Council is conceivable while Africa remains excluded from its permanent membership. Mr. President, the successive crises and wars of recent years have shown how far the current structure of the Security Council constrains it. They have shown how divisions among its permanent members can lead to paralysis or delayed responses, and to unequal treatment of conflicts and humanitarian crises. These facts strengthen our argument. Council reform is no longer an institutional matter to be postponed. It has become a political and moral necessity, inseparable from the credibility of the United Nations and its ability to discharge its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. We therefore stress that the time has come for those who have declared their support for Africa and its right to equitable representation to state clearly today, not in general terms, the details of that support and how it accords with the common African position, which is public and known to all. Mr. President, in conclusion, the State of Libya reaffirms that Africa is not asking for a privilege. It is claiming an inherent right long denied. Security Council reform cannot remain hostage to political calculations that ignore the right of an entire continent to participate fairly in international decision-making. There can be no genuine reform of the Security Council without justice for Africa, no lasting legitimacy without equitable representation, and no future for a more balanced and just international order unless the voices of all its peoples are heard. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the delegation of Libya and give the floor to the delegation of Cuba.

Mr. President, we wish to heartily congratulate and wish every success to the Permanent Representatives of Kuwait and the Kingdom of the Netherlands as they discharge their mandates as Co-Chairs of Intergovernmental Negotiations on the issue of equitable representation on an increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council during the 81st session of the General Assembly. You have our delegation's full support in this important process, President. We are facing an increasingly more dangerous and challenging context. Therefore, there is an overriding need for the Security Council to more effectively discharge the role that is its role in terms of upholding international peace and security in accordance with the UN Charter. Cuba has insisted on the need for a comprehensive wholesale reform of the Security Council, including to its working methods. This to make the Council a more transparent, democratic and representative organ, one which bears in mind the historic the appeals of the countries of the Global South. With this in mind, we must have informal, transparent negotiations. There must be minutes taken of close consultations of the Council, but these should be an exception, not the practice. There needs to be rules of procedure adopted. These remain provisional. as things currently stand. The General Assembly's negotiations must be exhaustive, and there must be analytical work of the Council to evaluate the causes and implications of the Council's decisions. Moreover, we are championing the expansion of both categories of membership, permanent and non-permanent membership. We seek to ensure a more balanced membership of the organ, one which corrects historic imbalances and the insufficient representation of developing countries, because these make up vast swathes of UN membership. This expansion should not be partial, biased or selective in nature, neither should it involve an increase in Security Council members that works to the detriment of developing countries. The membership of the Security Council must reach no fewer than 26 members. This expansion should include an increase in new permanent members as a minimum two countries from Africa, two developing countries from Asia, and two from Latin America and the Caribbean, this to ensure that they are part of relevant decisions adopted by the Security Council. The historic injustice done to entire regions should be redressed, injustice whereby Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and other regions are not represented in that category. Moreover, the non-permanent category must be expanded to 15 at least. We are not in favor of the creation of new categories or subcategories of members because that would widen increasing differences and foster division within the Security Council. Cuba reiterates its historic opposition to the existence of the veto power. However, for as long as this veto power remains in place, the new seats that are established in the permanent membership category must enjoy the same prerogatives and rights as current members, including the right to veto. We should not establish selective criteria or discriminatory criteria in this connection. Moreover, we must cease the Security Council's interference in matters beyond its remit, particularly in those issues that fall within the General Assembly's mandate. We must see full respect for the functions and mandates established established in the United Nations Charter. President, intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform, through the detailed discussion of its five clusters in accordance with decision 62/557 of the General Assembly, are a timely forum within which to encourage broad debates between member states and within which to foster multilateralism. As part of this process, Moving towards the necessary reform of the Security Council, we will continue to champion a solution which might enjoy the broadest degree possible of political support from Member States. Thank you.

I wish to thank the delegation of Cuba. I now give the floor to the delegation of Japan.

Thank you, Mr. President. Japan fully aligns with Germany's statement on behalf of the G4. I will make additional remarks in my national capacity. Mr. President, as has been repeatedly stated, Security Council reform is urgently needed to restore trust in the UN as a center of multilateralism, to make the Council truly representative, legitimate, and effective. It is crucial that the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership, which is supported by a majority of the member states, is reflected in a balanced and equitable manner. A consolidated model should be developed to serve as a starting point for future text-based negotiations. In this regard, Japan emphasizes that IGM must be a member state-led process. While respecting the significant role of the co-chairs in initiating such a consolidated model, Japan expresses its strong expectation that this work will be carried out fairly, impartially, and transparently, which is essential for the member states to fulfill our accountability on the process to our citizens around the globe. Japan also reiterates the importance of improving the representation of underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups such as Asia Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean as stated in the Pact for the Future. In particular, from an Asia Pacific perspective, our region remains underrepresented in the Council with only one fifth of the seats, one permanent seat and two non-permanent seats Even though our region has 54 member states in the UN and contains more than half of the world's population, at present, 53 countries in the Asia-Pacific group must compete for just two seats in order to become a non-permanent Council member, which is the most competitive ratio of all the regional groups. Mr. President, It is unfortunate that I am compelled to reply in response to the statement by North Korea. Reflecting upon the past eight decades, Japan has consistently walked the path of a peace-loving nation and has consistently contributed to peace and prosperity in the international community since the end of World War II. This is widely and accurately recognized and highly appreciated by the international community, including this house, the United Nations. Freedom, democracy, and fundamental human rights remain unshakable foundations of Japan's every decision and action. Guided by these principles, Japan has made assiduous efforts to promote the rule of law, stressing the importance of compliance with international law, including the UN Charter. Mr. President, it has already been two years since the adoption of the Pact for the Future. Japan will continue to play a constructive role in advancing the reform process and delivering tangible results, while actively cooperating with the wider UN membership to move toward our shared goal. I thank you.

I thank the delegation of Japan. I now give the floor to the delegation of Bangladesh.

Mr. President, thank you for convening this meeting and your commitment to pursue the process of intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform. I take this opportunity to join others in congratulating Her Excellency Ms. Lies Reggiora van Haren, the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and His Excellency Mr. Tariq M. A. M. Al-Bani, the Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait, for their appointment as the co-chairs of the IGN on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council during the 81st session. As the UN is in its 81st year of its existence, it stands at a crossroads, enjoying both achievements and facing persistent challenges. As the most representative multilateral organ of the world, UN needs to be further inclusive to be fit for purpose and equipped to address challenges obstructing its journey. Faith in UNSC is currently all-time low. Its reform has always been important, but now it is at a critical juncture. We must strengthen the UN as an international organization by taking a progressive stance on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council. Mr. President, nearly 21 years after world leaders committed to Security Council reform, it is time to move beyond positions and deliver concrete results. As the main guarantor of international peace and security, we need to reform the Security Council to make it more transparent, inclusive, representational, accountable and effective to take on the challenges of the 21st century. In this context, the UNSC must reflect the reality of the current world. Allow me to highlight a few points in this regard. First, Security Council's expansion in both categories is essential to reflect current realities and ensure greater representativeness, effectiveness, transparency, and adherence to the UN Charter. Regional representation is expected to create opportunities for all interested member states to have a presence at the Council. As such, the Council expansion must ensure equitable regional representation, redress historical injustices, and provide due representation from Africa. Other regions, such as the Asia Pacific and the Latin America, also deserve due attention. of the member states in the reform process. Second, we have seen that the veto power of the UN Security Council has been misused, often to cripple the powers of the Charter that has given to UN Security Council to maintain global peace and security. Hence, Security Council working methods, particularly the veto, must be reformed so that judicious application of special powers, accountability under UNGA Resolution 76/262, and greater inclusivity are ensured. Mr. President, we remain committed to engaging constructively in the upcoming IGN sessions of the 81st UNGA. We also urge all Member States to strengthen cooperation and work towards a comprehensive reform of the Security Council, which is accountable to all. I thank you.

I thank the delegation of Bangladesh. And now I give the floor to the delegation of Philippines.

At the outset, I wish to congratulate the Permanent Representatives of the Netherlands and Kuwait on their reappointment as co-facilitators of the IGN process. Mr. President, the question of Security Council reform has been before the General Assembly for more than three decades. The Philippines views equitable representation, accountability, and effectiveness as closely related objectives of reform, as we did over 30 years ago. I also wish to reiterate that agreement on reform of the Security Council should be in the form of a package consisting of elements or pillars pertaining to the expansion of membership and improved working methods of the Security Council. Mr. President, we welcome the progress reflected in the revised Co-Chairs' Elements Paper and General Assembly decision AD/546, building on the commitments contained in the Pact for the Future. The consideration of concrete reform models during the 80th session, including the proposal presented by the African Group and the co-Chair's suggestion concerning fixed regional seats, has contributed to a clearer understanding of the positions of Member States and possible areas for compromise. Nevertheless, major differences remain, and these differences are of political and legal significance. However, they should not preclude progress on matters where common ground already exists. Mr. President, the Philippines has consistently supported enlargement of the Council, with particular attention to the representation of developing countries, including those from Africa and the Asia-Pacific. Equally important is the need to preserve opportunities for small and medium-sized states to participate meaningfully in the work of the Council. On the former, we recognize the longstanding concern regarding Africa's underrepresentation and the importance of addressing the aspirations expressed in the common African position. An increase in membership should broaden representation rather than reproduce existing disparities in a different institutional form. The Philippines remains open to considering expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories on the basis of agreed criteria by member states. We also attach importance to enhancing the institutional relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly through more interaction and regular consultation. Article 24 of the Charter establishes that the Council acts on behalf of the wider UN membership. This representative function carries corresponding expectations of accountability. We therefore also support measures that strengthen the Assembly's ability to consider and scrutinize the Council's exercise of its responsibilities. Moreover, considerable scope for improving the Council's working methods remain. As these improvements would not require Charter amendment, The IGN can already agree on them as part of a Security Council reform package to be recommended to the Council for implementation. Greater predictability and certainty in the Council's working methods and its rules of procedure would lead to more transparency and greater legitimacy of the Council's decisions. Mr. President, the experience of the IGN suggests that the challenges that the real challenge is not the absence of proposals, but the difficulty of translating them into a common working document conducive to methodical deliberation, thus allowing discussions to advance beyond the reiteration of long-standing positions. In conclusion, The Philippines remains committed to Security Council reform, which gives practical effect to sovereign equality, strengthens institutional accountability, and enables the Council to discharge its responsibilities more effectively. We look forward to contributing constructively to the work during this session on this topic. Thank you, Mr. President.

I wish to thank the delegation of the Philippines. I now give the floor to the delegation of Angola.

Thank you for giving.

Me the floor, Mr. President.

From its commitment to a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council that enhances its representativeness, legitimacy, and capacity to address contemporary challenges to international peace and security. Angola aligns itself with the statement delivered by Namibia on behalf of the African group. We wish to highlight the following issue for consideration. First, we call for enlargement in both category of membership. In line with the common African position, reform must provide Africa with two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats. This is a matter of legitimacy of an organ which decision affect directly the continent. Increasing African representation solely in the non-permanent category would leave the continent's exclusion from the permanent category unresolved. A credible solution must address both dimensions. Second, Equal rights and the question of the veto. Angola reaffirms African position in favor of the abolition of the veto. However, if this prerogative continues to exist, it must be extended to the new permanent members on equal basis. Concern regarding the veto must be addressed consistently. Reform must avoid institutionalizing differences in status between current and future permanent members. Third, size of the Council and equitable regional representation. Historical injustice against Africa must be addressed as a matter of priority within the framework of the reform. Overwhelming support for African representation must be translated into concrete and tangible actions. It must also consider the legitimacy and aspiration of other unrepresented regions. Angola endorsed the African model proposal that was presented last year for an enlargement of the Security Council of no fewer than 26 members. Determining the size of the Security Council must reconcile balanced representation with working methods that ensure timely and effective decision making. Fifth, working methods and relation with the General Assembly. Enlargement must be accompanied by enhanced transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability in the Security Council. We call for enhanced quality of reporting to and dialogue with the General Assembly while respecting mandates of both bodies. Cooperation with the African Union and sub-regional organizations must also be deepened, enabling African experience and perspective to contribute more effectively to decisions concerning peace and security on the continent. Sixth, achieving substantive progress in the negotiation. The intergovernmental negotiation must deliver tangible progress on the core issue of the reform. namely category of membership, regional representation, the size of the Council, the question of the veto, working methods, and relationship with the General Assembly. We welcome the appointment by the President of the General Assembly of the two co-chairs for the IGM process. We expect the co-chairs to facilitate structured discussion based on the proposals submitted identify areas of convergence and areas of divergence requiring further discussion. Mr. President, Angola remains ready to work with all delegations toward the broad possible agreement while upholding fundamental elements of the common African position. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the delegation of Angola. And I give the floor to the delegation of Lithuania.

Mr. President, Lithuania welcome recent decision by the President of the General Assembly to reappoint the Asian co-chairs. We thank co-chairs for their efforts up to now, including for bringing the bridging proposal and subsequent issuance of a new revised co-chairs elements paper on convergences and divergences. Considering all models presented so far and understanding that some may still be tabled, we look forward to continued IGM work, including towards the tax-based negotiations, which we support. In this regard, allow me to reiterate Lithuania's key longstanding positions regarding the future composition of the Council. First, we are in favor of enlargement in both categories, permanent and elected. with due attention paid to redressing historical injustice against Africa regarding representation. Second, we also remain open to further discussions and decisions on the formation of these categories, if that contributes to consensus on advancing Security Council reform, both in form and substance. Third, Lithuania believes that in ensuring better regional representation in the Council, and to reflect in changing your political realities, an additional elected seat for the Eastern European states should be established. Mr. President, the question of veto also remains a critical issue to be addressed. Particularly, the use or other abuse of veto power by Russia can no longer be ignored. Shielded by the right of veto, With the ability to block any Security Council decision, Russia has assumed the hypocritical role of justifying its own aggression. Meanwhile, Russia's armed forces are waging a brutal war of territorial conquest, a grave violation to international law, the UN Charter, and Russia's own commitments as a permanent member. It should not be surprising that when a state in a Security Council permanent member seat perpetrates a war to annex territory of a neighboring state, this raises serious doubts about sustainability of its privileged status of such Council member. Moreover, there are also broader questions regarding legitimacy of Russia's assumption of a Council permanent membership at the end of a Cold War. More generally, Lithuania supports efforts to achieve limitations on the veto powers particularly by adhering to the code of conduct initiated by the AGAL Group and to the France-Mexico initiative. We will also support a demand for full implementation of Article 27.3 of the UN Charter. To conclude, I would like to reiterate that Lithuania's position on the way ahead is that of constructive support to building consensus for a Security Council reform. towards ensuring its representativeness, transparency, inclusiveness, effectiveness, democracy and accountability. I thank you.

I thank the delegation of Lithuania. I now give the floor to the delegation of Ecuador.

Mr. President, in a context marked by conflicts, geopolitical tensions and difficulties to produce collective responses, Security Council reform has ceased to be an exclusively institutional matter and has instead become a political imperative. More than three decades have elapsed since the General Assembly began its consideration of this matter, and almost 20 years have elapsed since the adoption of Decision 62/557 that laid the foundations for intergovernmental negotiations. However, the composition of the Council has remained unchanged since 1965. This protracted discussion lays bare the complex nature of the process, but it also poses a crucial question: how much longer can we postpone a reform whose need is widely recognized? Mr. President, the position of Ecuador is rooted in the principle of the sovereign equality of States enshrined in the Charter. Since the San Francisco conference, Ecuador has maintained a critical position with regard to the veto because it is an exception to the aforementioned principle. The exercise of the veto, including the threat to use it, has limited the Council's ability to respond to grave threats to international peace and security. It would not be consistent to seek to overcome the Council's limitations by proliferating the privileges that contribute to its paralysis. Consequently, Ecuador opposes the expansion of the veto and is of the view that it is vital to strengthen transparency and accountability in terms of how it is used. President, the current membership of the Council does not adequately reflect the diversity of the United Nations. It is vital that we correct the historic imbalances in representation, particularly those affecting Africa. Africa should be considered as a special case, as provided for in the Pact for the Future. Latin America and the Caribbean also require greater presence on the Security Council. Ecuador supports the proposals to increase from two to four these seats for the region within and as part of a balanced expansion of the Council. Moreover, my country remains open to examining longer terms and the possibility of re-election. Equitable representation must guarantee real opportunities for participation for all States. Periodic election and rotation are crucial mechanisms for legitimacy and accountability. President Ecuador's experience as an elected member of the Security Council for the two-year period 2023-2024 strengthened its conviction regarding the contribution that non-permanent members make to building consensus and the It convinced us of the need to strengthen the working methods of the Council and its relationship with the General Assembly. My delegation is grateful for the work of the co-facilitators during the 80th session. We take note of the revised elements paper on convergences and divergences, dated June 2026. This document is a useful contribution to channel our negotiations, and we reaffirm our support for the process. It is necessary to turn identified common ground into substantive progress. This through inclusive dialogue and flexible and reciprocated flexibility. No artificial deadlines must be imposed. Neither must we have a reductive interpretation whereby difficulties that remain can be somehow overcome when set down in text. We need to act with realism. President, reform cannot be limited to simply expanding the Council, neither can it become a redistribution of privileges. We must strengthen the Council's legitimacy, its effectiveness and its accountability to Member States. Ecuador will continue to contribute constructively and independently to this process, remaining open to dialogue and staunch in our principles. Thank you.

I thank the delegation of Ecuador. give the floor now to the delegation of Kenya.

Thank you, Mr. President. Kenya aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Group, and we wish to add the following in our national remarks. At the close of the previous session, you presented a summary of areas of convergence and divergence. As we begin this new cycle, our task is clear. To build on existing convergences, narrow the differences, and advance meaningful reform. For Africa, Security Council reform is a matter of equity, historical justice, democratic legitimacy, and the credibility of multilateralism. As President William Ruto has consistently underscored, Africa's continued exclusion from permanent membership is unacceptable. A continent that bears significant consequences of international insecurity cannot remain excluded from permanent participation in the principal organ responsible for international peace and security. Kenya, therefore, reaffirms its full support for the ensuing consensus and the Cirta Declaration which embody the common African position. Africa must be allocated no fewer than two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats in a reformed Council. For as long as the veto exists, African permanent members must enjoy the same prerogatives and privileges as existing permanent members. The African Union must determine the modalities of selecting Africa's representatives. The need for reform is no longer in question. The challenge is to agree on how to deliver it. Recognizing the interconnected nature of the five negotiating clusters, Kenya proposes that our discussion first, advance equitable representation across all relevant categories of membership, addressing existing under-representation. Second, applaud the privileges and responsibilities associated with the membership in a manner consistent with fairness and the sovereign equality of states. Third, strengthen transparency, accountability, and engagement between the Security Council, the wider UN membership, including the General Assembly. We also support a transparent, inclusive, and member state-driven process that advances negotiations in a good faith, works towards a consultative reform model, drawing on existing proposals and areas of emerging convergence. Let us translate decades of deliberations into meaningful process and take concrete steps towards a Security Council that is more representative, legitimate, and effective. I thank you.

I thank the delegation of Kenya. And I now give the floor to the delegation of El Salvador.

Thank you, Mr. President. El Salvador is grateful for the convening of this debate. We recognize the leadership of the Permanent Representatives of Kuwait and the Kingdom of the Netherlands as co-chairs of the intergovernmental negotiation process. We reiterate that both have our full support. President, the reform of the Security Council is one of the most important challenges facing our organization. its importance is not simply rooted in the need to bring its membership in line with today's realities, but it is also crucial in terms of guaranteeing that the Council is, in an effective and legitimate and accountable way, able to discharge the mandate entrusted to it by the United Nations Charter. As the President of this General Assembly quite rightly stated, when the Council acts decisively and in accordance with the Charter, it gives practical meaning to the concept of collective security, when it does not manage to act, it erodes trust in this organization as a whole. Indeed, the difficulties of the Council to achieve agreements and adopt timely decisions not only compromise its ability to discharge the mandate entrusted to it by the Charter and all Member States. Rather, this failure has direct consequences on international peace and security. Ultimately, these difficulties translate into protracted conflicts, opportunities for prevention which are lost, and people that continue to wait responses from this international community. This responsibility also takes on a particularly human dimension when we look at peace operations. There, thousands of men and women serve on behalf of the United Nations. They also serve the purposes and principles of the Charter and frequently do so in very risky conditions indeed. Their safety and protection, as well as that of the people they serve, must remain among the crucial priorities of the Security Council. Ultimately, Mr. President, the effectiveness of this organ must be measured not only by the decisions it adopts, but also by the Council's ability to translate these decisions into tangible results on the ground. El Salvador reaffirms its support for a comprehensive reform which ultimately leaves us with a more representative, democratic, transparent, effective and accountable Security Council. In our view, it is vital to ensure that any expansion serves to correct existing structural imbalances, instead of reproducing or deepening the inequalities which have been the hallmarks of its membership and functioning. The principle of the sovereign equality of States must guide this process. As such, we reiterate our support for the expansion of elected member seats. This to strengthen representativeness, incorporate more diverse perspectives on conflicts, and to promote greater accountability before the membership. Moreover, we reiterate the importance of more equitable geographical representation. representation which heeds the legitimate aspirations of underrepresented regions, including Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia Pacific. Turning now to the veto, we reiterate our concern at its disproportionate use, as well as at the threat of use of this mechanism. That threat can shape deliberations and stymie possibilities to achieve agreements. It can also hamper the provision of responses to situations that threaten international peace and security. As such, we reiterate our support for efforts designed to restrict the use of the veto, particularly in situations of atrocity crimes. A genuinely wholesale and comprehensive reform must also provide for strengthening the working methods of the Council and its relationship with other United Nations organs, particularly this General Assembly. The primordial responsibility entrusted to this Council in terms of the maintenance of international peace and security does not invalidate the authority that the Charter entrusts to the General Assembly in this field. On the contrary, both organs must exercise complementary mandates, mandates which are mutually reinforcing. We recognize progress made with the intergovernmental negotiation process. We reiterate our commitment to contributing constructively to a reform which achieves the broadest possible degree of political support. Our goal must be to translate these efforts into tangible results which strengthen the United Nations' ability to maintain international peace and security. Thank you, President.

I thank the delegation of El Salvador. We have heard the last speaker. on this agenda item. A delegation has requested to exercise the right of reply this afternoon. I propose that the length of statements exercising the right of reply under this item be limited to five minutes for the first intervention and to three minutes for the second. Is there an objection to this proposal? I hear none.

I see the Democratic Republic of Korea is asking for the floor. Is it an objection? Okay, let's go back.

Are there any objections to my first proposal? I have not seen any. Thus, in line with Article 112 of Rules 33. 72 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, when a representative exceeds her or his allotted time, the President shall call the speaker to order without delay, which would, by means of automatic microphone cut-off. To assist delegations in managing their time, a countdown clock will be displayed on the screens. Members are also reminded that statements in the exercise of the right of reply should be made by delegations from their seats. The first intervention for this right of reply, I give the floor to the delegation of Namibia.

Thank you, Mr. President. I am taking the floor in what my delegation would call the right of participation. Following the removal from the list of speakers at 12:45 this afternoon without proper consultation, after having been inscribed and listed to participate in this debate in our national capacity. Mr. President, Namibia aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African group. Namibia welcomes the appointment of the permanent representative of the state of Kuwait and the permanent representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as co-chairs of the intergovernmental negotiations. Mr. President, earlier this year, The African group presented the African Union model for Security Council reform, which represents not only the maturity of our continental consensus and the historic milestone for Africa's quest for equitable representation within the United Nations system, but also a demonstration of the continent's political unity, seriousness, and readiness to engage constructively with a view to correcting the historical injustice that has excluded Africa from permanent representation. It also signifies Africa's determination to move the reform process from general declarations to support of support towards concrete and actionable outcomes. The African reform model gives practical expression of the Azulini Consensus and the Cirta Declaration, which remain the sole legitimate framework of articulating Africa's position in the intergovernmental negotiations on the UN Security Council reform. It offers a coherent, comprehensive, and forward-looking proposal that addresses the longstanding historical injustice suffered by Africa that has been without representation in a permanent category of the Councils on the Council. despite constituting the largest regional grouping in the United Nations and being subject of a significant proportion of the Council's agenda. Mr. President, the Pact for the Future, adopted in September 2024, leaves no room for ambiguity. Africa must be treated as a special case and a priority in Security Council reform. The logical consequence of that commitment is that Africa's permanent and increased representation must remain central to any reform outcome and cannot be subordinated to competing interest or alternative arrangements. Any reform that seeks legitimacy and sustainability must respect and accommodate Africa's collective position and address the very historical injustice the organization has pledged to correct. Since the adoption of the Pact for the Future, every President of the United Nations General Assembly has been supportive of its full implementation, and we equally commend the tremendous efforts of the current PGA to advance Africa's cause for permanent representation in the UN Security Council. In conclusion, Mr. President, Namibia calls for the concrete actions to finally translate this unwavering and consequential support into tangible progress. I thank you, Mr. President.

I now give the floor to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Mr. President, thank you for giving me the floor. Japan has neither the moral justification nor the qualifications to look over the position of permanent member of the UN Security Council. The remark made by the Japanese representative that Japan is a peace-loving nation and has contributed to world peace is fundamentally at odds with Japan's past actions. The greatest crimes of all time committed by Imperial Japan, inflicting immeasurable disaster and suffering upon the peoples of my country and other Asian nations, are an undeniable historical fact which has already been acknowledged by the world at large. Japan is a country that has failed to properly reflect on its war crimes that destroyed peace in Asia and the world during the first half of the 20th century and resulted in the mass slaughter of people in many nations. More than 80 years have passed since its defeat, yet Japan still refuses to offer a sincere apology or provide reparations for its past acts of aggression. Instead, the Japanese authorities are glorifying past crimes, elevating the masterminds of aggression to the status of heroes, and brazenly engaging in acts of paying homage to the specters of militarism, all in full view of the world. It is utterly absurd for a nation that committed grave crimes against humanity in the past and shows no remorse whatsoever to hold a position of responsibility within the United Nations. Meanwhile, under the aegis of the United States, Japan is racing down the path of a new militarism, openly revealing its true sinister nature as the very entity that is jeopardizing peace in the Asia-Pacific region. There are accelerating moves toward rearmament, including the undesirable amendment of peace constitution, the abandonment of the exclusively defense-oriented policy, the restructuring of military apparatuses, and the expansion of military capabilities. Such actions stand in complete contradiction to the obligations incumbent upon a defeated nation and an enemy state, and represent both a shameless disregard for the UN Charter and a grave challenge to the world peace. To give just one example, Japan has already become a permanent member of the permanent council of the League of Nations, which was organized after the end of World War I. As a permanent member of the League of Nations, an organization that professed to stand for international peace and security, Japan instigated the Manchurian Incident in China and threw itself into a frenzied war of aggression on the Asian continent, ultimately forcing humanity to endure the horrific catastrophe of the Second World War. History teaches us that the inclusion of Japan in an international body tasked with addressing global peace and security would not contribute to the maintenance of peace, but rather cause grave harm. Therefore, it is in the interest of international community security to uphold the enemy state clauses stipulated in the UN Charter and to thoroughly thwart Japan's ambitions to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Japan must attend to its own responsibilities, namely making reparations for its past crimes and abandoning its schemes to rearmament and remilitarization. The mercantile mindset that a permanent seat of the UN Security Council can be bought with money only serves to expose Japan's anachronistic obsession. My delegation strongly urges Japan to earnestly reflect upon its crime-ridden past and embark upon the path of genuine repentance rather than chasing unattainable pipe dreams. Thank you, Mr. President.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I will not repeat what is mentioned in our statement earlier. Japan has regarded the fact of history with humility and sincerely addressed various issues for over 80 years.

Since the end of World War II. Having served as a non-permanent member of the UN.

Security Council 12 times over the last 70 years since joining the UN, as well as having been as one.

Of the most important financial contributors, Japan has actively contributed to international peace and security.

Japan will continue such contributions as a responsible member state of the United Nations.

I thank you.

I give the floor once again to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor again. History can never be rewritten, and it certainly cannot be erased. No matter how much the Japanese authorities engage in word games and linguistic manipulation, resorting to all sorts of tricks to conceal their past crimes and their militarization moves, they can never escape responsibility for their egregious crimes against humanity. Such actions only serve to further highlight their true colors, a desire to deny a history stained with sin and to repeat it. My delegation strongly urges Japan to fulfill the unavoidable moral responsibilities and international legal obligations it bears toward the era and humanity as a member of the international community through concrete actions rather than mere words. Thank you, Mr. President.

Excellences, the Assembly will once again hear from Japan. I give the floor to Japan.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I will not repeat what was mentioned in my statement earlier.

Japan will continue contributions as a responsible member state of the United Nations. I thank you.

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 125. The meeting is adjourned.