(Resumed) Working methods of the Security Council - Security Council, 10210th meeting

The 10,210th meeting of the Security Council is resumed. I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than five minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. The flashing light on the microphone will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after five minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of Nigeria.

Mr. President, Nigeria thanks Denmark and Mrs. Candia Thompson for her briefing this morning. The Security Council working methods are not a procedural side issue. They determine whether the council that decides for all member states is one that most member states can actually see, engage with and trust. Nigeria has sat on the council and speaks to three problems from our experience, each with a specific recommendation. First, on the selection of chairs and vice chairs of subsidiary bodies. The deadlock affecting the current package is no longer an isolated procedural hiccup. It is a recurring challenge that leaves sanctions committee and working groups without leadership for months at a time. Nigeria proposes that paragraphs 124 to 129 of note S/2024/507 be modified to include a default mechanism, one that allows outstanding positions to be filled by rotation among eligible candidates from the relevant regional group on an interim basis where consensus on the package is not reached within 60 days of the start of the Council's year. A subsidiary body should not go without leadership because a wider membership cannot agree on a package deal that has nothing to do with the mandate of that body. Second, on Rule 37 and Rule 39, in practice, participation by specially affected states still depends on case-by-case accommodation rather than clear entitlement. Nigeria proposes that the Council adopt defined criteria under which a state qualifies as specially affected, including states named in the resolution under discussion, neighboring states to an active conflict, and troop and police contributing countries to relevant mission, and that participation under Rule 37 be presumptive once those criteria are met, rather than a matter of individual request and Council's discretion. Third, on pen holding, African situations continue to occupy a large share of the council's agenda. Yet co-pen holding arrangements involving African member states remain ad hoc rather than standard practice. Nigeria proposes that co-pen holding with the elected African members on African file items becomes the default arrangement, not the exception. It is imperative also to publish an annual accounting of penholder assignments across the agenda so that the distribution is visible and can be assessed rather than assumed. On the broader question of council reform, Nigeria reiterates that meaningful progress requires the IGC process to move from repetition of position papers to a text-based process anchored on a single negotiating text. Nigeria also reaffirms the common African position as set out in the Ezuruweni Consensus and Sets Declaration. Mr President, each annual open debate on the Council's working method produces recommendations that may not be tracked until the next one. Nigeria proposes that the Council adopts a practice that allows it to track the status of proposals raised in these debates, including this one, so that progress or lack of it is visible year to year. I thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Nigeria for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Angola.

Mr. President, we thank Denmark and Pakistan for convening this timely open debate, and Ms. Shamala Thompson, for valuable insights presented. At a time of deepening geopolitical divisions, expanding conflicts and mounting pressure on multilateral cooperation, improving the working methods of the Security Council is not merely a procedural matter. It's essential to strengthening the Council's effectiveness, credibility, legitimacy and capacity for timely action in discharging its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Angola considers that the continued implementation of note S/2024/507 should be anchored in transparency, inclusivity, efficiency, accountability, and predictability, while preserving the intergovernmental character of the United Nations and the sovereign equality of all member states. In this regard, we wish to underscore four priorities. First, broad and meaningful participation in the Council's work. States directly affected by situations on the Council's agenda should be afforded appropriate opportunities to contribute to its deliberations. Rule 37 and 39 should be applied in a fair, consistent and transparent manner. enable the Council to draw more effectively on national perspective, regional knowledge and relevant expertise. Such participation should contribute substantially to decision-making and to the search for sustainable solutions. Second, promote a more equitable distribution of responsibilities within the Council. Angola supports greater participation of elected members in PANA and COPA arrangements. Regional knowledge and the proximity to situations under consideration should be recognized as a strategic asset in the preparation of Council's outcomes, the building of consensus, and the implementation of decisions. Third, ensure the timely and predictable functioning of subsidiary bodies. Prolonged delays in the appointment of chairs and vice-chairs risk undermining continuity and institutional effectiveness. The Council should establish practical contingency arrangements and strengthen the transparency, predictability and timeliness of the selection process. Institutional responsibility should not be paralyzed by political disagreement. Fourth, strengthen coherence across United Nations system. Cooperation between the Security Council, The General Assembly and the Peacebuilding Commission and other relevant United Nations bodies should be deepened, particularly in areas of conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding, and sustaining peace. Improved coordination can reduce fragmentation, promote complementarity, and enable earlier and more effective collective action. Mr. President, ORKiM method should serve as an instrument for building trust, bridging differences and facilitating action. They should create greater space for dialogue, preventive diplomacy, early engagement and consensus building rather than reproducing existing divisions. Angola therefore encourages the informal working group on the commentation and other procedural questions to translate the proposals emerging from this debate into concrete recommendation realistic timelines and measurable improvement to strengthen the follow-up of their implementation. Ultimately, a Security Council that is more transparent, inclusive, representative in its practices and responsive in its decision-making, we'd be better equipped to act effectively on behalf of the wider membership and uphold the purposes and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Angola for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of the Maldives.

Thank you, President. A Council entrusted to act on behalf of all Member States must also work in a way that earns their confidence. Its working methods determine who helps shape decisions, whose voices are heard, and whether disagreements can be managed through diplomacy rather than hardened into paralysis. For the Maldives, this is a question of equality. Small island developing states do not have permanent access to this table. We depend on procedures that make access predictable, participation meaningful, and influence possible through arguments rather than power. Let me make five points. First, the Council must fix the appointment of subsidiary body chairs. Note 507 sets 1st of October as the target for provisional agreement, but that deadline has not been met. The council should stop treating every appointment as one indivisible package. Uncontested chairs should proceed. Disputed appointments should be negotiated separately. The council should strengthen the contingency arrangements in paragraph 129 to address deadlocks extending beyond January while ensuring that prolonged negotiations or appointments do not impede the substantive work of the subsidiary bodies. Second, the council should democratize the pen. Note 507 already provides that any council member may serve as pen holder or co-pen holder. Yet pen holdership or co-pen holdership on most files is concentrated among a few. One country situation co-penholdership should move more systematically and include elected members with regional knowledge or direct contribution to those issues. Penholders should consult affected states before circulating first draft and indicate at the first negotiations whose views were sought. Earlier consultation can reduce disagreements and produce stronger mandates. Third, participation must be governed by clearer standards. Requests under Rule 37 from States directly concerned or specially affected should be a matter of practice to be accommodated. If their participation is not permitted, the Council should provide a clear procedural explanation. Rule 39 briefers should be selected on the basis of expertise, relevance to the contribution they make and the Council's deliberations. Fourth, The council should create a more space for diplomacy before positions become harder. From 2016 to 2025, 49 vetoes were cast compared with 19 in the preceding decade. Working methods, of course, cannot solve every geopolitical divide. But earlier dialogues, including with affected states and relevant regional organizations, can identify possible convergences before a text becomes a test of political alignment. And fifth and finally, the Secretary General selection should preserve the transparency already created through public nominations, vision statements, financial disclosures, and the General Assembly dialogue. The Council should publish a procedural roadmap for its face in maintaining regular communication with the President of General Assembly and report progress without compromising the required confidentiality. Better working methods will not solve political differences, of course. They can, however, prevent procedure from deepening them. A Council that acts on behalf of all Member States must therefore work in a way that gives Member States reason to trust the decisions taken on their name. Thank you.

Thank you, representative of the Maldives, for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Libya.

Thank you, Mr. President, and thanks for arranging this meeting. I also wish to thank Ms. Shamila Thompson on her previous briefing. I take the opportunity also to thank SCAD for all their services and oversight on applying these working methods as they stand today. I have four specific points that I wish to share, but they are mainly concerning, from our experience, countries which are on the agenda under Chapter 7. and ways of improvement in terms of how these countries engage with the Council. And these points that I'm raising today is not the first time we have been discussing this, but I do hope this time we can have practical steps in order to take them into consideration. And when I speak today on behalf of Libya, but I assure you to share this matter that is shared or is concerned with many African countries and the African group in particular, knowing that most of the 75% of cases under Chapter 7 come from the African region. My first point, and these points, I'll give you or share what they are and also propose solutions. The issue of, of course, we're talking about the selection of penholder and co-penholder. I know it was said many times, but I think in practical terms, it is fair enough to say that today, at least a co-penholder should be from the region of the country of concern. This could be something standardized, it could be some, it's not something impossible, We can, if it's hard to change the main pen holder today, but at least introducing a co-pen holder from the region of the country of concern is not something that is hard, nor it is against any rules or regulations or existing working methods. And this, of course, facilitates a lot of the matter and it also voices out the concerns of the country coming from our region. Of course, it goes to other regions as well. The second point is regarding the method on drafting resolutions. or drafting PRSDs. Today, the method that is applied is that the penholder would circulate a draft among the 15 members and deliberation starts, negotiation starts, but the country of concern is not engaged in that process in a systematic manner. It only gets engaged by its bilateral relation with one of the members or the representative of the region in the council. But at the end of the day, none of the 15 members is mandated to share that draft, nor our inputs or comments that are shared with that country is necessarily raised in the manner we wish to have. We see that it is fair and just to listen to the country of concern to take their inputs officially on record and then it's among the 15 members to discuss it and to take it or not. But the fact that today I'm under the mercy of sharing information with a member in the council to take it or not, to choose what to present to others or not, and it's not even presented as the case by the name of the country. It could be on behalf of the country that is presenting this. I think this is not fair and it doesn't show what's going on. This goes also with drafting PRSTs, it's the same way. We need to be engaged. The solution for this is simple, that the chair can, as circulating or the pen holder circulating this to the 15 members, can also share one copy with the country of concern. And then whatever inputs the country puts, can be either taken into consideration or not, but for the record, at least you have the point of view of the concerned country. Same thing now on the issue of sanctions committee and panel of experts. And here we talk about the reports. The same method happens that we get very late to know about the report when it's being drafted. And our inputs is given in a late stage where it will be very hard for others to take that into consideration where in many cases they might be technical mistakes even in the report, not necessarily substantive, but not giving us the chance to be able to engage in early stages with the panel of experts reports is also not helping the process. And for the sake of transparency, this should be into consideration. There's many times that after the report has been produced, we have been proving that there were technical mistakes. And again, I'm not talking about the analysis and substantive issues, but then it was too late even to recall or recover. Now talking about the panel of experts or the sanctions committee, there's another challenge that happens when there is any request or any submission coming from another country regarding the country of concern to ask for example of any exemption from licenses or something like that. Again, we don't get notified officially as a country that there is a third party who is asking something specifically that is regarded to us. I'll give you a concrete example. We have under sanctions the Libyan Investment Authority. And there are so many times where countries ask for exemptions to use these assets for whatever reason. And it goes through the council members. Our chair of the committee of the sanctions committee would share this with us, but it's not systematic. It's not something mandated. It's because of our good relation with this country. They will share it with us, but it has to be systematic and mandated. It goes like the drafting of resolutions and PRCs. It should be that whenever a request is submitted to the Council regarding a country of concern, it is the chair of the committee who needs to notify officially the country and tell them this country is asking something and what is your opinion about it. And then it's the Council's decision to take it or not. My last point is regarding the closed consultations. In some cases, particularly when there is no open session on a briefing regarding a country, there's a closed consultation. We see that it is the right of the country to attend at least part of this meeting in the beginning to have this frank discussion with the council members other than the official statements and then this country can leave for the rest for their debates. But today it only happens by invitation if requested by members. We still see that these things should be systematic. In summary, The points I mentioned is something that I think we can enhance our working methods. It's not against anything to do with our charter, nor about the council, and it's even improving transparency and just for the countries. Today, I'm sure colleagues from Somalia and DRC, they are blessed to be on the council today, but they're both on chapter seven for different other reasons, but they have the privilege of being able to see what's going on and circulated in their regard. But I don't have to be a council member to be able to see these things and to be part of it. I have the right when something is being drafted for my country that I can actually give my input and know which country is actually amending something or requesting an edit on something to do with a final resolution. Because then I can go bilaterally with that country and discuss and debate and negotiate and maybe change or persuade for something to happen. So sorry to be long, but these are practical points. I do hope that we can have practical also steps to take them into consideration. And thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Libya for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Thailand.

President, I would like to start by commenting Denmark for convening this very important open debate.

We certainly welcome the progress made under presidential note S,

2024-507. The persistent efforts of the informal working group on documentation and other procedural questions have successfully enhanced the Council's operational transparency and its engagement with the broader UN membership. To further improve working methods of the Council, my delegation, which is to share perhaps five key observations. First of all, the Council should institutionalize timely dialogue with the wider membership. Early consultations with affected states under Rules

37 and 39 are not merely procedural, but very vital for achieving sustainable outcomes on country-specific files.

Such engagement can lead to more inclusive and sustainable solutions, improve the Council's credibility, and ensure that its agenda is effectively shaped and implemented. Second, stronger synergy between the Council and other principal UN bodies, including the General Assembly, ECOSOC, and the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as between UN entities and regional organizations is of course essential to building sustainable peace and security.

We must replace silos with greater complementarity and effective coordination.

Thirdly, Thailand remains deeply concerned by the unprecedented deadlock in appointing chairs for subsidiary bodies to prevent procedural delays and to alleviate pressure on the presidency. We suggest exploring rotational arrangements to achieve a balance, timely and fair distribution of chairmanships. And fourth, Thailand advocates for a more inclusive penholdership system, expanding core pen holding.

Opportunities to elected members particularly from developing countries.

Will ensure fair burden sharing and inject diverse regional perspectives into outcome documents. And lastly, the Secretary-General's election must prioritize transparency and inclusivity in line with Article 97 we encourage the Council to consider presenting.

Multiple well-qualified candidates to the General Assembly, including for the 2026 selection process, to ensure a truly democratic choice.

President, amid deep geopolitical divisions, a more effective, transparent and inclusive Council is.

Paramount to restoring trust in multilateral system.

And Thailand remains fully committed to supporting this vital procedural reforms.

Thank you so much for your kind attention.

I thank the representative of Thailand for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Mexico.

Thank you, Mr. President. The reform of the international security pillar of the organization involves a in-depth review and transformation of the methods of work of this council. In addition to the fact that we still don't have a definitive set of rules, the methods of work are not a minor issue in overcoming inefficiency, inaction, and even the obstruction of the current process of adopting decisions. the inability to act in the face of emerging grave humanitarian crises that lead to thousands of civilians including women, children continuing to pay the highest price even when this main organ of the organization no longer responds in a timely way to the threats to international peace and security Mexico together with France has promoted the so-called Franco-Mexican initiative to restrict the use of veto in the face of situations that involve mass atrocities. Currently, 120 member states have signed up to this initiative, which reflects an increasingly growing support in favor of a council that responds in a timely way and responsibly to humanitarian crises. We acknowledge Jamaica, Suriname, Belize, for having recently joined this collective effort, and we call on others to do so. Likewise, my country has underscored the importance of the application of Article 27 of the Charter. States that are parties to a dispute should refrain from voting as a principle of impartiality and independence in the decision-making of the Council and with this in mind we support the initiative promoted by Liechtenstein to ensure the full validity of this obligation and we urge Member States to support it. Mr. President, democratizing the methods of work also means distributing in a more equitable way the responsibilities of this Council. First of all, The opportunities for penholderships and co-penholderships should be expanded so that elected members, and in particular those with regional knowledge or direct experience on a particular dossier, should participate fully in elaborating the products of the Council. Secondly, the lack of designation of chairs and vice-chairs of subsidiary organs obstructs the smooth performance of their functions, in addition to being a practice in which permanent members exceed their authority vis-a-vis elected members. Mexico would echo the appeal formulated by the E10 to conclude the designations as soon as possible, thus respecting the agreement established in note 507. Thirdly, my delegation What is the importance for the informal group, working group on documentation and other procedural issues could fulfill its functions that have been entrusted to it, in particular in the face of the use of the right of legitimate defense envisioned in Article 51 of the Charter. In 2026, some 124 letters have been submitted by 17 states. referring to Article 51 invoking or reserving the right of legitimate defense without there being any clarity on how many of these letters or notifications have been considered by the council or led to its actions we believe it's important to clarify the application and interpretation of Article 51 my delegation brought this topic to the attention of the special committee on the charter of the United Nations and strengthening the role of the organization the accessibility of these notifications is inadequate without sufficient institutional scrutiny and support and without a mechanism to inform or notify when Article 51 is invoked. With this in mind, Mexico considers that the annual report of the Council could contribute to strengthening transparency on handling of these communications by processing those submitted pursuant to Article 51 and indicating which have been subject to consideration in official sessions and which led to some action by the Council. This will make it possible for the membership to know more about the notifications received and the follow-up ensured. Fourthly, Mexico reiterates the of efforts to revitalize the General Assembly expressed in resolution 79/327, especially as it strengthens coordination and complementarity between the organs of the United Nations, in particular between the Council and the General Assembly. A greater synergy between and, of course, a better communication between these two organs is essential to preserve accountability. Note 507. Furthermore, requires that an annual report of the Security Council includes specific reports on the use of the veto. Its effective presentation in line with Article 24 of the Charter and in line with Resolution 79/327 is a way to ensure accountability. We welcome that the Security Council is listening to members on its methods of work and encourage it to ensure continuity to this debate on an annual basis. We trust that proposals that are formulated today will be taken seriously and there will be continuity. Lastly, we hope that a full and good faith implementation of note 507 will make it possible to have a council that is more transparent, more inclusive and more responsible to the membership of the organization and better prepared to respond to the complex challenges of international peace and security. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Mexico for their statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.

Israel welcomes the opportunity to discuss the Security Council's working methods. Today's concept note referenced Article 24 of the UN Charter. It gives this council a clear responsibility, maintaining international peace and security. This brings me to our fundamental concern. This council has become politicized and paralyzed by structural dysfunction. I say to the members of this Council, let's get back to basics. Remember your mission, because this Council has lost its way. The clearest example is emergency meetings. This Council has become very good at meeting and very bad at making a difference. An emergency meeting should respond to an immediate threat to international peace and security. not to a political dispute that a member state wants to place before the council. But that is what we have seen in practice. Over the past four years, the Security Council has held roughly 100 meetings focused on Israel. At least 17 of them were emergency meetings, far more than other countries in the region. This council held an emergency meeting after Israel recognized Somaliland. Some countries outrageously claimed Israel would use that recognition to expel Palestinians from Gaza. That conspiracy theory was unfounded. Eight months later, it remains unfounded. Just last week, we met here. This council held an emergency meeting on the escalation in the West Bank. It focused on the so-called settler violence, not the rise in Palestinian terrorist attack. These were not emergencies, just opportunities to bash Israel. At the same time, there were no emergency meetings when Jews were murdered in northern Israel or at a bus stop in Jerusalem. So I ask this council, what are we doing here? How has it become so easy to request an emergency meeting? All a council member needs to do is send a letter to the presidency asking for one. We have forgotten what a real emergency is. You should consider a simple change, just raise the bar An emergency meeting should require maybe two, three Council members, not one, to request it. Every request should meet the same three tests: Is there an immediate threat to international peace and security? Does it require urgent attention? And what is the Council expected to accomplish? That would help this Council distinguish genuine emergencies from political theater. Mr. President, Israel is not raising this issue simply because we are the subject of so many meetings. This is not only a problem of fairness. This lack of effectiveness has consequences. When the Council spends its time on political theater, it has less time to confront the threats actually driving instability in our region. Take a look at Iran and the network of terrorist proxies. Iran has spent years building and supporting terrorist groups, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen. They have attacked civilians, fueled conflicts, and undermined regional stability. But In the past four years, there have been less than ten emergency meetings about Iran, only two specifically about Hamas holding hostages, and only one about the Houthis attacking ships in the Red Sea. Look at Turkey. They emerged at the dominant Hamas hub, where Hamas coordinates terror attacks in Judea and Samaria. Not only that, Turkey occupies five percent of Syria today. You don't hear about that in the Security Council. So I ask this Council, where is your condemnation of Turkey? Where is your designation of Iranian terrorist proxies? Mr. President, Israel wants this Council to be a respected institution again. To do that, It must change its mindset. The success of the Security Council should not be measured by how many meetings it holds or how many statements it issues. It should be measured by whether its actions make a real difference. It should set basic goals it can achieve. Did violence decrease? Did terrorism become harder to carry out? Did the Council help prevent the next escalation? You know, the council itself tracks efficiency. In 2025, this council met for 685 hours. But what have those deliberations actually produced? The reality on the ground has not improved, unfortunately. Hamas has not disarmed in Gaza. Shipping is still threatened in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. All while Iran continues to drive instability in the region. precisely why we should judge effectiveness on outcomes, not simply by the number of meetings. This Council can do more to address these threats by adopting three principles. First, look at the genuine threats. Emergency sessions should be used during real and immediate threats to international peace and security. Second, address causes, not only consequences. The Council should devote greater attention to the actors, networks, and patterns that drive repeated cycles of violence. And third, measure results. Every meeting should have a purpose, and the Council should be willing to ask whether that purpose was actually achieved. Mr. President, the Security Council was not created to count meetings. It was created to prevent wars. When this council fails to focus on real security threats, we all pay a heavy price. Thank you. Thank.

You, Israel, for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Brazil.

Mr. President, I thank Denmark and Pakistan for organizing this open debate. As we know, this council is one of the UN's most visible face to the world. and work here tends to be judged by all our peoples. This makes its working methods a matter of collective interest. Brazil reaffirms its commitment to a more open, transparent, accountable, and inclusive Security Council. No effort should be spared in achieving the full implementation of Presidential Note 507, including the provisions concerning the selection of the chairs of subsidiary bodies. This process should be open, transparent and timely, and should be based on broad consultations with the whole UN membership. An equitable distribution of responsibilities is one of the most effective ways to strengthen the Council's decision-making process. A fair allocation of penholder ships, including co-penholder ships, contributes to greater transparency, accountability and inclusiveness. Permanent members account for around three quarters of all penholderships today. While instances of co-penholdership have increased, this is still a markedly imbalanced arrangement. This imbalance exacerbates the Council's insufficient representativeness and therefore helps erode its legitimacy, given the significant role of penholders. Elected members must participate in negotiations from the earliest stages of the drafting process and assume greater responsibility in the preparation of Council products, a requirement that is undermined by current practice. When debating the Council's working methods, our main reference must always be the letter and the spirit of the Charter. In this regard, there is no contradiction between transparency and effectiveness. Since the Council acts on behalf of the entire membership, transparency and accountability are inherent elements of its functions. These principles must therefore guide all aspects of the Council's work, including one of its important responsibilities under the Charter, which is the recommendation of candidates to the General Assembly for appointment as Secretary-General. Equally important is the inclusiveness of the Council's debates. Whenever appropriate, the Council should prioritize public meetings. The participation of civil society representatives in Council briefings, particularly women, should also be promoted as their perspectives enrich the understanding of complex issues and strengthen the legitimacy of the Council's decisions. The Security Council should also prioritize better coordination, cooperation, and interaction with the other main organs of the UN. while obviously paying due regard to their respective mandates. Substantive consultations among the principal organs can help prevent duplication of work and preserve the Assembly's central role. The Council should also make greater use of the valuable advice and political instruments provided for by the Peacebuilding Commission. It is uniquely positioned to enrich discussions on Council mandates and to offer cross-cutting perspectives and solutions on a wide range of issues, including preventive diplomacy. Lastly, only a comprehensive reform of the Security Council, including the expansion in both categories of membership, will make this body representative of contemporary geopolitical realities. Lack of reform leads to the Council's legitimacy and effectiveness being undermined every day. Developing countries remain underrepresented, and states from entire regions, such as Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa, continue to lack representation in the permanent category. Therefore, any discussion on the Council's working methods must be underpinned by the overarching framework of comprehensive reform. We renew our call for all Member States to redouble their efforts to bring the Security Council into line with contemporary realities. I thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, President. Thank you, President. Thank you, President. Thank you. Thank you, President. Thank you, President. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. President, Mr. President, Mr. President, Mr. President, Mr. there is a strong call from the broader UN membership for the Council to fulfill its primary responsibility under the Charter. Reviewing and improving its working methods is an urgent imperative to ensure that the Council remains effective, credible and responsive. As an elected member of the Council in 2020 and 2021, Vietnam, together with the E10, advocated for greater inclusiveness transparency and broader engagement between the Councils and the wider membership. Drawing on our experience and now from the perspective of a non-Council member, we wish to offer the following observations. First, procedural impasses can have real consequences for the Council's ability to function. The continued challenges in appointing chairs and vice-chairs of subsidiary bodies are a case in point. particularly as many of these bodies are undergoing major review processes. Vietnam encourages Council members to make full use of the process set out in Note 507. This includes early consultation, transparency, inclusivity and fair distribution of responsibilities. Where agreed timelines cannot be met, contingency arrangements could be considered to help ensure that failure to reach agreement does not result in institutional paralysis. Second, transparency should be accompanied by meaningful dialogue. Members should have opportunities to understand processes, contribute views and raise concerns before positions become entrenched. The Council should therefore make early contributions early consultations more systematic and meaningful through strengthening regular and interactive briefings for the wider membership where appropriate. The ongoing discussion on the selection of the next SG presents an important opportunity to do so. While mindful of the process established by the UN Charter, we suggest that the Council engage more systematically with the wider UN membership on its recommendations making process. Regular and formal information sharing with opportunity for interactions would be welcome. Third, we will strengthen inclusivity and share responsibility. The Council's work should benefit fully from the perspective and expertise of all its members. It should also draw on diverse regional perspectives and the experience of States directly affected by issues on the Council agenda. Vietnam therefore encourage further practical and consistent implementation of the principles contained in note 507. There should be opportunities for all Council members to serve as penholders or co-penholders. There should be opportunities for those directly concerned to participate in deliberations and drafting as appropriate. Finally, Vietnam believes that members of the Council should engage meaningfully in the broader effort on security Council reform. We need to address existing imbalances and make the culture more representative, effective, and responsive to current realities. Mr. President, working methods are a means to an end. Predictable procedures, transparent processes, and inclusive participation should create conditions for dialogue, compromise, and effective action. We encourage the Council to be on today's discussion and translate the useful ideas put forward by Member States into practical improvements. Vietnam stand ready to contribute constructively to this effort. I thank you.

Representative of Vietnam for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of South Africa.

Thank you, President. We welcome the convening of this open debate on the working methods of the Council amidst discussions on the broader reform of the United Nations and the process to appoint the next Secretary-General. While these processes are considered by the wider UN membership, A discussion of the working methods of the Council at this time is equally important to achieve a more credible, transparent and effective Security Council. Indeed, the rapidly changing geopolitical environment requires a closer look at the functioning of the Council and how it can improve in delivering on its mandate of maintaining international peace and security. President, We express appreciation to the co-chairs of the Council's informal working group on documentation and other procedural questions, Denmark and Pakistan, for their dedication and continued efforts to improve the working methods of the Council. In this regard, we continue to call for the formal adoption of the Council's rules of procedure to better guide its work and ensure its functioning is free from opaque practices. President, we are concerned by the ever-growing delays in the appointment of the chairs of subsidiary bodies, which for a second consecutive year has compromised the functioning of the Council and the implementation of its resolutions and decisions. This year's delay is based on a seemingly intractable divergence in the Council on the legitimacy of one of its subsidiary bodies. We call on the Council members to resolve this matter as soon as possible, and to adopt practices that prevent such delays. Furthermore, as all Member States are affected by and bound by the Council's resolutions, we encourage the Council to consider providing briefings to the wider membership of the UN on the work of sanctions committees, as has been done by the 1540 Committee. This would afford an opportunity to Member States to provide feedback on how they are implementing the relevant Council resolutions, in support of the work of the different committees. President South Africa is concerned by the Council's inaction in the face of ongoing atrocities and violations such as in Gaza, notwithstanding the fragile ceasefire that's in place, and the continued settler violence and displacement in the West Bank, as well as its failure to call for an urgent end to the hostilities in the Persian Gulf and resumption of negotiations. The Security Council is the primary organ of the United Nations charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. We call for the preservation of the Council's mandate in line with Article 25 of the UN Charter and caution against the outsourcing of its mandate to unrepresentative structures outside of the UN that undermine the sanctity of multilateralism with the United Nations at its core. President, the Council will soon conduct its second straw poll related to the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General. We call on the Council to share the outcomes of such straw polls, as we heard from the briefers this morning as well, and to do so formally with all Member States to ensure transparency and inclusivity, not merely to inform it that a poll has taken place. While we acknowledge improvements in the selection process of the Secretary-General in line with UN General Assembly Resolution 79/327, we also call for transparency in the selection process by the Council prior to the submission of its recommendations to the General Assembly. To give effect to the latter, if the Council is unable to make a single recommendation, it should consider recommending more than one candidate for the General Assembly to decide, on and to exercise its due authority on the matter. President, we also encourage meaningful consultations with member states on the agenda of the Security Council. In recent years, the council's functioning has improved with greater role played by the elected members on the council. This includes a more active role of these members based on their respective comparative expertise and advantages as pen holders for resolutions and various outcomes of the council. We appreciate that the African members of the Council, the A3, have been afforded a greater role in this regard, especially in terms of matters impacting the African continent. We welcome the continued engagement between the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and the UN Security Council to further synergize efforts to bring about lasting peace through the permanent silencing of the guns in Africa. In this regard, we look forward to the review of the Security Council Resolution 2719 and its implementation by the Council in support of African-led peacekeeping operations. President, we have noted with appreciation the efforts undertaken for informal engagement on the annual report of the Council and encourages the continuation of this practice for engagement with the wider UN membership. In this regard, we underscore the need for substantive and substantial annual reports rather than a mere narrative on the activities undertaken by the Council. In conclusion, Mr. President, pending the indispensable structural reform of the UN Security Council, there is much that can be done by the Council to improve its working methods to ensure that it is able to respond to pressing and urgent international peace and security challenges. It has been the elected members of the Council that have led the work in this respect. drawing on Article 24 of the Charter, which provides that the Council members, carrying out their duties under their responsibilities to the Council, act on behalf of all UN Member States. It would be in the best interest of the Council and enhance its integrity if all members of the Council followed this example. I thank you.

I thank the representative of South Africa for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Australia.

Thank you, President. And let me also thank our briefer, Shamila Khandiah-Thomsen, for your contribution today. It's much appreciated. President, the Security Council acts on behalf of all member states in executing its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Working methods, as we're discussing today, matter because they're the means by which the council fulfills that responsibility. We believe that effective, transparent and inclusive ways of working equip the Council to implement its critical mandate. They also allow the wider membership to hold the Council accountable. Australia wishes to make four points. First, we are profoundly concerned by the ongoing delay in appointing chairs of the Council's subsidiary bodies. These bodies undertake much of the essential day-to-day work of the Council and facilitate the provision of valuable information and analysis to all Member States. Regrettably, the delay has deprived all Member States of the full benefit of this important reporting and engagement, and we urge the Council to resolve the current impasse and consider practical options for avoiding similar delays in the future, including by formulating clear written pathways for resolving any disagreements that may arise. Second, The Council is currently engaged in one of its most important tasks, formulating a recommendation to the General Assembly for the appointment of the next Secretary-General. Australia welcomes efforts to make this process more transparent, and it is unfortunate that additional measures could not also be agreed. It will be important to document lessons learnt once the process is complete so that future Council members can benefit from the experience of current members. Third, we reiterate our longstanding concerns regarding the use of the veto, which too often prevents the council from responding meaningfully to crises. We continue to support the ACT code of conduct and the French Mexican initiative. We also urge council members to fully adhere to article 27 three of the charter and support efforts to clarify its provisions. Finally, the conduct of council meetings deserves continued attention. Adherence to speaking time limits by briefers and council members would promote more focused deliberations and help ensure responsible use of limited United Nations resources. President, working methods are more than a technical exercise. They are a critical tool that allows the council to implement its mandate on behalf of the wider membership. And Australia supports a council that is transparent, inclusive, representative, and effective, As candidates for the Council in 2029 and 30, we pledge to work constructively with all Member States to achieve this goal. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Australia for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Spain.

Thank you, Mr President. Thank you for convening this open debate, and since this is the first time that my delegation is taking the floor during your presidency. I would also like to wish you every success in this role. Spain reaffirms its firm commitment to strengthening the methods of work of the Security Council. We are convinced that a Council that is more representative, democratic and transparent is also a more effective organ and better prepared to respond to contemporary challenges of international peace and security. When procedures are inclusive and predictable, legitimacy of the decisions of the council is clearly strengthened. Note S slash 2 2024 slash 507 is a valuable exercise. of consolidation of good practices, which should continue to evolve to respond to the new challenges confronting this Council. Spain considers a priority to strengthen those provisions aimed at ensuring a more systematic interaction between the Council and the membership. For this, it is essential to improve the predictability of the work and timely access to documentation and information. These are essential elements to ensure the inclusivity and effective participation of Member States. The Toledo Formula, introduced by Spain in 2015 during our Presidency of the Council, is a concrete example of how to move in this direction. Wrap-up sessions are not a mere monthly summary, but rather a forum for dialogue, where Permanent Representatives respond to questions. We also believe it's necessary to expand spaces for dialogue and building trust through the more frequent use of informal meetings and interactive dialogues. It's also important to strengthen the practice of sharing drafts of texts well in advance and promote processes of negotiation that are more inclusive. With regard to the application of rules 37 and 39, Spain attaches great importance to the participation of States especially affected by the issues examined by this Council. A coherent, predictable and transparent application of these rules is essential, because the participation of these States offers perspectives and information that is of great value for deliberations. Mr. President, to facilitate broader consensus, it's essential to move towards a more balanced distribution of the work of the Council, especially with regard to the distribution of drafting of resolutions. Spain also supports strengthening cooperation between the Security Council and the General Assembly in line with resolution on the revitalization of the General Assembly, as well as the relations with the Peacebuilding Commission. Lastly, we advocate for greater scrutiny in the use of the veto and strengthening accountability. We urge once again all member states to join the Franco-Mexican initiative that promotes the restraint in the use of veto in case of mass atrocities and the code of conduct of the ACT Group, but we believe that both initiatives should be incorporated to the rules of procedure of the Council. We also recall that Article 27.3 of the Charter is applicable to all members of the Council. Mr. President, to conclude, methods of work of the Council must adapt to respond adequately to contemporary realities. Our common objective should be to make sure that the provision, these provisions lead to tangible practices and results that strengthen the legitimacy and the effectiveness of the Security Council. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Spain for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Thank you, Mr. President, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is grateful for the efforts of Denmark and Pakistan, co-chairs in 2025 of the informal working group on documentation and other procedural issues in preparing this session. We reaffirm that transparency, openness, inclusion, and accountability must guide all the activities approaches and procedures of the Security Council in conformity with the comprehensive compendium set down in note 507 adopted on the 13th of December of 2024. A council that works with clear, predictable methods strengthens the legitimacy of its decisions in the eyes of all the members of the United Nations. As far as penholdership, we reiterate our concern about the use of this mechanism to promote particular agendas at the expense of collective approaches geared towards consensus. We reaffirm that those who are penholders or co-penholders must act responsibly with impartiality and commitment to reliable sources and reiterate the need of a more equitable distribution of this function. including greater participation of elected members, and in particular the three African members, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Somalia, with regard to topics pertaining to their own regions, as well as the elaboration of terms of reference that are clear in terms of pen holdership. On the balance between public and private sessions, we value the fact that in 2025, a vast majority of Security Council meetings was in public format. We encourage that this trend be maintained as a general rule, reserving private consultations for those cases where it is where they're essential to promote a frank and constructive exchange between the Council's members. We also highlight the importance of strengthening the interaction between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, as envisioned in Note 507 and based on the conclusions of the 2025 review of the peacebuilding architecture, including requests for more specific consultation and interactive informal dialogues prior to visiting missions of the Council. We encourage the development of missions of the Council to visit conflict situations, which has been a practice since its first mission to Cambodia and Vietnam in 1964. These missions must be of a diplomatic character to collect firsthand information and support peace processes, always while strictly respecting the sovereignty of the host country. These missions offer members of the Council the possibility of understanding directly the realities on the ground and maintain contact with local actors. We therefore encourage to restore the-- to use this instrument with greater regularity, including through smaller missions when budgetary limitations require it, to establish an essential mechanism for an informed and effective exercise of the functions of the council in the area of maintaining international peace and security. Lastly, The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reiterates that strengthening the methods of work of the Security Council is not an end in itself, but rather a means to consolidate multilateralism, the rule of law, and strict respect for the purposes and principles of the Charter. We once again reiterate our firm commitment to continue contributing in a constructive way so that the Council acts with greater transparency, efficiency, inclusion and accountability without double standards or selective approaches and fulfilling its primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. And I now give the floor to the representative of the Philippines. You have the floor, please.

Mr. President, the Philippines thanks both Denmark for convening this important annual debate and Ms. Sharmila Thompson for insightful briefing. The effectiveness of the Security Council depends not only on the decisions it takes, but more importantly on its decision-making processes and the working methods underpinning these processes. The Council's working methods are therefore integral to strengthening the Council's legitimacy, credibility and capacity to discharge its responsibilities under the Charter. We therefore welcome Presidential Note S/2024/507 as a practical framework for making the Council's work more transparent, inclusive, accountable, and effective. The challenge is to ensure its faithful and consistent implementation. Mr. President, in our view, strengthening dialogue and interaction with the wider United Nations membership are key. Member States should have genuine opportunities to contribute to the Council's decision-making processes. Meaningful participation and contribution mean more than the opportunity to address the council in meetings such as this. We therefore welcome the note's emphasis on early engagement and consultation, including close consultations with concerned states, neighboring countries, regional organizations, and other stakeholders as appropriate during the process of drafting the council's products. This should become standard practice. In this regard, as ASEAN Chair this year, we put forth ASEAN's perspective in the Council open debates on maritime security and the rule of law. These engagements demonstrated how regional experience in preventive diplomacy, confidence building international law, and practical cooperation with regional groups can enrich the Council's deliberations. We likewise encourage the consistent use of rules 37 and 39, informal interactive dialogues with the relevant non-members, ARIA formula meetings and open debates among others, so that the views and perspectives of the wider membership can be taken into account on any dispute or situation under the Council's consideration. Council Presidents are also encouraged to continue interactive wrap-up sessions and informal dialogues with the wider membership. Elected members should also continue briefing and engaging their respective regional groups on council issues. We're also concerned by the delay this year in constituting the council's subsidiary bodies. This has affected the participation and engagement of the wider membership of the council. So we support suggestions raised by E10 and the briefer this morning to revisit and strengthen certain sections of the note. On the appointment of the UN Secretary General, we encourage the council to provide the wider membership with public information on the outcome of the straw polls, consistent with the respective roles of the General Assembly and the Security Council in the selection and appointment process, bearing in mind rule 141 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. More generally, as principal organs of the United Nations, Ways and means beyond the annual Security Council report should be considered to enhance the relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council, as is being done between the General Assembly and the ECOSOC. Mr. President, more open, transparent, inclusive, and predictable Council working methods would contribute, in our view, to a more effective Council. By engaging earlier, listening more broadly, and drawing systematically on the perspective of the wider membership, the council can make decisions that would command more ownership and thus lead to more active participation of the general membership in implementing council decisions. In conclusion, the Philippines encourages the faithful implementation of the presidential note S-2024-507 and strengthening the provisions where experience demonstrates such need. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the Philippines for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Guatemala.

Mr. President, Guatemala would like to thank Denmark for convening this annual debate and reiterates its support for a more transparent, inclusive, and effective Security Council. We also thank As my delegation has noted on previous occasions, working methods are not a purely procedural matter. They determine the legitimacy with which this organ exercises the primary responsibility conferred upon it by the Charter, and their impact transcends the Council itself, as it bears on the legitimacy of the United Nations as a whole. For that reason, Guatemala wishes to reiterate four priorities. First, we note with concern the consistent delay in the allocation of chairs of subsidiary bodies, which this year have once again affected the functioning of sanctions committees and working groups. In previous years, the Council has already heard various proposals aimed at improving the process for allocating these chairs. In that regard, we call for continued consideration of these proposals and for the adoption of measures to prevent this situation from recurring. We also recall that Note 507 indicates that Council members are committed to making every effort to agree on the appointment of chairs for the following year no later than the first of October. In that regard, we call for the full and predictable implementation of Note 507. Second, Guatemala considers it essential to continue promoting restraint in the use of the veto. We recognize the value of the mechanism established for the General Assembly to consider situations in which this prerogative is exercised, and renew our call on the permanent members to refrain from using it in situations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Third, Guatemala favors broadening access to penholdership and more equitable distribution in the assignment of the penholder. including co-penholdership arrangements with clear terms of reference, would help strengthen the quality and legitimacy of the Council's decisions. Finally, within the framework of the process for selecting the next Secretary-General, we consider it equally important that this process be conducted with the highest standards of transparency and inclusiveness toward the General Membership. Mr. President, the Security Council's capacity to maintain international peace and security will be strengthened insofar as it acts with transparency, openness, and efficiency, while remaining responsive to the perspectives of the United Nations membership. Guatemala will continue to support, from within the General Membership, every genuine effort aimed at strengthening the implementation and continuing the modernization of the working methods of this Council, as an indispensable step towards a broader and necessary reform of the organ. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Guatemala for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Kenya.

Mr. President, I applaud Denmark's presidency and thank you for convening this important discussion. I would also like to thank Ms. Shamala Thompson for her briefing. Kenya welcomes the continued evolution of the Security Council's working methods and the guidance that note S/2024/507 provides. Having served on the Security Council across three distinct eras, most recently in 2021, 2022, Kenya has witnessed firsthand how changes in the international system have shaped the Council's agenda and working methods. In our experience, effective working methods must adapt to changing realities while strengthening how authority is exercised, consensus built, and the Council's legitimacy and effectiveness sustained. Mr. President, allow me to make five general observations in line with today's debate. First, Note 507 serves as an important compendium of the Council's working methods. However, some provisions are unevenly applied depending on the circumstances, the Presidency or the composition of the Council, thereby impacting on the Council's work. We therefore encourage periodic reviews of the implementation and application of the codified practices to help identify recurring difficulties, capture lessons learned, and recommend practical adjustments to ensure that Note 507 remains responsive to the council's evolving needs. Second, all council members have a voice and a vote, but this does not always translate into equal procedural influence. Asymmetries in access to information, Agenda setting, penholdership, institutional memory and established working practices can constrain the ability of elected members to shape outcomes. To address this, we encourage a more inclusive decision-making process and collective ownership of the council's work. Regional perspectives could, where relevant, be incorporated at an early stage of drafting. on matters with significant regional implications and more opportunities for pen holdership could be afforded to elected members as co-leads on selected files. Third, occasional deadlocks in the selection and appointment of chairs and vice chairs of subsidiary bodies paralyze those institutions. To unlock such deadlocks, we encourage early consultations to ensure timely appointment of the leadership of the subsidiary bodies. We also call for a fair distribution of responsibilities among all Council members. Fourth, Mr. President, Rules 37 and 39 provide important avenues for meaningful participation by non-Council members in this Council's deliberations. Kenya supports the predictable, consistent and purposeful application of the rules and encourages the council to engage regional and sub-regional organizations more systematically, building on the regional perspectives and expertise. The council should make more strategic use of the peacebuilding commission where its engagement can add value to the prevention and sustenance of peace or of the global peace agenda. Fifth, The working methods should help manage rather than deepen political divisions. The Council is currently operating in an increasingly polarized geopolitical environment where existing divisions can sometimes compound political contestations. These situations call for informal approaches such as retreats and consultations to narrow differences and build understanding before positions become entrenched, making disagreement more manageable and consensus more attainable. This approach should guide major processes involving the wider membership, including the selection of the Secretary-General, where transparency, inclusiveness and merit should be pursued with regard to the respective prerogatives of the General Assembly and the Security Council. Mr. President, going forward, we propose that the next phase of discussion focus not only on the standards we've endorsed, but on how consistently those standards are applied, particularly under conditions of political pressure and procedural complexity. Kenya recognizes the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to make it more effective and representative. We acknowledge the complementary role of the reform of working methods and that structural reform of the Security Council and reaffirm our determination to work together towards this end. Questions of representation, membership and the veto remain essential and must continue to be addressed. We encourage meaningful participation by the wider UN membership in discussions geared towards making the Security Council's working methods more predictable, inclusive, transparent, accountable and adaptive to contemporary realities. I thank you.

Thank you, representative of Kenya, for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Paraguay.

Thank you, Mr. President. First of all, we want to wish you every success in your presidency. Our delegation is grateful for the opportunity to take the floor in this debate, and we would like to congratulate the Danish presidency of the Security Council, because we understand that annual debates on the methods of work of this Council are of extreme importance for the evolution of an efficient collegial body that is capable of fulfilling the mandate and doubt by the charter. We're also grateful to the director for her briefing. Mr. President, the burden of maintaining international peace and security makes this organ responsible for ensuring that the three pillars of work of the United Nations can care can operate smoothly. Its work has impact on other sectors such as ECOSOC, the establishment and launch of peacekeeping operations as a guarantee of human rights, peacebuilding commission, the International Court of Justice, the membership, and generally speaking, the entire implementation of the peace building architecture. One of the first points to highlight is that the Council continues to work on the basis of provisional rules. In order to ensure greater transparency, stability and legal predictability, it is necessary to update and adopt rules that formalize the conditions that make it possible for the Council to work effectively, predictability in the appointment of chairs and vice-chairs of subsidiary bodies. the rotational presidency with guarantees to ensure that non-permanent members can fulfill this function at least once during their membership, transparency in the process of negotiations on resolutions, presidential statements and notes that affect the rules. These are topics that are of great importance given the influence of the Council within the United Nations. This procedural situation in fact underscores the imbalance of power not only between the permanent and non permanent members, but also between members of the Council and the membership generally speaking. Mr. President, the relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council continues to be a very important aspect. Our delegation considers that this should be strengthened and that the Council should acknowledge that its legitimacy depends on respect of the full membership and the strict compliance with its mandate, is why it should make efforts to become more representative, transparent, effective and responsible vis-a-vis its decisions. The peace and security pillar is under is being examined by the international community, even though it's not a universal body, the work of the Security Council is a global thermometer of the effectiveness of the work of the United Nations in terms of maintaining international peace and security. With this in mind, we welcome the efforts of the informal working group on documentation and other procedural issues for the publication of its annual report guided by the principles of openness, dialogue and inclusion. This should continue. Mr. President, Member States have witnessed great divergences that exist with regard to the use of the veto during the last session of intergovernmental negotiations on the reform of this organ, Paraguay considers that the veto should be abolished, be limited or formally restricted, especially for cases that include measures aimed at preventing the most serious crimes or mass atrocities. Likewise, it's very important to be aware that the use of this right implies great responsibility and ultimately should be used with full responsibility and should lead to accountability in line with the principle of legal equality among all states. Along the same lines, we consider that the members of the United Nations cannot implement the Charter in a selective manner, which is why we urge for the full application of Article 27. The quality of annual reports of the Council are an obligation towards the plenary of the General Assembly, and we believe they should be less descriptive and more in-depth in terms of analysis and and should include analysis of the most delicate decisions that the Council has taken. Finally, Paraguay is in favor of the process of selecting the Secretary General as transparent as possible based on equity. And we also believe that it's very important that the role of the General Assembly is not limited to simply rubber stamping the recommendation of the Security Council. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Paraguay for their statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of El Salvador.

Mr. President, El Salvador is grateful for convening this debate and for your work in promoting ongoing reflection on methods of work of the Security Council. We reaffirm the positions that have been expressed in the past by our delegation in previous debates on the need for a Council that is more transparent, inclusive, representative, and effective. Today, we want to focus on a number of areas where we believe it is necessary to make more concrete progress. First of all, I would like to highlight the relationship between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. My country has consistently advocated for strengthening the complementarity between both organs and as a current member of the Commission, we reaffirm our commitment to actively contribute to strengthening this relationship. The Commission could offer the Council a preventive perspective, a long-term preventive perspective based on national appropriation and a more in-depth knowledge of the factors that sustain peace. However, for this contribution to have impact, it must take place at time when it can still have an effect on decisions. We also urge the Council or those who exercise drafting functions to systematically solicit the input of the Commission, in particular before renewal of mandates or during transition processes, and to formulate more specific requests that allow the Commission to offer timely and relevant recommendations. Note 507 promotes instruments to achieve this, including informal interactive dialogues with the presidency of the Commission and specific country configurations. Secondly, it's impossible to separate the methods of work from the impact of the veto. El Salvador reiterates our profound concern about its use and the consequences that it continues to have on the capacity of the Council to act in the face of threats to international peace and security. This concern is not limited to the formal veto. The threat, whether explicit or implicit, of its use could also prevent proposals from being submitted, negotiated or subject to voting. In other words, the paralysis of the Council is not always reflected in its voting records. This is why we support continuing to explore measures that limit its use, strengthen transparency regarding its effects, and strengthen existing mechanisms of accountability. With this in mind, we reaffirm our support for resolution 76/262 and the role of the General Assembly when the Council is not capable of acting. We consider that accountability must encompass not only decisions that the Council adopts, but also those that it has not managed to adopt. Thirdly, we want to refer to the function of penholder-ship and co-penholder-ship. The ten elected members represent two-thirds of the membership of the Council and therefore offer regional perspectives, experience and political capability that should make a contribution of substance in elaborating the decisions of the Council. We value the gradual expansion of co-chairmanship arrangements between permanent members and elected these arrangements could combine institutional memory with regional knowledge and contribute to expanding legitimacy and support for the products of the Council. However, penholdership should go further. It requires real responsibilities, early consultations and sufficient time to negotiate and to seek genuine consensus. This responsibility also includes listening to those who will need to implement the decisions adopted, and in particular before renewing or changing peacekeeping mandates, PAM holders or Co-PAM holders should maintain substantive consultations with, in a timely way, troop contributing countries and police contributing countries, and their opinions must be duly considered in elaborating these texts. These consultations cannot simply become a formal exercise. They should make it possible for decisions of the Council to reflect the operational realities on the ground. Fourthly, The process underway, the selection and appointment of the next Secretary General, is concrete proof of the transparency and inclusiveness that we are seeking to strengthen. We value the progress achieved in the participation of membership and we believe it is essential to preserve this through all the phases of this process. Transparency, should not diminish as the process advances toward the Council. There should be a strict close coordination and continued coordination with the General Assembly, predictable rules and equitable access to relevant information for all member states. The future leader of the organization must come from a process that strengthens rather than reduces the confidence of the membership of the United Nations. Lastly, we reiterate that the full, egalitarian and meaningful participation of women must continue to be part and parcel of the methods of work of the Council. This requires not only ensuring their participation as rapporteurs, but also systematically incorporating the analysis on the differentiated impact of conflicts on women and girls in the deliberations and decisions of the Council. Mr. President, The methods of work are not merely a procedural issue. They determine who participates, who can influence a decision, what perspectives are heeded, and ultimately the capacity of the Council to act. El Salvador will continue to contribute to these efforts, convinced that a more inclusive Council and its procedures will be a more legitimate Council and more effective in its decisions. Thank you.

I thank the representative of El Salvador for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Belgium.

Mr. President, Excellencies, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Benelux countries, a longstanding regional partnership compromising Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and my own country, Belgium. On the outset, we thank the Danish Presidency for having convened this open debate on the working methods of the Security Council. We also wish to sincerely thank the Executive Director of Security Council Report for her briefing and recommendations. The Benelux countries firmly believe that improving the working methods of the Security Council is essential to strengthening its transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and effectiveness. At a time when the credibility of multilateral institutions is at stake, improving working methods is fundamental. We would like to highlight four points. Firstly, we share the concerns voiced by many delegations regarding the current deadlock in the appointment of chairs and vice-chairs of subsidiary bodies. A record delay has severely affected the work of the Council. Delays should not become the norm. We encourage Council members to identify practical solutions and contingency measures. that will ensure the timely allocation of these responsibilities and the uninterrupted functioning of the Council's subsidiary organs. Secondly, on the forthcoming appointment of the next Secretary General, this is of critical importance for the United Nations. The Benelux countries continue to advocate for a fair, transparent and inclusive selection process conducted on an equal basis for all candidates and fully in line with relevant General Assembly resolutions and established good practices. We welcome the public hearings of candidates and the improvement of the preliminary stages of the selection process. However, transparency could be enhanced, in particular, if the Security Council could communicate the results of the straw polls it conducts. More broadly, we see clear merit in further strengthening the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly. Enhanced exchanges between these two organs can contribute to greater accountability, transparency, and trust across the membership. The General Assembly's role as the most representative body of the United Nations should be fully reflected in these efforts. Thirdly, according to Article 24 of the Charter, the Security Council acts on behalf of the entire membership of the United Nations. Its working methods should therefore be as transparent and inclusive as possible. We encourage the continued use of mechanisms that facilitate meaningful exchanges with the wider membership, including area formula meetings, direct interactions with stakeholders, NGOs and civil society representatives. These can enrich the Council's understanding of ongoing crises. We also support strengthening interaction between the Security Council, the General Assembly, ECOSOC and the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as ensuring that the Council benefits from relevant expertise across the United Nations system, including from the human rights pillar. And finally, the continued use and threat of use of the veto remains one of the principal obstacles to the Council's ability to fulfill its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Benelux countries reiterated support for initiatives aimed at promoting restraint in the use of the veto, particularly in situations involving mass atrocities. We also welcome efforts by the General Assembly to enhance accountability following the use of a veto. We further recall the importance of Article 27 of the Charter, which stipulates that a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting. Respect for this provision would strengthen confidence in the impartiality and credibility of the Council. Mr. President, the Benelux countries remain firmly committed to supporting improvements to the working methods of the Security Council. A more transparent, inclusive and effective Council is in the interest of all Member States and essential to the credibility of our multilateral system. I thank you.

Thank you for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Ecuador.

Mr. President, The methods of work are essential for the functioning of the Security Council and for the credibility of the United Nations itself. They cannot be considered as a merely procedural matter. Article 24, paragraph 1 of the Charter is clear. Member States confer on the Security Council the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, and the Council acts on their behalf. If the Council acts on behalf of the Member States or in their name, it's a matter of operation is not only concerned its 15 members. A restrictive interpretation of Article 30 of the Charter does not apply here. A Council that is more democratic and representative does not depend only on those who are seated around this table. or in the consultation chamber, but also it depends on how it functions and how it exercises its duty of representation. Exactly 20 years ago and one month, note S/2006/507 was adopted, known as note 507. There has been progress, although there are still many challenges in terms of transparency, participation, inclusivity, the capacity to take decision, the system of penholders, distribution of chairs of subsidiary bodies. Ecuador acknowledges the progress achieved. The adoption of updated note 507 in December of 2024 was an important step. This happened when Ecuador was still a member of the Security Council. However, updating the methods of work is not sufficient if the Security Council is not capable of applying them. If the Council has difficulties to agree on the necessary rules for its functioning, this cannot be considered as a minor procedural issue. It affects its capacity to fulfill its mandate. difficulties in selecting the chairs and co-chairs of subsidiary bodies is a concrete example of what I'm talking about. The brilliant intervention of the Security Council report, Shamala Thompson, this morning frees me from having to go in depth on this issue. I completely agree with what you said on this point and the suggestion your suggestions to overcome these impasses. Mr. President, colleagues, I would also make a key suggestion here. Just as the subsidiary organs of the Economic and Social Council are occupied sometimes by countries that are not members of the ECOSOC, subsidiary organs of the Security Council could The subsidiary organs of the Security Council could indeed include countries that are not members of the Security Council. This would encourage a broader participation of Member States in the work of the Security Council. I would encourage in particular the E-10 to promote a discussion, a broad and serious discussion on this proposal. Mr. President, improving methods of work will not resolve all the divisions within the Council, but it is possible and necessary to make progress to strengthen its legitimacy, efficiency and representation. Laurence Severs, Director of the Security Council Procedures in this same chamber, said four years ago, "Battle lines can be drawn by such minor steps." When the opacity appears to surround the functioning of this Council, this could increase the feeling of distrust and even of illegitimacy. However, even in times of division, as are the current times, If there is an impression that the Council is making a good effort in good faith to ensure clarity in its methods of work, this could contribute to promoting a cooperative partnership with the membership in general." I would echo these comments because I agree with them and because I believe that in spite of the challenges, and I have witnessed the fact that when the Council has wanted to, it has proven its capacity to improve and resolve its problems. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Ecuador for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Burundi.

Thank you, President. Thank you for convening this open debate on the Security Council's working methods. This debate is of particular importance at a time when conflicts are multiplying. When humanitarian crises are worsening and where trust in multilateralism is being sorely tested, the credibility of the Security Council depends not only on its capacity to take decisions, but also on the way in which these decisions are drafted, adopted and implemented. Note S/2024/507 is, in this connection, an important tool. It brings together practices and commitments that seek to make the council more transparent, more inclusive, more effective and more efficient. For Burundi, however, the main challenge remains its effective implementation. Working methods only have value if they are applied consistently, predictably and equitably. We should also recognize that there are still some gaps in this. Some practices are not implemented equally. Participation of states directly concerned is not sufficiently predictable. Some procedures don't have clear deadlines and consensus is often hindered by political differences between members of the council. It's on these questions that Burundi would like to focus its intervention. and in doing so we would like to make a few recommendations. Firstly, the Security Council should increase the participation of states directly concerned because decisions are made that have concrete consequences on the people and the states who are not members of the Council. Their voice needs to be heard. Burundi believes that the application of Articles 37 and 39 of the provisional rules of procedure should allow real and substantial participation of States who are directly concerned or particularly affected by the issues on the agenda. Their participation should not be seen as simply a procedural formality. A state that is directly concerned must be able to present its reading of the situation, must be able to explain the realities in the field and share its concerns and contribute to discussions before the Council takes a decision that could affect it. We would therefore propose that when relevant, more clear criteria, more consistent criteria be applied to identify situations where the participation of concerned states is particularly important, all the while fully respecting the prerogatives of the president and the rules of the council. Secondly, we'd recommend making the working methods more inclusive, and this would help reduce divisions within the council. Burundi recognizes the usefulness of the penholder system to allow the council to react swiftly to crises. However, this effect, Effectiveness should also be inclusive. The preparation of texts must be seen as a process allowing for consensus to be found, rather than a process concentrated between a limited number of Members. In this connection, we encourage earlier sharing of draft texts. substantial consultations with all members of the Council, early consultation with the States directly concerned, and better take into account the expertise of regional and sub-regional organisations, and, when necessary, a reasonable time frame allowing for capitals to examine the drafts. We'd also encourage a more systematic use of informal consultations and discussions upstream in order to identify areas of divergence before they become dead ends. The role of a penholder must be one of facilitating consensus, not monopolizing negotiations and how negotiations are led. For Burundi, the transparency of the process for negotiation, early consultation, and the search for common ground are the most effective ways of reducing divisions within the Council. Thirdly, transparency and access to information should be improved. Burundi believes that all Member States must be able to understand, as much as possible, how decisions of the Council are prepared and how they're implemented. We therefore encourage more systematic use of digital tools to facilitate access to Council documentation, particularly for delegations who have more limited capacity. We also encourage the continued publication and regular update of information regarding the Council's working methods. Transparency. doesn't mean that all discussions need to be public, it means that procedures need to be clear, accessible and applied consistently. Burundi also believes that more systematic follow-up of the implementation of note 507 would be useful. Periodic evaluations of council practices would allow progress that's been made to be identified, but it would also identify areas where commitments aren't sufficiently applied. Fourthly, we should also improve the process for appointing chairs and vice chairs of subsidiary bodies. A delay in appointment of them is a particularly worrying issue. These bodies play an essential role in the implementation of Council decisions, particularly on sanctions, counter-terrorism and indeed on the follow-up of some files. When they are delayed in their work, the whole efficiency of the Council is affected. Burundi believes that the procedure set forth in paragraphs 124 to 129 of note 507 should be strengthened further by further transparency and early consultations. The current difficulties seem particularly, would appear to be linked to a lack of sufficiently swift agreement between members of the council and a lack of, and also late consultations and the need to strike an acceptable balance in how responsibilities are distributed. We would therefore encourage the establishment of a more clear calendar sufficiently upstream of appointment and also early consultations between members of the council and also procedure allowing to quickly identify nominations or preferences from members and active the seeking of consensus before disagreements become deadlocks and also distribution of responsibilities that takes into account the capacities, experience and as much as possible equitable representation between different regions. The aim must be to avoid that a procedural issue delays for a long time the functioning of a subsidiary body. Fifth, we should also strengthen relations between the Security Council, the General Assembly and regional organizations. The Security Council acts on behalf of all members of the organization. It should therefore be able to maintain a close dialogue with the entire UN community. Burundi attaches particular importance to the idea of strengthening relations between the Security Council and the General Assembly. We encourage regular discussions between the presidents of the two bodies, as well as a more substantial dialogue, substantive dialogue on issues of common interest. We also believe that cooperation with regional organizations must be strengthened. For Burundi, this is of particular importance because of the strategic relationship between the United Nations and the African Union. Regional organizations often have the historic, political and operational knowledge of the situations that the Council should make the most of, that therefore should make the most of regional expertise. should not only be mobilized once a crisis is already there, it should be included from the very first stages of prevention, mediation and solution seeking. Sixthly, we should also ensure that the work of the Council is closely aligned with the realities in the field. Working methods should allow the Council to better understand the reality that people are facing Burundi continues therefore to support more regular field missions of the Security Council particularly to regions that are directly affected by conflict presence in the field allow members of the Security Council to hear directly from national authorities, regional organizations, affected communities, humanitarian actors and other stakeholders. It could contribute to improving the quality of decisions made and it could also strengthen their ownership. A Council that listens more is a Council that can take better decisions. President, Burundi believes that the reform of the working methods of the Security Council should serve a broader goal. which is to make the Council more representative, more transparent, more inclusive, more effective and more legitimate in the eyes of all Member States. We should, however, recognise one reality. Improving the working methods, as necessary as it may be, cannot alone resolve all the political differences that are affecting the Council. However, it can create the conditions for a more constructive dialogue, for better understanding of the positions of different members, and also it can help find consensus more effectively. In a world that is so profoundly divided, we need a council that is able to reach consensus without renouncing upon its mandate, able to listen without losing its capacity to act and to take decisions without moving even further away from states directly concerned. Multilateralism can only be restored by new, it cannot be only restored by new rules, it must also be restored by confidence, trust, dialogue, inclusion and consistent application of existing rules. To conclude, Burundi reaffirms that it is ready to work with all member states to contribute to the continuous improvement of the Security Council's working methods. A more open Council will be a credible Council. A more inclusive Council will be a more legitimate Council. And a Council that is more effective will be better able to serve international peace and security. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Burundi for their statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Sierra Leone.

Thank you, Mr. President. I thank Denmark, holding the presidency this month, for convening this open debate on the implementation of note S/2024/507, and express appreciation to Denmark and Pakistan for the concept note for this open debate. I also thank Ms. Shamila Kandeer-Thomson, Executive Director of Security Council Report, for a very insightful briefing. Working methods matter because they determine whether the Council can take the prompt and effective action entrusted to it under Article 24 of the Charter. Acting on behalf of all Member States under Article 24 and in view of Article 25, the Council must ensure that its procedures command confidence across wider membership of the UN. Ser Leone accordingly regards the council's working methods as Central to the legitimacy Effectiveness and accountability of the council note 507 provides a valuable framework it should however remain a living instrument continuously reviewed against actual experience and strengthened wherever gaps may arise Mr. President Africa's position reflected in the African reform model calls for an accessible, accountable, democratic, representative and more effective Council, especially in an enlarged format. We acknowledge the progress achieved thus far, yet more remains to be done. I will thus highlight five areas. implementation must be more systematic and measurable. We support strengthening the informal working group on documentation and other procedural questions and developing concise annual indicators of implementation, gaps and corrective measures. The digital working methods handbook should be kept continuously updated as a transparent repository of praxis and precedent particularly for incoming members. Second, greater inclusion and shared responsibility are essential. Penholdership remains an important source of influence over council outcomes. We welcome the increased use of co-penholderships and encourage broader, more equitable sharing, particularly on issues affecting the regions of elected members. Early consultations and facilitation should resolve differences before they entrench, so that innovative methods serve consensus building rather than workload management. Third, agreeing the chairs and vice-chairs of subsidiary bodies remains a recurring difficulty that requires a durable solution. Paragraphs 124 to 129 of note 507 provide a useful framework, but the unprecedented delays of recent years show that voluntary consultation alone is not enough. Consultation should begin immediately following each council election, supported by a transparent overview of available positions, and guided by equitable geographical distribution and fair burden sharing. The 1 October target should be a firm political deadline. Crucially, we should agree in advance what happens when that deadline is not met. The Council already relies on objective mechanisms to prevent impasse. including the monthly rotation of the presidency in English alphabetical order and the drawing of lots for matters such as order of speakers. Sierra Leone thus proposes a comparable default. Any chairs or vice-chairs left unassigned by the deadline would be allocated by a pre-agreed objective method, such as rotation or the drawing of lots. applied transparently and adjusted only to preserve equitable geographical distribution and relevant expertise. This would ensure that no subsidiary body is left without leadership and remove the incentive to hold the entire package hostage for unrelated concessions. Consensus would remain the rule for establishing any new subsidiary body. the default would govern only the distribution of leadership, with existing chairs continuing in place until successors are agreed. Fourth, Rules 37 and 39 should be applied consistently and predictably. States whose interests are specially affected should have a meaningful opportunity to participate, particularly where Council action bears directly on their security, sovereignty, territorial integrity, or peace process. Rule 39 briefers should be selected for expertise, relevance, and independence, with their full, safe, and meaningful participation assured. Fifth, the Council must deepen engagement with the wider membership, the General Assembly, the Peacebuilding Commission, regional organizations, troop and police contributing countries, and affected states. The selection of the next Secretary-General is an important test. While respecting the prerogatives of the two organs, it should benefit from early substantive engagement and remain guided by merit, competence, integrity, and broad confidence. Mr. President, for Sierra Leone and Africa, these questions carry particular weight. As the continent remains grossly underrepresented in the Council, it has a strong interest in a Council that listens to affected regions, works with regional organizations, and reflects contemporary realities. At a time when confidence in multilateralism is under strain, the Council cannot afford working methods that entrench paralysis. Sierra Leone therefore calls for measurable implementation of Note 507, more equitable penholdership, timely and fair allocation of subsidiary body leadership backed by an objective default mechanism, consistent application of rules 37 and 39, and stronger engagement with the wider membership. I thank you.

Thank the representative of Sierra Leone for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Namibia.

Thank you, Mr. President. Namibia thanks Denmark for convening this important debate on note 507. which contains important provisions aimed at strengthening transparency, inclusivity, accountability, and effectiveness of the Security Council. I also thank Madam Shamala Kandiah-Thomson for her comprehensive briefing. At a time when multilateralism is being tested by escalating conflicts, deepening geopolitical rivalries, and declining trust in multilateral institutions, the working methods of the Security Council must serve as a tool for building consensus and an essential determinant of the Council's legitimacy, credibility, and capacity to discharge its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations in a manner that is representative, transparent, and responsive to contemporary realities. Mr. President, the adoption of Note 507 was an important achievement, yet its value will ultimately be measured not by what it contains, but by how faithful it is implemented. Too often, agreed working methods are applied selectively, while divisions among council members continue to impede timely and decisive action in situations where international community expects leadership. Namibia is particularly concerned that entrenched divisions among Council members continue to undermine its effective action to threats to international peace and security. To bridge these divisions, members of the Council should renew their commitment to genuine dialogue. compromise and the spirit of Article 24 of the Charter, placing the interests of international peace and security above narrow geopolitical considerations. In this context, Namibia joins other delegations in deplored the continued challenges and delays experienced in the appointment of chairs and vice-chairs of the Security Councils subsidiary bodies. The designation of these chairs should remain a technical and practical exercise guided by consensus, fairness and the collective interest of the Council. Consistent with provisions in para 103 and para 104 of note 507, Namibia strongly believes that the Council is most effective when it benefits from the perspectives of all UN member states, regional and sub-regional organizations, especially the African Union, and affected populations to advance principles of regional ownership and collective security that are at the heart of the charter of the United Nations. Mr. President, more inclusive penholdership arrangements can contribute to stronger ownership of Council's products. The relevant provisions should be implemented in a manner that enables Council members, particularly those representing regions directly affected by issues under consideration, to play meaningful roles in drafting and shaping Council outcomes. The relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly should be viewed as an ongoing and evolving process with both organs continuously exploring innovative ways to further strengthen their interaction in a manner that is mutually reinforcing, contemporary and fully consistent with their respective mandates. Greater interaction between these principal organs can ensure that concerns of the wider membership are adequately reflected in Council deliberations. As I conclude, Mr. President, the legitimacy deficit of the Security Council cannot be fully addressed through procedural reforms alone. While improved working methods can enhance transparency and efficiency, they cannot substitute the comprehensive Security Council reform. The persistent underrepresentation of Africa remains a historic injustice that weakens the legitimacy of the Council. Until such reform is realized, existing working methods must be implemented in a manner that amplifies the voices of underrepresented regions and ensures equitable participation in the Council's decision-making processes. The international community, does not judge the Security Council by the number of contents of documents it adopts. It judges the Council by its ability to prevent conflict, protect vulnerable populations, and respond effectively when peace and security are threatened. The implementation of Note 507 and the continued strengthening of the Council's working methods offer an opportunity to rebuild trust, improve cooperation and enhance the Council's relevance. Let us ensure that transparency is not selective, inclusivity is not symbolic and accountability is not optional. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of Namibia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Saudi Arabia.

Thank you, President. First of all, I would like to thank the missions of Denmark and Pakistan for organizing this debate, which allows all Member States to share their visions and points of view on the working methods of the Council. I would also like to thank Ms. Thompson, Executive Director of the Security Council Report, for her briefing. We welcome her essential role and commend her tireless efforts in this field. We support her recommendations. President, this session is being held at a critical time, which means that we all need to examine the dysfunctioning which is preventing the Council from meeting its mandate. My country has always called for fostering the principles of transparency and objectivity in the working methods of the Council so that it is then able to fully exercise its mandate. The Council needs to be reformed to make it more transparent and effective and to allow greater participation of Member States in its work. Thus, the Council can shoulder its responsibilities to maintain international peace and security in line with the Charter. President, in this connection, we believe that we need to improve the working methods of the Council, but this must be part, form part of a broader reform of the Council. This reform is not simply an issue of the composition of representation, but it also is a question of working methods and how they interact with other Member States. In this connection, my country supports the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform. to achieve global reform that reflects the reality of the international community and it would strengthen equitable representation and it would benefit from broad support from member states. Consultations should be more transparent and non-members of the council need to have access to the products or the outcomes of the work of the council. There are currently difficulties being faced in appointing the chairs of the subsidiary bodies and we've seen this year an unprecedented delay in these appointments. This is having an impact on the council's consideration of critical files and we hope that the council members will agree on this to ensure equitable distribution and balanced distribution of responsibilities to allow for work to continue. The work of the working group on documentation and other procedural questions and also the process for implementing note 507, all of these efforts are a step in the right direction. Particularly as part of the work on the veto, which has a negative impact, the veto on the work of the council. The link between the Secret Council, the General Assembly and ECOSOC should also be improved because this is the best way of improving the effectiveness of the work of the United Nations broadly. Several measures have been adopted to this end to increase transparency and effectiveness. However, so far we haven't yet managed to find a comprehensive solution which would allow the Council to fulfill its fundamental mission. Here we call for favorable consideration to be given to proposals to reform the Council. Of course, negotiations carried out as part of the General Assembly, that is the only way of reaching an agreement on reform. For example, the expansion of the Council, in line with resolution 62575, which was adopted by consensus, and it's laid the foundations for the negotiation for a more representative Council, a more impartial Council, and a more credible one. We are ready to work with others to meet this noble objective. President, we are certain that we can improve the work of the Council. Particularly thanks to a clear transparent and official mechanism which would allow Member States to have access to the outcomes of closed meetings of the Council. We also believe that consultation should be held with countries on the agenda of the Council who are all indeed countries concerned to understand their position and to take into account all of the information that they can provide when council projects or resolutions are drafted. This would foster consensus and allow for these products to be implemented. And the penholder role, we would encourage a consultative process that listens to states concerned and regional organizations that are working in that field. Thus, we will be able to benefit from the knowledge of these organizations, the regional organizations, in their work on prevention and conflict resolution. Complementarity and coordination between the Council and other Member States should also be improved. In terms of speakers who are invited to the Council, we should make sure that the statements are not politicised. This only stokes conflict around the world. These invitations should also be accepted by other Member States. Transparency of the process for appointing the next Secretary-General should also be made more transparent in line with the Charter and resolution on this in order to safeguard the role of the GA and key bodies of the UN. Clear and transparent mechanisms should also be in place to establish the criteria for the appointment of the next Secretary-General. To conclude, we will continue our active participation in discussions on the Security Council's working methods to improve its efficiency and to make sure that the Council can fulfil its responsibilities in line with the UN Charter. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Saudi Arabia for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.

Mr. President, thank you for convening today's debate, for your and Pakistan's stewardship of this file, and for Ms. Shamala Thompson's insightful briefing today. We agree with the points that she mentioned there. We heard a lot of useful remarks today, and I will therefore limit myself to just a few points. There is no doubt that the Council should become more representative, inclusive, as well as efficient. Especially now when, despite the efforts of many of its Member States, the Security Council finds itself in a deadlock as the Russian aggression in Ukraine and other emerging prolonged conflicts are often left without appropriate response. Similar deadlock affects the subsidiary bodies, we heard a lot of it today, and we join others in appeal to overcome this debacle as soon as possible. Some challenges can be overcome through actual application of the UN Charter provided solutions. One example might be preventing the abuse of veto. The veto right should be used in a responsible way to fulfill the purpose of the Security Council, which is to restrain aggression. Thus, there should not be a situation in which an aggressor, a member of the Security Council, can block a vote on the matter that is a consequence of its hostile actions. In the context of improving working methods of the Council, Poland commends the positive role of the E10 countries and their crucial input. On the topic of participation, we advocate for all Council members, including the elected ones, to contribute to the drafting processes. We call for further adjustments to promote a more equitable distribution of penholder responsibilities. As for the non Council members, Poland is of the view that they should always be included in the discussions on subjects directly concerning them and be given an opportunity to voice their positions. Active involvement of non Council Union members reinforces the legitimacy of this Council, but also safeguards the fundamental principles of multilateralism. Mr. President, another issue in the process of improving Council's practices is the need to focus more on cross-cutting topics. The nature of threats to peace and modern conflicts is increasingly complex. The Council's work should reflect those changes. In our view, it should give a deliberate concern to protection of civilians in armed conflicts, as well as food security, nuclear safety, cybersecurity, risks stemming from the development of artificial intelligence, WPS agenda, climate insecurity, and man-made disasters. All those issues should be part of Council's agenda. In conclusion, We need functional, effective and inclusive Security Council. Against the backdrop of the ongoing debate on various aspects of the UN reform, it is crucial that the Council takes action to reaffirm its mandate and relevance and to reverse the decline in public confidence. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Poland for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Morocco.

Mr. President, at the outset, my delegation would like to thank Denmark for convening this important debate on the implementation of Security Council Note 507. I'd also like to thank Ms. Candia Thompson, Executive Director of Security Council Report, for her insightful and detailed briefing. Sir President, the Security Council's working methods are critical to the effectiveness of the Security Council and core to its work. The manner the Security Council deliberates is inseparable from the substance of its decisions. Indeed, the Council's working methods are essential tools for strengthening the effectiveness and inclusivity of the Council and ultimately for enabling it to discharge its mandate for the maintenance of international peace and security. With this understanding, my delegation would like to underline the following three points. First, As chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, Morocco welcomes the Council's growing recourse to the PBC's advice. We hope this practice will be further consolidated in full respect of the Commission's advisory mandate and of the cardinal principle of national ownership, a principle that will be at the heart of the PBC's ministerial meeting of 24 September 2026. Second, we must preserve the institutional balance established by the Charter. Article 24 entrusts the Security Council with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, acting on behalf of the entire UN membership. Article 25 gives effect to this responsibility by requiring member states to accept and carry out the Council's decision. Article 12, in turn, safeguards institutional coherence by providing that while the Council is exercising its functions in respect of a dispute or situation, the General Assembly shall refrain from making recommendations on that same matter. These provisions form a coherence architecture. Article 24 establishes the responsibility, Article 25 ensures authority, and Article 12 prevents duplication and fragmentation of decision-making. This is not an institutional formality. It is essential to enabling the United Nations to speak with one voice and to allow the Security Council to fulfill the primary responsibility that the Charter confers upon it. Third, Morocco firmly believes that the Security Council must make fuller and more effective use of the tools placed at its disposal by the Charter for the peaceful settlement of disputes. Prevention must remain at the heart of our collective action. Dialogue, negotiations and mediation are not merely instruments or tools of last resort. They are the core of international peace and security. Their timely use can prevent tensions, escalation, and crisis. This requires a Security Council that is more anticipatory than reactive, capable of identifying emerging tensions, engaging the parties at an early stage, and encouraging them to resolve their differences through dialogue and peaceful means in full accordance with the UN Charter. In conclusion, Mr. Chair, Mr. President, Morocco remains firmly committed to a multilateralism grounded in the Charter and in respect for international law, convinced that the authority of the Council's decisions is nourished by the confidence inspired by the manner in which they are taken. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Morocco for the statement. The representative of Somalia has asked for the floor to make a statement. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'm taking the floor to respond to the remarks from the Israeli representative, who dared to label Somalia's legitimate defense of its sovereignty and its rejection of Israel's intention to relocate Palestinians to Somalia as conspiracy. Let me be clear. This is a present deflection from occupying power that has mastered the art of projecting its own sins into others. In the last four years, Israel has claimed the Security Council held around 100 meetings on it. Yet, in the same period, over 71,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 171,000 wounded. That average is more than 700 deaths and over 1,700 injuries for every single one of those meetings. It all that exposes the emptiness of Israel's complaint about diplomatic scrutiny. When 700 lives are lost per session, it's not the meetings that are excessive, but the massacres that are forced to document. The occupying power that demands the world respect its claim over Jerusalem and the Golan Heights while simultaneously trampling upon the territorial integrity of Somalia. It's a state that invokes international law when it suits. Yet, it dismisses without hesitation when confronting the rights of others, like the Palestinians in their self-determination and their sovereign state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. And let us speak plainly about the Palestinians. While Israel accuses us of conspiracy, the entire world witnesses its daily violations in Gaza and the West Bank. The unlawful settlements, the crimes against humanity, the forced displacement of families, the siege that has starved an entire population, and the bombs falling on hospitals and schools. These are not allegations. These are documented atrocities. This is a systematic destruction of people and the relentless annexation of their land. And now, the very same regime that disregards dozens of UN resolutions on Palestine dares to lecture Somalia and the world on legality and morality. That distinguished guests is the pinnacle of hypocrisy. We respect the sovereign of all states, Palestine included. We have consistently called for a just and lasting peace for the Palestinian people. Yet Israel, the occupying power which denies Palestine its state, now presumes to create a new state out of Somali territory since it is isolated and needs endorsement for its bankrupted ideology. This is not diplomacy, but a provocation. Let me be perfectly clear. Somaliland is an inalienable part of Somalia. No foreign power, no unilateral declaration, and no self-serving strategic calculation will ever change that reality. Israel's so-called recognition is null, void, and worthless in the eyes of international law, the African Union, and the conscience of humanity. We call upon Israel to cease its reckless interference in the Horn of Africa. We call upon it to withdraw illegal recognition. But more than that, we call upon the entire world to see this pattern for what it is. The nation that respects no borders but its own, that recognizes no rights but its own, and that now seeks to export occupation doctrine to our own shores. Somalia will pursue every diplomatic, legal, and political avenue to defend our territory. And we will continue to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people until their rights to self-determination is realized, just as we demand that ours be respected. To the international community, do not be deceived. Instead of recognizing other regions in other member states, recognize your neighbors, the Palestinian people's sovereign state. Recognize your violations and occupations of Syria's Golan Heights and Lebanon's southern. Recognize opinions of the ICJ. Recognize human rights. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Somalia for the statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting is adjourned.