Security Council reform

As delivered

Introductory remarks by Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly, at GA Plenary for the consideration and adoption of the Oral decision on IGN71 on Security Council reform

19 July 2017

 

 

View of the podium. PGA Peter Thompson presides the session. General Assembly Seventy-first session, 92nd plenary meeting 1. Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects: report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/495/Add.1) [item 51] 2. Causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa: draft resolution (A/71/L.67/Rev.1) [item 62 (b)] 3. Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council [item 122] 4. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum: draft resolution (A/71/L.77) [item 126 (q)] 5. Organization of work, adoption of the agenda and allocation of items; Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations: draft resolution (A/71/L.76) [items 7 (to reopen agenda item 126 (r)) and 126 (r)]Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

 

As we conclude our deliberations this year on the “Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council”, I would like to add my sincere thanks to the Co-Chairs, Ambassador Ion Jinga, Permanent Representative of Romania and Ambassador Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Permanent Representative of Tunisia, for diligently guiding the intergovernmental negotiations throughout the 71st session. On behalf of the General Assembly, I say to both Ambassadors, yours was a job well done.

 

I also take this opportunity to extend sincere appreciation to all Member States and delegations for the understanding and cooperation that they extended to the Co-Chairs. It is the willingness of Member States to engage and interact with broad understanding and unflagging commitment that has made the Intergovernmental Negotiations such a critical element of the General Assembly’s work. And in the end it will be the willingness of Member States to explore convergences and commonalities, that will take us to the reforms we seek.

 

While the IGN this session has concluded with much work remaining to be done in terms of a reform model acceptable to all Member States, I believe that the “Commonalities” and “Issues for further consideration” outlined under each of the five clusters under discussion will serve to assist progress in the future work of the IGN.

 

I trust that the IGN will proceed from here to the 72nd session with the same constructive energy and with a fresh spirit of flexibility to allow further progress on this central responsibility of the General Assembly’s work.

 

I thank you for your attention.

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