New York – 14 September 2015

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

As I said in my acceptance speech and reiterated numerous times throughout this past year, reform of the Security Council was an important priority for me during this 69th session. It is therefore heartening, that on this last day of the session we have gathered to consider this important decision.

I pay tribute to the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations, Ambassador Courtenay Rattray, Permanent Representative of Jamaica for his steadfast leadership throughout the process. I commend his efforts to make the negotiations as participatory, consultative and transparent as possible.

Excellencies,

The United Nations of today comprising 193 Member States is vastly different from what it was at its founding 70 years ago, with only 51 Member States. What remains fundamentally unchanged, however, is that it is an important Organization, which we should reform to meet the challenges of our time in order to improve the lives of humanity.

We should continue to make the Organization more responsive, improve its efficiency and effectiveness.
Yet, to reach the noble objectives enshrined in the Charter, we must be willing to take bold steps to transform the United Nations, including the Security Council, in a way that reflects the geo-political realities of the current world.

Indeed, today’s decision is an important step towards that ultimate objective.

Nevertheless, there is a great deal of work that remains to be done. As I stated in early February, past meetings of intergovernmental negotiations on the reform of the Security Council had been characterized by repetition of well-known positions and statements.

I am delighted that, during this session, a platform was provided for all Member States to exchange views and ideas on their positions and proposals on this matter. Most Member States went further and populated the framework document, which culminated into a text and its annex as circulated in my letter dated 31 July 2015.

During this session I have consulted groups and individual Member States regularly. Ensuring that the work on Security Council reform is done in an open and transparent manner has been a cornerstone of my efforts. For the first time since the IGN began, all the letters and documents arising from our on-going work have been posted on website of the President.

Excellencies,

It is the responsibility of each one of us to ensure continued progress in this reform effort, and to maintain a constructive and flexible approach moving forward. It is essential that we build on the work that has been done in this session as indicated in the draft decision.

In doing so, we will make a contribution towards the ultimate objective of reforming the Security Council as agreed by world leaders in 2005.

I thank all Groups and individual Member States for their commitment on this important issue and urge you to keep the momentum moving forward during the upcoming session.

I thank you.