NEW YORK, MAY 1 – A meeting of the General Assembly whenever a veto is cast in the Security Council “is a new proposal worth of further elaboration”, the Italian Permanent Representative to the United Nation Mariangela Zappia said today addressing the fourth informal meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform in name of the Group Uniting for Consensus.
Italy coordinates the Group, composed of small-medium countries, which strongly opposes the enlargement of the Council to more permanent members: “The UfC Group has always maintained that the election of non-permanent members would strengthen the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly. We firmly believe that a basic prerequisite for enhancing accountability in an enlarged Council is the periodic election and rotation of all new Council members by the General Assembly”, said Zappia, adding that the group “fully supports the legitimate aspirations of Africa for an enhanced representation in a democratically reformed Security Council. In line with Uniting for Consensus proposal, Africa should become the best represented regional group in the Council”, she said.
“There is a widespread recognition of the legitimate aspirations of African Countries to be more represented in the Council”, noted Zappia, adding that considerable convergence was registered also as regards the aspirations of Small Island Developing States and small states to be represented. “It’s time for the Security Council to become truly representative, accountable, democratic, transparent and effective”, said the Italian Ambassador speaking in name of UfC: “As confirmed by the negotiations, there is unanimous consensus on an increase in non-permanent seats: “The Group is ready to build on areas of convergence to move forward”.
To read Ambassador Zappia statement inn of UfC, please click here. (@OnuItalia)
