G4 nations urge UN to speed up Security Council reforms

Collate all options and place them on the table for all member states to seriously begin negotiations...it is time to get started...for our credibility to be sustained, it is time for honest engagement and exchange on the basis of a text...

The G4 countries of India, Japan, Germany and Brazil urged the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday to speed up Security Council reforms, saying, with ill-concealed frustration, they were willing to discuss anything, even old and rejected ideas, to advance the process.

The G4 nations are four countries which support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations security council. “Collate all options and place them on the table for all member states to seriously begin negotiations”, said Indian permanent representative (PR) to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin in a statement on behalf of the group.

“It is time to get started,’ he added, reflecting the group’s combined frustration with a process that has moved with glacial pace.

“For our credibility to be sustained it is time for honest the basis of a text.”

The “text” is Un-speak for a formal proposal on paper that member countries can discuss, parse and reject in total or part, and will be a first major step in what has been a slow process and will likely to be one because of lack of unanimity.

India and the other three G-4 countries are leading contenders for permanent membership of an expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the world body’s top decision making organ, that aims to be more inclusive of the world’s nations.

There are others who oppose expanding the permanent membership and have suggested a variety of other options includ veto power of the current per manent members.

G-4 will not insist on veto for new members, Akbaruddin said reiterating, according to officia sources on background, an old position.

“While the new permanent members would as of principle have the same responsibilities and obligations as current per manent members they shall not exercise the veto until a decision has been taken during a review,” Akbaruddin said on behalf of G-4.

An Indian diplomat said in Delhi this is an old position, add ing, “basically out focus strate gically was on moving the proc ess ahead with a text; rest is al