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Statement on the Reform of the Security Council by Petr Kaiser, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic

(This article expired 19.09.2018.)

Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation and on the Increase in the Membership of the Security Council And Other Matters Related to the Security Council, September 2, 2008

Petr KaiserMr. President,

Let me begin by expressing my delegation ' s appreciation for convening this meeting of the OEWG. We consider this meeting to be highly timely. Also, we would like to thank all the members of the Task Force, namely distinguished Permanent Representatives of Bangladesh, Chili, Djibuti and Portugal, for their work.

Mr. President,

Today ' s meeting provides an opportunity to take stock of what we have achieved and where we stand in the implementation of the mandate unanimously adopted on September 17 of last year. Unfortunately, we can not be very much satisfied, especially mindful of the desire of the vast majority of member States to move forward with the process of the Security Council reform. Indeed, many delegations taking the floor today have expressed their disappointment over the fact that we have not been able to produce any concrete results. It is the conviction of this delegation that the only way to overcome this deadlock is to commence real intergovernmental negotiations.

The point of departure of these negotiations should be all positions and proposals that have been put on the table. As you, Mr. President, observed in your introductory statement this morning, nobody has been willing to give up their initial positions prior to the start of intergovernmental negotiations. It is, therefore, clear that any progress could be achieved only when we finally make the long overdue decisive step: agree on the basic framework of this process, including its realistic timetable. Readiness to launch truly intergovernmental negotiations has been declared by an overwhelming majority of member States. Therefore, we do not see any reason why we should not start the implementation of the decision 561/61 soon. In this context, let me assure once again of the willingness of the Czech delegation to engage in an open and constructive manner. The only precondition we have is that this process should be open, inclusive and transparent in all its phases and aspects, namely during preparations of documents and decisions.

Mr. President,

In the spirit of cooperation, let me underline, that we are ready to build on the draft report you presented to us today. However, we believe that it should be further elaborated in the line of calls of the overwhelming majority to start the intergovernmental process echoed, as well, during today ' s deliberations of the OEWG. At the same time, we believe that the text should be streamlined, especially when referring to the recommendations. I do not want to enter into detailed drafting suggestions, but I would like to underline that there should not be any terms of references and definitions that have not been previously adopted. It applies inter alia to the seven principles that have been set as a guidance for the work of the OEWG but not for the future intergovernmental process. Also, we should refrain from introducing further definition of how the future negotiables should be approved. We are of the opinion that we have to stick to our previous decisions in order to avoid creation of further confusions and obstacles.

Mr. President,

If there are any elements everybody has been agreeing to during the last year ' s debates in the OEWG, it is a formula that the status quo is not an option and conviction that we should build on the progress made during the 61 st GA. Let us not lose the momentum and miss the opportunity to finally meet the challenge that lies before us.

Thank you.

Petr Kaiser, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic

Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation and on the Increase in the Membership of the Security Council And Other Matters Related to the Security Council

September 2, 2008