RP laments lack of progress on UN Security Council reforms

The Philippines on Thursday called on member states to take a more firm and collective stand on the proposed reforms in the United Nations Security Council.

Ambassador Hilario Davide Jr., Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN, called on member states to take more concrete moves to push through the reforms in the UN Security Council, citing the lack of progress.

“What is needed now is action. There should be no turning back,” Davide said.

Davide made the statement during the joint debate of the 64th Session of the General Assembly on Agenda Item 9 on the report of the UN Security Council and on Agenda Item 119 on Security Council reforms.

Davide reminded member states of their resolve during the 63rd Session of the General Assembly to be more dynamic and bold and to exercise some political will to pursue the mandate of General Assembly Decision 62/557 to commence intergovernmental negotiations.

“After two decades of embarrassing sojourn within the confines of the Open-Ended Working Group and repeating the same old arguments day in and day out, the gates are now open for negotiations that will hopefully bring a harvest of agreements on Security Council reform,” he said.

Davide noted the difficulty of cutting the umbilical cord of the Open-Ended Working Group, created by the General Assembly to discuss Security Council reforms, as paragraph 17 (c) of its report still states that the General Assembly can convene it if member states so decide.                    – Pia Lee-Brago