Delivered By: HE Mohamed Abushahab, Ambassador and Permanent Representative
Mr. President,
Thank you for convening this debate, and for the commitment to advancing the Security Council reform process.
The United Arab Emirates aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Kingdom of Bahrain on behalf of the Arab Group.
I congratulate Ambassador AlBanai and Ambassador Marschik on their reappointment as Co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN).
Their innovative leadership allowed us to make meaningful progress, including on improving transparency and building institutional memory.
Thanks to their skillful navigation of the process, we were able to agree a text that addresses Security Council reform in the Pact for the Future.
We welcome the Co-Chairs’ continued facilitation, and we look forward to the IGN meetings starting later this month.
Mr. President,
These are challenging times for the United Nations.
Rising conflicts and growing polarization have put immense pressure on a Security Council whose composition reflects outdated geopolitical realities.
The Council’s inability to tackle some of the most critical threats to peace and security, risks undermining its credibility and purpose, as well as eroding international norms.
The need for reform grows ever more urgent, yet it remains stubbornly elusive.
The United Arab Emirates looks forward to considering the models that Member States and groups will present, and to the development by the Co-Chairs of a consolidated model based on convergences across the five clusters.
The UAE will come to this exercise with an open mind.
We hope others do the same, so that we can collectively identify solutions that will garner political consensus.
Mr. President,
The Security Council’s current composition does not reflect the diversity of the international community, particularly the Global South.
Many regions remain underrepresented in both the permanent and non-permanent categories.
This includes the Latin America and Caribbean region, the Asia-Pacific region, as well as Africa and the Arab World – the regions with the most at stake in the Council’s agenda
Last year, 38% of the Council’s meetings focused on Africa, while more than 33% addressed Middle East issues.
The UAE reiterates the Arab Group’s appeal for increased Arab representation on the Council, and we welcome the agreement in the Pact for the Future to continue discussions on this issue.
We also recognize the legitimate aspirations of African countries for an increased presence in the Council, as reflected in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
Mr. President,
When the UN was created in the ashes of World War II, its founders envisioned the veto as a means to support the maintenance of international peace and security.
However, its frequent misuse has undermined the Council’s effectiveness and paralyzed decision-making.
Therefore, any meaningful discussion on Council reform must include limitations and guardrails on the use of the veto.
In the meantime, we should continue to explore other initiatives that could encourage more appropriate use of the veto.
Mr. President,
Despite the deep divisions on some issues, we can all agree on the need for meaningful reform to restore trust and credibility in the Council.
Achieving this will require good faith negotiations and a willingness to compromise.
It is time to set aside our differences and work together towards a more representative and effective Security Council.
The future of our multilateral system, and of international peace and security, depends on it.
Thank you, Mr. President.