Plenary

Madam President,

1                 I thank you for your leadership and your personal engagement on this very important issue. I join previous speakers in thanking Ambassador Kaha Imnadze of Georgia and Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh of the United Arab Emirates for their hard work over the past year as co-chairs of the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN). I also welcome your announcement that you will reappoint Ambassador Nusseibeh as well as appoint Ambassador Christian Braun of Luxembourg. We wish them good luck and we commend their courage in taking up this very important assignment.

Madam President

2                 During the High-Level Week, much was said by our Leaders about the need to strengthen and reinforce multilateralism and the multilateral rules-based system. A critical part of our multilateral architecture is the UN Security Council. As we look for ways to strengthen and reinforce multilateralism, we cannot ignore the important question of reform of the UN Security Council. If we are really to strengthen our multilateral system, we need to make the UN Security Council more effective, more accountable and more representative. All Members of the United Nations will benefit from a reform of the Security Council. Here, let me make a counter-intuitive point. The greatest beneficiaries of Security Council reform will in fact be the Permanent Members of the Council. Because ultimately, any reform will enhance the credibility of the Security Council, and this, in turn, will enhance the legitimacy of the Permanent Members as they discharge their special responsibilities. I would therefore urge the five Permanent Members to embrace the need for reform and lead the process from the front and not from the rear.  

Madam President,

3                  It is evident that there remain vast differences in opinion among Member States on the issue of UNSC reform.  In this regard, Singapore believes that the updated paper on the “Revised Elements of Commonality and Issues for Further Consideration” circulated in June broadly reflects the current state of discussions on UNSC reform, and offers a good basis for all of us to build upon. It is a reflection of all the work that has been done so far and it is important that we build on it further.

4                 The IGN process needs to produce tangible results urgently to demonstrate that there can be progress, that reform is possible, and that the IGN remains a suitable platform to achieve such reform.  If the IGN is unable to show progress, it will become irrelevant.  And here, let me once again ask the question that I have always asked from this very podium – is the IGN a vehicle for reform or is it an instrument to maintain the status quo?  Is the IGN capable of delivering reform or is the IGN going to end up delivering gridlock? The point that I am making is that if the IGN is to be taken seriously, it must deliver results, and it must do so urgently.   Failure to reform the Security Council to reflect present day realities will inevitably undermine the trust people have in the Security Council, and more broadly, in the United Nations.

5                 Singapore has reiterated our consistent and longstanding position on Security Council reform many times. I echo the sentiments of many others that the Council must reflect and exemplify the diversity among the Member States of the United Nations that exists today.  There must be greater geographical representation and inclusivity in the Council, including in particular, from underrepresented regions such as Africa.  This means that there must be an expanded membership – in both the permanent and non-permanent categories.  Another important point that we wish to underline is the need for the representation of small states and SIDS - Small Island Developing States. In particular, any reform exercise should not end up disadvantaging small states and SIDS. In this regard, we welcome the support expressed by groups and delegations for the representation of SIDS and small states in an expanded Security Council.   

6                 Singapore would like to make the following comments on the way forward for the IGN process this year.   First, we must recognise and build on the progress we have made in our discussions over the past three years on elements of commonality and issues for further consideration.  We rely on the Co-Chairs’ wisdom on how best to take forward these discussions and based on the work that has already been done. We welcome the fact that there will be continuity through the presence of one of the co-facilitators and we think that this is very helpful.     

7                 Second, on Security Council working methods.  We think that there have been steps in the right direction to improve the Council’s transparency, efficiency, and engagement with non-members.  We welcome the adoption and implementation of UNSC Presidential Note 507.  We note that there has been a growing regularisation of introductory and wrap-up sessions by Council Presidents.  But we think more can be done in ensuring equity in the distribution of chairmanships of subsidiary bodies as well as the famous – or should I say infamous - ‘penholderships’ system.  We welcome the more active role played by the E10 within the Council and we encourage all elected members to continue to play an active role within the Council.   

8                 Third and last point which I wish to make is that there must be greater accountability and transparency in the decision-making processes of the Council, particularly with regard to the role played by the Sanctions Committees. I am encouraged by the initiative launched by several Member States and bodies this year to create a “best practices guide” for delegates of the sanctions committees and experts to improve the effectiveness and transparency of the Council’s use of sanctions. The regional outreach meeting to various Groups, for example by the 1718 Committee yesterday, is another good example of the sort of things that need to be encouraged. Over time, we think that such initiatives add to the body of knowledge to help foster greater understanding and participation in the UN sanctions system, which is of utmost importance given the impact and consequences that sanctions can have on all UN Member States.  The Council should find ways to continue working with the General Assembly to take this issue forward.

Madam President,

9                 I assure the co-chairs of Singapore’s commitment and continued support on this important topic of UNSC reform.  Singapore is a small country and our survival depends on a world governed by a multilateral, rules-based system.  The success of the UN is critical to small states like Singapore.  As the UN body responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Council has a special responsibility to be guardians of the multilateral rules-based system. We ask the Members of the Council, especially the Permanent Members, to reflect on the role that has been entrusted to them and the role they should play with regard to the reform process of the Security Council. They have a special responsibility to provide leadership to the reform process. Within the Council, robust debate must be accompanied also by a willingness to compromise and the political will to change. Otherwise, the Security Council will amount to little more than a stage for politics and posturing without meaningful impact to the lives of ordinary people on the ground.

10               I thank you very much, Madam President.

.    .    .    .    .