Present Structure Of UNSC “Completely Out Of Tune” : India

New Delhi, Nov 4, IRNA - India has said the UN Security Council in its present structure is "completely out of tune" with global realities and serves "no one's purpose", asserting that an expansion in the 15-member body should have permanent representation from Asia, Africa and Latin America. India, which assumed this month's presidency of the Security Council ahead of the expiry of its two-year term as a non-permanent member on December 31, said the UN body has remained "polarized and politically divided" on key issues like Syria and this strengthens the need for its reform. "The Security Council as it is presently structured is not reflective of contemporary realities, it is completely out of tune with what is happening in the world," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri told reporters at UN, outlining the Council's monthly agenda, pti reported. "In order to give the council effectiveness there is need to enlarge its size. India's point of view is that the Security Council needs to be more transparent," he said. Puri said the council, in its present structure, "serves no one's purpose", adding that an increase in its membership should have provisions for permanent representation from Africa, Latin America, Caribbean and Asia. He said there could be consensus around modestly expanding the council to increasing the number of members to about 25. On the use of veto, Puri said while the provision should be retained, there needs to be a discussion on the precise conditions and circumstances under which veto should be used by countries. "There could be a veto restraint agreement." He said some of the council's permanent members would find it "extremely difficult to justify their place on a new high table." Expansion of the council does not mean "some permanent members should come off the high table but they need to bring on board other countries which carry weight, participate in the Council's work and will lend credibility to its image and functioning," he said. Asked about countries like Pakistan seeking permanent membership, Puri said if the South Asian country wants to be a permanent member it should put its candidature forward and then let 193 members of the General Assembly decide by vote. He said time has come to realize that expansion of the Council will not come from within the Security Council but from traction within the General Assembly. Several outreach programs are being undertaken which would lay the basis for putting forward a more concrete proposal on expansion and reform. Referring to the working methods of the council, Puri said work of the UNSC severely impacts not only the 15 members but also the 193 member nations of the General Assembly. "The five permanent members think the Security Council working methods are their exclusive prerogative. Things take a long time to change but change always comes," he added./end