Qureshi calls for making UN Security Council more democratic, transparent

NEW YORK: On the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi attended the ministerial meeting of the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) on Security Council reform held at the Italian Mission on Wednesday, ARY News reported.

Speaking on the occasion, Shah Mahmood Qureshi underscored that a more democratic, representative, accountable, transparent and effective Security Council remains the cornerstone of any comprehensive reform process.

“Given its strategic importance for member states, it was imperative that all views and perspectives must be taken on board,” said Qureshi.

The foreign minister said that an inclusive and transparent process within the framework of Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) is essential to this end.

“Anything less would be counter-productive, for the membership knows all too well that any divisive or non-consensual approaches with a view to artificially pace the process have only served to accentuate existing differences instead of bridging gaps in respective positions,” the foreign minister said.

Taking note of the principled position of the UfC for a more representative and democratic Security Council, the foreign minister said that only a solution that calibrates interests of all member states – small, medium and large, would be able to garner the widest support of the membership.

Expressing satisfaction at the constructive role played by the UfC during the 72nd session of the General Assembly, the meeting undertook to broaden existing efforts with a view to gain further traction and support.