INTERVENTION BY

H.E. ZAHIR TANIN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF AFGHANISTAN TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK CHAIR OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS ON THE QUESTION OF EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION AND INCREASE IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE COUNCIL AT AN INFORMAL PLENARY SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

11 JUNE 2009 UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

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Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

1. A warm welcome to the second exchange of the second round. It is as important now as it was at any stage of our Intergovernmental Negotiations to join hands. Join hands to further implement Decision 62/557. As I have stated, and so many with me, the further implementation of that decision during the second round requires comprehensiveness and

compromise ­ two keywords.

2. First, comprehensiveness. Today's exchange provides just that by revolving around the composition of the Security Council, comprising the key issues of size, categories of membership and regional representation. Questions like how many seats to add, what kind of seats and how to distribute them among the

membership are intertwined. This exchange offers an opportunity to explore such connections, along with relevant negotiables. Ultimately, you are the referees of relevance. That is, Member States are free to express their views on any matter they deem relevant. I am simply discharging my responsibility as Chair by adding

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some structure and some comprehensiveness to the exchanges ­ all the while remaining impartial to any of the positions, but partial to progress.

3. The prime objective of progress brings me to the urgent necessity of compromise, which I have labelled the second keyword of this round. This time around, the accent has to move from fleshing out the positions to showing flexibility. That is the only way to take this negotiation process to the next level and only you can do it. But I will do everything in my power to inspire you to undertake your responsibility to reform ­ my Overview counts as a prime example of that.

4. And I am not just about inspiration, but also about interaction. Member States will thus again be given the opportunity to intervene twice, so they can react to and reciprocate the flexibility shown by their peers. At the same time, Member States are urged to be concise and to limit their interventions to no longer than three minutes. As always, there will not be zero tolerance, but neither will tolerance be infinite. So let me also lead by example and conclude. Thank you.

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Closing statement by H.E. Zahir Tanin, Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations in New York, Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the question of equitable representation and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council. Informal plenary of the General Assembly, UNHQ New York, 11 June 2009.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

1. Let me conclude by commending you all. This was another excellent exchange. In a both constructive and productive manner, Member States explored the connections between the issues. One delegation even submitted the text of a resolution. As I also stated in my Overview, without a doubt decisive progress is within reach. This is not optimism, but realism.

2. I urge you to bring the same kind of engagement and

determination to the third exchange of the second round. The issues on the table deserve it. Exchange 3 was originally scheduled for June 23, but to give delegations more space and to be able to finish, we will already start the day before, on June 22. Member States can expect to receive another letter well in advance. In the meantime, I would encourage all Member States to step up their internal deliberative processes on Council reform. Don't just ask what the negotiations can do for you, but also what you can do for the negotiations. From my part, I will carefully study all suggestions about the future of this process. Thank you.