9 August 2006 Member State Positions on Security Council Reform Although progress on Security Council reform has been slow to date, there is a strong consensus that the status quo is not a viable option in both composition and working methods reform. Controversy and disagreement have developed over the manner of achieving reform. Below is a brief summary of the most popular draft resolutions being considered at the moment: · · · · G-4 Proposal ­ calls for 6 new permanent seats, one for each of the G-4 countries (Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan) as well as two seats for Africa and 4 new non-permanent seats; the question of the extension of veto is deferred to a later date. African Union Proposal ­ calls for 6 new permanent seats, 2 for Africa, 2 for Asia, one for Latin America, and one for Western Europe, and 5 new non-permanent seats, including 2 more for Africa; the new permanent members would be given the same privileges as current permanent members including the veto. Uniting for Consensus Proposal ­ calls for 10 new non-permanent members chosen on a rotating basis by regional groups, including 3 new seats for Africa, 3 new seats for Asia, 2 new seats for Latin America, and one new seat for Western Europe and Eastern Europe; it also calls for restraint in the use of the veto by the current permanent members. S-5 Proposal ­ calls for reform of the working methods of the Security Council, including limiting the use of veto in cases of genocide and serious human rights violations, further consultations between members and non-members, particularly troopcontributing countries, and other reforms to increase transparency and accountability. The S-5 are Costa Rica, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Singapore, and Switzerland. Below is a chart outlining Member State positions on this contentious issue based on the informal consultations held in the plenary on 20 and 21 July 2006. Statements are accessible by clicking on the name of the Member States for those states that provided them. Member State Algeria yes Expansion Permanent Seats yes, supports African Union proposal NonPermanent Seats yes, 5 new seats Working Method Reform S-5 Proposal yes Other Suggestions reform must be simultaneous with expansion yes Abolish it Veto Keep it extend it to new permanent members limit its use in cases of genocide and serious human rights violations restraint on use of veto (for now) Limit its Use Andorra does not mention a change in composition yes Argentina Armenia yes yes no Australia yes yes, supports seats for India and Japan yes, 10 new seats yes, with 1 new seat for Eastern Europe yes, in a limited manner yes yes yes yes Belgium yes supports a change in composition but does not specify how yes, supports new seats for G-4 and Africa yes, supports G-4 proposal yes yes welcomes it as part of dialogue welcomes it as part of dialogue reform should not be hindered by divisions over expansion no new vetoes yes, through modalities for its use veto must be reviewed no new vetoes (at least until the veto is reviewed) extend it to new permanent members Benin yes yes Bhutan yes yes, 4 new seats yes Botswana yes yes, supports African Union proposal yes, 5 new seats yes increased transparency and consultations with non-members Brazil yes yes, supports G-4 proposal yes, 4 new seats yes considers the note a partial solution reform must be simultaneous with expansion no new vetoes (at least until the veto is reviewed) Bulgaria yes Chile yes yes yes, 1 new seat for Eastern Europe yes yes regional groups should have greater say in regional issues yes eventually no new vetoes limit its use for issues such as genocide and crimes against humanity yes China yes Colombia yes Costa Rica yes yes, increasing the number of developing countries no yes, supports Uniting for Consensus proposal supports a change in composition but does not specify how yes welcomes it as part of dialogue restraint on use of veto yes yes yes reform should be addressed separately from expansion eventually limit its use in cases of genocide and serious human rights violations extend it to new permanent members Cuba yes Cyprus yes yes, 2 new seats for yes Africa, 2 seats for Asia, and 2 seats for Latin America supports a more equitable regional balance yes, supports G-4 proposal yes, increasing the number of developing countries yes, supports regional balance yes yes supports some elements no new vetoes (at least until the veto is reviewed) increase transparency, and consultations with non-members Czech Republic yes yes Denmark yes yes, supports regional balance yes Ecuador yes yes, supports G-4 proposal as well as others yes yes no new vetoes (at least until the veto is reviewed) good first step reform must be simultaneous with expansion; selection of the Secretary-General should be made more transparent veto must be limited in cases of genocide and human rights violations, but also in calling for a ceasefire between two belligerents and SG selection process Egypt yes yes, supports African Union proposal yes, 5 new seats yes El Salvador yes supports a gradual process without specifying compositional changes yes, supports African Union proposal yes, supports G-4 proposal yes, 5 new seats yes reform working methods first to facilitate trust extend it to new permanent members no new vetoes (at least until the veto is reviewed) no new vetoes no new vetoes (at least until the veto is reviewed) no new vetoes (at least until the veto is reviewed) Ethiopia yes yes Fiji yes yes yes Finland France yes yes yes yes, supports G-4 proposal yes yes, 4 new seats with better regional balance yes, 4 new seats with better regional balance yes yes Germany yes yes, supports G-4 proposal yes yes, but not sufficient without structural reform Ghana yes yes, African Union proposal yes, 5 new seats yes Greece yes yes, supports G-4 proposal yes, 4 new seats yes take note of this proposal extend it to new permanent members no new vetoes (at least until the veto is reviewed) Guatemala yes yes yes yes should be explored further greater participation of non-member states in SC increased transparency Honduras does not mention a change in composition yes yes, supports G-4 proposal yes, 4 new seats yes Iceland yes no new vetoes (at least until the veto is reviewed) India yes yes, supports G-4 proposal yes, 4 new seats yes Indonesia yes supports change of composition but does not specify how yes Iraq yes yes yes yes reform must be simultaneous with expansion more consultations between members and non-members; better relationship with troopproviders; greater transparency in SG selection increase outside state involvement; improve sanctions regimes limit use to issues under chapter 7; should not be used in cases of genocide or serious crimes against humanity Italy yes no Jamaica yes yes yes, supports Uniting for Consensus proposal yes yes early reform and flexible positions restraint on the use of veto yes greater transparency in SG selection eventually no new vetoes limit use of veto in cases involving civilians and civilian infrastructure Japan yes Jordan yes yes, supports G-4 framework but calls for a new proposal yes yes yes calls it a good start reform should not be hindered by divisions over expansion reform should be addressed separately from expansion limit use of veto in cases of genocide or serious human rights violations yes yes yes Kazakhstan yes yes yes yes deserves further examination Laos yes Libya yes yes, supports regional balance and new seat for Africa yes, supports African Union proposal yes yes, 5 new seats yes its responsibility should be shared with the GA extend veto to new permanent members Liechtenstein yes does not support any of the current resolutions but would like to see new ideas developed yes Malaysia yes yes yes yes yes, this should be adopted before expansion yes reform should be addressed separately from expansion eventually veto should be strongly regulated Maldives yes yes, supports G-4 proposal (flexible) yes, 4 new seats (flexible) yes no new vetoes (at least until veto is reviewed) good contribution reform must be simultaneous with expansion extend veto to new permanent members increase transparency and accountability limit its use Malta yes no Mauritius yes yes, supports African Union proposal no yes, supports rotational regional seats (flexible) yes, 5 new seats yes yes Mexico yes Mongolia yes Morocco yes Myanmar yes Nauru Nepal yes yes yes, supports seats for India, Japan, and Germany stresses that divisions over expansion should not get in the way of working method reform yes, increasing yes, increasing representation of representation developing world of developing world yes, supports G-4 yes, 4 new proposal seats yes, supports seats yes for G-4 and Africa no yes, any solution should be flexible yes, any solution should be flexible yes yes yes yes more open relationship with the GA reform should not be hindered by expansion increase transparency of the subsidiary bodies also not without expansion first no new vetoes yes good contribution good start yes no yes supports some elements good contribution to be included with expansion Netherlands yes yes any new veto should be temporary and reviewed New Zealand yes yes, must include seat for Japan yes yes yes more consultations with non-members and monitoring of decisions Nicaragua yes Nigeria yes Norway Pakistan yes yes will support any resolution that comes out with a clear consensus reflecting regional balance yes yes, supports African Union proposal yes yes no yes, supports Uniting for Consensus proposal yes yes no not without expansion first yes increased cooperation between SC and GA no new veto restraint on use of veto restraint on the use of veto yes yes Peru yes yes, according to the current P-5's wishes yes, supports the countries who make the most contributions yes yes no new vetoes Poland yes Portugal yes yes, 1 new seat for Eastern Europe yes yes welcomes proposal as part of dialogue yes closer cooperation with GA and regional groups; review situation in 15 years reform and expansion are part of the same process possibly no new vetoes limit use of veto in cases of genocide or serious human rights violations resume discussion extend it to new permanent members limit its use on the issue of civilians in Lebanon and the Occupied Territories restraint on the use of veto Qatar yes yes, more seats for the developing world no Republic of Korea yes Romania yes yes, more seats for the developing world yes, supports Uniting for Consensus proposal yes, 1 new seat for Eastern Europe yes yes yes reform is not sufficient Russian Federation San Marino yes will consider any proposal adopted by consensus supports change of the composition, but does not specify how yes yes, African Union proposal yes yes, 5 new seats yes will consider any proposal adopted by consensus good step, but not enough no new vetoes yes yes Saudi Arabia Senegal yes yes yes yes Singapore yes yes, supports G-4 proposal yes, 4 new seats yes welcomes it as part of dialogue gradually extend it to new permanent members no new vetoes (at least until veto is reviewed) Slovakia yes Slovenia yes yes, supports seats for Japan and Germany yes yes yes Solomon Islands yes South Africa yes Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sweden yes yes yes yes yes, supports elements of the G-4 proposal yes, supports African Union proposal no yes, 1 new seat for Eastern Europe yes yes yes yes yes, 5 new seats yes, 10 new seats yes yes supports some elements no reform should occur simultaneously with expansion yes yes yes yes yes good step SC must not infringe on GA's responsibilities increased transparency and accountability yes eventually no new vetoes yes, supports seats for G-4 and Africa supports a change in composition but does not specify how no yes, subject to review Switzerland yes supports a change in composition but does not specify how yes yes reform should not be hindered by divisions over expansion eventually no new vetoes limit its use in cases of genocide or serious human rights violations Uganda yes yes, supports African Union proposal yes, 5 new seats yes yes extend it to new permanent members until it is abolished United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland United Republic of Tanzania yes yes, supports G-4 and 1 permanent seat for Africa yes, supports African Union proposal yes, supports seat for Japan yes, would be willing to support G-4 proposal (flexible) yes, more seats for the developing world yes, more seats for the developing world yes, 4 new seats yes yes yes, 5 new seats yes welcomes the proposal as part of dialogue yes extend it to new permanent members Security Council should reform its own working methods no new vetoes limit its use in cases of genocide and serious human rights violations limit its use United States of America Uruguay yes yes yes no yes yes yes yes Venezuela yes Viet Nam yes yes, more seats for the developing world yes, more seats for the developing world yes Security Council must limit its action yes yes good basis for reform increased transparency and accountability eventually limit its use to Chapter 7 issues