27 June 2006

Excellency, As you recall, at the 2005 World Summit our leaders stated their support for early reform of the Security Council as an essential element in our overall effort to reform the United Nations. Against this background, a number of Member States have expressed their interest in addressing once again the important issue of Security Council reform at a plenary meeting of the General Assembly. I have, through my Chef de Cabinet, consulted the regional groups, as well as individual Member States on this issue. Through these consultations, I have ascertained that there is widespread support for the idea of holding such a meeting at an early opportunity, taking into account the workload of the General Assembly as well as the upcoming high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council in Geneva. In view of this, it is my intention to convene a plenary meeting under Agenda items 117, "Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council" and 120, "Follow-up to the Outcome of the Millennium Summit" starting on Thursday, 20 July, at 10 a.m. in the General Assembly Hall. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Jan Eliasson

Permanent Representatives and Permanent Observers to the United Nations New York