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United Nations Security Council Reform : Statement by the Benelux countries (Belgium - Netherlands - Luxembourg)
"Mr. President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations,
Thank you for convening this meeting, which gives us a welcome opportunity to exchange ideas on how best to structure the work in advance of the resumption of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform. I have the honour, as you have said, to speak on behalf of the BENELUX countries: Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
First of all, Ambassador Rattray, we would like to welcome you in your new role as Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform. We are confident that you will be able to build on the excellent work by our previous Chair, Ambassador Tanin of Afghanistan, and take these Intergovernmental Negotiations to the next level.
Mr. President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations,
As was said many times before, the positions of each and every Member State in this room are well known. Arguments against and in favour of each of them have been made time and again. There is no more ground to be gained by further entrenching ourselves; the time has come to take the matter of Security Council reform forward through proper, text-based negotiations, allowing for a more focused interaction between Member States.
On the shoulders of the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations rests the daunting task to initiate that stage of the process by proposing a negotiating text. Previous documents, including the non-paper of the Advisory Group of the former President of the General Assembly, can serve as input for such a text.
It is indeed the prerogative of the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations to organize our work these coming months and to facilitate text-based negotiations, based on the views expressed by Member States during today’s meeting and previously. Obviously, delivering the end result is ultimately the responsibility of the Member States. What matters is not consensus at the beginning of the process, but rather at the end of the process.
Mr. President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations,
Please be assured that the BENELUX countries stand ready to lend their full support to your endeavour.
I thank you."