General Assembly Research Report
Commission: Security Council
Agendum: Reformation of the Security Council
Student Officer: Ga Woon Shim
Introduction
The Security Council is the committee with primary responsibility, under the Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security in the United Nations. As the committee that directly intervenes in resolving the military conflicts that occur throughout the world, As the only council that has enforcement power on the actions of the member nations of UN, the Security Council can dislodge peacekeeping troops, establish international or economic sanctions, and authorize military action. The Security Council first launched with the P5 countries, plus six nonpermanent members. In 1963, the number of nonpermanent members was increased to 10. The number of delegations in the Security Council has not changed even after the United Nations grew to a size of 196 delegations.
However, lately there have been voices that call out for the reformation of the Security Council due to its inequality and ineffective procedures. To start with, there has been agreement that the Security Council should be enlarged, and that it is time to utilize this thrust for reform. Increasing the number of permanent delegations in the council is one of the most often heard. Advocates of this opinion shout out how the world is in a different situation than it was in when the Security Council had first been made; many nations have had considerable changes including development and policies, and it is time to consider their opinion in such crucial matters as well. Political and economic influence of Britain and France, once the strongest nations directly after World War 2 waned while that of G4 nations rose prominently. Another question that has been raised is about the justifiability of the veto power of the P5 nations. For all of the P5 nations are those of considerable military power, including nuclear weapons, there has been criticism of the Security Council’s impartialness.
Definition of Key Terms
P5 nations
USA, UK, France, Russia, and China. These nations have the veto power on every vote proceeded in the procedure of debate in the Security Council. The five nations listed above, therefore, are easily the most influential countries throughout the whole session.
Veto Power
The power to completely fail an amendment, clause, or resolution in whole with one’s vote. Upon using veto power, a nation may fail the three listed above with their vote only, regardless of the rest of the delegation’s votes.
Non-Permanent Nations
Non-permanent nations refer to 10 nations selected by regional groups who are confirmed by General Assembly. There are 3 nations from African bloc, 2 from Asian bloc, 2 from Latin American bloc, 2 from Western Europe and 1 nation from Eastern Europe. Non-permanent membership lasts only for two years with five being replaced every year.
Veto Crisis
Veto Crisis is when P5 overuses veto power. Veto powers are used very scarcely. UNSC faced veto crisis during 1970’s when China abused their power to reject every resolution against its national stance.
G4 nations
Brazil, Germany, India and Japan. As nations that have made the most remarkable economic and political development in the last half a century as well as considerable military and financial aid for the United Nations, the four asks for a permanent seat on the Security Council to increase their influence and reflect their stances on the council’s resolution.
Background Information
Proposals to accept India as a permanent nation of the Security Council has been the strongest compared to any other committee existing in the United Nations. Since 1980’s, India has been highly contributing on UN peacekeeping forces. Several influential newspapers, such as the International Herald Tribune and the Washington post have greatly advocated the admission of India as a permanent nation in statements such as “India is an acknowledged technology superpower. India is a responsible nation with powerfully armed forces firmly under control. India has significantly contributed to UN peacekeeping operations,” and “"Clearly, a seat for India would make the body more representative and democratic. With India as a member, the Council would be a more legitimate and thus a more effective body," in their articles. It is expected to bring the South Asia region an axis of power to stabilize the current turmoil in, and also make it able to provide necessary military help in areas of conflict in Central Asia. Its bid is now being backed by all the P5 nations in the Security Council. A vote in 2011 showed 98% of the 190 voting nations wished to have India as a permanent nation in order to restrain the MEDCs and nuclear power club of controlling the world’s security. Recently, President Obama made a public speech emphasizing the need of India to become one of the P5 countries.
Japan is considered as the next possible candidate of permanency, while Brazil and Germany, the other members of the G4 nations, also have petitioned the General Assembly several times for admittance as permanent members. However due to Uniting for Consensus and strong disapproval of China, G4’s admittance in UNSC has been prolonged for several years.
This is not the first time that abuse of veto powers have been a problem in the council. During the 1970s China exploited the veto power which led to veto crisis on the question of sending peacekeeping troops to Guatemala. The abusive over-usage of veto powers has led permanent nations to meet up beforehand and to draft a resolution in order to prevent veto power. This seemed to be a solution, but the problem has not yet been solved. The USA has long used its veto power to restrain the Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims, including Arab’s resolution of condemning Israeli settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem in 2011.
Major Countries and Organizations Involved
United States
US have officially announced that they are willing to accept Japan and India as part of the Permanent members of the UNSC. They also agreed to the expansion of non-permanent membership of the UNSC. However, it shows clear objection against reducing or eradicating its veto power.
China
China has expressed that they welcome developing nations to be part of the Security Council, but not as permanent membership. China also showed strong disagreement towards G4 nations, especially Japan, being accepted as part of the permanent members due to their collaboration.
Russian Federation
Russia is for the reformation of the UNSC. They find that the world has changed and it is time for UNSC to adapt to the changes. It also believes that reforms in UNSC will strengthened the committee and will increase multinational cooperation.
United Kingdom & France
UK and France are the strongest supporters of the G4. They have made it clear that they welcome G4 to be part of their permanent members. UK and France have also expressed strong support for expansion of the United Nations Security Council as a whole including the augmentation of non-permanent seats as well as increase in the presence of African nations in UNSC.
Great 4 (G4)
The four nations are supporting each other for the permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. They are currently the biggest financial donors of the UNSC and provide the majority of UN’s peacekeeping force. They have made several petitions for being accepted as permanent nation. However, the petitions were not passed as nations failed to come up with a compromise.
Uniting for Consensus
Uniting for Consensus is an association that was established in opposition to the expansion of United Nations Security Council. There are about 120 nations in United for Consensus with Pakistan, South Korea, Canada, Italy, Argentina and Mexico as their main activist.
Timeline of Events
17 Jan 1946 United Nations Security Council was created for the peace in the world
1965 A resolution was passed with the support of two thirds of the GA nations which called for
increase in the size of non-permanent member states from 6 to 10
Dec 2004 Former Secretary General Kofi Annan asked the advisory board of United Nations to come up
with a plan for improvement of Security Council
11 Apr 2005 Uniting for Consensus proposes a resolution in General Assembly to maintain the number of
permanent members the same while increasing the number of non-permanent members to 20.
This was embraced by China, however, was rejected by G4 along with few of the P5 nations.
July 2005 Kofi Annan proposes the “In Larger Freedom” proposal
Jan 2006 Japan announces that it would not support G4, however, their relationship did not break
12 Feb 2011 G4 nations once again proposes the admission as permanent member states
Relevant UN Treaties, Resolutions and Events
General Assembly Resolution A/RES/48/26
A resolution passed in general assembly which created the working group who were to come up with new reformation methods of United Nations Security Council. The working group became a forum to discuss about the expansion of Security Council and their working methods.
UNSC Resolution A/59/L.64
A resolution submitted by G4 on July 6th of 2005. This called for enlargement of UNSC to total of 25 members including the increase in permanent member states to total of 11 states. However it was tabled due to strong opposition by the Uniting for Consensus along with China.
The UN Charter Chapter VI, Article 32
The article allows “any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council or any state which is not a Member of the United Nations, if it is a party to a dispute under consideration by the Security Council, shall be invited to participate, without vote, in the discussion relating to the dispute”. This article suggested in some nations that certain nations, including India or Germany, that were called to the Security Council often to validate their positions be able to occupy a permanent seat in the Council to ensure profound debate.
Previous Attempts to Solve the Issue
The “Overarching Process” Proposal
The proposal was written by Cyprus. The proposal calls for the increase in number of Security Council to total of 22 states; 2 from Africa, 2 from Asia, 1from Latin America, 1from Eastern Europe and 1 from Western Europe. However this proposal did not manage to pass. The failure of the proposal was due to clash of opinions between the G4 and Uniting for Consensus. This proposal did not meet the standards of G4 which was admission of Japan, Brazil, Germany and India to the Security Council and the proposal did not also meet the standards of the Uniting for Consensus as well.
In Larger Freedom (High-Level Panel)
Kofi Annan’s plan called “In Larger Freedom” called for expansion of United Nations Security Council to total of 24 member nations. He claimed that the issued should be resolved quickly as it has lasted for too long and has took too much of UN’s time and states that better actions could have been taken regarding other issues at hand. Kofi Annan presented two different plans. Plan A stated that 6 more permanent members should be admitted to UNSC’s permanent nations and four more nations should be added as non-permanent states. Plan B stated creation of new class of members with four years term in addition to increase in non-member states by one. Plans were looked over during Millennium + 5 summits in 2005. The proposal did not pass the forum as it did not meet the standards of Uniting for Consensus which was admitting new states to the Security Council.
Possible Solutions
Though many suggestions were made regard the reformation of the United Nations Security Council, due
to tight battle between G4 and Uniting for Consensus, the problem never reached an agreement. One solution would be admission of G4 members into permanent states while increasing the number of non-permanent states seats. This will for surely bring conflict between G4 and the Uniting of Consensus. In order to minimize the conflict, we should abandon the usage of veto power while voting on this issue in order to maize the opposition. Once the resolution fails, then G4 members do not get another petition for next decade. However, if the proposal passes, the Uniting for Consensus should admit the admission of G4 without further complaints.
Recently, the General Assembly has suggested Also “interim reform” measure, which would create a new category of delegations that would be converted to permanent status after two years. Supporters of the interim solution pressed for changes by the end of the current year, while its detractors said that it did not take into consideration many important demands of Member States, including that of equitable representation by the African Group and others. It is, however, the most advocated amendment that could possibly be made in the Security Council. A “The Binding Triad Proposal”, a nation each receiving three votes and veto power being eradicated, is an amendment that has never been use until today in any committee of the United Nations, but is considered feasible for the votes each considers the nation’s contribute for the UN, population, and one per member as it already is.
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