UN REFORM

On February 19th 2009 the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform began in an Informal Plenary Session of the General Assembly, pursuant to a unanimous decision by the General Assembly of September 2008. This new phase creates various opportunities for Italy and its allies in the Uniting for Consensus movement (UfC). Our Country, in a coordinated effort with the Countries that subscribe to the UfC’s positions, is working to further strengthen its action.





1. Italy and the reform of the Security Council

2. Italy's statements in the 64th session of the General Assembly

3. Documents

4. Italy's statements in the previous sessions of the General Assembly

5. Statements of other UN Member States

6. Research and publications      



1. Italy and the reform of the Security Council

Italy is committed to achieving a comprehensive reform of the Security Council that will make it more representative, transparent, inclusive, democratic and effective. We seek a reformed Council that will not only mirror the current dynamics of the world, but also have the capacity to adapt to future changes in the international arena. This is possible through a reform that does not consider new permanent members as the only alternative but embraces instead the principles of inclusiveness and accountability. Since the very beginning of the intergovernmental negotiations in the informal plenary of the General Assembly, together with the other countries that subscribe to the Uniting for Consensus positions, we have clarified our objectives. If we want to achieve a real reform of the Security Council we have to pursue:
 
- a more representative Council, one that reflects the diversity and pluralism of today’s international context. In this regard, correcting under representation of Africa and other regions, as well as of small States in the Council is a fundamental priority. A more representative Council also means making sure that all UN Member States, and in particular medium and Small States, would have more opportunity to serve on the Security Council and therefore, can have their voice heard and their interests taken into account in the Security Council, and thus be able to contribute to international peace and security;

- comprehensive reform. There has been a tendency to equate Security Council reform with an expansion of its membership only. This is an important issue, but not the only component for a successful and democratic reform. The majority of UN Member States are interested, for instance, in seeing changes in the Security Council’s working methods, beginning with greater transparency and effectiveness of the Council’s decision-making processes. The objective of the reform must also be to improve and reinforce the Charter provisions on the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly, where every Member State is represented. We should also realistically review the question of the veto and its possible limitations;

- broadest support. To achieve progress it will be of fundamental importance to look for the broadest possible political support. Only an inclusive reform, one that virtually all UN Member States subscribe to, can enjoy the legitimacy which is needed to strengthen the Security Council, to make it more credible and more effective;

- accountability, rotation and elections, which are closely linked to the democratic principle. An accountable Security Council implies first and foremost a sense of responsibility vis-à-vis all UN Member States. The reform should take into consideration the legitimate interests of the wider UN membership, not just a select few;

- inclusiveness, because only an inclusive Council could be really representative, legitimate and effective.

With these principles in mind, Italy and Colombia, both members of Uniting for Consensus, presented a new platform for Security Council reform during the negotiations in April 2009. This comprehensive proposal represents a good base for negotiations; it is a realistic attempt towards a solution which could be shared by all Member States and a concrete effort to achieve an early reform. The regional approach of the new platform, moreover, is in line with Italy’s commitment to a greater institutional representation of the European Union in the UN Security Council. The Treaty of Lisbon, which came into force on 1st December 2009, further enhances the coordination and consistency of the EU foreign policy, promoting its common external projection. We endorse a greater voice for the EU in the Security Council, with a view to the establishment of a future EU common seat.  We remain confident that through a compromise approach we can move the negotiation process forward and achieve an early and credible reform of the Security Council.     


2. Italy's statements in the 64th session of the General Assembly


April 22, 2010, Open Debate of the Security Council on working methods
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Cesare Maria Ragaglini

January 19, 2010, Informal Plenary of the General Assembly, Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform – Areas of convergence
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Cesare Maria Ragaglini

December 9, 2009, Informal Plenary of the General Assembly, Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform – Positions and proposals by Member States
Statement by Counsellor Fabio Sokolowicz

December 8, 2009, Informal Plenary of the General Assembly, Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform – Positions and proposals by Member States
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Cesare Maria Ragaglini

November 13, 2009 - General Assembly: Security Council Report 
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Cesare Maria Ragaglini

October 22, 2009 - The 2009 International Law Weekend
"The reform of the Security Council: where do we stand and what are the current obstacles to reform?" – Statement of the Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy, Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado

September 23, 2009 - General Assembly: Opening Debate of the 64th Session
Statement by the Prime Minister of Italy Hon. Silvio Berlusconi


3. Documents

Letter to the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations, Amb. Tanin, by the Permanent Representatives of Canada and Mexico to the UN, 2 March 2010

UfC platform on Security Council Reform – Conference Room Paper A/64/CRP.1 (21 January 2010)

Statement by the President of the Security Council on the cooperation between the UN and regional and sub regional organizations (13 January 2010)

UfC letter to the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform, Amb. Tanin, 13 January 2010


Oral Decision 63/565 adopted by the General Assembly on September 14 2009

Report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increse in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters related to the Security Council adopted by the General Assembly on 14 September 2009

UfC platform on Security Council reform (April 2009)

Letter dated 26 February sent by the Permanent Representative of Italy, H.E. Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, to all Permanent Representatives to the United Nations

Intergovernmental Negotiations in the Informal Plenary Session of the General Assembly on Security Council reform – Work plan presented by the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann (18 February 2009)

UfC elements for a Decision by the General Assembly on framework and modalities of intergovernmental negotiations (January 2009)

UfC Paper on Principles and Procedures for intergovernmental negotiations (December 2008)

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 27 January 2009 on Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 27 January 2009 on Cooperation between the United Nations and the Carribean Community

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2008 on Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations: cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 10 November 2008 on Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations: cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States    

Report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters related to the Security Council

Decision 62/557 adopted by the General Assembly on September 15 2008


4. Italy's statements in the previous sessions of the General Assembly

September 3, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Intermediate approach
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

September 2, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Expansion in two categories of membership
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

September 2, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Expansion in two categories of membership
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

September 1, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Five key issues 
Statement by Prof. Vincenzo Scotti Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Italy

June 23, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council, the right of veto and working methods
Statement by the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of Italy Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado

June 22, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council, the right of veto and working methods
Statement by H.E. Ambassador Gianlorenzo Cornado, Charge' d'Affaires a.i.

June 12, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Composition of the Security Council

June 11, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Composition of the Security Council Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

May 22, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Nature, agenda, timing and frequency of any review or challenge
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

May 06, 2009 - Global Governance and the United Nations. Italy’s Views on the Importance of the Rule of Law in the Reform of the Security Council Presentation by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

April 20, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

April 8, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Size and working methods
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

April 7, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Size and working methods
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

March 31, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Regional representation  Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata”

March 24, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Regional representation
Statement by the  Permanent Representative of Italy H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

March 17, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - The right of veto
Statement by the  Permanent Representative of Italy H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

March 16, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - The right of veto
Statement by  the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

March 5, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Categories of membership
Highlights of the reply by H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata,  Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations

March 4, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Categories of membership
Statement by H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations

February 19, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Opening of the intergovernmental negotiations
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

January 29, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Presentation of the results of the Open-ended working group
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

January 26, 2009 - Open-ended working group 
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

January 19, 2009 - Open-ended working group
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

December 5, 2008 - Open-ended working group
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi

December 4, 2008 - 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Minister Frattini's address to the Conference on "60 Years of Human Rights: what has changed?"

November 18, 2008 - General Assembly: Security Council report
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations Ambassador Giulio Terzi

November 11, 2008 - Open-ended working group
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata

September 26, 2008 - General Assembly: Opening Debate of the 63th Session
Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs the Honourable Franco Frattini to the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations 

August 27, 2008 - Security Council reform: Debate on working methods
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Italy H.E. Amb. Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata


5. Statements of other UN Member States

April 20, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council Statement by the Permanent Representative of Colombia,H.E. Ms.Claudia Blum

April 07, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Size and working methods
Statement by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Turkey, Mr. Fazli Corman

April 07, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Size and working methods
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Zambia, H.E.Mr. Lazarous Kapambwe

April 07, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Size and working methods
Statement by the permanent Representative of Switzerland, H.E. Mr. Peter Maurer

March 31, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Regional representation Statement by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Turkey, Mr. Fazli Corman 

March 24, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Regional representation Statement by the  Permanent Representative of Mexico, H.E. Mr. Claude Heller”

March 24, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Regional representation  Statement by the  Permanent Representative of the Philippines, H.E. Mr. Hilario G. Davide, JR.”

March 24, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - Regional representation
Statement by the  Permanent Representative of Spain, H.E. Amb.  Juán Antonio Yañez-Barnuevo”

March 17, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - The right of veto Statement by the  Permanent Representative of Grenada H.E. Amb. Dessima M. Williams

March 17, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - The right of veto Statement by the  Permanent Representative of China H.E. Amb.  Zhang Yesui

March 16, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - The right of veto  Statement by Mr. Stefan Barriga, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein

March 16, 2009 - Informal Plenary of the General Assembly: intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform - The right of veto