IGN on Security Council Reform
Size of the Future Council, cluster discussion on regional representation
Remarks delivered by H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations
15 April 2025, New York
Chair,
I would like to start by thanking Ambassador Al Banai for his leadership and tireless efforts to driving the IGN process forward as well as recognise the vital input of our former colleague, Ambassador Marschik, towards the same goal. Having in mind the specific topic we are discussing today, please allow me to make 5 points:
- The main goal of our reform endeavours should be a just and strengthened multilateral world order based on international law, with UN and the UN Charter at its core. We should use the momentum to collectively reinforce the political relevance of the United Nations Organisation indeed.
- The future compositionof the Security Council must adequately reflect the current world. Estonia advocates for a fair distribution between continents and regions. Small, medium and big states should all have a chance to be represented. We are also open to continue discussions on representations of cross-regional groups, such as the Small Island Developing States.
- All Security Council members, also the ones representing a regional or cross-regional group, should at the end be elected by the General Assembly, as we expect them to work with equal energy and dedication with all the issues on the SC´s agenda, not only the ones that concern their national, regional or group interests. Why? If and when elected, they are going to represent all of us in the Security Council.
- While discussing how exactly to increase the representation via enlargement of the Council, it is not less important that the UN Charter also point to the contributions of Member States to the maintenance of international peace and security as a primary consideration for membership. Therefore the new members should have the intention, capacity and also proven track record that they fully adhere to the principles of the UN Charter and international law. In this respect I call again on all countries, but even more so on those entertaining ambitions related to the enlargement, to publicly and as soon as possible, support the French-Mexican initiative and ACT Code of Conduct.
- It is also important that the enlarged SC is efficient and able to make decisions. This clearly sets certain limitations to the overall number of seats in the enlarged Council
Co-chairs, colleagues,
To conclude, I sincerely hope that we will make solid progress during this IGN session and broaden the scope of the elements of consensus for the Security Council reform, with a view to develop a consolidated model, preferably already by the end of the current IGN cycle. The consolidated model should be based on the convergences of the five clusters, and the models presented by Member States, as prescribed in the Pact for the Future. Therefore, we welcome submission of further models, and look forward to the discussion on the model submitted by CARICOM, scheduled for 29 May.
Thank you.