Iraq Participates In Intergovernmental Negotiations On Security Council Reform

Baghdad / NINA / -Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ahmed Al-Sahhaf, announced today, Thursday, Iraq’s participation in the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform.

 Al-Sahhaf stated in a statement, “Iraq participated in the intergovernmental negotiation sessions regarding reform of the Security Council, the issue of fair representation, increasing the number of Security Council members, and other related issues. The sessions of the negotiation round were devoted to discussions on strengthening and building rapprochement, and organized dialogue on the models proposed by countries and groups and the contribution of intergovernmental negotiations to the future summit,” noting that “Iraq’s participation came through the interim charge d’affaires of the Permanent Representation of Iraq in New York.”

 In Iraq's speech, the Chargé d'Affaires affirmed "the Republic of Iraq's support for the Arab position and the demand for a permanent Arab seat with full powers in the category of permanent seats in the event of any future expansion of the Council, in addition to proportionate Arab representation in the category of non-permanent seats in the expanded Security Council, given that the Arab region has historically been the most affected  from using the veto power.

 He pointed out that "most cases of the use of the veto on issues in the Arab region, perhaps the most prominent of which is what we have witnessed over the past two months in the use of the veto in the Security Council against draft resolutions whose primary purpose was humanitarian, to protect defenseless civilians and deliver humanitarian aid," stressing the importance of reforming the international system and the Security Council in particular so that it can carry out its tasks and responsibilities effectively, in order to maintain international peace and security, which is the basic purpose of establishing the United Nations, as well as adopting unified and objective standards and moving away from the multiple standards that led to the Council’s division and failure to exercise its role.”

 He stressed "the importance of continuing to work on improving the methods and ways of the Security Council's work, adding more transparency and comprehensiveness to its work, and considering agreeing on permanent rules of procedure for the Security Council instead of the rules of temporary procedures that have been in place for decades."

 He pointed out the importance of consolidating the relationship between the Council and regional organizations and activating their role stipulated in the Charter, as they exercise a supportive and participating role and not an alternative to the Council, reiterating Iraq’s position in support of all initiatives aimed at reforming the Council and increasing its effectiveness.

 He pointed out "the importance of these negotiations and the resulting outcomes that lead to the reform of the United Nations in general and the Security Council in particular," expressing his hope that "these negotiations on Security Council reform will contribute to enriching the ongoing discussions about the 2024 Future Summit and its outcomes represented in the Future Charter."./End