India welcomes UN decision to begin negotiations on reforms

New Delhi: India on Monday welcomed the decision by the UN General Assembly to adopt by consensus the decision to begin text-based negotiations on Security Council reforms after two decades.

The ministry of external affairs, in a statement, welcomed the decision by the UN General Assembly to carry forward the text presented by its president on the issue of Security Council reform.

It termed it a "significant development as after more than two decades of discussions, we can now commence text-based negotiations. Adoption of this text by consensus by all UN Member States is reflective of the broad support of the international community to move forward on this issue".

The UN General Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a negotiating text for Security Council reforms, setting the stage for talks on the process at its 70th session that begins on Tuesday.

India also conveyed its deep appreciation of "the leadership of the President of the 69th Session of the General Assembly, Sam Kutesa, and Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process, Courtenay Rattray in carrying forward the IGN towards text-based negotiation process".

"We look forward to early commencement of text-based negotiations with a view to securing concrete outcomes during the 70th Session of the UNGA. We call upon all member states to constructively engage in this process so that the long pending reform of the UN Security Council can be achieved so as to equip the Council to more effectively address the global challenges,' it said in the statement.

MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted: "Big moment for India as UNGA adopts by consensus decision to begin text based negotiations on SC reforms after 2 decades."

UNGA president Kutesa convened a plenary meeting to take action on the draft decision on the "Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters". He also circulated letters containing the positions of key countries, including Russia, the US and China which refused to contribute to the negotiating text.

There was no voting on the decision to continue text-based UNSC reforms in the 70th session of the General Assembly and it was adopted by consensus.