Mr. President,

I am privileged to deliver these remarks on today’s important topic on behalf of G-4- Brazil, Germany, Japan and my own country India.

Africa, we all know, has been undergoing very rapid changes. It is a continent with the youngest demographies, one with vast natural resources, expanding capabilities, growing markets and most of all, rising ambitions.

It is also inconceivable that Africa; which constitutes over 70% of the UNSC’s agenda items under discussions, does not get a permanent voice on the horse-shoe table. We as G-4 continue to support fully these legitimate demands and aspirations from the people of Africa. We are convinced that they will be an indispensable part of reform for a more representative and effective Council.

G-4’s relations with Africa are anchored in trust and mutual respect, and are focused on ensuring that our African brothers and sisters find their rightful place in a new age of reformed multilateralism.

Recent global geo-political events have clearly shown that the UN Security Council is unable to deliver on its primary responsibilities to safeguard international peace and security when the world needs it most. The realities of 1945, when the Council was established, have long been superseded by the geo-political realities of the modern era and a new century; with the need for change being felt across the board.

For the G-4, a primary reason for this non-functionality of this critical institution remains its outdated structure, namely the non representation, or under-representation, on a permanent basis of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Asia-Pacific in the UN Security Council.

Thus G-4 has clearly walked the talk when it comes to correcting the historical injustices done to Africa .

Catering to today’s realities, the G4 model of UNSC reforms has clearly proposed that the Security Council's membership increase from the current 15 to 25-26, by adding six permanent and four or five non-permanent members. Among the six new permanent members, two each are proposed to be from African states and Asia Pacific states, one from Latin American and Caribbean states; and one from Western European and Other states.

On rights and privileges associated with permanent membership such as the veto, we also support the Common African Position that as long as it exists, it must be available to all permanent members, both new and old alike.

It is the G4’s firm belief – shared, we believe, by Africa and other groups – that any reform of the Council that does not address the lack of representation, particularly in the permanent category, would only perpetuate or even exacerbate the current imbalances in the Council's composition and render it ill-equipped to address today's international challenges.

Much younger bodies, like the G-20 after the New Delhi summit held in September last year when AU was inducted as a full member, have shown themselves more willing to accommodate the legitimate needs and aspirations of the African people.

Mr. President,

To conclude, the ambitious Summit of the Future scheduled to be held at the UN this September and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations next year are important milestones towards which we should aim to make concrete progress. The Pact for the Future must reflect the majority voices in a fair and objective manner and send a powerful message of reform. We must push forward a reform heeding the voice of the young and future generations, including from Africa, where the demand to correct the historical injustices grows ever stronger. Otherwise, we simply risk sending the Council down the path of oblivion and irrelevance.

Thank You.