Intervention by the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Argentine Republic, Minister Gabriela Martinic
May 8
CO- CHAIRS
ALLOW ME FIRST TO THANK YOU FOR CONVENING THIS FOURTH SESSION TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON THE ISSUES OF "REGIONAL REPRESENTATION", "SIZE OF AN ENLARGED SECURITY COUNCIL" AND "CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP". MY DELEGATION FULLY SUSCRIBES THE INTERVENTION MADE BY THE DISTINGUISHED PERMANET REPRESENTATIVE OF ITALY ON BEHALF OF "UNITING FOR CONSENSUS".
HAVING DEVOTED THE LAST MEETING TO MAKE AN EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW OF THE POSITION OF THE MEMBER STATES AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, OF THE GROUPS THAT THEY INTEGRATES ON “REGIONAL REPRESENTATION” AND “SIZE OF AN ENLARGED COUNCIL”, IT IS VERY RELEVANT TO INTORDUCE TO THESE DISCUSSIONS THE ISSUE OF “CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP”, DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE TWO PREVIOUS, AS WELL AS TO "METHODS OF WORK" AND TO "THE QUESTION OF THE VETO".
IT IS KNOWN THAT ARGENTINA DOES NOT FAVOR THE INCLUSION OF NEW PERMANENT MEMBERS TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL AS CONSIDERS THAT THE INCREASE IN THIS TYPE OF SEAT DOES NOT INCREASE PARTICIPATION OF THOSE THAT ARE NOT REPRESENTED ON THE COUNCIL.
EVEN MORE, THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC CONSIDERS TOO LITTLE AUSPICIOUS THE IDEA OF EXTENDING THE CATEGORY OF PERMANENT MEMBERS BASED ON AN EXTREMELY COMPLEX AND CHANGING INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO.
IT IS SO THAT, SINCE THE CREATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS, THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC HAS EXPRESSLY SUPPORTED THE PRINCIPLE OF SOVEREIGN EQUALITY OF ALL STATES. IN THE CONTEXT OF A REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL, THAT PRINCIPLE ONLY IS HONORED BY CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR ALL MEMBER STATES TO ACCEED TO A NON-PERMANENT SEAT IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL, GIVING A HIGHER PREEMINENCE TO THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVENESS, THROUGH THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE RATIOS OF EACH REGIONAL GROUP, MAKING THE MOST EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION.
CONSEQUENTLY I WILL ALSO LIKE TO REMIND YOU THE ARGENTINE SUPPORT FOR AFRICA´S DEMAND TO BE PROPERLY REPRESENTED ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL, CORRECTING THE UNJUST HISTORICAL SUB-REPRESENTATION OF THAT CONTINENT.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE CONVINCED THAT ALL FORMULAS MUST BE BASED ON THE IDEA THAT A LEGITIMATE AND REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM INCLUDES THE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT OF ELECTION. IT CAN NOT BE DENIED THAT THE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAVE ALWAYS REPRESENTED ITS OWN NATIONAL INTERESTS, DUE TO THE FACT THAT PERMANENCE DOES NOT RESPOND TO A DEMOCRATIC CRITERION IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
MR CO-CHAIRS
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC HIGHLY VALUES THE INCREASED PARTICIPATION OF MEMBER STATES IN THESE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS.
WE ARE CONVINCED OF THE VALUE OF THE REVISION AND FLEXIBILIZATION OF OUR POSITIONS, IN ORDER TO MEET THE INTERESTS OF EVERYONE AND EACH ONE OF OUR COUNTRIES, THROUGH A COUNCIL REFORM THAT NOT ONLY PROMOTES ITS EFFECTIVENESS, BUT THAT ENDOWS THROUGH ITS DECISIONS POLITICAL LEGITIMACY AND STRENGTHENGS ITS DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
