15 Nov 2012

GA / SECURITY COUNCIL

Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti told the General Assembly that "the time has come” for a new phase in negotiations on the expansion of Security Council membership and an improvement of its methods. UNTV

Posted at: November 15, 2012 6:03 pm

Duration: 02:06

Available in: SD

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STORY: GA / SECURITY COUNCIL
TRT: 2.06
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 15 NOVEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1.	Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

15 NOVEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Zoom in General Assembly
3. Zoom in, Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti walks up to the podium
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations:
"A large majority has also expressed its support for an expansion of the Council in both categories of membership and for the improvement of its methods of work. Mr. President, together with its partners of the G4 and the L.69 groups, Brazil has been a staunch supporter of the intergovernmental negotiations since its inception. We reiterate our commitment to this process. Time has come however to begin a new phase in our talks." 
5. Wide shot, Egyptian Ambassador Mootaz Ahmadein Khalil walks up to the podium
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mootaz Ahmadein Khalil, Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations:
"Africa remains unrepresented in the permanent category and under represented in the non-permanent category of the Security Council compared to all other regions. The African common position, as reflected in the Ezulwini consensus, does not seek to achieve national political interests. It aims at achieving the legitimate aspirations of a whole continent comprising 54 countries. We aim to rectify the historical injustice inflicted to Africa regarding its representation in the Security Council." 
7. Wide shot, French Representative Stephane Visconti walks up to the podium
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Stephane Visconti, Representative of France:
"Reform of the Council must take into account the emergence of new powers that have both the will and the capability to shoulder the responsibility for a permanent seat on the Security Council and who, in accordance with the United Nations Charter are in a position to make significant contributions to the action of the Council for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is in this context that France supports the candidacies of the African countries among the permanent members as well as the candidacies of Germany, Japan, India and Brazil for permanent seats." 
9.	Wide shot, Visconti walks away from the podium

STORYLINE:

Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti told the General Assembly today (14 November) that "the time has come" for a new phase in negotiations on the expansion of Security Council membership and an improvement of its methods.

Ribeiro was addressing the General Assembly in its consideration of the annual report of the Security Council and debate on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council.

The Brazilian Ambassador pointed out that "a large majority" of Member States had expressed its support for an expansion of the Council in both categories of membership, permanent and non-permanent.

Ambassador Mootaz Ahmadein Khalil of Egypt stressed that "Africa remains unrepresented in the permanent category and under represented in the non-permanent category of the Security Council compared to all other regions."

He reiterated the African common position which he said "aims at achieving the legitimate aspirations of a whole continent comprising 54 countries" and to "rectify the historical injustice inflicted to Africa regarding its representation in the Security Council."

Stephane Visconti, Representing France, a permanent member of the Council, said that "reform of the Council must take into account the emergence of new powers that have both the will and the capability to shoulder the responsibility for a permanent seat on the Security Council and who, in accordance with the United Nations Charter are in a position to make significant contributions to the action of the Council for the maintenance of international peace and security."

In this context, he said, "France supports the candidacies of the African countries among the permanent members as well as the candidacies of Germany, Japan, India and Brazil for permanent seats."

The Council is currently composed of 15 Members; five permanent members, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.