Co-Chairs,
We appreciate the convening of this meeting and we will focus our statement on the elements included in the letter from the Co-Chairs, dated February 18, 2019.
Before tackling the elements proposed in your letter, we reiterate that the Security Council reform process should be based on a comprehensive and broad approach, addressing all substantive issues related to the five key issues, namely: the question of membership, the number of members, regional representation, working methods and the decision-making process, including the question of the veto.
All documentation resulting from the negotiation process of previous years is useful, as well as the positions that we, as Member States, have expressed since the beginning of the process.
In relation to the three clusters on categories of membership, regional representation and the question of the veto, stated in your letter, we reiterate:
We support an expansion of the Security Council, both in the category of permanent and non-permanent members, with the aim of rectifying the insufficient representation of the developing countries.
The expansion should include an increase in the category of permanent members, at least two developing countries of Africa, two of Asia and two of Latin America and the Caribbean. Cuba has always opposed the existence of the right of veto. However, as long as it is not eliminated, the new seats created in the category of permanent members should have the same prerogatives and rights as the current ones, including the power of veto.
If the category of permanent members is not extended and only the number of non-permanent seats is extended, the existing gap between permanent and non-permanent members would be further widened; the disproportion between the representation of developed and developing countries in the Council would increase; which would be even less representative, and therefore, less legitimate and effective.
The category of non-permanent members should be expanded to at least 15 members.
Cuba does not favor the creation of new categories or subcategories of members as they would deepen the existing differences and would encourage the division outside the Security Council.
Cuba defends that the enlargement of the Council should reach no less than 26 members. Only with that figure the proportion among members of the Security Council and that of the Member States of the UN would at least be closer to the proportion reached when the Organization was founded.
In conclusion, my delegation reiterates that this reform process should be conducted by the Member States and should be inclusive and participatory. All positions should be taken into account in equal conditions. The process should gain the widest possible acceptance by Member States.
We reiterate that the fundamental principles underlying the Security Council reform should continue to guide the negotiation process.