Security Council need immediate reform

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for accelerated negotiations to achieve a much-needed reform of the UN Security Council, citing significant changes on the international political scene over the last 60 years.

He asked the member states to "expedite the text-based negotiations" for urgent reform of the Security Council so as to "determine the exact modalities," noting that India is one of the aspirants for the permanent membership.

"As a SG I will coordinate and try to create the atmosphere so that the member states can accelerate their negotiations," he told the news agency during a press conference at the end of his visit to Geneva."I know that India is one of the aspirants for the permanent members of the UN Security Council," he said, emphasising that members states must expedite the text-based negotiations."The third draft text has been submitted and has become the subject of negotiations," said Ban, arguing that "as for the modalities, and exact modalities, this is something that member states should determine through the negotiations".He said there is growing support among the member states for the urgent reform of the Security Council which should be "reformed and expanded in a more democratic and more representative and more transparent manner".

Ban said "significant changes in the international political scenes during the last six decades" call for an urgent reform of the Security Council without further delay.