The urgent need for United Nations reform has become increasingly evident in light of the unprecedented global crises we face today. Reform should commence with the Security Council and be pursued through intergovernmental negotiations, according to a statement from Turkey's Permanent Mission to the United Nations. This declaration was made in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks about the necessity of Security Council reform.
"Turkey advocates for a more effective and relevant UN, one that can address the complex challenges of the 21st century. This necessity is underscored by the unprecedented crises that have tested the international system in recent years," emphasized the Turkish mission.
"Reform must start with the Security Council, the primary body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. President [of Turkey] Tayyip Erdogan has consistently highlighted this issue, stressing that the world is larger than the five permanent members of the UN Security Council," the statement continued. "The need for reform is undeniable and cannot be postponed. However, it is crucial to achieve a broad consensus among the global community." The mission underscored that "reform can only be accomplished through intergovernmental negotiations," which it described as "the only legitimate platform for addressing this sensitive issue."
Turkish diplomats also suggested that Security Council reform should include either the abolition of the veto power or its limitation. "Turkey's main priorities for Security Council reform are a more democratic, representative, transparent, effective, and accountable Council. Ideally, this would involve abolishing the veto power. If that is not feasible, then at least limiting it, along with expanding the categories of non-permanent members through rotating seats based on regular elections to ensure fair, equal, and democratic representation," the mission stated.
The mission emphasized that "these priorities advocate an inclusive approach benefiting all member states, prioritizing the common good over individual national interests."
The Need for UN Security Council Reform
On June 20, President Putin highlighted that the evolving global situation necessitates Security Council reform, which should be based on broad consensus. Previously, Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, stated in an interview with TASS that reforming the Security Council should avoid skewing its composition in favor of Western countries and diluting the prerogatives of permanent members.
Turkish authorities have long advocated for reforming the UN system, with such calls intensifying recently due to the situation in Ukraine. In October 2021, Erdogan, speaking in the Angolan parliament during a visit to the country, asserted that the fate of humanity should not be left to "a handful of countries" that won World War II. Highlighting ongoing global inequalities, he emphasized that the world is more than just the five countries that became permanent members of the UN Security Council as victors in the war.
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Based on materials from TASS