• The G4 Ministers representing Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan stressed that a comprehensive reform of the Security Council is an essential part of any endeavor to make the United Nations better reflect contemporary geopolitical realities and thus fit for the present and future.

• Other plurilateral groupings, including the L69 and C-10, also voiced similar calls.

• The L.69 Group is a group of developing countries from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific (Small Island Developing States). The group currently has 32 countries as its members.

The Group of Four (G4) Countries

• The G4 is a grouping of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan which are aspiring to become permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

• The G4 countries are supporting each other’s bids for permanent membership of the UNSC.

• All the four countries have been figured among the elected non-permanent members of the council since the UN’s establishment.

• The G4 nations traditionally meet on the sidelines of the annual high-level UN General Assembly session.

Highlights of the G4 Meeting:

• G4 Ministers noted the current significant challenges to the multilateral system with the United Nations at its core. They stressed that a comprehensive reform of the Security Council is an essential part of any endeavor to make the United Nations better reflect contemporary geopolitical realities and thus fit for the present and future.

• In this context, the ministers of Germany, India, and Japan also expressed their support for Brazil’s initiative to launch a Call to Action on Global Governance Reform, particularly in light of Brazil’s presidency of the G20.

• They agreed on the need to enhance the role and participation of developing countries, and those significantly contributing to international peace and security, in the Security Council, in both membership categories.

• They also stressed the importance of an improved representation of under-represented and unrepresented groups and regions, such as Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean, in both membership categories. Ministers reaffirmed their strong support to the Common African Position (CAP) as enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.

• At present, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent member countries which are elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly of the United Nations. 

• The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France and the United States and these countries can veto any substantive resolution.

• The government of India has been according highest priority to obtain a permanent membership for India in an expanded United Nations Security Council. Towards this end, the government has undertaken various initiatives aimed at building international support for India’s case. 

• The matter has been consistently taken up during bilateral and multilateral meetings, and in discussions with other countries at all levels.

• There is however a group of countries which is opposed to any expansion in the permanent category of membership, and calls for consensus to be arrived at for any reforms in the Security Council. 

• Given the diversity of opinion on the nature and scope of UNSC reforms and the varied positions of different regional groupings on this matter, it remains under active discussion.

Committee of Ten (C-10)

• The Committee of Ten African Ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors (The C-10) was created during a meeting of Ministers and Governors in Tunis in November 2008. 

• The members of the C-10 are the following countries and institutions: Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, the Central Bank of West African States (CBWAS), and the Central Bank of Central African States (CBCAS).

At its creation the C-10 was charged with the following objectives: 

• Monitoring the impact of the global financial and economic crisis on Africa and discussing options for policy responses. 

• Advocating enhanced African participation in governance of international financial institutions (IFIs).

• Identifying strategic economic priorities for Africa and developing a clear strategy for Africa’s engagement with the G20.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)