Thank you, co-chairs. Norway would like to thank the co-facilitators – Ambassador Nusseibeh and Ambassador Imnadze - for your hard work and guidance in these discussions, including for the document “Revised elements of commonality and issues for further consideration”.
We also thank St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on behalf of the L69 group, for the “Handbook on Security Council reform”, which we are sure will be a useful reference tool in our further deliberations.
Norway remains committed to engaging in the collective efforts to reform the Security Council. We share the impatience expressed by other countries, including those Nordic countries who have spoken before us.
As the world becomes increasingly more complex, the council must become more transparent, effective, accountable and representative.
Norway supports a balanced expansion of the Security Council. The aim must be to better reflect current global political, social and economic realities, and ensure increased representation of developing countries, including both permanent and non-permanent seats for Africa. In our view, it is also important to enable possibilities for small states to participate in the decision-making process of the UN Security Council as elected members.
Co-chairs, rest assured that Norway will continue to contribute to a constructive dialogue among Member States, with a view to achieving further progress on this important issue.
I thank you.