UNITED NATIONS, 26 September 2004 — Touting his country’s historical credentials, Egypt’s foreign minister on Friday made a case for reform of the UN Security Council, with an eye on a seat for itself, as well as for African nations.
Ahmed Aboul Gheit also called for a concerted effort to fighting the roots of terrorism and stressed the need for a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Palestinians’ suffering has been “met with an inexplicable international silence, barring some timid expressions of dissatisfaction, or at best, discomfort at the events unfolding there,” Aboul Gheit told world leaders at the UN General Assembly’s ministerial meeting.
Egypt is helping Israel coordinate its unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, and Aboul Gheit said the implementation of the plan “will allow Egypt to work with the Palestinian side for the rehabilitation and rebuilding of the Palestinian Authority in all areas, particularly the area of security.”
While arguing for the need for reform in the council and an expansion in its membership, Aboul Gheit said little would be gained if the new make-up did not reflect a broader cultural and geographical representation.
Reform of the United Nations, in general, and of the Security Council, in particular, are among the center-stage issues being discussed in the assembly. “Here, we must reiterate the legitimate right of more than one billion Muslims and more than 300 million Arabs to be represented in the council on an equal basis with the representatives of other cultures and civilizations,” he said.
Aboul Gheit added that Egypt has made “significant contributions” on the regional and international level, and that it plays a central role in the African, Arab and Islamic spheres. He said that such considerations reflect Egypt’s “clear eligibility for, and appropriate capacity in discharging the responsibilities of membership” in the Security Council.
