OPENING REMARKS BY HON. HENRY OKELLO ORYEM THE REFORM OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

 

REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

 

 

OPENING REMARKS 

BY 

HON. HENRY OKELLO ORYEM, 

MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN CHARGE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

 OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

 AT THE 

SENIOR OFFICIALS’ MEETING

OF THE 9TH MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMITTEE OF TEN (C10) ON THE REFORM OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL

19 JANUARY 2022

SPEKE COMMONWEALTH RESORT, MUNYONYO, KAMPALA

 

Check against Delivery

 

 

Your Excellencies, 

Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Uganda and on my own behalf, I welcome all delegations to this senior officials Meeting of the Committee of Ten, which will precede the Ministerial session tomorrow.    I hope you travelled well and have settled in well too.

 

I wish to thank our Coordinator, Sierra Leone for steering the work of the C-10 especially in this difficult time of the COVID19 pandemic and we assure you of Uganda unwavering support. 

 

This meeting should have taken place last year but due to the pandemic it was not possible to do so.  Given the critical importance of the reform of the Security Council, and the need to update our Heads of State and Government of the African Union on the recent dynamics within the intergovernmental negotiations at the United Nations, it was decided that we have this in-person engagement at this time, notwithstanding the threat posed by the COVID19 pandemic. 

 

On this note, I commend the C10 Permanent Representatives in New York for the work you undertaken in promoting the Common African Position in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) at the United Nations.   

 

Excellencies,

Time and again, Africa has reiterated that the relevance, legitimacy and moral authority of the United Nations will ever remain undermined without a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council.  This remains true.      Four decades have elapsed since Security Council reform first appeared on the UN General Assembly agenda, even as the geo political landscape transformed, but without much progress. 

While agreement is still far from being attained, intergovernmental negotiations are the most appropriate way to advance progress.     We should therefore welcome the efforts of the current Co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the reform of the Security Council at the UN, who have indicated that they are ready to convene the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on 8th February 2022.   During that session member states are being called upon to reflect and share their views on the IGN process. 

 

We should also remember that reform of the UN Security Council, is an integral part of our broader efforts to transform the United Nations into a more effective, representative and democratic global institution.

I urge this meeting to reflect on the recent dynamics within the IGN and make appropriate and actionable recommendations, which will advance progress in UN Security Council reform, in line with the common African Position. 

Excellencies,

It is critical therefore, that the C10 and the African Group as a whole continue to speak with one voice and keep focused on achieving the goal of the Common African Position.  

 

I wish to reiterate that Uganda’s support and commitment to reform as espoused in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration is unwavering, as it is the only viable option to redress the historical injustice done to the African Continent.  As such, Africa should remain cohesive and to continue to speak with one voice in unity of purpose on all aspects of the reform process.  

 

Excellencies

As I conclude, I encourage you to find time during your stay in Uganda to see a little more beyond the boundaries of Munyonyo, what the country has to offer. 

 

I wish you fruitful deliberations and thank you for your attention.