Thank you, Mr. President.

Türkiye aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Italy on behalf of the Uniting for Consensus Group.

I would like to make the following additional comments in my national capacity.

We appreciate your engagement in the process and warmly welcome Ambassadors Mlynár and Albanai, Permanent Representatives of Slovakia and Kuwait, respectively, in their new capacities as the Co-Chairs.

They will have our full support and cooperation in discharging their important roles.

We also express our gratitude to the former Chairs, Ambassador Al Thani, Permanent Representative of Qatar and Ambassador Hermann, Permanent Representative of Denmark for their valuable efforts at the 76th session towards finding areas of convergences, which was a welcome approach in reaching consensus on this important matter.

Mr. President,

The need for Security Council reform is undeniable.

What we must strive for and ensure is that the reformed Council reflects the realities of our time, of a world that is ever changing.

Thus, the outcome of the reform process must not create a static body.

This requires a comprehensive and inclusive approach.

It requires emphasizing and prioritizing the common good over individual national interests.

Needless to say, the resulting reform should enjoy sufficient support from all member states / ALT: should be adopted by consensus.

This is the only way the Security Council can be more representative, more democratic, more accountable and more effective.

Mr. President,

Permanent membership and the veto mechanism are the obvious factors that lie at the heart of the problem.

We need to acknowledge that they serve nothing but the national interests of those who hold those privileges.

This system has made the Security Council dysfunctional, unaccountable and undemocratic.

The reform process needs to look for ways to address and eliminate the current problems of the Security Council, not for ways to aggravate them.

We are fully convinced that the Security Council will be more representative and responsive if we increase the number of elected seats and the possibility for all member states to serve in the Council.

The Security Council will be more accountable if the performance of members is subjected to periodic elections.

A better ratio between the non-permanent and permanent members will improve the decision-making process and enable the Council to be more effective.

Ideally, the veto should be abolished. There is no justifiable explanation as to why certain members should have this right and others not. In this respect, we support the initiatives to limit the use of negative vote in the Council.

A more equitable representation of the regional groups and a fair system of rotation, including enhanced opportunities for underrepresented groups is a must in the reformed Council.

The working methods of the Council and its relationship with the General Assembly are also no less important, as they define the daily dynamics of the system.

Mr. President,

Maximalist aspirations, especially those that are based on narrow national interests as opposed the spirit of compromise and consensus, have blocked the IGN for too long.

An issue has direct impact on the lives of current and future generations requires compromise and a consensual process.

If there is a genuine wish to make improvements in the Security Council, we should focus on the most attainable models that have a chance to be realized in a swift manner.

We call on all member states to demonstrate the political will and flexibility to facilitate the reform process pursued under the aegis of the IGN, which is the sole legitimate platform to handle this matter.

Thank you.”