Arab News Japan

Japan called for the reformation of the United Nations for the post COVID-19  world and reiterated its willingness to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council in a message delivered to a high-level meeting marking the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations on September 21.

In a video message published on Tuesday by the Foreign Ministry, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi outlined how the crises that the world has to cope with through multilateralism, are are increasingly expanding. Using the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic as an example, he emphasized the importance of countries coming together by saying that “the crucial role of the UN to unite the international community has never been more necessary.”

In calling for a reform of the UN, Motegi said “We, the Member States, cannot be complacent with the status quo. Rather, we need to take serious steps, in close coordination with the UN organizations, to reform the UN for the post-COVID era.”

Motegi added that while UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has been leading the effort in making the UN more effective, Japan expects to see further reforms implemented this year as the reformation of the UN development system is critical to ensuring that the most vulnerable will not be left behind.

“For a stronger UN, Security Council reform cannot wait any longer. I regret to say that, today, the system designed seventy-five years ago does not fully deliver on the purposes of the Charter,” Motegi said.

The Japanese Foreign Minister told the General Assembly that the council will only be “revived as an effective and representative organ” once Member States that have the capacity and willingness to take on major responsibilities hold seats on an expanded Security Council.

“I’m convinced that Member States having the capacity and willingness to take on major responsibilities should hold seats on an expanded Security Council. Only then will the Council be revived as an effective and representative organ,” he said.

Expressing the country’s willingness to take a leading role in tackling global issues, Motegi said, “Japan is fully prepared to fulfill such responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council and contribute to ensuring peace and stability of the world.”

Motegi mentioned that 2020 also marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and vowed Japan’s full commitment to cooperating with other countries to ensure that future generations are protected from experiencing the tragedies brought by war.

“We have to keep in mind that the UN was founded ‘to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.’ Japan spares no effort to achieve this goal into the future. The Future We Want. Let us build it together,” Motegi added.