Jeremic: UN Security Council reform will not happen until it suits all permanent members

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently called for Africa to be granted a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Former ambassador of the FRY to Germany, Zoran Jeremic, says that discussions on reforming the Security Council have been ongoing practically since the founding of the United Nations, but that changes will not occur until they suit all the permanent members of the Security Council who hold veto power.

"It has always been said that something needs to be adapted to new conditions and times. There are various ideas and tendencies, but I personally do not believe that any changes will take place. The mere fact that discussions are happening indicates some agreement among the major powers to talk about it, but I don't believe they will implement it, because none of them wants to give up their monolithic position, which grants them a particularly significant role. I'm speaking about the permanent members of the Security Council with veto power," Jeremic told Kosovo Online.

He considers it highly debatable whether certain regions will be able to gain entry into the Security Council. When it comes to Africa, he notes that the immediate question is which country from the continent would be a permanent member of the Security Council.

"Will it be on a rotational basis, and who will align all these opinions? Will it represent the views of the entire continent? This is always a topic of discussion, but I don't believe it will be realized until it suits all the Security Council members with veto power," our interlocutor says.

When asked whether Africa's entry among the permanent members of the Security Council would be beneficial to Serbia in terms of resolving the Kosovo issue, Jeremic says that it would depend on which African countries were in the Security Council and making decisions.

"If the countries that haven't recognized Kosovo are involved, it will suit us, but if they are countries that have recognized Kosovo or are under the influence of countries that have recognized Kosovo, it will be a completely different situation. So it is hard to say whether this would be beneficial to us or not, especially considering that the European Union, Germany, and Latin American countries also have aspirations for such a seat. I think we won't gain anything from it," Jeremic concludes.