G4 nations call for early reforms in U.N. Security Council

Reaffirming the need for early reforms in the United Nations Security Council, the G4 nations have issued a joint statement after a meeting of the foreign ministers of the G4 nations.

The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Brazilian Foreign Relations Minister Aloysio Nunes, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, and Japanese Foreign Minister Tarp Kono.

In the joint statement, the G4 members have called for an enhanced role for the developing countries and major contributors to the United Nations and improvement of working methods in order to make the Council more effective and representative.

The G4 members also recognised that the number of members of the U.N. has gone up from 51 in 1945 to 193 today and that the current composition of the Council does not reflect the changed global realities

The G4 foreign ministers stressed that the Council needs to reflect today's world in order to tackle complex challenges. They reiterated their resolve to encourage launching text-based negotiations, during the current session of the General Assembly.

Meanwhile, India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj said that there can't be a justification for any act of terrorism.

Swaraj asserted that India condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

"India strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms & manifestations. There can be no justification for any acts of terrorism," Swaraj said, while speaking at the ad hoc Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Meeting of Foreign Ministers in New York .

She said connectivity with SCO countries is India's priority and asserted that India wants the incumbent connectivity to pave the way for cooperation and trust between the people.

Swaraj added that India, as a member of SCO, would cooperate extensively in further consolidation of SCO as an effective regional platform.

-ANI