Addis Ababa, September 20, 2023 (FBC) – Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, called for a fair representation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Demeke stated at an informal consultative meeting organized by Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, that UNSC reform is long overdue.
The purpose of the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of UNGA78, was to exchange views on current global development issues and UN reform.
The meeting mainly included non-permanent members of the UNSC from Africa and a few countries of interest in the reform of the UN and international financial institutions.
Demeke Mekonnen expressed that Ethiopia’s position is in line with the African common position on the issue. He said that it is in the interest of the whole world to make the UNSC fair and representative.
He underlined that the reform of international financial institutions is critical in the face of the huge unmet demand for development finance due to the unresponsive nature of the status quo.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed the need for urgent reform to unlock the requisite financial resources for development. He also praised the Chancellor for his initiative and his friendship with Ethiopia, as demonstrated during his recent visit.
Other leaders in attendance, including the presidents of Congo, Mauritania, and Comoros, reiterated the long-overdue need for reform and expressed their respective positions.
Meanwhile, at the same venue, Demeke also had productive discussions with AU Commission Chairman Musa Faki Mahamat and Mirjana Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross.