The issue of reforming the UN Security Council is as old as the UN itself. Member states have consistently expressed concerns about permanent representation in the Council and veto power, especially since the end of the Cold War, by which time global geopolitical realities had clearly changed since 1945. The formal discussion on Security Council reform United Nations began with the establishment in 1993 of the Open Working Group on the Question of Equal Representation and Increase in Membership of the Security Council and on Other Matters Related to the Security Council. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay After more than a decade of working group work, member states agreed in September 2007 to move discussions to an intergovernmental negotiation (IGN) process. Gabon's delegation echoes Decision 62/557 of 2008, which established the parameters of the IGN, the five key issues considered in these negotiations are: Council membership categories (i.e. permanent, non-permanent or a third option )the issue of the size of the cross-regional representation of an expanded council and the working methodsthe relationship between the Council and the General Assembly. Gabon firmly believes that it is vital to ensure that multilateralism guarantees collective security and inclusion. Africa represents the largest geographical group in the United Nations and issues relating to the continent remain the main part of the Council's agenda. Any future reform of the Security Council must ensure that Africa has a permanent seat. This is an integral part of the aspirations for authentic democracy in global political and economic governance. The common position of Gabon and Africa aims to expand the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories, improve its working methods and grant the new permanent Security Council members have the same prerogatives and privileges as the current permanent members , including the right of veto. Gabon believes that fair representation requires increasing the number of members of the Security Council from fifteen to twenty-six, with eleven additional seats to be distributed as follows, where two permanent and two (additional) non-permanent seats belong to African States, two permanent seats seats and one non-permanent seat for the Asian States, one non-permanent seat for the Eastern European States, one permanent seat and one non-permanent seat for the Latin American and Caribbean States and one permanent seat for the Western European and other states. Remember: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The Council's lack of legitimacy is a cancer that eats away at every institution within the broader United Nations system. Power is shifting, but not in the Security Council, where the victors of a war fought 70 years ago determine every major decision. We cannot let this reform effort conflict with power politics.