Cuba Regards UN Security Council as "Frozen Structure"
The debates on the polemic reform of the United Nations Security Council started Thursday here with strong criticism by Cuba, who regarded the Security Council as a "frozen structure."

The composition and working methods of the Security Council "do not reflect the realities of the world of today, and do not adequately represent the members of UN," as told by Cuban Ambassador Rodrigo Malmierca, who was sorry the UN Security Council has been relegated.

Since it was created 61 years ago, the Security Council is formed by US, UK, France, Russia and China as permanent members, with the power to veto.

The Security Council, in charge of taking care of the peace problems and international security, has another 10 non-permanent members rotating every two years, between members elected by the General Assembly, with proposals form the different geographic regions of the world.

Malmierca blamed some UN Security Council permanent members of contributing to the paralysis of the reform process, which was proposed for the first time in 1979.

Among the initiatives to widen the list of members of the Security Council, there is one presented by the African Union, which asked for the incorporation of two of its members with permanent character, with the power to veto.

Malmierca remembered the position of Cuba was "to eliminate the anti-democratic and anachronic privilege of the power to veto."

"As this doesn't seem to be possible for the time being, new permanent members should also have the right to veto, with the same conditions as current Security Council members," he stated.

Malmierca also referred that the Security Council reform project should not only cover increase of the number of members, but also cover transformations that guarantee transparency of work.

"Each day, continuous usurping of the work and powers of the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council worries, more and more," he concluded.