A/63/PV.54 General Assembly
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United Nations A/63/PV.54 General Assembly Official Records Sixty-third session 54th plenary meeting Tuesday, 18 November 2008, 3 p.m. New York President: Mr. D’Escoto Brockmann............................ (Nicaragua) In the absence of the President, Mr. Salgueiro It also includes the number of meetings held, whether (Portugal), Vice-President, took the Chair. formal open meetings or consultations, as well as the number of resolutions adopted by the Council. The meeting was called to order at 3.10 p.m. However, as in earlier years, the report does not analyse the Council’s work and the issues on which it Agenda items 9 and 111 (continued) has not been able to make progress, such as the Report of the Security Council (A/63/2) Palestinian question. We need to understand the reasons for that failure if we are to find solutions and Question of equitable representation on and understand why the Council did not perform as it increase in the membership of the Security should have. Undoubtedly, that would be useful for Council and related matters everyone concerned. We need to study those reasons Mr. Almansoor (Bahrain) (spoke in Arabic): and work together to assist the Council in finding First of all, I would like to congratulate you, Sir, on the solutions to those matters and other issues on its way in which you have been steering the work of the agenda. General Assembly and the general debate of the Discussion of the two items also serves to Assembly. We also wish to thank Ambassador Jorge strengthen the relationship between the General Urbina, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica and Assembly and the Security Council, so that together President of the Security Council for the month of those two organs can promote and strengthen the November, for his comprehensive presentation of the values and principles of the United Nations in the best annual report of the Security Council, which appears in possible way. document A/63/2. At the 2005 World Summit, world leaders This is a significant opportunity for us to discuss recognized the importance of Security Council reform items 9 and 111 of the agenda on the annual report of as an essential factor in all current efforts to reform the the Security Council and the question of equitable United Nations. They committed themselves to representation on and increase in the membership of reforming the Security Council as soon as possible so the Security Council and related matters. Those two as to make it more representative, efficient and items enjoy special attention on the part of the States transparent and enhance its effectiveness and the Members of the United Nations, given the link that legitimacy of its resolutions. In order to achieve that exists between them. As we noted in earlier years, the goal, world leaders expressed their support for the annual report of the Security Council provides a reforms being undertaken to improve the Security comprehensive account of the activities of the Council Council’s working methods, inter alia through the and the issues that it has discussed throughout the year. This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the interpretation of speeches delivered in the other languages. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room C-154A. Corrections will be issued after the end of the session in a consolidated corrigendum. 08-60929 (E) *0860929* A/63/PV.54 participation of non-member States in debates on negotiations. According to the draft report of the Open- matters on the Council’s agenda. ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of In that regard, we need to work together with the Security Council and Other Matters related to the goodwill, in order to achieve tangible results that will Security Council (A/AC.247/2008/Rev.2), which was obtain wide support and agreement. We should not introduced by the Vice-President of the General forget that Security Council reform is an integral Assembly, there is general agreement that the Security element in enhancing the entire work of the United Council membership needs to be adjusted and Nations and its effectiveness in its mission to tackle the balanced, because its representation does not reflect the current issues and crises. The annual report of the current situation in the world. We equally need to Security Council indicates that there are more issues on expand the Council and reform its working methods. its agenda than ever and, notwithstanding the fact that the Council tries to play the important role entrusted to The process of reforming the Security Council it by the United Nations Charter, the many issues on its should be comprehensive, taking into account all agenda subject it to constant pressure in addressing related issues. In that context, we support the principle those responsibilities. That has a negative effect on the of enlarging the Security Council in keeping with fair quality and depth of its discussions and on the and democratic geographical representation, in the decision-making process itself. permanent and non-permanent categories alike, so as to enable all countries to be represented fairly, which Given those circumstances, I believe that we need would reflect the current position of the States to be cautious in discussing new topics, particularly Members of the Organization. There needs to be a those that do not represent a threat to international permanent seat for Arab States to be rotated among peace and security. We reaffirm the importance of them, as is done within the League of Arab States. respecting the competence of United Nations organs, as set out in the Charter. The Security Council should not We should use the provisions of Chapters VI and take up issues that are within the purview of other VIII of the Charter to settle disputes peacefully. organs of the United Nations, which would constitute Recourse to Chapter VII should not be excessive but interference in the competence of other organs of this should be a last resort after all other, peaceful means Organization. We should reaffirm the importance of have been tried. Recourse to Articles 41 and 42 is often cooperation and coordination among the various undertaken quickly before available peaceful means United Nations organs, which would enhance our have been exhausted. ability to tackle the current challenges. Thus, we It is extremely important to limit the use of the should hold regular meetings involving the Presidents veto, and I believe there is a possibility of writing off of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the the right of veto through a positive vote. There are Economic and Social Council to examine ways of some Member States that feel that the right of veto ensuring their coordination and preventing any should be abolished through a two-thirds majority vote encroachment on the competence of other bodies. of the General Assembly. That is part of the reform of Fair representation in the Security Council and the working methods of the Security Council and the expansion in its membership, as well as other would function to make it more open and transparent, related matters, are a priority for my delegation. There given the greater participation of non-member States have been attempts to consider those issues, involving and in particular States concerned in the issues under the Open-Ended Working Group on Security Council consideration. Reform, established by General Assembly resolution The Kingdom of Bahrain hopes that Security 48/26. However, it is plain that those efforts have not Council reform will take place in a manner yielded any practical results. Therefore, we should commensurate with the challenges facing us in the work together in a creative and open spirit, in order to modern world. We hope that the enlargement of the reach an agreement satisfactory to everyone and Council will serve to guarantee the democratic supported by everyone. representation of all Member States, both large and Thus, we need to launch consultations that would small. We hope that we will be able to reach a middle- serve as a basis for later intergovernmental ground solution that can be applied so that all States 2 08-60929 A/63/PV.54 will see their hopes and aspirations taken into account We also fully support the notion that the formula by the Council. for Council reform must ensure the broadest possible support by Members of the Organization, at any rate, Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in by more than the legally required two-thirds majority Russian): Each year all United Nations Member States of the votes in the General Assembly. The proposed are given an opportunity to debate together the results reform models still do not enjoy predominant support of the work of the Security Council, as reflected in its in the United Nations. An attempt to sell those plans by annual report, presented today on behalf of the entire bringing them to a vote would inevitably polarize the Council by its President, Mr. Jorge Urbina, Permanent General Assembly. Even if one of the drafts did garner Representative of Costa Rica. Such a transparent the two thirds of the votes required by the Charter, the discussion is very important. Council would hardly become more authoritative in the In that context, we wish to thank the delegation eyes of the minority who disagreed, which would of Viet Nam, which completed the main task of the certainly include some influential States.