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General Assembly Opens Annual High-Level Debate: World Leaders Discuss Reform of the United Nations
Features
by Ryan Marteney The annual high-level debate of the General Assembly opened on 25 September 2007. On its conclusion, on 3 October 2007, 189 Member States and two Permanent Observers had delivered statements on a wide range of issues, including reform of the United Nations. The following is an attempt to summarize some of the main points made concerning reform.
Newly elected President of the General Assembly H.E. Dr. Srgjan Kerim also highlighted the importance of reforming management, coherence and effectiveness in his speech. “Modernizing our management and implementing greater coherence across the system will enable this organization to deliver better results.” While the main topic of the General Assembly debate was to focus on reacting to climate change, many of the 192 member states used their time to talk about the wide variety of UN reforms. Brazil, one of the first countries to speak, stated the need to increase participation of developing countries in the major international decision-making bodies, specifically the UN Security Council. They also suggested reviewing the decision-making process within the international financial institutions. The United States addressed the idea of expanding the membership of the Security Council. The US is not opposed to the idea and would support Japan’s bid for a permanent seat on the Council. The US also asked for an institution that would adhere to strict ethical standards. Kazakhstan concurred with the need to reform the UN. Kazakhstan also suggested that the Security Council increase in both permanent and non-permanent and that the seats be in line with an equitable geographic representation and respect for sovereign equality of states. Furthermore, Kazakhstan suggested the working methods of the Security Council be reformed to allow accountability and transparency and that the General Assembly should play a central role as the main representative body of the United Nations. France affirmed its strong support for general reform of the United Nations. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia agreed to the ideas of management reform as well as system-wide coherence. It was also announced that Macedonia will seek at term on the Human Rights Council 2008-2011. Portugal, representing the European Union, called for further developments within system-wide coherence, management reforms, as well as effectiveness and transparency. South Africa noted that the United Nations must adapt to the realities of the present world, and transform itself consistent with modern democratic ideals. Iran called for a reexamination of the veto in the Security Council and whether or not to remove it. Slovakia stated that an overall reform of the system of human rights protection was needed. Therefore Slovakia welcomed the commencement of the work of the Human Rights Commission as fresh start, and announced their intention to seek a seat for the term 2008-2011. Italy remarked that the need to reform the United Nations must remain equal and effective. The revitalization of the General Assembly, the main decision-making body of the United Nations, continues to be an essential aspect of any reform process. On the other hand, Germany advocated that the current Security Council does not reflect the current world today and declared its intentions to seek a permanent seat on the Council. Latvia spoke on the need for management reform and that all forms of reform were slow in coming. Latvia also spoke on the need for system-wide coherence and advocated for a “One-UN” approach. Also, Latvia stated its support for the Security Council permanent seat bids of Japan, India, Germany and Brazil. Switzerland also stated that it wished to improve the credibility and efficiency of the organization. Switzerland also said the body must continue to support the newly formed Peacebuilding Commission and Human Rights Council. In regards to the Security Council, Switzerland observed the need to improve the Council’s working methods to ensure transparency and ensure those sanctioned be in conformity with the rule of law and human rights. Finland saw the need to reform to better implement UN policies. Specifically, Finland wished to make ECOSOC more efficient, to continue strong action on the Human Rights Council, and support the new peacekeeping missions and Peacebuilding funds. Finland also advocated the need for system-wide coherence and strict adherence to the rule of law. Turkmenistan suggested that reform should be goal oriented. Turkmenistan continued to state that relations between the General Assembly and Security Council needed to improve and both be more dynamic and seek transparency. Lithuania spoke of reform in particular to the need of making the organization’s operational system more consolidated and that they proceed with real actions as opposed to just talking. Zambia agreed with the High-Level Panel on Reform that the UN needs more coherence and synergy and welcomes the mandate given to ECOSOC. Zambia also supported the movement to add two permanent seats on the Security Council representing Africa with full veto powers. Cuba suggested that the Security Council had been overstepping its boundaries and infringing upon the rights of other UN countries. Cuba also suggested that membership be expanded and that the developing countries represent the majority. Bosnia and Herzegovina stated that they were disappointed that Security Council reform had stalled. Further, the need to revitalize and reform the GA, ECOSOC, and Security Council remains very high. There is also a need to examine possible Security Council membership in permanent, non-permanent status, as well as to look at regional representation and working methods, and that at least one new member on the Security Council come from Eastern Europe. Finally, Bosnia and Herzegovina announced their intentions to seek a non-permanent seat for the term 2010-2012. Nigeria also stressed the importance and need for comprehensive reform. The goal of reform should be to strengthen and restructure. Nigeria also suggested the increase of both permanent seats and non-permanent seats with Africa fully represented on the Security Council. Tanzania, as one of the “One UN” pilot countries, expressed its satisfaction with the ongoing process of system-wide coherence. Singapore addressed many ideas of reform. Singapore stated the need for better global governance and that no government can act on its own with complete disregard for everyone other country. Singapore also called Russia, China, India and Brazil re-emergent powers and that this was a reason why institutions formed after the Second World War were in need of reexamination. The Netherlands suggested that the role of international law be expanded. The Netherlands spoke of the need to expand the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. The United Kingdom spoke also of the need to reform the Security Council and supported the permanent membership bid of Germany, Japan, India, Brazil, and one country from Africa. While supporting these states for a permanent seat, the representative of the UK did state that the UK was open to other possible ideas of reform because the overall goal of achieving change is what is important. Turkey stressed the need to reform in order to strengthen structures so that they might stand up to the near future. On Security Council reform, Turkey suggested any decision should be widely accepted and subject to changes that might need to arise. Turkey also declared its intention to seek a non-permanent seat on the Security Council in 2008. China stated that the need to reform is crucial to “building a harmonious world,” and supported the overall idea of reform. China also stated that the Human Rights Council should seek cooperation as opposed to political confrontation. On the Security Council China stated they were open to the idea of increased membership included developing countries and was based on the widest possible consensus. Romania suggested that any Security Council reform involving a transitional formula should be considered very carefully. The progressing stages would need to enjoy wide support. Security Council enlargement discussion should not prevent discussion on other roads of reform such as working methods, transparency, and possible veto limiting. Romania noted that at least one more non-permanent Security Council seat should be given to a member of the Eastern Europe group in the event of an expansion. Japan stated that for the Security Council to live up to its expectations it would need to be more representative and effective. Japan suggested the enlargement of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent seats. By enlarging the Security Council Japan believed that the UN’s ability to provide peace and security would be enhanced. Japan also called for strong results in management reform. Liechtenstein, like Singapore, concentrated on a number of different elements of reform. Liechtenstein discussed not only the need to reform the management elements of the UN but also to expand the rule of law, and expand the working methods of the Security Council by allowing states with a direct interest in cases access to Security Council members. India also stated that reform would be incomplete without comprehensive reform and expansion of the current Security Council and the revitalization of the General Assembly. India called for inter-governmental negotiations in order to make the Council more democratic and representative. San Marino noted its strong support for the revitalization of the General Assembly. As one of the driving forces behind last years attempt to strengthen the General Assembly, San Marino stressed the fundamental importance of the Assembly, as the main deliberative organ of the United Nations. Denmark observed that strengthening the UN demands that member states agree on common goals and priorities. Priorities should especially relate to three of the unique features of the UN: Conflict resolution and prevention, strengthening the organization’s role in the recovery phase following conflicts, and international norm-setting. While also stating their support for the ingoing process of system-wide coherence, Pakistan observed that the process of UN reform must “…remain sensitive to the fundamental principle of equality of sovereign states in the decision making process.” On the Security Council the representative reaffirmed Pakistan’s objection to the establishment of new permanent members. “The Security Council reform must enlarge the representation of all member states rather than expand the circle of the privileged,” Pakistan concluded. In his closing remarks, the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Srgjan Kerim thanked the delegates for their "insightful" contributions during the high-level debate. "The presence of almost a hundred heads of State and government as well as about 80 ministers for foreign affairs is a mark of the importance the world places on this unique Assembly,” he said. In total, 189 Member States addressed the high-level debate, along with two observers: the Holy See and Palestine. A total of 67 heads of State, 25 heads of government, four vice-presidents, 13 deputy ministers, 66 foreign ministers, two other ministers, four deputy ministers and eight chairs of delegation spoke. *This update is meant to be a summary of some of the main ideas discussed during the meetings and does not represent a complete and official account of all positions expressed by Member States.
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