General Assembly Session 60 meeting 49

Mr. Kuchinsky (Ukraine)

First, I would like to express our gratitude to the President of the Security Council for the month of November, Ambassador Andrey Denisov of the Russian Federation, for his comprehensive presentation of the annual report of the Council to the General Assembly. We are encouraged by the attention paid in the presentation to the increase in the transparency of the Council's activities and in the improvement of its working methods, in particular in the triangular relationship between the Security Council, the United Nations Secretariat and troop-contributing countries.

The period under review was indeed very eventful for the United Nations and, therefore, for the Security Council, as its nerve centre. Constant threats and challenges, having no respect for the United Nations sixtieth anniversary, continued to challenge the durability of the system of international peace and security guarded by the Organization, more than ever requiring urgent and resolute action by the Security Council. How, then, did the body entrusted with the primary responsibility to keep the peace address those challenges during that period? Let me try to answer that question, which I believe is of the utmost importance for all of us.

Without any doubt, international terrorism remains one of the greatest threats to international peace and security. In that connection, I would like to add Ukraine's voice to the unanimous strong condemnation of the terrorist bombings in Amman, and to convey our deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims of those heinous attacks and their families, and to the people and the Government of Jordan.

Ukraine is convinced that the Security Council should continue to use its unique potential to mobilize the international community to fight the scourge of terrorism. We welcome the steps taken by the Security Council in that direction, in particular through its resolution 1624 (2005). The Counter-Terrorism Committee should continue to be a crucial instrument in the hands of nations to combat, and ultimately eliminate, terrorism. We believe that early adoption of a comprehensive convention to combat terrorism will greatly facilitate the Council's efforts in that crucial area.

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction continues to be another issue posing a major threat to the system of collective security. The Council must continue to play its role in multilateral efforts to strengthen the non-proliferation regime. We welcome the progress made in the implementation of Council resolution 1540 (2004), as well as in the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to that resolution. At this stage it is important to provide assistance to States, including through the Committee, to ensure the proper implementation of that important resolution.

This year the Security Council has shown unity in addressing the situation in Iraq. We firmly believe that the Council's instruments are very important for normalizing the situation in that country. It is important for the Council to ensure the effective implementation of the existing timetable for a comprehensive political transition process in the country, namely, through holding free and democratic elections in December and through the formation of a permanent Government of Iraq.

The work of the Council with regard to Afghanistan should be commended. We are nevertheless convinced that the main responsibility for finding a political solution to the Afghan issue lies with the Afghan people themselves. The Council should continue to be actively involved in all clusters of the Afghan problem. There still remains a pressing need for continued international security assistance in Afghanistan.

My delegation commends the Council's efforts in the Middle East peace process. Resolution 1515 (2003) reflects the wide consensus within the international community on how best to achieve the existence of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. With its endorsement of the Quartet's road map, that resolution was an important step towards the beginning of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and from parts of the northern West Bank. We believe that successful disengagement can be the first step towards the resumption of the peace process.

We hope that the Council will urge the relevant parties to cooperate sincerely and fully with the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission, which in accordance with Council resolutions 1595 (2005) and 1636 (2005), is assisting the Lebanese authorities in their investigation of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The unfolding status talks in the Balkans give us a hope for an early settlement of the daunting Kosovo issue. The Security Council has played its role in the commencement of that process, and I am confident in my belief that it should continue its active engagement and support at this stage and in the next and decisive phase of implementation of resolution 1244 (1999).

Ukraine welcomes the continued active engagement of the Council with regard to conflict resolution in Africa. We especially support and welcome the trend towards increased use of African-owned mechanisms in that area. Ukraine took positive note of the declaration on conflict prevention, particularly in Africa (Security Council resolution 1625 (2005), annex), which was adopted at the Council summit in September. The implementation of that important document will logically build upon the outcome of the 2000 Security Council summit on ensuring an effective role for the Council in the maintenance of international peace and security, particularly in Africa (Security Council resolution 1318 (2000)). I wish to recall once again that that was done on the initiative of my country.

We welcome the trend towards further strengthening the cooperation between the Security Council and regional organizations. There have been quite a few encouraging examples over the past decade of how United Nations peacekeeping missions can be effectively supported and complemented by United Nations-mandated operations of other organizations. The United Nations could, and should, actively use that important tool and rely increasingly on the potential of regional structures.

Let me now turn to an issue that, whatever its fundamental importance in itself, has further galvanized the international situation in the context of the September summit. I am of course referring to Security Council reform. Ukraine considers reform of the Security Council to be of exceptional international significance. Making that body more representative and balanced, and its work more effective and transparent, especially with regard to the decision-making process, is vital for adapting the United Nations to the realities of the twenty-first century. Our overall approach to the issue is based on the following pillars.

Security Council reform should be implemented in strict compliance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The enlargement of the Council should be carried out in both categories of membership, permanent and non-permanent. We support increased representation in that body for developing countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Since the membership of the Group of Eastern European States has doubled over the last decade, it should have an additional non-permanent seat in the Council.

The Security Council's structural reform and the improvement of its working methods should go hand in hand. In particular, those countries that contribute the most to the Organization -- militarily, diplomatically and financially -- should be more involved in the Council's decision-making process.

Ukraine has consistently supported the limitation of the use of the veto by the Security Council permanent five. We believe that Council enlargement is an integral part of the comprehensive United Nations reform agenda aimed at enabling it to effectively react to the challenges and opportunities of today's world, in the security, development and human rights fields alike. That agenda encompasses such crucial elements as revitalization of the General Assembly; strengthening of the United Nations human rights mechanisms through the establishment of the Human Rights Council; reform of the Economic and Social Council; establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission; and, of course, management reform.

It is regrettable that the quantity of debates held and options proposed on Security Council reform on the eve of, and during, the September summit did not translate into quality results. Still, we hope that the momentum will be maintained and, hopefully, lead to early reform in this area -- so vital to our Organization -- as sought in the outcome document of the summit. Ukraine remains fully committed to that objective.

Mr. Grey-Johnson (Gambia)

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