General Assembly Session 61 meeting 74

Mr. Abani (Niger)

It is a very great honour for me to speak on behalf of the Group of African States concerning the agenda items being considered in this debate. In that regard, I should like to congratulate Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, Permanent Representative of Qatar, for presenting the report of the Security Council (A/61/2). The African Group would also like to thank the Open-ended Working Group for its report on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters (A/60/47).

We recognize that a significant part of the Council's work concerns Africa, the continent predisposed to conflict, and we commend the members of that body for their remarkable work. However, the belated publication of these reports has not permitted us to consider it in detail. Therefore, my comments can be of only a general nature. The African Group reserves the right to make its views widely known at the appropriate time on this issue, one that is important for the only region not to have a permanent Council member.

Through the 2005 World Summit Outcome document (resolution 60/1), our heads of State and Government undertook a firm commitment to work to strengthen the United Nations, in particular with a view to reforming its principal organ entrusted with the maintenance of international peace and security: the Security Council. For the African Group, Council reform is a major issue requiring much commitment on the part of everyone in order to make progress and adapt our Organization in the process of the reforms that we have begun.

The African Group would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm its position on this issue. That position was expressed in the Ezulwini Consensus and confirmed in the Syrte Declaration and is based on the following principles. First, reform must be an integral part of the comprehensive reform process under way in the United Nations. Secondly, these reforms, if they are to be effective, must put an end to the historic wrong done to certain regions. They must move towards greater legitimacy by necessarily increasing the membership in both categories, as well as by improving its methods of work. This would mean greater transparency, which could only serve the cause of maintaining of international peace and security.

Lastly, for us, the selection of African representatives must also be carried out in accordance with the criteria that the African Union itself will define. The African Group, while remaining open to constructive dialogue with all interested structures, reaffirms that Security Council reform must be carried out in a democratic manner, so that it can take into account the aspirations of each and every one of us.

On that basis, the African Group wishes to see that this historical imbalance, whereby Africa is the only continent that is not represented in the Security Council, be rectified. That is why the Ezulwini Consensus, which represents the joint African position, consists of two permanent seats with all the prerogatives related thereto, including the right of veto; and five non-permanent seats, which implies two additional seats in relation to the current situation.

It is this position, which was transmitted to the Assembly in draft resolution A/60/L.41, that the African Group believes would reflect democracy and take into account the current trend in the world.

Mr. Hamidon (Malaysia)

My delegation is pleased to participate in this joint debate on agenda items 9 and 111. We join others in thanking Ambassador Nassir Al-Nasser, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar and President of the Security Council for the month of December, for his presentation of the annual report of the Security Council to the General Assembly, as contained in document A/61/2.

Malaysia aligns itself with the statement made by Cuba on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). We would also like to congratulate the newly elected members of the Council for 2007 and 2008 -- Belgium, Indonesia, Italy, Panama and South Africa. We hope that they will bring fresh impetus to the work of the Council.

We consider this annual report by the Security Council to the General Assembly to be important. It not only fulfils the relevant requirements of the Charter but, more importantly, fulfils the Council's obligation to the larger membership represented in the Assembly. The report enables the entire membership of the United Nations to follow the Council's work. The Assembly's consideration of the report will hopefully provide useful feedback to the Council on its performance.

The Security Council's annual report is an important element in the Charter relationship between these two major organs. Articles 15 and 24 of the Charter require that the Council submit annual and, when necessary, special reports to the Assembly for its consideration. This clearly points to the need for the Council to be accountable to the larger membership. In this connection, the General Assembly should have the opportunity to assess and judge the performance of the Council over the past year. In turn, Council members should have the opportunity to pay careful attention to the concerns, observations and comments of the larger membership.

My delegation hopes that the comments and suggestions made in the General Assembly will receive appropriate consideration by Council members in the discharge of their responsibilities on behalf of all of us in the maintenance of international peace and security. For the larger membership to be able to provide its comments, Member States need time to prepare for this debate. We regret that the report was approved by the Council only last Wednesday and was subsequently published as an official document late last week, thus giving Member States very little time to study it and provide comprehensive comments. We regret that this has happened again, this year. We urge the Council to provide the report much earlier in the future.

We note the improvement in the Council's methods of work. However, the report continues to lack a substantive and analytical account of the Council's work. The incorporation of more details and analyses, beyond a factual account of the work, could certainly help the wider membership of the United Nations to appreciate the circumstances that influenced the Council's decisions on a particular issue. This would enable a greater appreciation of the achievements made or difficulties faced by the Council on questions under its consideration. It would allow non-Council members to offer suggestions on possible measures to further improve the Council's work.

My delegation notes that the Council addressed a wide range of issues during the period under review and that its workload has continued to increase steadily. A total of 250 meetings were held, 81 resolutions adopted and 65 presidential statements issued. Conflict and instability in Africa continue to dominate the work of the Council.

The holding of thematic debates is useful in improving the effectiveness of the Council. The exchange of views between non-Council and Council members in these thematic debates on issues relating to international peace and security allows for the development of appropriate strategies that are more holistic and integrated, involving all the major organs of the United Nations. Nevertheless, such an exercise as carried out by the Security Council should not venture into areas that rightly fall under the responsibility of the other major organs of the United Nations. Given the Council's increasing workload, it might be helpful if thematic debates are kept to a minimum in any particular year. They should not be held just for the sake of having discussions, but rather with a view to achieving concrete results. That would have an impact on the performance not only of the Council but also on the United Nations at large.

My delegation welcomes the Council's continued consideration of the questions of Palestine and the Middle East through its monthly briefings and open debates. However, they have not had a significant impact on the situation on the ground. Violence continues unabated, while death and destruction continue to mount, particularly on the Palestinian side. We wonder why this is happening, even when the Council is continuously seized of the matter. The Council must maintain and improve its credibility by enforcing its authority on these questions. It must discharge its responsibilities in the maintenance of peace and security. It must resist any party's manipulating the Council and preventing it from taking action that would end conflict, restore peace and security and prevent further loss of life.

Turning to agenda item 111, my delegation wishes to state that we agree with the prevailing view that the Security Council needs to be reformed in a comprehensive manner, in terms of both its working methods and the expansion of its membership, to make it more legitimate, inclusive, representative and transparent. The position of Member States on this issue is well known to all. However, we are dismayed by the lack of political will and the selectivity shown in addressing various aspects of the reform. There appears to be a push in some areas and disinterest in others, particularly that concerning the Security Council.

My delegation wishes to reiterate its position that reform should also address the question of the veto, with a view to eventually doing away with it, in conformity with the principle of sovereign equality, as envisaged in the Charter. The veto privilege remains the chief cause for the undermined credibility of the United Nations and its ability to function as a democratic institution. If one values the rule of law over traditional power and politics, then genuine democratic principles must prevail.

Many proposals and formulations have been put forth to address the use of the veto. Malaysia continues to hold the position that the exercise of the veto by the permanent members of the Security Council should be regulated so as to prevent abuse by its holders to unjustly overrule the wishes of the majority. Malaysia has previously suggested that until this objective of abolishing the veto is achieved, a modified veto, whereby two permanent members with veto power, backed by three other members of the Council, would be needed to block any Council resolution.

Another important element that needs to be urgently addressed in improving the working methods of the Security Council is the issue of encroachment on the work of the General Assembly. We have seen over the years that the Council addresses issues that do not fall under its purview. Rather than encroaching upon the jurisdiction of the General Assembly, it would be better if the Security Council looked at ways to ensure that the views of the larger membership are taken into account in its drafting and decision-making processes.

With regard to the question of the enlargement of the Security Council, Malaysia fully supports expansion in both categories, based on geographical balance and reflecting the geopolitics of today. We reiterate our position that if there is no agreement on expansion in the permanent membership, we should proceed on expansion in the non-permanent category, while keeping the issue of expansion of the permanent membership active.

My delegation feels that it is time for us to move forward and for Member States to demonstrate their political will in reforming the Security Council. Any reform is for the betterment of the Organization and should not be seen as taking the side of any one or more groups.

Before I conclude, allow me to express our continued support to the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Security Council. My delegation believes that discussion on Security Council reform should continue through this Working Group.

Madam President, Malaysia will continue to support and work closely with you, with other States Members and with the Secretary-General to explore new ideas with a view to reforming the Security Council.

Mr. Yousfi (Algeria)

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