Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

STATEMENT BY

THE HONORABLE TADAO P. SIGRAH,
DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

PERMANENT MISSION OF
THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA TO THE UN

BEFORE THE
FIFTY-FIFTH
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON AGENDA ITEM 59:
QUESTION OF EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION ON AND INCREASE IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND RELATED MATTERS

New York, November 17, 2000

Check Against Delivery


Mr. President,

Once again, we meet in this very hall to consider equitable representation on the Security Council and an increase of its membership. The Council's mandate in preserving international peace and security makes it one of the most pivotal organs of the United Nations. While we are mindful that no haste must be shown in the reform in order to accommodate everybody's concerns, we feel that it is now timely to advance the process. The plain fact is that, the openness of the most powerful nations to accept rational and realistic change in the Security Council is a key indicator of the future of global multilateral relations in general and of this Organization in particular.

Mr. President,

My delegation is well aware that the consideration of the Security Council Reform has to be carried out in depth if we want to make this organ more representative, transparent and democratic. The current outline of the Council has served us well over the years but the world has changed and the Security Council should reflect it. A reform needs to bear in mind today's realities and so an increase in both permanent and non-permanent membership must be considered favorably while at the same time the Council must remain in working order.

We realize that the reform is not an easy task to achieve but we ask all delegations to work in a cooperative manner to succeed. In this respect, my delegation is open to whether new permanent members of the Council should be able to exercise the so-called 'veto power' while we think it most practicable to maintain the status of the present 'Permanent 5' including their veto to facilitate their agreement.

It would be unrealistic to ignore the inevitability that larger, more powerful nations will most often take the lead in the United Nations - in fact they should do as a matter of responsibility. They possess the resources and the capacity. However, leadership should not become domination, and it should not leave the developing world marginalized. Only if these factors were taken into account at reforming the Council would it lead to renewed confidence in the Charter.

Finally, my delegation is pleased to be a party to the statement by H.E. Ambassador Peter Donigi of Papua New Guinea on behalf of some of the Forum Island countries of this United Nations.

Thank you, Mr. President.