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.
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