Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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Minutes of the NGO Working Group on the Security Council, September 1995 Minutes of the NGO Working Group on the Security Council
Meeting of 20 September 1995
777 UN Plaza, New York City
11:30-1:30
1. Opening RemarksThe meeting was called to order by James Paul of Global Policy Forum, Chair of the Working Group. Approximately forty persons were present at the meeting. He introduced representatives of the Organizing Groups and gave a brief history of the recent council reform efforts. He then gave a report of NGO Working Group initiatives over the summer, including meetings with the GA President's office and with Ambs. Breitenstein and Pibulsonggram, the Co-Vice-Chairmen of the GA Open-Ended Working Group . He saw the meetings as a positive development and reported that NGOs have been invited to circulate documents to the GA Working Group. But he said that efforts to give verbal testimony or hold a "hearing" jointly with the GA Working Group have been rejected -- at least for the time being.
William Pace of the World Federalist Movement commented on the NGO initiatives and discussed how the NGO Working Group could progress in the future.
There followed a general discussion. For the future, it was decided to establish contact with the new GA President, to make contact with the Security Council and to explore the possibility of holding "hearings" in December. NGOs want to be able to speak directly to the GA Working Group and they want to work towards a regular communication channel to the Council.
Representatives of the Organizing Groups invited other NGO representatives present to join in the active work of the Working Group. The invited speakers then arrived and Johannah Bernstein of Earth Action introduced them.
2. Mr. S. Thanarajasingam, Deputy Permanent Representative of Malaysia
Mr. Thana reviewed the work of the GA Open-Ended Working Group. He reported that there have been "intense" negotiations in recent weeks. The United States has supported five new permanent members, but has remained silent on veto rights and other prerogatives such as World Court judgeships. By contrast, the Non-Aligned favor expansion by 11 non-permanent seats and continue to oppose additional permanent members. Efforts are being made to put together a "package" which would include new permanent members, further expansion of non-permanent seats, restriction of the veto and some form of regional representation.
He spoke of his special interest in the Council's working methods, especially the issue of greater interaction with the larger UN membership. But he noted that discussion of the Council's "accountability" "causes problems with some delegations." The Open-Ended Working Group is having further meetings on October 22-24. Many delegations remain cautious, but agreements might emerge during the anniversary year.
To questions about how NGOs should proceed, Mr. Thana said he thought NGOs should build a constituency within the General Assembly and should move steadily but deliberately to affirm an NGO voice.
3. Sra. Maria Flores, Deputy Permanent Representative of Uruguay
Sra. Flores noted the greatly increased membership of the UN and said that Council reform must take this into account. She said there was a need to address all issues in a global manner and to balance "representativity" and "efficacity," in order to achieve democratization, transparency and balance between UN organs. She saw Council procedures as a key issue and she mentioned the special questions of the role of troop contributing countries as well as the matter of the effects of sanctions. "Provisional" rules, in place for the past fifty years, must be replaced with regular rules.
She spoke of improving relations between the Council and the General Assembly. According to Article 24, the Council acts "on behalf of" all members, so it follows that all members' views must be taken into account. The compulsory nature of Council decisions makes this even more important.
She spoke of the need for "constitutionality" in terms of an oversight capacity for the World Court, making the Council legally responsible for its actions. If the Council acts with discrimination, the international community will not support its actions.
In response to questions, she said that the Latin American countries were not in accord on Council reform. As for global agreement: most countries support enlargement of the Council, but only a few large countries want to see more Permanent Members.
4. M. Elio Menzione, First Counsellor, Mission of Italy
M. Menzione pointed out that 79 countries have never sat on the Council, while some non-permanent members have been elected several times -- Italy has had five terms since 1945, including its current seat.
Italy has made a proposal that has attracted much attention: 8-10 new seats that would rotate among groups of three larger countries. The group of countries given this privilege would not be eternal, but would be subject to periodic revision. Italy opposes any new permanent members.
The Italian proposal would create objective criteria for selection and by enlarging the council it would give more opportunity to small countries as well as large ones. It would help move away from the veto, which he described as "unjust, undemocratic, obsolete and dangerous."
The Italian position addresses the abuses of the veto -- including the threat of veto use. It also opposes other problems of permanent membership, like seats in the World Court. All these special privileges create rigidity in the UN and prevent it from fulfilling its tasks. Additional permanent members would only compound the problems.
5. Further Discussion
Mr. Thana spoke about the interaction of the Open-Ended Working Group with the other GA Working Groups, especially the new group on reform. He commented that the new working group was the outcome of a US initiative to advance Secretariat restructuring and ECOSOC reform.
