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Mr President,
We thank you for convening this important open debate, the first on Security Council working methods since 1994. We especially thank you for preparing an excellent concept paper, which clearly sets out areas where progress has been achieved and other areas where more needs to be done. The working methods of the Security Council - a vital organ in the UN system - are of utmost importance to New Zealand.
For many Member States, especially those that rarely have the opportunity to serve on the Council, the working methods have a very considerable impact on our ability to contribute and understand issues before the Council. Improving the Council’s working methods is therefore one of the most important areas for reform and one on which there is a broad measure of agreement.
We do note that considerable progress has been made in the implementation of provisions to increase the Council’s transparency, efficiency and interaction with non-Council members in line with the recommendations of Presidential Note 507. New Zealand is grateful to Japan and Slovakia for the work and leadership they have provided in the Working Group on Documentation in implementing measures such as a higher rate of public rather than private Council meetings, greater notification of those meetings, and regular programme-of-work briefings at the beginning of each presidency.
Mr President,
While progress has been made, there are still areas in which New Zealand would like to see improvement. Specifically:
While we note that private consultations are a useful and sometimes necessary mechanism for Council members, public meetings allow the greatest participation and should be used whenever possible. Further, it is vital that essential information be shared at public meetings, not just in closed consultations. A clear rationale for the Council’s choice of a particular format for Council meetings should be included in the President’s opening remarks.
In conjunction with important closed consultations of the Council, we would like to see a systematic process to allow member states to have input and an exchange of views with Security Council members on issues before the Council that affect them.
Although there have been many improvements in this regard, New Zealand would like to see draft statements, resolutions and other documents shared systematically with non-Council members (perhaps by email to all missions) sooner and with more frequency. We would also like a format for greater participation of interested parties in the preparation of those draft documents.
There is also considerable scope to develop the interaction with other interested parties – such as Troop Contributing Countries, regional organisations, ECOSOC and the Peace Building Commission.
Finally there is a need for much more effective input to the Council from parts of the Secretariat such as DPA, OCHA and OHCHR.
Mr President,
In terms of next steps, we agree with the statement of Switzerland, on behalf of the S5, that the Working Group on Council Documentation and Other Procedural Questions could be charged to review the implementation of Presidential Note 507, and to also look at the proposals made in today’s debate. The Working Group could present its findings and recommendations to the Security Council before the end of this year. The Council could then hold a follow-up meeting, making sure to include the views of the wider membership, potentially adopting a follow-up Presidential Note which reflects the progress made and outlines areas where further specific improvements have been proposed.
Mr President,
New Zealand welcomes the ongoing commitment of the Council to enhancing the efficiency and transparency of its work and implementing the measures contained in President Note 507. We look forward to the Council now delivering on that commitment and also to actively engaging with the wider UN community on this issue in the coming months.
Finally, may I reiterate our thanks to you, Mr President, for convening this timely meeting.
I thank you.
