Open Debate of the Security Council on Working Methods (October 20, 2015)

Statement by Mr. Nabeel Munir, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations

Mr. President,

We are pleased to see you chairing this important Open Debate of the Security Council.

Pakistan aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the Islamic Republic of Iran, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Mr. President,

Over the years, there have been improvements in the Council’s working methods. This has happened in no small measure due to the persistent efforts of its non-permanent members.

Much more, however, needs to be done. In this regard, my delegation would like to highlight the following key points:

• The Council must continue to work towards enhancing openness, transparency and inclusivity in its decision-making processes;
• Member States not serving on the Council have high stakes in its decisions; Dialogue with wider UN membership is therefore crucial;
• Effective and consistent implementation of the decision to improve the Council’s Working Methods, including the decision on intra-Council communication, adapted from Pakistan’s proposal during its last term on the Council, is important;
• We should continue to find ways to forge a more robust partnership between the Council, the troop and police contributing countries, the Secretariat, and the general membership;
• TCCs and PCCs must be closely consulted before formulation and approval of peacekeeping mandates; their involvement in the processes of Mission formation will address many issues related to command, control, communication, co-ordination and inter-mission movements. These consultations will help adapt Peacekeeping Missions to realities on the ground;
• A transparent process, leading to a balanced representation on the Council’s expert panels is required;
• The Office of the Ombudsperson needs to be strengthened by making it independent. There is no justification of limiting its role to only one Sanctions Committee;
• To enhance the relationship between the Council and the General Assembly, more public briefings, substantive annual reports by the Council and meaningful interaction between the Council and the GA on the annual report of the Council will be helpful. Taking up some of the proposals from the letter written last year by the PGA in this regard could be a good beginning.
• And finally, the process of selection and appointment of the Secretary General is upon us. The opaqueness of this process in neither good for the Council nor for the UN as a whole.
• Early election of new non-permanent members next year will enable the Council to allocate the chairmanships of subsidiary bodies in a timely manner – a demand that we had been making for many years. Perhaps this will also enable the Council to have more penholders from among the non-permanent members.

Mr. President,

The Security Council is the master of its own rules of procedure, which unfortunately to-date remain provisional. A lot of us today are giving our opinion on what needs to be done. The important question to ask is, how could all this be accomplished?

It is a fact that non-permanent members have convened almost all debates on Working Methods of the Security Council. It is a fact worth pondering over. There is an inextricable link between the nature of membership of the Council and the need felt to make the Council more open and transparent.

This link is called “Accountability”.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.