Pakistan Mission to United Nations

Open debate of the Security Council “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Security, Development and the root causes of Conflict” (17 November 2015)

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

Mr. President,

Before I make my remarks on the topic of today, we would like to convey our deep condolences to the people and the Governments of France, Lebanon, Iraq and Russia on the loss of precious lives resulting from the detestable recent terrorist attacks.

We thank the UK Presidency for organizing today’s debate and for a useful concept note to inform it.

I would also like to thank the Secretary General for his thoughtful remarks this morning.

Mr. President,

The link between peace and security, development and human rights is indeed inextricable. It is true that lack of development and of respect for human rights CAN endanger international peace and security. However, without peace and security, lack of development and violations of human rights are a certainty.

While we must study the linkages between these three pillars, we feel peace and security is a pre-requisite if goals of development are to be achieved or if human rights are to be respected and promoted.

Security Council’s responsibility is in the arena of international peace and security. Ensuring national peace, security and stability is the responsibility of each sovereign state. Accordingly, primary responsibility in cases where lack of development or absence of ideal human rights conditions exist also lie with the Member States.

Mr. President,

By pronouncing on development and human rights at the national level, the Security Council will be going beyond its mandate of maintaining international peace and security.

We believe the Council’s ingress on these issues should be avoided, reasons being:

• Firstly,there are international institutions, especially UN institutions that oversee issues pertaining to development and human rights. They are more suited to taking measures necessitated by circumstances; If this Council started taking up these responsibilities, the UN bodies mandated to deal with these issues would lose their relevance and importance;
• Secondly,when we considered the annual report of the Security Council in the General Assembly last week, we were told that the Security Council met more than 250 times last year. This excluded meetings of its numerous subsidiary bodies; the Council, therefore, does not need to be burdened further with work that would, at best, be a duplication of effort;
• Thirdly,the Council needs to ask itself if its structure and working methods are conducive to a role that includes taking up these issues. It has only 10 elected members. Its openness, transparency and accountability continues to be questioned by the wider membership. By contrast, the Human Rights Council, for example, comprises 47 elected Member States;
• And lastly,the Council already has a large number of situations on its plate - ones pertaining to its primary mandate. If the Council were to spend its time on crosscutting issues, the amount of time that it would spend on areas that fall under its direct responsibility is bound to suffer.

Mr. President,

Pakistan believes UN bodies should fulfill their responsibilities within their prescribed mandates.

Issues indeed are inter-linked. But UN bodies working within their respective mandates can cooperate effectively with each other, and Member States can continue to interact meaningfully with each other and with all such UN bodies. And together we can address most, if not all, issues in a comprehensive and wholesome manner.

Mr. President,

We welcome the desire of your delegation to work towards a Presidential Statement in a manner that enables you to take into account views expressed by Member States. We hope, in the PRST, you will take into account views expressed by Pakistan as well.

I thank you, Mr. President.