Remarks by Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko at the meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform
Remarks by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN, Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko at the meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform
(New York, 3 February 2016)
Madam Chair,
Let me start by joining others in congratulating you on your new role and wishing you all the success in moving forward the process of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Security Council Reform. What I have already noticed is the element of interactivity that you brought into this debate and this effort is very welcome.
During the last session of the General Assembly we were able to achieve certain progress in the IGN framework and we hope that this momentum will be preserved in 2016.
You can count on my delegation’s support in your difficult and challenging assignment of leading the IGN.
In September last year the General Assembly adopted a unanimous decision calling on us in our work on the Security Council reform to build upon the discussions held during the 69th GA session and the proposals and positions reflected in the framework document, circulated on 31 July 2015.
It is our strong opinion that the mentioned framework document provides us with a solid starting point for further discussions with the goal of preparing a respective draft resolution for eventual consideration by the UN membership. Still we would go for a shorter, more precise framework document as the most immediate outcome of our deliberations.
Regarding the subject of the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly, Ukraine consistently advocates establishment of closer and more meaningful interaction between the Council and other UN bodies.
We believe that the establishment of the practice of sending joint letters by the Presidents of the Security Council and the General Assembly informing UN member states of submitted candidatures for the post of the Secretary General — is a step in the right direction.
Another crucial element of the Council’s interaction with the UN general membership is the preparation of the annual report as was rightly noted by many delegations. My delegation favors preparing a document that is more analytical and substantive and not a mere recollection of the Council’s proceedings over the preceding period. The General Assembly deserves to know not just what happened and when, but also why and how a respective decision made or was not made.
As a country with a long history of continuous participation in the UN peacekeeping activities, Ukraine strongly supports the idea of establishing closer links between the Security Council Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations and the GA Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations.
The mentioned points have been a consistent part of Ukraine’s position on the Security Council reform and will guide us while on the Council in 2016–2017. We stand ready for constructive engagement with other UN members on the best ways to promote these and other relevant ideas.
In conclusion, Madam Chair, I need to stress that for my country the need for the Security Council reform probably stands as high now as never before.
The recent events after the actions of one of our neighbors have placed into question not only Ukraine’s security but the whole European if not global one, and the subsequent inability of the UN Security Council to react promptly because of the use of the veto right — only proves the case.
I thank you.