Michael Creed
Ceist:101 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the need for immediate reform of the United Nations in order to facilitate more immediate responses to humanitarian crises. [17919/99]
Written Answers. - United Nations Reform.
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:119 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, the Government has to promote reform of the United Nations, particularly in regard to the composition of the Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17948/99]
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:121 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to reforming the United Nations in order to make it a more effective body. [17635/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 119 and 121 together.
The Government strongly supports reform of the United Nations, in line with the commitment to this end in An Action Programme for the Millennium. The issue has been pursued vigorously by the Government. It was raised most recently by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in his address to the UN General Assembly on 25 September.
In the light of the slowness in responding to crisis situations and potential humanitarian disasters, notably in Kosovo earlier this year and in a number of conflict situations in Africa, there is a growing debate on how the international community can most effectively react. This debate is focusing on the need for clarification of the principles and the establishment of agreed criteria for external intervention. In this regard, there is an evident need to reconcile the requirements of international human rights provisions with other principles such as national sovereignty or non-intervention as established by the UN Charter. Ireland is actively involved in this debate and is currently engaged in discussions with like-minded countries, notably in a group known as the Human Security Network, which meets under the joint chairmanship of Canada and Norway.
In March 1997, the Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, presented a reform agenda for the United Nations to be implemented on the basis of a two-track process. The first track related to managerial initiatives and decisions falling within his authority. The second track involved a longer-term programme of reform to include fundamental proposals that could only be decided intergovernmentally, that is, by the representatives of the member states meeting in the General Assembly.
The track I proposals have been substantially agreed and are being implemented. They include the establishment and implementation of the UN Development Assistance Framework under which UN agencies involved in development assistance will co-operate more closely at country level in an effort to avoid duplication. Agencies in the field will also be based together in a common UN house. The framework, although in operation for only a year, is already introducing much needed co-ordination and the better use of resources. A UN Development Group, under the Chair of the Administrator of the UNDP, has also been established to bring greater coherence to development assistance policies.
As part of the Secretary General's reform programme, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs replaced the Department of Humanitarian Affairs. Ireland, with other donor countries, actively supported the setting up of this new UN office. Its mandate is to co-ordi nate the international response to humanitarian crises, to assist in developing humanitarian policies and to act as advocate for the victims of crises and ensure that the humanitarian perspective is taken into account in overall peace-building efforts. The improvement in the past two years in the overall response capacity of the international community has been notable.
The track II reform proposals on which progress has been made include the establishment of a senior management group under the chairmanship of the Secretary General and the creation of a new post of Deputy Secretary General with important responsibilities in the development field. Ms Louise Frechette of Canada was appointed to this position in January 1998.
A substantial number of reform proposals requiring General Assembly approval have not yet been endorsed. These include important proposals in the development area.
One of the most difficult issues is the question of Security Council reform. The Charter of the United Nations provides, in order to ensure prompt and effective action by the organisation, that its member states confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf. The General Assembly decided in 1993 to establish a working group, open to all UN member states, to consider all aspects of the question of an increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the council. The issues involved are enlargement of Security Council membership, the council's working methods and its decision-making procedures including, crucially, the use of the veto.
Ireland supports a small, regionally balanced increase in both permanent and non-permanent seats to create an enlarged council of between 20 and 25 members. We strongly believe that any agreement on enlargement should not diminish the possibility for smaller UN member states to serve on the Council as non-permanent members. As the Deputies are aware, Ireland is a candidate for membership of the Council for 2001-02.
On Security Council working methods, there appears to be fairly wide consensus that these should be more formalised and transparent, involving greater consultation by the council with other UN organs, including the General Assembly and Secretary General, and, in peacekeeping matters, with troop contributing countries.
Ireland would like to see the veto eliminated altogether but, recognising the strong opposition of the permanent five, has proposed that they be invited to accept a limitation of the veto, and to exercise it only when they consider the question of vital national importance, taking into account the interests of the United Nations as a whole. At the same time any new permanent members of the council would declare that they would never exercise the veto.
I regret that the working group has not yet been unable to report any consensual progress to the General Assembly. I assure the House that Ireland will continue to play an active and constructive role in these negotiations.
In his speech to the General Assembly on 25 September, the Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed his full support for the UN Secretary General in his efforts to bring about a renewed, reformed and more vigorous UN. This is essential to ensure the UN's continued capacity to contribute effectively to conflict prevention and to social and economic development. Ireland and its EU partners have sought to stress that the reform process is not simply a cost cutting exercise but one which is aimed at strengthening and renewing the UN system.
While a number of important reforms have taken place, particularly in the reorganisation of the UN's role in the delivery of development and humanitarian assistance, the pace of reform has not, unfortunately, been as we would wish. We very much hope that the Millennium Summit and Assembly in 2000 will provide fresh impetus in the reform process. We look forward to an action oriented outcome which will strengthen the organisation as it enters the new century.