By Holy See Mission
Statement by H.E. Archbishop Celestino MiglioreApostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United NationsJoint
Debateon
“Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly” (item 52)and
“Strengthening of the United Nations system” (item 54)PlenaryNew
York, 4 October 2004Mr. President,
The Holy See looks at the process of strengthening the United
Nations with hope, great interest and willingness to submit its
contribution. It
is a complex but much needed endeavor, which involves three different
objects:
structures, means, and ends.
During these last months, both public opinion and
member States have rightly focused on the structure of the bodies of the
United
Nations. Implicit in such a discussion there was always a question about
how the
Organization's structure and functioning are adequate to the Charter’s
goals and
on what means we can count to implement them. It is precisely
this
meaning that we attach to the ongoing discussion on “effective
multilateralism”:
the capacity to fulfill the tasks set out in the Charter, some of which
have
been highlighted in the MDGs.
Characterized by its universal membership, this Organization
must be adapted to equally universal goals. We know from experience that
the
shape of political life and the influence exercised by public authority
are not
always up to the task of promoting the common good. Today the universal
common
good is confronted with problems of world-wide dimensions; problems,
therefore,
which can be solved only by an authority possessed with power,
organization and
means co-extensive with these problems and whose sphere of activity is
world-wide. Thus, the bodies of the international community should be
shaped so
that they are capable of realizing the common good by ways and means
adequate to
the changing historical conditions.
Till now, the
debate has laid emphasis on a wealth of reasons, motivations and
valuable
reflections about the institutional engineering of the United Nations.
In this
respect, perhaps the main point we wish to restate is that structures
must
reflect functions. As for the reform of the bodies, my delegation would
like to
suggest some terms of reference.
First of all, we
should keep in mind that the United Nations is a community of States
that shares
fundamental values, well outlined in the Millennium Declaration:
freedom,
equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and shared
responsibility.
Strengthening the
United Nations system implies the acknowledgement that this is a system
founded
on cooperation rather than on competition among States and actively
nourished by
constructive will, trust, keeping of commitments and collaboration among
equal
and reciprocally responsible partners. Making these founding principles
irreversible is a primary task.
In the process of
reforming and adapting this institution it is important to identify
guiding
principles, as well as objective, just and fair criteria, acceptable to
all
member States, that will in turn pave the way towards a constructive
reflection
on the composition of the different bodies.
The bottom line
is the recognition of the principle that all States are by nature equal
in
dignity. We know very well in this institution that even though nations
may
differ widely in material progress and military strength, they are all
conscious
of their juridical equality. It is true, however, that the nations that
have
attained a superior degree of scientific, cultural and economic
development have
the responsibility to make a greater contribution to the common cause.
On a more
practical note, the essential criteria that should be taken into account
for
reshaping the structures and revisiting the procedures of this
Organization are
as follows: for the structures: representation and inclusiveness; for
the
procedures: impartiality, efficiency and efficacy; for the outcomes:
accountability and responsiveness.
The legitimacy of the decisions taken in the United
Nations, including the Security Council, ultimately derives, as for any
political body, from two pillars: degree and scope of representation,
and
process of decision-making. Decision-making will therefore tend, in
general,
towards a greater consensus of opinions in the deliberations.
It is clear that, for practical reasons, not all the
bodies of the United Nations can be arranged on the model of the General
Assembly. This does not mean however that the set of principles and
criteria
just mentioned are not applicable to the Security Council, quite the
opposite.
In restructuring this body, one might consider
that its composition should reflect, as far as possible, a
representation of
the world population, of geo-political regions, of various levels of
economic
development and of different civilizations. This list may not be
complete, but it includes criteria that are essential in order to
improve the
credibility and efficacy of a reformed Security Council. Finally, it is
important to consider the actual capacity and political will to
contribute
substantially to reach the goals that constitute a priority for the
overall
majority of the member states.
At the same time, as the Panel on United Nations -
Civil Society Relations recommended in its report to the Secretary
General, the
United Nations needs to become a more outward-looking organization
capable of
listening more carefully to the needs and demands of the global
community.
In this context we are reminded of the recommendation
of the same Panel to “connect the global with the local”.
This criterion can be read as a modern version
of the well known notion of subsidiarity, which is another landmark for
the
process of reform. In fact, most problems in today’s world, because of
their
gravity, breadth and urgency, are often simply too difficult for the
rulers of
individual States to solve with any degree of success. At the same time,
we must
make it clear that the United Nations’ essential purpose is to create
world
conditions in which the public authorities of each nation, its citizens
and
intermediate groups, can carry out their tasks, fulfill their duties and
claim
their rights with greater security.
It is our hope that some of these ideas may help to
ensure that the reform of this institution will not only help to realize
our
common goals, but that it will invest the United Nations with the
necessary
authority, in terms of credibility and moral legitimacy, to act for the
good of
the global community. That is surely the primary reason for the United
Nations’
existence.
Thank you,
Mister President.
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