Gholam Ali Khoshroo, Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Iran to the UN, made the remark in his addressing of the Security Council Open Debate on the Working Methods of the Council on July 19 in New York, while speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Khoshroo went on to add, “examples of that failing can be seen in its [Secuirty Council] reluctance to convene open debates on some issues of high significance, its holding of unscheduled open debates with selective notifications, its practice of repeatedly restricting participation in certain debates and of discriminating between members and non-members of the Council, particularly with regard to the sequence and time limits of statements allowed during the open debates.”
The envoy, on behalf of NAM, rejected the use of the Security Council as a tool to pursue national political interests and agendas, and stressed the necessity of non-selectivity, impartiality and accountability in the work of the Council.
Khoshroo also referred to the approaching process of appointing a new Secretary-General for the Organization, and underlined NAM’s position, along with the central role of the General Assembly in the process. He further expressed NAM’s support for efforts aimed at reinforcing and strengthening the role of the Assembly in that regard.
The following is the full text of his statement before the Security Council:
Mr. President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). let me, first, express the appreciation of NAM to you and the Japan presidency of the Council for convening this debate on the Council’s working methods and for presenting the concept note on the issue.
In view of the time limit and the fact that the NAM position on the subject at hand is reflected in the May 2014 final document of the seventeenth Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, I will confine myself to the following nine specific measures that NAM calls for with a view to improving the working methods of the Council and enhancing its efficiency in fulfilling its primary responsibility.
First, the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council, which have remained provisional for 70 years, should be formalized in order to improve its transparency and accountability.
Second, the number of public meetings should be increased, in accordance with Articles 31 and 32 of the Charter of the United Nations, and the meetings should provide real opportunities to take into account the views and contributions of the wider membership of the United Nations, particularly non-members of the Council whose affairs are under discussion by the Council.
Third, closed meetings and informal consultations should be kept to a minimum and should be exception rather than rule. Meetings should be open, especially when they include briefings by the special envoys or representatives of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Secretariat.
Fourth, the establishment of subsidiary organs by the Council should be in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations, and those organs should function in a manner that provides adequate and timely information on their activities to the broad United Nations membership.
Fifth, the annual reports of the Security Council to the General Assembly should be more explanatory, comprehensive and analytical, assessing the work of the Council, including such cases in which the Council has failed to act, and should include the views expressed by members during the consideration of the agenda items. We also call on the Council to elaborate on the circumstances under which it adopts the various outcomes, whether resolutions, presidential statements, press statements or other elements to the press.
Sixth, the Council should, pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 15 and paragraph 3 of Article 24 of the UN Charter, submit special reports for the consideration of the General Assembly.
Seventh, the Council should ensure that its monthly assessments are comprehensive and analytical and that they are issued in a timely fashion. The General Assembly may consider proposing parameters for the elaboration of such assessments.
Eighth, the Council should fully take into account the recommendations of the General Assembly on matters relating to international peace and security, consistent with paragraph 2 of Article 1 of the Charter.
Ninth, the Council should cease its ongoing attempts to shift issues on the agenda of the General Assembly or the United Nations Economic and Social Council over to the Security Council and the encroachment by the latter on the functions and powers of the Assembly.
The Non-Aligned Movement rejects the use of the Security Council as a tool to pursue national political interests and agendas, since that practice aggravates rather than alleviates situations and runs counter to its mission as enshrined in the Charter.
We reiterate the necessity of non-selectivity, impartiality and accountability in the work of the Council. The decision by the Security Council to initiate formal or informal discussions on the situation in any Member State or on any issue that does not constitute a threat to international peace and security is contrary to Article 24 of the Charter. In such cases, there is a need for the Council to remain strictly within the powers and functions accorded to it by Member States under the Charter. In recent years, the Security Council has been too quick to threaten or authorize enforcement action in some cases, while remaining silent and inactive in others. Furthermore, the Council has increasingly resorted to Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations as an umbrella for addressing issues that do not necessarily pose an immediate threat to international peace and security. Instead of making excessive and quick resort to Chapter VII, efforts should be made to fully utilize the provisions of Chapters VI and VIII for the pacific settlement of disputes.
As we approach the process to appoint a new Secretary-General for the Organization, NAM underlines its position as elaborated in the Algiers ministerial declaration of May 2014, along with the central role of the General Assembly in the process of selecting and appointing the Secretary-General, and expresses its support for efforts aimed at reinforcing and strengthening the role of the Assembly in that regard.
Finally, for NAM, transparency, openness and consistency are key elements that the Security Council should observe in all its activities, approaches and procedures. We regret that the Council has neglected those important elements on numerous instances. Examples of that failing can be seen in its reluctance to convene open debates on some issues of high significance, its holding of unscheduled open debates with selective notifications, its practice of repeatedly restricting participation in certain debates and of discriminating between members and non-members of the Council, particularly with regard to the sequence and time limits of statements allowed during the open debates.
MS/PR
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