ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES DEBATE ON PROMOTION, CONSOLIDATION OF NEW, RESTORED DEMOCRACIES, TAKES UP QUESTION OF SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP
Press Release
GA/8993
ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES DEBATE ON PROMOTION, CONSOLIDATION OF NEW, RESTORED DEMOCRACIES, TAKES UP QUESTION OF SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP
19951113 "Bullets do not differentiate between democrats or dictators. Democracies, however, are best equipped to deal with such despicable acts", the representative of Israel told the General Assembly this morning as it concluded its consideration of support for democracies by the United Nations system.The representative of Belize said he was impressed with the efforts of the Department of Public Information (DPI) to support independent and pluralistic media in various regions. "We hope, too, that, in its seminars, DPI stresses the importance of disavowal by the media, in the context of the political process, of the use of abuse and sound bites which distort and deceive."
"Having experienced the destructive and anti-human force of apartheid, we owe it to ourselves and to humanity to order our affairs in such a manner that an effective and lasting blow is struck against any form of dictatorship", the representative of South Africa said. And the representative of the Russian Federation said the value of democracy, especially for those countries like his own, which were involved in the movement of the new and recently restored democracies, was that it provided the basis for reconciliation and tolerance and the search for peaceful solutions.
Statements on support of democracies were also made by the representatives of Suriname, United States, Bangladesh, Philippines, Argentina, Ukraine, Belarus and Yemen.
The Assembly this morning also took up the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, hearing many calls for more equitable geographical representation and the limitation if not elimination of the veto. Speaking on behalf of the Central American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, the representative of Honduras said only a Council with a broad membership would have the greater credibility necessary for Member States to be more willing to participate in the collective responsibility of maintaining peace and security. The veto was anti-democratic and should at least not be given to any new Council members.
General Assembly Plenary - 1a - Press Release GA/8993 56th Meeting (AM) 13 November 1995
Speaking on behalf of the non-aligned countries, the representative of Colombia said that although those countries welcomed the actions taken by the Council with regard to its transparency and working methods, they considered them still insufficient. Specific measures should be adopted to improve the working relationship of the Council with the Assembly, other organs of the United Nations, and the non-members of the Security Council.
"We should work for a reform that brings about the inclusion of all, and the exclusion of none", the representative of Italy said, adding that it would be elitist to add two more permanent members from industrialized, northern hemisphere countries.
The representative of Germany said the Council needed "experienced inhabitants", that were able and willing to contribute on a global scale to maintenance of peace and security. "We, and a large number of Member States, believe that Germany is one of those countries."
The representative of India suggested criteria for the selection of countries for permanent Security Council membership, including population, contribution to the United Nations system, and participation in peace-keeping. On the basis of such criteria, some countries, such as India, would clearly qualify for permanent membership.
Statements on Security Council membership were also made by the representatives of Uganda, Brunei Darussalam, Portugal, and the Republic of Korea.
Consideration of the resolution on promoting and consolidating new or restored democracies was postponed to a later date.
The General Assembly will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue its consideration of the equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council.
Assembly Work Programme
The General Assembly met this morning to continue consideration of support by the United Nations system for the efforts of governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies and to take up the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council.
By a draft resolution on support for governments promoting and consolidating new or restored democracies (document A/50/L.19), the Assembly would encourage the Secretary-General to continue to optimize the Organization's capacity to respond effectively to Member States' requests for cooperation and assistance in that field. Member States would be encouraged to promote democratic values and ideas and to make additional efforts to identify possible steps to support the efforts of governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies.
The text is sponsored by the following countries: Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Benin, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Georgia, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Nicaragua, Panama, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Suriname, United States and Uruguay.
The Assembly also had before it the Secretary-General's report on efforts to promote and consolidate democratic institutions (documents A/50/332 and Corr.1). That report was submitted in response to a request by the Assembly that the Secretary-General study "the ways and mechanisms" the United Nations system could use to help promote and consolidate new or restored democracies. Describing the Organization's considerable experience in support of democratic process, the report reviews a broad range of United Nations activities in that area, and it provides data concerning 89 requests from Member States for United Nations operations. (For more information see Press Release GA/8992 of 10 November.)
Promotion, Consolidation of Democracies
DANIEL AYALON (Israel) expressed his country's appreciation for the sympathy extended in the wake of last week's assassination of the Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin.
"We are pleased to see that a growing number of States are recognizing the fundamental relationship between democracy, development, peace, security and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms", he said. Democratization was a moral issue tied to peace and stability. Democratic government was the central guarantee against violence and aggression. "Sadly, assassinations still occur.... Bullets do not differentiate between democrats
General Assembly Plenary - 3- Press Release GA/8993 56th Meeting (AM) 13 November 1995
or dictators. Democracies, however, are best equipped to deal with such despicable acts."
He said the rule of democratic institutions was firmly entrenched in States such as Israel. There had been a smooth leadership transition during acute emergencies and crises. Israel remained committed to the pursuit of democracy and the peace process that its late Prime Minister had championed.
He said one of the most promising developments of our times was that a growing number of States were embracing democratic principles. "But, we must not grow complacent." Democracies were still a minority among United Nations Member States, and they faced formidable dangers from within and without.
It was appropriate for the United Nations to support the efforts of the governments of the new or restored democracies, he said. Israel was involved in educational programmes on democracy. It had contributed to a number of funds. Economic and humanitarian assistance was a crucial means to buttress democratic reforms and to ensure the viability of democratic institutions.
IRMA E. KLEIN-LOEMBAN TOBING (Suriname) said Suriname was a co-sponsor of the draft resolution on United Nations support for new or restored democracies. The democratic process in Suriname had been interrupted twice, inflicting pain on its people. Her country was now on the road to establish a stable democracy. Suriname had received international support in its march towards democracy and believed that other countries in which democracy had been interrupted ought to receive similar support.
The Surinamese people realized that only democracy could lead to peace and progress, she said. Development of strong links with democratic organizations outside the country and fostering respect for rule of law were essential in order to strengthen democracy. Her Government thanked the United Nations and its agencies for their support in strengthening democracy in her country.
JEANNE MOUTOUSAMY-ASHE (United States) said the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights had recognized that "democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and participate in all aspects of matters affecting their lives". The Secretariat and United Nations agencies should increase cooperation in the areas of institution-building, particularly in strengthening of the institutions of governance. The Secretary-General's report accurately stated that the challenge of democratization could not be met by the United Nations system or by Governments alone. Regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, trade unions and others shared the responsibility of building democratic societies. But around the world, it was individuals who were sharing the responsibility of building democracy from the ground up.
General Assembly Plenary - 4- Press Release GA/8993 56th Meeting (AM) 13 November 1995
She said many young democracies contended with vast problems of poverty, illiteracy, population growth and malnutrition. Their survival might ultimately depend on their ability to show their citizens that democracy could deliver and that the difficult economic and political choices would pay off soon, not just in the distant future. Nations that invested in the free human potential and defended human rights had a better chance to develop and grow.
MOHAMMAD ZIAUDDIN (Bangladesh) said in considering the issue of the consolidation of democracy, his country took particular cognizance of the Secretary-General's caveat that the United Nations system did not endorse or promote any specific form of government, and that democracy was not a model to be copied from certain States, but a goal to be attained by all people. Democratization did not necessarily lead immediately to a fully democratic society. The goal might be attained only in steps. Democracy and development were intrinsically linked. "Just as much as nations have a responsibility to promote better standards of living as the essential base for restoring democracy, the international community must provide a more conducive external environment through trade, investment and transfer of technology."
By supporting democratic forms of government and a smooth continuum from relief to sustainable development, secure and solid foundations for peace, democratization and development could be achieved, he said. The entire process required a multiplicity of partners working towards democratization. Bangladesh supported the draft resolution, which requested a report by the Secretary-General on ways to enable the United Nations to respond effectively to requests from Member States. That report, along with the Assembly's previous resolutions, should serve to keep attention focused on the concerns of countries with new or restored democracies.
JESUS S. DOMINGO (Philippines) said many problems, both internal and external, assailed new democracies. Internally, forces of the "left" and "right" tended to destabilize governments. Externally, restored democracies found it difficult to compete with countries experienced in capitalistic free trade. Therefore, new democracies needed the support of both friendly and sympathetic countries and international organizations.
He stressed the linkage between development and democracy. A serious study should be conducted on the scope of United Nations support to restored democracies and ways and means to achieve objectives should be explored.
EMILIO CARDENAS (Argentina) said democracy produced governments which were given a mandate that they must fulfil in order to be rewarded at the ballot box. Powerful people would be replaced when citizens lost trust in them. Latin America, which had long been plagued by totalitarianism, had recently seen the holding of numerous elections and the establishment of many democratic governments.
General Assembly Plenary - 5- Press Release GA/8993 56th Meeting (AM) 13 November 1995
He said that societies must guarantee respect for individual freedoms and human rights. Countries that enjoyed democracy today must encourage it where it was not available and must ensure their support for States undergoing the transition to democracy. The United Nations had a responsibility to contribute to ensuring that new democracies were consolidated, avoiding any return to totalitarianism. For those reasons, Argentina would support the draft resolution.
S. PIROZHKOV (Ukraine) said the trend to democratization was the dominant trend of world development on the eve of the third millennium. Special attention should be given to interactions between international organizations and States engaged in civil wars. A multifaceted process of democratic transformation was taking place in Ukraine. It had been accepted as a member of the Council of Europe. Inter-ethnic peace had been firmly established.
He informed the General Assembly of his Government's programme to achieve macroeconomic stability, which would be accompanied by the adoption of a new Constitution and the development of legislation. Ukraine stood at the beginning of a road to reform. It would become a full-fledged member of the community of democratic States. He asked that Ukraine be included among the co-sponsors of document A/50/L.19.
ALYAKSANDR M. SYCHOU (Belarus) said his country joined in co-sponsoring the draft resolution on support by the United Nations system for new or restored democracies. States which had rejected totalitarianism needed the support of the world community. Belarus had adopted a new Constitution in 1994 and had embarked on the road to democracy. However, large material costs had been incurred in that effort and in the process of reduction of armaments. The after-effects of the Chernobyl disaster had also put pressure on the country.
A stable development of new democracies required the development of their economic and social systems as well, he said. In that respect the support of the United Nations and its agencies was crucial.
EDWARD A. LAING (Belize), recalling that the Secretary-General's report discussed the need for free and independent media, said, "we are impressed with the efforts of the Department of Public Information (DPI) to support independent and pluralistic media in various regions". Such media must be completely autonomous. That was particularly necessary in today's climate of globalism, since global uniformity was logically an anathema to true freedom, independence and democracy. "We hope, too, that, in its seminars, DPI stresses the importance of disavowal by the media, in the context of the political process, of the use of abuse and sound bites which distort and deceive."
General Assembly Plenary - 6- Press Release GA/8993 56th Meeting (AM) 13 November 1995
Paying tribute to United Nations electoral assistance activities, he said that while democracy must incorporate legal structures, those structures should not connote a wholesale transfer of Western-based legislation. To the extent that globalism involved concentration and monopolization of business organizations, production and markets, the question arose as to whether it was compatible with the pluralism inherent in democracy. Belize expected that democracy would continue to be developed as a vibrant value and institution. Equality was a vital aspect of democracy which must prevail when considering the role of small States in the global system, the participation by women, and the composition of the Security Council.
SERGEI A. ORDZHONIKIDZE (Russian Federation) said the value of democracy, especially for those countries like his own, which were involved in the movement of the new and recently restored democracies, was that it provided the basis for reconciliation and tolerance and the search for peaceful solutions. People had begun to recognize means for coping with their differences other than resort to violence. As that trend continued, the basis for socio-economic growth would grow.
He said United Nations efforts could not heal all at once the wounds created by long-term conflicts. The large flows of refugees fleeing many areas of the globe provided sad testimony to that fact. The Secretary- General's report highlighted the many means of supporting democracy. Perhaps, electoral aid was the first step. Equally important, however, were such United Nations activities as support of educational systems and democratic structures upholding the supremacy of the rule of law.
K.J. JELE (South Africa) said that as a young democracy, South Africa had experienced many of the factors addressed by the draft resolution. "Having experienced the destructive and anti-human force of apartheid, we owe it to ourselves and to humanity to order our affairs in such a manner that an effective and lasting blow is struck against any form of dictatorship", he said. The ordinary people of the world must have the freedom to determine their destiny, unhindered by tyrants and dictators. However, it was necessary to guard against the tendency to project certain models for all Member States.
In South Africa, he said, the drive towards a democratic dispensation was motivated by the unshakeable belief that only democracy could satisfy the yearning for equality and freedom for all the country's people -- black and white. "Far from using ethnic diversity to promote racial domination and tyranny as witnessed in the dark days of apartheid, the new Government recognizes ethnic and cultural diversity as part of the rich tapestry of our country, a creative contribution to building a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic South Africa." The challenge facing the United Nations was to find what could and must be done to ensure that democracy, peace and prosperity prevailed everywhere.
General Assembly Plenary - 7- Press Release GA/8993 56th Meeting (AM) 13 November 1995
AHMED ALI AL-AKWA (Yemen) said his country had incorporated in its Constitution clauses designed for the protection of democracy. Elections had been conducted in 1993 and today there were numerous parties and hundreds of newspapers in the country. The Government was in the process of returning confiscated property and it had declared null and void all restrictions on immigration. Yemen believed that democracy was not a model to be copied from certain States. In fact, there were special characteristics specific to each society. However, those differences should not prevent the establishment of democracy. Democracy, moreover, was not a panacea for all problems. Its value lay in the fact that it allowed all social forces to work together to solve problems.
Yemen appreciated the support of the United Nations system in its march towards democracy and would appreciate any additional assistance by Member States and the Organization.
The Assembly postponed action on the draft resolution to a later date.
Security Council Membership
GERARDO MARTINEZ BLANCO (Honduras), speaking also on behalf of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama, said the Security Council should be distinguished by its legitimacy and effectiveness. The evident desire of the Member States to improve the Council's effectiveness would be realized if they made the Council as representative as possible -- to include increased representation of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Only a Security Council with a broad membership based on equitable geographical representation would have the necessary legitimacy to act in the name of all the Member States. Only a Council with a broad membership would have the greater credibility needed for Member States to be more willing to participate in the collective responsibility of maintaining peace and security.
He said the Central American countries believed that the permanent membership of the Council should include developing countries, but that ideally, the category of permanent membership should be eliminated. The right to veto should be limited and eventually eliminated. It should not be given to any new members. The veto was anti-democratic and contrary to the principle of the equal sovereignty of each Member State.
PEREZI K. KAMUNANWIRE (Uganda) said differences on the issue of representation in the Security Council persisted. The principle of choosing representation based on a country's capacity to share global responsibility should not demean other principles, such as the geographical distribution of permanent seats. Uganda felt "Africa should be allocated permanent seats in the expanded Security Council proportional to its membership in the United Nations".
General Assembly Plenary - 8- Press Release GA/8993 56th Meeting (AM) 13 November 1995
Regarding the right of veto in the Security Council, either all members of the Council should exercise that right, or it should be entirely dispensed with, he said. Reform of the Security Council should be continued. The Council's relationship with other organs of the United Nations should be mutual. It was also logical to include regional organizations and countries in the region concerned in Security Council consultations on peace-keeping operations, as they bore the brunt of the influx of refugees and displaced persons as a result of conflicts.
FRANCESCO PAOLO FULCI (Italy) said no progress had been made on the issue of enlargement of the Security Council. The target of reaching agreement by the time of the fiftieth anniversary had been missed. "The only thing that we would seem to have agreed on is that we are in profound disagreement on how to enlarge the Council", he said. One approach was "elitist", the other "democratic". The five current permanent members were all from the northern hemisphere and were industrialized. Adding two more with the same profile would aggravate the matter.
He said the opposite vision of the future was a democratic one. There were several criteria that had been mentioned for selecting eight to ten new non-permanent members. Most important here was the opportunity for small and mid-sized States to serve on the Council. "We should work for a reform that brings about the inclusion of all, and the exclusion of none", he said. He could not share the view of creating two new permanent seats for Germany and Japan.
JEMET HAJI AMPAL (Brunei Darussalam) said that while expanding the number of permanent and non-permanent seats was important, the question of the representation of interests, particularly those of small countries and those not regionally represented was even more important. The Security Council's composition should clearly reflect equitable geographical distribution and representation of the United Nations membership.
While he noted the difficulty of trying to eliminate the veto, he said that adequate consideration should be given to the possibility of reviewing the over-riding power of one country, particularly on decisions affecting vital issues of peace and security. Sufficient precautions must be taken in enforcing resolutions such as economic sanctions which punish not only the guilty but also innocent people. And the current reform process should also address the need for a more balanced decision-making process that served the interest of the majority.
PEDRO CATARINO (Portugal) said the working methods of the Security Council had improved considerably in the last two years largely due to the efforts undertaken in the Working Group. Non-members of the Council were today better informed of the deliberations of the Council, had greater access
General Assembly Plenary - 9- Press Release GA/8993 56th Meeting (AM) 13 November 1995
to it, and were able to communicate their position on matters under consideration in the Council.
He stressed the need to agree on the composition and the method of functioning of the Security Council. Many delegations had recognized the need to bring the Council into line with the new realities of international relations. Though it would not be possible for the Working Group to incorporate every proposal in the final package, flexibility must be exhibited by Member States in reaching common ground for the shared objective of a representative, effective and efficient Council.
JULIO LONDONO-PAREDES (Colombia), speaking on behalf of the countries of the Non-Aligned Movement, quoted the relevant paragraphs of the Final Document of the Cartagena Summit. According to that document, the non-aligned countries welcomed the actions taken by the Council with regard to its transparency and working methods. However, they considered those actions still insufficient, and they urged the General Assembly to recommend to the Council further measures to ensure its full democratization. The proposal to expand the Council should be comprehensive; the proportion of Council members belonging to the Movement should be substantially increased. "Any attempt to exclude non-aligned countries would be unacceptable."
The document also said specific measures should be adopted aimed at improving the working relationship of the Council with the Assembly, other organs of the United Nations and the non-members of the Security Council, he continued. There was a need to institutionalize means of enabling those non- members to bring their problems to the Council's attention.
PARK SOO-GIL (Republic of Korea) said that, although consensus on the need to reform the structures and procedures of the Security Council had remained elusive, the Open-Ended Working Group was moving in the right direction. His delegation believed the Working Group's report would facilitate dialogue and welcomed the Assembly decision that the Group should continue its work and submit a further report before the end of the current session.
He said the final package of reforms should be based on consensus among Member States. Better representation on the Council would strengthen its political and moral authority. A formula was needed that permitted better participation in the Council of small and medium-sized States. He remained interested in the proposal for regional or semi-permanent membership. The Working Group should discuss the many proposals to limit the veto power. He strongly opposed extending the veto power beyond the five permanent members. A change in the Council's working methods was also needed.
General Assembly Plenary - 10- Press Release GA/8993 56th Meeting (AM) 13 November 1995
SHARAD PAWAR (India) said many important decisions were taken by the Heads of Governments and States of the Non-Aligned Movement at their recent Summit at Cartagena in regard to the expansion and reform of the Security Council. Within the Working Group, the past two years of discussions had led to a rich exchange of ideas and had given an insight into the thinking of Member States. A consensus existed for the expansion of the membership of the Security Council to reflect the increase in the membership of the United Nations, particularly of the developing countries.
Any attempt to exclude non-aligned countries from an expanded Council membership, including permanent membership, would be unacceptable to the Movement, he said. The expansion of the membership of the Council in the category of permanent members should be decided on the basis of agreed criteria for selection. India had suggested certain criteria such as population, contribution to the United Nations system, support for and participation in peace-keeping and potential for regional and global roles. It was now for the Working Group to analyse suggestions and come up with acceptable criteria against which claims of every country could be assessed. On the basis of such criteria, some countries would clearly qualify for permanent membership. India would be among them.
TONO EITEL (Germany) said the task of restructuring the Security Council was comparable to the renovation of a huge house that had suffered damage from storms. The attic and roof needed rebuilding and strengthening to cope with "weathers to come". Continuing the analogy, he said "architects" and other experts had been consulted during the forty-ninth session. He was now optimistic about the prospects of selecting a proposal. There was no time to lose. It was known that Member States should have the opportunity to be represented more frequently; no one should be excluded. The regions of Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia needed stronger representation.
He said the Council needed "experienced inhabitants" that were able and willing to contribute on a global scale to maintenance of peace and security. "We, and a large number of Member States, believe that Germany is one of those countries." The Council should also be open and transparent. Models of rotating membership were no alternative, or, at best, a poor one. "We have now a more than sufficient amount of recommendations, opinions and reports on the building of the attic", he added. The time had come to move on to negotiations aimed at a single, comprehensive agreement.
* *** *