SECURITY COUNCIL HEARS VIEWS ON PROPOSALS TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY, EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSULTATIONS ON PEACE-KEEPING OPERATIONS
Press Release
SC/6148
SECURITY COUNCIL HEARS VIEWS ON PROPOSALS TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY, EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSULTATIONS ON PEACE-KEEPING OPERATIONS
19951220 On Behalf of 32 Countries, Argentina Speaks of Need For Formal Mechanism of Consultation between Council and Troop ContributorsIn a meeting held this morning and afternoon, the Security Council heard the views of Council members and of interested Member States on proposals to further enhance the transparency and effectiveness of consultation on peace- keeping operations between the Council and troop-contributing countries.
Speaking for a group of 32 countries, the representative of Argentina said there was a need for a more formal and institutionalized mechanism of consultations between troop contributors and the Council. That could be achieved in different ways, including establishment of a subsidiary consultative Council organ, with each meeting held between Council members and troop contributors to the peace-keeping operation in question, and assisted by the Secretariat.
The representative of Argentina further proposed that when considering establishing a new operation, the Security Council should consult potential troop contributors already approached by the Secretariat; the existing practice of inviting Member States which made special contributions to peace- keeping operations, other than troops -- trust funds, logistics, equipment -- to those meetings should be continued; the mechanism of consultations should be chaired by a member of the Security Council specially appointed every year; and meetings should be held well before the Council took decisions on the extension, modification or termination of the mandate of a particular peace- keeping operation.
In operations where the mandate was routinely renewed, the chairman of the proposed mechanism might decide, after consulting with the troop contributors, whether or not to hold a meeting. Members of the Security Council would also be invited to those meetings, and the Council should periodically report to the General Assembly on the mechanism's work.
With few exceptions, speakers in today's debate supported Argentina's views. The representative of France, while favouring in principle the enhancement of transparency in communications between Council members and non-
* Pages 2-14 of this release should read 3611st Meeting (AM and PM).
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members that were also troop contributors, warned that establishment of a subsidiary organism of the kind proposed by Argentina might result in the creation of a separate category of Member States -- troop contributors -- independently of their presence in or absence from the field.
On the need for consultations with troop-contributing States, the representative of New Zealand said the problem was not a new one: the barons who assembled to sign Magna Carta in 1215 A.D. doubtless regarded themselves as troop contributors, while the court of King John -- which he suggested could not have been too dissimilar to the Security Council -- would doubtless have complained that the barons sought to impair its operational effectiveness.
It was high time, said the representative of New Zealand, for the Council to live up to its commitments and to open consultations with troop contributors. He proposed that an informal working group be established for discussions between Council members and contributors. That would be a procedural issue, not a substantive change, and it would demonstrate the Council's awareness of its responsibilities towards Member States. It would, moreover, demonstrate that the Security Council could take the lead in the direction of overall United Nations reform.
Several speakers, including the representative of Argentina, pointed out that the proposal for a subsidiary Council consulting mechanism did not imply institutional reform. Establishment of such a mechanism was intended to maximize the possibilities derived from the Charter.
The representative of Colombia pointed out that any improvement inherent in the proposal would be but a transitional step towards solution of the "much broader problem" of Security Council reform now under study by a Working Group of the General Assembly.
Statements were also made by the representatives of United States, United Kingdom, China, Germany, Czech Republic, Botswana, Italy, Indonesia, Russian Federation, Japan, Ukraine, Algeria, Egypt, Spain, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Tunisia, Norway, Ireland, Austria, Pakistan, Brazil, Luxembourg, India, Greece, Turkey, Zimbabwe, Republic of Korea and Cuba.
The meeting which began at 10:51 a.m., was suspended at 1:15 p.m. Resumed at 4:20 p.m., it was adjourned at 6 p.m.
Security Council Work Programme
The Security Council meets this morning to discuss improvement in the working methods and procedures of the Council as they relate to peace-keeping operations, and in particular to the concern -- both to members of the Council and to non-members -- for transparency and increased consultations in matters relating to such operations.
Before the Council is a letter to its President (document S/1995/1025) from the Permanent Representatives of Argentina, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Honduras, Italy, Nigeria, United Kingdom and the United States. The letter is also signed by the Permanent Representatives of Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine.
The letter notes that the President of the Security Council one year ago issued a statement on the Council's behalf initiating a mechanism to allow consultations among Council members, troop-contributing countries and the United Nations Secretariat. That mechanism had been implemented in the course of 1995, with many delegations expressing their views on the matter in the General Assembly (specifically under Assembly agenda items on equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, on the comprehensive review of peace-keeping operations in all their aspects, and on the report of the Security Council to the General Assembly).
The general thrust of those deliberations, the letter continues, pointed to the need both to review implementation of the Council decision mentioned above, and to broaden representation in consultations and improve the efficiency and effectiveness, in the interest of creating the broadest possible support among Member States for Council-mandated peace-keeping operations. Given the need for keeping arrangements for consultations and exchange of information with troop-contributors under review, the signers of the letter request the President of the Council to call a formal meeting for specific examination of those issues between the Council and troop- contributing countries.
Statements
EMILIO J. CARDENAS (Argentina) said that more than a year ago, New Zealand and Argentina had sent a letter to the President of the Security Council, supported by a considerable number of Member States who shared their ideas on the issue of consultations between members of the Security Council and troop-contributing countries.
As a result, a mechanism had been implemented to allow consultations among Security Council members, troop-contributors and the Secretariat.
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During the current General Assembly, many delegations had expressed their views on the subject, he continued. Moreover, a number of Member States from different geographical regions had been meeting informally to discuss the existing mechanism of consultations between troop-contributing countries and the members of the Security Council. Those States were of the opinion that there was a need for a more formal and institutionalized mechanism of consultations between troop-contributors and the Security Council.
That could be achieved in different ways, he said. Among others, the Member States on whose behalf he spoke had considered proposals to establish a subsidiary organ, as foreseen in Article 29 of the Charter. That mechanism should include the following features: each consultation meeting should be held between the members of the Security Council and the troop-contributors to the peace-keeping operation in question, and assisted by the Secretariat; when considering establishing a new operation, the Security Council should consult potential troop-contributors already approached by the Secretariat; the existing practice of inviting Member States which made special contributions to peace-keeping operations, other than troops -- trust funds, logistics, equipment -- to those meetings should be continued; the mechanism of consultations should be chaired by a member of the Security Council specially appointed every year; and meetings should be held well before the Council took decisions on the extension, modification or termination of the mandate of a particular peace-keeping operation.
He said that in operations where the mandate was routinely renewed, the Chairman of the mechanism might decide, after consulting with the troop- contributors, whether or not to hold a meeting. Such meetings would be in addition to those convened and chaired solely by the Secretariat for troop- contributors to meet with special representatives of the Secretary-General or force commanders, or to discuss operational matters concerning particular peace-keeping operations. Members of the Security Council would also be invited to those meetings. The Council should periodically report to the General Assembly on the work of the mechanism.
KARL F. INDERFURTH (United States) said among the positive effects of steps to improve arrangements for consultations with troop-contributors was predictability. Meetings between the Council, troop-contributors and the Secretariat were now routinely convened before mandates were extended, terminated, or significantly altered, and before other significant anticipated developments. The second positive result was that due to that regularity there was more meaningful opportunity for timely exchange of views, particularly with the Secretariat, on the issues at hand. On the other hand, the arrangements provided for a somewhat more dynamic and substantive discussion than sometimes actually took place in those meetings, as well as for somewhat greater participation by the Security Council President. Those
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concerns were less important for relatively straightforward missions. But for the more complex or risky missions, some strengthening of consultation arrangements was worth exploring.
He said that to strengthen the arrangements agreed to last year, Council Presidents should be encouraged to take a greater part in the discussion. The President could not speak on behalf of the Council regarding matters on which it had not made a decision, but when the Council was seized with an issue affecting troop-contributors and considering alternative courses of action, the President could summarize those options and the views pertaining to them. Although the 1994 statement anticipated that Presidents would summarize the views of troop-contributors during the course of relevant informal consultations of Council members, that rarely took place. Although most Council members took it upon themselves to learn troop-contributor views, a brief oral report directly from the presidency would better ensure that such information got to all Council members in a timely manner.
He went on to say that the issue of timeliness was one of the most difficult. The press of events often forced the Council to act upon a Secretariat report very quickly, leaving little time for troop-contributor consultation or communication with capitals. Nevertheless, the distribution of relevant papers, the timing of meetings with troop-contributors and of Council informals should be scheduled so as to give the fullest opportunity for an informed discussion. The same considerations suggested that the troop- contributors would benefit from somewhat greater consultation among themselves ahead of meetings on the major missions. That would allow for earlier identification of key common issues, expedite the task of consulting with capitals, permit concerns to be conveyed to the Secretariat in advance of a Secretary-General's report, and result in the selection of one of their number to serve as a focal point.
He said the Council should consider further refinement and improvement in consultative arrangements with troop-contributors. However, the basic format that now existed was a good one and efforts should be directed towards strengthening it, rather than setting it aside in favour of new arrangements.
JOHN WESTON (United Kingdom) told the Council that the arrangements established by the Council's Presidential statement of 4 November 1994 represented a considerable step forward. But those arrangements were not working as well as they could. The meeting with troop-contributors must be more than an opportunity for the Secretariat to brief the Organization on developments in operations. They should be the occasion for a serious discussion between troop-contributors and members of the Council on the mandates of those peace-keeping operations in which the men and women of those countries served.
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Troop contributors must make their voices heard at such meetings, he said. Their views needed to inform the work of the Council. That was why the Council President should report back to the Council on the views expressed by troop-contributors at those consultations.
As one of the largest contributors of troops to the United Nations over the last few years, the United Kingdom understood the concerns of fellow contributors whose young men and women risked their lives in the service of the Organization, he said. There was probably little argument about the need to make the existing system of consultations more dependable and more effective. Where his Government might differ was on the means by which that should be done. Among its concerns were that the operational responsibilities of the Secretary-General must be protected and preserved, as must the decision-making ability of the Security Council itself.
ALAIN DEJAMMET (France) said that his country, as a large contributor to peace-keeping operations, believed, first, that the conduct of peace-keeping operations was a Secretariat prerogative. The Council defined mandates and the Secretary-General mustered the troops. It was, therefore, important that the Secretary-General be, at all times, associated with the chairmanship of meetings that concerned him.
He also believed it was wrong to make troop-contributing countries an abstract category of Member States, with right to participate in Security Council decisions not enjoyed by other Members States. Consultation procedures should be established operation by operation. If the Organization moved towards a structure that encompassed every peace-keeping operation, the question of who should participate would quickly arise, since contributors varied from one theatre of operations to the next. The existence of such a structure would imply a new category of Member States -- troop-contributors -- which was independent of their presence in or absence from the field. Therefore, proposals for consultations to be held before adoption of the mandate of a force -- in other words before the force actually existed -- seemed unrealistic.
However favourable France was to a strengthening of the information flow among partners in peace-keeping operations, it questioned the merit of attempting to make such consultations a form of Security Council meeting, he said. He felt that behind such suggestions there might be a political, rather than a practical reasoning, linked to the idea of opening Council sessions to States that were not members of the Council.
QIN HUASAU (China)said there was no doubt that the decision-making activities and the procedures of the Council should reflect the wishes of the Member States. The United Nations required the timely support of Member States. The troop-contributing countries had presented plans and proposals to enable the United Nations to better deploy and carry out its peace-keeping
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operations. The United Nations used peace-keeping operations to create confidence and to create the conditions necessary for the peaceful settlement of disputes. To undertake such operations, however, they must obtain the prior agreement of the countries concerned and observe the principle of the non-use of force other than in self-defense. Moreover, peace-keeping operations must be carried out within the capability of the force.
He said the Council had begun to carry out regular consultations with peace-keeping troop-contributors, thus enhancing the transparency of the work of the Council. It allowed appropriate decisions to be made. The problems concerning peace-keeping operations required that the members of the Council and troop-contributing countries jointly discuss them. That was why those Member States wished to have the working methods improved. He hoped the Council could improve its efficiency, so that it could better fulfil the lofty principles entrusted to it by the Charter.
GERHARD W. HENZE (Germany) said that improvements in coordination between the Council and troop-contributing countries did not just serve the legitimate interests of troop-contributors. An improved mechanism of consultation was also crucial for the effectiveness of the Council's work. Decisions and mandates could not be effectively implemented and peace-keeping operations could not be satisfactorily carried out, if those who carried out the mandate in the field lacked information or could not make their voices heard. Lessons learned in Somalia and other places demonstrated the detrimental and far-reaching effects which lack of consultation might have had. The mechanism outlined in the statement of 4 November 1994, and implemented in its aftermath, was a good beginning, but had proven to be insufficient.
He said troop-contributors needed information about ongoing operations and the meetings jointed chaired by the President of the Council and the Secretariat undeniably had a positive impact. But what troop-contributing countries were interested in was having more of a political impact on decisions taken by the Council. That goal had not yet been achieved. As a consequence, the troop-contributors' interest in the existing mechanism had declined. An improved mechanism of consultations was needed, particularly when decisions on the extension, modification or termination of mandates were at stake. He welcomed the idea of appointing a chairman among the members of the Council for one year to give more continuity to the relationship with the troop-contributors. If need be, a chairman for each operation or group of operations could also be nominated.
He went on to say that Germany supported the statement made by the representative of Argentina. He appealed to all parties concerned to approach those suggestions with an open mind and the necessary degree of flexibility. The issues should not be seen as a matter of one group of Member States making
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concessions to another. Rather, they should be approached from the basis of shared interest in rendering the Council even more effective, to further enhance the United Nations peace-keeping capability.
DUSAN ROVENSKY (Czech Republic) said that consultations had so far been rather formal in nature. They tended to be briefings for troop-contributors who were not members of the Council, rather than genuine consultations. What they lacked so far was dialogue.
The views and recommendations expressed in the consultations by troop- contributors had very little effect on the decision-making process within the Security Council, he continued. The Czech Republic had already stated that troop-contributors were today at the mercy of Security Council members. One would hope that Council members would view those consultations not just as a chore, but as a source of wisdom and as a relevant input into the formulation of new peace-keeping operation mandates, their terminations and modifications. Security Council members did not always have troops in a given peace-keeping operation, and while they had the ultimate political responsibility for formulating its mandate, the practical experience from the field might not reach them. The consultations with troop contributors gave them a perfect chance to get information firsthand. It was therefore even more surprising that in some instances members of the Security Council did not even bother to attend the consultations with troop-contributors.
LEGWAILA JOSEPH LEGWAILA (Botswana) said that the issues raised in the proposal by Argentina and 33 other States were not completely new. They had been discussed by the Council on previous occasions. Regrettably, certain Council members remained opposed to the idea of creating a subsidiary organ of the Council to formalize consultation procedures, as proposed by the representative of Argentina.
The co-sponsors of that initiative did not intend to usurp the powers bestowed by the Charter on the Security Council in matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security, he continued. The proposal to establish a formal mechanism was intended only to improve the representative character of the decision-making process in the Security Council. The Council derived authority and legitimacy from the general membership of the United Nations who were not members of the Council. It was only fair that they should made a contribution to the work of the Council, if that body was to act effectively on their behalf in accordance with Article 24 (1) of the Charter.
PAOLO FULCI (Italy) said that from the beginning, Italy had expressed strong interest in taking part in the discussions among 34 troop-contributing countries belonging to the different regional groups. Improvements have been made, especially with regard to the calling of regular meetings with troop- contributing countries, jointly chaired by the President of the Security
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Council and by a Representative of the Secretary-General. The participation of troop-contributing countries, who were non-members of the Council, had so far been at a satisfactory level. They were becoming more successful as the feeling spread that it could be appropriate and useful for troop-contributors to express legitimate questions, concerns and expectations. To further improve them, they should be held with a reasonable margin of time before the Council's decisions, in order to give the troop-contributors more time to consult their capitals and all the authorities concerned, civilian and military. Moreover, the documentation did not always seem to have been prompt and thorough.
He endorsed the statement by the representative of Argentina, whose indications and proposals deserved the Council's utmost attention and should be acted upon. The key proposal concerned the establishment of a structured mechanism that would assure not only a constant flow of information between Council members and troop-contributing countries, but also consultation on matters of substance. That corresponded to the expectations that full use be made of the possibilities offered by the Charter.
He said the fact that "we are not living in a perfect world" was proved by the concern that the United Nations present financial difficulties would lead to measures that would seriously affect the resources and capacities of the Department of Peace-keeping Operations (DPKO). Such austerity measures would also have a negative effect on the relationship between the Secretariat and the troop-contributing countries, and seriously hinder planning activities and day-to-day management of peace-keeping operations. If, for example, the Department of Peace-keeping Operations' two vital organs, Planning and the Situations Center, were reduced, how could the dialogue between the troop- contributors and the Secretariat be maintained at a satisfactory level? he asked. Some would say that it was a problem for the Secretariat, not the Council. However, if the Secretariat's ability to interact with troop- contributors was weakened, compensation would have to be made by increased consultation between the Council and the troop-contributors.
Only a true voice in the decision-making process by countries that contributed troops or resources could ensure adequate participation and an efficient chain of command and control to delegate authority to commanders in the field, he said. The consultation mechanisms should not only invest the political sphere -- the Security Council -- but it should also be extended to the military sphere. Members should therefore reflect on the idea of revitalizing the Military Staff Committee, providing for the inclusion in it of the countries that contributed troops to each operation. It was only through participation and transparency that they could win over public opinion, whose support was essential in confronting the burden of peace- keeping in terms of funding and personnel.
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MAKARIM WIBISONO (Indonesia) endorsed the proposal by the representative of Argentina for exploring the possibility of establishing a mechanism to enhance a productive relationship between the Council and troop-contributing countries. Cooperation with troop-contributing countries was obviously vital. While some progress had been made in that area, increased transparency in consultations was still needed, and could ultimately generate wider support for peace-keeping operations and lend greater credibility to Council decisions.
Such consultations should be held well in advance of the fixing of mandates, he continued. Peace-keeping operations increasingly entailed high degrees of risk. Such early convening of consultative meetings would sensitize the Council to the concerns of troop-contributors and would, at the same time, give those contributors a clearer idea of the operations envisaged. The role of the Secretariat as the provider of timely and relevant information was of paramount importance. He hoped that the Council would take appropriate action, in due time, and stood ready to participate in future deliberations on the question. This morning's proposal was a logical development from the Council's statement of last year, which had launched the process the Council was now considering.
SERGEY LAVROV (Russian Federation) said the solution to the issue before the Council must be carefully thought through and any innovations should not work to the detriment of the Council's functions under the Charter. He supported the idea that troop-contributing countries should participate in consultations with the Council. Any action taken behind the back of troop- contributors would be fraught with difficulty.
Currently, meetings were taking place between troop-contributing countries and the Council before the adoption of a resolution concerning them, he continued. The shortcomings in the procedure, however, needed to be eliminated. The planned improvements should take into account the views of all. He favoured timely involvement before the adoption of a resolution. Also, meetings with the Secretary-General and commanders of the forces should continue, to ensure clear implementation of the Council's resolutions. Where routine extension of the mandate was involved, consultations need not be held each time.
HISASHI OWADA (Japan) said that in the field of peace-keeping operations, consultations were essential between the Council and countries contributing to those operations. While he welcomed the statement of November 1994, greater effort should be made to further improve the process and the mechanism of those consultations.
First, he continued, the countries contributing to the actual operations -- whether their contributions were in terms of military and other personnel, financial and logistical support, or assistance in any other areas -- had a
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legitimate interest in being part of the decision-making process and they should accept part of the responsibility for success or failure. If potential contributors were expected to meet different types of action, full consultations would be in order before the contributing countries could assess the situation and decide to accept the responsibility for any particular type of action. Such consultations between the Council and the contributing countries were essential to give the Council's decisions the maximum degree of credence and acceptability and thus enhance its effectiveness and viability.
A further institutionalization of the consultation mechanism would be highly desirable, he said. That could include measures relating to adequate prior notice and information, and reports to the Council on the views expressed by the contributing countries in the course of such consultations. He attached great importance to the concept that "troop-contributing countries" included countries making contributions including, but not limited to, the contribution of troops. He suggested that the contributors to peace- keeping operations could improve the ways in which they participated in those consultations. They could exchange ideas among themselves prior to the consultations. That would only be possible, however, if ample notice were given of the forthcoming consultative meetings.
ANATOLI M. ZLENKO (Ukraine) expressed full support for the position presented by the representative of Argentina. In his country's opinion, today's debate should result in institutionalization of a mechanism of consultations. Article 44 of the United Nations Charter clearly defined the principle of consultations between the two groups of States. Although the article dealt with operations undertaken in accordance with Chapter VII, the principle contained in that article was in full conformity with the spirit of the United Nations Charter and should be interpreted broadly.
However, consultations held since November of 1994 showed that instead of dialogue between Council members and troop-contributing countries, Member States heard either monologues by contributors or briefings of the Secretariat. And the level of representation of the Council members at those meetings spoke for itself. In that context, he hoped that formalization of the relationship of the abovementioned States, as suggested by Argentina, would automatically upgrade the level of consultations.
It was also necessary to define the role of the Secretariat in that context, he said. The mechanism to be established in accordance with Article 29 easily resolved that somewhat sensitive issue. The Secretariat would offer services to the Council and troop-contributing countries, and would play an auxiliary role. Primarily, troop-contributors would get an opportunity to influence the formulation and adoption of decisions relating to the peace- keeping operations in which they participated.
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Finally, Ukraine believed that the formalization of the process of consultations would create enhanced opportunities for improvement in providing information between the Council and the contributors to peace-keeping operations.
RAMTANE LAMAMRA (Algeria) said that today's debate was not a new one, but it had acquired sharpness in light of lessons learned from unhappy experiences and the limits of existing consultation mechanisms. At the heart of the political problems exposed by those experiences were the problems inherent in the Council's own decision processes. In particular, that concerned the methods of eliciting contributions from Member States, the mandates conferred on the Secretary-General for planning, directing and evaluating peace-keeping operations and their relationship with the political environment in which they evolved.
The consultation mechanism put in place in November 1994, following the efforts of New Zealand and Australia, had resulted in a modest series of meetings intended to improve the flow of information among the various partners in peace-keeping operations, particularly the troop-contributing States. However, the meetings had not truly associated troop-contributors and other interested States with the actions undertaken by the Council and the Secretariat in the political and operational management of activities designed to maintain international peace and security.
It was an established fact that the success of operations depended on the organizational capacities of the Secretariat, he said. But it depended, above all else, on the political will of Member States to shoulder their responsibilities in the field of peace-keeping. Such a political will could only be stimulated by meaningful consultations and by information exchanges with troop-contributors. The establishment of a framework in which troop- contributors could exchange their views and experiences about aspects common to diverse peace-keeping operations would be useful and beneficial. The time had now come to build on the consultation initiative launched last year by the Council. In so doing, the Council would be meeting the needs for transparency and democratization in its decision-making process.
SOLIMAN AWAAD (Egypt) said his Government associated itself with the statement made by the representative of Argentina. In the past he had welcomed the meetings between the Council and the troop-contributing countries, as such meetings would help those countries protect their troops. However, the means for consultation provided by the Council were not sufficiently institutionalized and they lacked regularity. Most consultations had been held without sufficient notice. Thus States had not been able to inform their capitals and provide them with the requisite information. The consultations were purely formal in nature and were held without regard for the effect they would have on the contributors.
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He said the proposals approved by the troop-contributors reflected a sensitive balance between the needs of the contributors and the Council. He proposed that the Council adopt a means to give the consultations regularity. Such consultations should be held before the Council made a decision on peace- keeping. Further, such meetings should provide a forum for the voices of the contributing States. The Council should take an informed decision and recognize the official role of the contributors. Moreover, the contributors should be able to advise the Council of situations in the field, which would allow the Council to make more informed decisions.
Consultations should also be held with potential contributors before the Council adopted decisions, he said. The objective would be to inform those states of conditions in the theatre of operations and their potential role. The proposals were not aimed at diminishing the authority of the Council, but to contribute to the Council's efficiency.
COLIN KEATING (New Zealand) said he would not repeat any of the points raised earlier by the representative of Argentina, whose position he, of course, endorsed. However, New Zealand had been disappointed at the outcome of last year's Council decision to hold consultative sessions with troop- contributing countries.
The procedures put in place by that decision had been widely welcomed, and some of the resultant meetings had proved the usefulness of the initiative. Some members of the Council had tried to make the format work. But, both Council members and the Secretariat viewed the meetings essentially as briefing sessions for non-members. The practice had, therefore, not lived up to expectations. There had been no regularly scheduled meetings, nor any circulation of working papers and reports to troop-contributors. Moreover, meetings had been held at short notice. It was unsurprising, therefore, that the series of meetings had not really been productive.
It was high time for the Council to live up to its commitments and open consultations with troop-contributors, he continued. He proposed that an informal working group be established for discussions between Council members and contributors. That was a procedural issue, not a substantive change, and would demonstrate the Council's awareness of its responsibilities towards Member States and show that the Council could take a lead in the direction of overall United Nations reform.
Among the reservations raised in the course of the morning's debate, he noted that France had expressed concern about the Secretary-General's prerogatives. That was an important issue. Where peace-keeping operations proceeded in a benign environment, Member States had little interest in the day-to-day operation. However, the situation was very different in operations where peace-keeping forces were inserted into explosive situations. Governments, in such cases, had the right to full information. Troop- contributors needed to be taken "behind the scenes". What the world had seen in Somalia or Bosnia demonstrated that troop-contributing Member States represented a crucial factor in the maintenance in keeping peace-keeping operations alive.
As for the question of participation in Council decisions by troop- contributors, he said that the most important concern among the barons
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gathered to sign the Magna Carta in 1214 was that they were troop- contributors. King John's Court -- which could not have been very different from the present forum -- would no doubt have argued that its operational effectiveness would have been impaired by signature of the document. But King John's Court would have been swimming against the tide, as would the Council if it today failed to heed the call of Member States.
JUAN ANTONIO YANEZ-BARNUEVO (Spain) said that following the statement of November 1994, significant progress had been made between the Council and the troop-contributing countries. Current procedures had proven insufficient, however, and new procedures were needed. The statement of the representative of Argentina reflected the views of a large number of States, including Spain. The smooth functioning and effectiveness of peace-keeping operations required an increase in cooperation on the part of all involved.
He said peace-keeping operations did not constitute ends in themselves. They were instruments for the management and settlement of conflicts. The Council consultations should not be confined to contributors, but should include other countries interested in the settlement of confrontations and which, depending on specific circumstances, might or might not contribute to a peace-keeping operation. The entire membership of the United Nations needed to be more closely associated with the work of the Council, thus substantiating the legitimacy of its actions. That would in no way affect the responsibility of the Council, which acted on behalf of all Member States.
RICHARD ROWE (Australia) said his Government fully associated itself with the statement by the representative of Argentina. Since last year, when Argentina and New Zealand had initiated a much needed process of reform, there had been instances where the Council had listened to Member States and had sought to respond to calls for change. But even at that time, the Council envisaged that the consultative process outlined in the statement would require review and reassessment in light of experience, as would the arrangements to improve the quality and speed of flow of information available to support the Council's decision-making.
He said it was important to the health of the Organization that the Council's decisions were fully implemented and complied with, and that its ability and authority to respond to threats to international peace and security was strengthened and incontrovertible, he continued. Amongst others, troop-contributors played an indispensable part in putting into effect Council
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decisions and hence sought to cooperate with the Council for a common purpose, namely the implementation of effective peace-keeping operations. To achieve that, a timely and genuine process of consultations between troop-contributors and the Council was imperative.
Improving and formalizing the consultation mechanism between troop- contributors and the Council was necessary to ensure improved coordination, management and planning of peace-keeping operations, he said. In recent years peace-keeping operations and mandates which were driven by the need to be seen to be doing something had not been achievable in the field or had lacked the clarity about goals and operations which commanders could reasonably expect. Missions were undertaken without provision of the necessary resources, and the assumption of a role in complex situations where there had been insufficient coordination between Blue Helmet forces and with other international actors, whether those were regional organizations, non-governmental aid bodies or United Nations organs or agencies. There had also been an ability to deploy forces quickly when a crisis was emerging.
He said an enhancement of the consultation process between the Council and troop-contributors, as well as enhancement of the strategic and operational planning capacity of the United Nations would generate confidence in the Organization's capability, and would lead to Member States being more prepared to deliver military units for operations established by the Council.
ROBERT FOWLER (Canada) told the Council that it needed to work more closely with troop-contributors. Without Member States willing to contribute troops to operations decided and renewed by the Council, there would be no peace-keeping. Canada associated itself fully with the ideas elaborated by a number of troop-contributors, as expressed by the representative of Argentina. Thirty-four counties had officially asked for today's debate, the purpose of which was to examine how the existing consultative mechanisms could be enhanced. He noted with satisfaction that three of the permanent members of the Council, by associating themselves with the letter requesting a debate, had clearly reaffirmed their endorsement of the objective.
He attached particular importance to some of the proposals voiced by Argentina. A distinction needed to be drawn between the discussion of political and mandate issues, on the one hand, and of operational issues, on the other hand. The former were the concern of the Council, and the latter the responsibility of the Secretariat, and needed to be addressed between it and troop-contributors. The current process of joint Secretariat and Council chairmanship of meetings with troop-contributors tended to confuse political and operational issues. Consultations with the Security Council on mandate issues should therefore be chaired by the Council, with the Secretariat present only as a matter of course.
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He also wished to highlight, in the context of enhancing the United Nations rapid reaction capability, the need for the Council to consult potential troop contributors before launching an operation. Such a measure, combined with the establishment of a standing, deployable headquarters involved in contingency planning, would give the Council confidence that its decisions could be implemented quickly.
He said that no consultation procedure agreed by the Council would work if the members of the Council did not seriously take into account the advice offered by the troop-contributors and the Secretariat. The Council seemed too ready to take ambiguous decisions about peace-keeping operations. Decisions which had not been thought out, or which were obviously based on incomplete information, too often seemed to be motivated by short-term political expediency, rather than by a careful consideration of all relevant factors. That had resulted in the difficulties everyone was aware of, and had seriously affected the credibility of the Organization. Mandates agreed to by the Council must be clear and implementable. They could not be dissociated from the force structures necessary to carry them out. To do otherwise was to court disaster.
The Council had two choices regarding peace-keeping operations, he said. The first was to ensure, through careful decision-making, that the United Nations response was fully adequate, politically and militarily, to meet the exigencies of the situation at hand. All the resources necessary must be available to implement the decisions taken. The second option was to do nothing. The era of half-hearted, half-baked, under-resourced and ill-defined operations should now be over.
The meeting, which was called at 10:51 a.m., was suspended at 1:15 p.m.
When the meeting resumed at 4:20 p.m., the first speaker V. YOOGALINGAM (Malaysia) said the current consultations remained ad hoc in nature and unsatisfactory in practice and were more like briefings than consultations. Their ad hoc and overlapping schedule meant that some Member States with small Missions were begin deprived of the opportunity to attend and participate meaningfully and constructively in those meetings. Often queries raised by individual States at those briefings did not receive adequate answers. Such shortcomings could not be left uncorrected.
He said the initiative to institutionalize a mechanism of consultations deserved early implementation. He supported the call for the establishment of a subsidiary organ as provided for in Article 29 of the Charter to facilitate the consultations. His Government was also open to other options. Only through a formal consultative process could Council members and troop- contributing countries participate positively in accurate preparation and assessment before the Council modified, extended and terminated the mandate of the existing operations or decided on the mandate of new missions. More
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institutionalized meetings could facilitate the identification and discussion of problems at an early stage.
Resource-contributing countries also should be recognized, even though troop-contributing countries undertook greater risks, he said. Potential contributors along with the country where the outbreak was impending must also be drafted as members of the formalized mechanism. In the case of existing operations, participation by the Special Representative of the Secretary- General and/or the field commander should be considered. Their presence would provide a first-hand account of the situation in the field which the Council or the Secretariat could not provide.
He said for all the countries involved to participate constructively in the consultation process, the meeting must be held as scheduled. Overlapping any meeting schedule that would prevent the attendance of states, especially those with small representation, must be avoided.
SLAHEDDINE ABDELLAH (Tunisia) said that personnel involved in peace- keeping operations were exposed to increasingly serious risks because the nature of those operations had changed and expanded to encompass new and diversified tasks. That change entailed greater responsibilities for the Council and the Secretariat. It also brought greater responsibilities upon States that were not members of the Council, but were asked to contribute more and more without any real participation in decisions affecting operations. It was thus legitimate for those States to request a redefinition of their relationship with the Council.
His Government had welcomed last year's Council decision on consultations with the troop-contributing countries. The meetings held so far, however, had consisted of a recital of the preoccupations of the troop contributors without any subsequent dialogue between them and the Council. The meetings had, moreover, been limited to existing peace-keeping operations and had not touched on those at the planning stage. Those drawbacks, he added, might be neutralized by the adoption of regularly scheduled meetings and direct contact during meetings between Council members and representatives of troop-contributing States that were not members of the Council.
Such discussions could be held in the framework of one or more subsidiary organs created by the Council under Article 29 of the Charter, he said. Consultations might also be held with potential troop-contributing countries on operations the Council was planning to launch. Within that new framework of regularly scheduled, targeted consultations, the Secretariat could be encouraged to divulge the maximum amount of information, in particular by circulating reports on difficult situations that might require future peace-keeping operations.
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JAKKEN BIORN LIAN (Norway), speaking on behalf of the Nordic countries, said the Council had the primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and international security. It was a shared responsibility for all Member States to make sure that the Council had the necessary means and support to carry out its task. The Nordic countries, which were among the most important troop contributors to peace-keeping operations, stressed the need to strengthen the arrangements for consultations between troop contributors and the Council. Such arrangements must also contribute to a strengthened support of the Council in the performance of its duties, to a precise formulation of mandates for the operations, and to an improved perception and understanding of the mandates by troop contributors.
He underlined the need for a mechanism for troop contributors to communicate, on a regular basis, their concerns, ideas and experiences to members of the Council and the Secretariat. That would bring them closer to the decision-making of the Council and help to ensure continued support from public opinion and from home authorities.
He said it was time to review the mechanism adopted last year and to look at ways to further develop it along the lines that had been presented by the representative of Argentina. The establishment of a forum for consultations for troop-contributing countries would lead to more efficient and effective decision-making and management of peace-keeping operations. That mechanism should be institutionalized as a subsidiary organ under Article 29 of the Charter to ensure regular and formalized consultations. It was also important that the consultations with potential contributors take place before decisions were taken to launch new operations so that the Council as well as the potential troop contributors would be in a better position to assess realistically which options were available and to decide on the course of action to be taken.
JOHN H.F. CAMPBELL (Ireland) said that as a troop-contributing country of long-standing, Ireland had consistently supported efforts to strengthen and improve the consultation process and the exchange of information and views between troop contributors, the Secretary-General and members of the Security Council. Member States which contributed to peace-keeping operations should have an input into vital decisions concerning those missions in which their personnel participated. Greater political support and confidence within Member States for the peace-keeping and peace-building role of the Organization could only be achieved through improved information flows and greater transparency as to the rationale and purposes of the peace-keeping missions.
He said the consultation procedures adopted in November 1994 had not worked as effectively as had been hoped. The success of such consultations could only be guaranteed if there was full involvement by all who were given the opportunity to do so. Insufficient account appeared to have been taken of
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the fact that the existing consultations procedures were not intended to cover every situation where it was necessary for troop contributors to be consulted. Operational-level meetings, chaired by the Secretariat, still had a part to play in the consultations process.
The existing consultation procedures had not been adequate to ensure that the views of troop contributors had real influence on the Council's decision-making process, he said. Troop contributor meetings were too frequently convened when the informal consultations in the Council virtually had been completed. The opportunity for meaningful input by troop contributors at an early stage had been hampered by the lack of documentation provided at troop contributor meetings.
He supported the proposals providing for the establishment of a new consultation mechanism and for the establishment of a subsidiary organ to enhance the process of communication and consultation between troop contributors and the Council. He hoped today's meeting would encourage Council members to conduct a comprehensive review of the procedures.
ERNST SUCHARIPA (Austria) said that while the consultation mechanism put in place a little more than a year ago had been an important step in the right direction, the troop-contributing countries themselves had perhaps not always made the best use of those opportunities, allowing the meetings to remain little more than briefing sessions. While it was undoubtedly true that most of those meetings were called at a late stage, when the Council and the Secretariat had already finalized their deliberations, in most cases the troop contributors could have certainly done better in engaging the Security Council presidency and the Secretariat in a substantial debate.
Austria was firmly committed to the United Nations peace-keeping efforts. More than 35,000 Austrians have worn blue helmets over the years. It remained convinced that peace-keeping operations were among the finest tools to fulfil the goals of the Charter.
It was the primary responsibility of the Council to make sure that it had a full picture of the situation -- and the views of all parties involved in a peace-keeping operation -- before arriving at particular decisions. Having served on the Council only a few years ago, Austria was aware of the need to safeguard the prerogatives of the Security Council. But every troop- contributing country had a legitimate interest in having its views considered by the Council when pending decisions on a peace-keeping operation might affect its citizens serving the United Nations. For that purpose the present mechanism needed improvement. Austria therefore supported the proposals worked out by a substantial number of troop-contributing countries, as summarized this morning by the Permanent Representative of Argentina.
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AHMAD KAMAL (Pakistan) said he supported the establishment of a more formal and institutionalized mechanism of consultations between troop contributors and the Council. It was important that the United Nations act before the outbreak of a conflict rather than intervene once the conflict had erupted. Pakistan was an active participant in peace-keeping operations and presently was the fourth-largest troop contributor. Even after the draw-down of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), Pakistan would form part of the Implementation Force (IFOR) by providing a brigade to help maintain peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He said peace-keeping operations exemplified the sustained political commitment of Member States to the concept of collective security and maintenance of international peace and security. South Asia continued to be a beneficiary of one of the oldest peace-keeping operations -- the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). His Government supported all initiatives and mechanisms which further ensured efficient and effective implementation of peace-keeping operations. A system of prior consultations between members of the Council, prospective troop- contributing countries and the Secretariat should be institutionalized. Moreover, there should be no alteration in the mandate, character and duration of such operations.
ANTONIO DE AGUIAR PATRIOTA (Brazil) said that the 34 Member States on whose behalf the representative of Argentina had addressed the Council had reached general agreement on what was, at the current stage, desirable and feasible. The need for adequate procedures to ensure the necessary cohesion among troop contributors, Council members and the Secretariat could not be overemphasized.
A more formal and institutional mechanism of consultations was needed, with each consultation held well in advance of anticipated Council decisions on the extension, modification or termination of the mandate of specific peace-keeping operations, he said. In establishing new peace-keeping operations, the mechanism should consult potential troop contributors. Further, special meetings should be held in the event of unforeseen developments. Such a mechanism for consultations should be chaired by a member of the Council for a one-year term. The chairman would report to the Council on the views expressed by participants. In addition, the monthly tentative forecast prepared by the Council should include an indication of the expected schedule of such meetings. As an increasingly active participant in peace-keeping initiatives, his country had been encouraging an expansion in the membership of the Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations.
JEAN-LOUIS WOLZFELD (Luxembourg), speaking also on behalf of the other Benelux countries (Belgium and the Netherlands), expressed full agreement with the remarks of the representative of Argentina during this morning's session of today's Council meeting. While agreeing that the consultation mechanism
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launched as a result of the 4 November presidential statement by the Council had improved the transparency of the body's decision-making process in peace- keeping matters, he said that mechanism could and must be improved. The primary aim would be better representativity as well as greater effectiveness in the decision process.
Troop-contributing countries should be regularly consulted before any decision was made by the Council regarding the creation of a peace-keeping operation -- from the very first stages of a mandate's conception. Peace- keeping operations decided on by the Council would only receive the support they needed from troop-contributing countries if those countries' concerns were adequately taken into account during the definition of operational mandates and during their deployment on the ground. Greater transparency would have a positive effect on the political commitment of current and future contributors. Needless to say, that did not imply any diminution of the competences and prerogatives of the Council.
He said a number of minor improvements would of themselves be enough to enhance the effectiveness of consultations, including announcement of consultations in the United Nations Journal; the pre-consultation availability of documentation; circulation among delegations of the Secretary-General's reports; regular consultation sessions with troop contributors; and circulation among Council members of the minutes of consultation sessions.
JULIO LONDONO PAREDES (Colombia) said that, although the consultation mechanism developed to meet the urgent need for more effective cooperation between the Council and troop-contributing countries was a step in the right direction, that mechanism could only be viewed as a transitional step along the road towards the solution of a much broader problem, currently being addressed by the working group on reform of the Council and strengthening of the United Nations system.
In its decision to convene the working group on the question of the equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, the United Nations had acknowledged the need to enhance transparency within the Council, he said. Transparency was vital if the Council's decisions were to enjoy the legitimacy they required; on that transparency depended to a large extent the effective and efficient implementation of peace-keeping mandates.
While the proposed mechanism sought to increase participation in discussions of peace-keeping operations, unfortunately it also tended to increase the tendency to make them an instrument of the Council. Efforts to enhance Council transparency should start from the premise that it was necessary to strengthen the role of the General Assembly in the fields of peace and international security.
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Regarding the proposal that the mechanism should be a subsidiary organ of the Council, in his view it was not necessary to have recourse to Article 29 of the Charter. It would be better for the decision to launch such a flexible mechanism to be taken after the working groups had completed their work.
PRAKASH SHAW (India) said his Government had found the existing mechanism involving meetings with troop contributors being co-chaired by the President of the Council and the representatives of the Secretary-General to be quite satisfactory. Without the presence of the Secretary-General's representative as co-chairman with the Presidency of the Council, the existing balance between political responsibility and operational control would be missing. Granting that task to a subsidiary body of the Council or keeping the Secretary-General's representative on the sidelines of such consultations would not enhance their effectiveness.
However, certain improvements and streamlining of consultations would greatly enhance the effectiveness of the Council's decision-making process, he said. Consultations should be held on a regular basis and not necessarily just before a mandate was about to expire or needed extension. They should be preceded by timely provision of detailed Secretariat reports. Also, the Secretary-General's report should be available to troop-contributing countries at the same time as to members of the Council, and consultations should take place before finalization of the mandate of any new operation.
It would also be useful, he said, to review, update or amend mandates of individual peace-keeping operations in a fully transparent manner.
CHRISTOS ZACHARAKIS (Greece) told the Council that his country, too, attached great importance to improving the flow of information and views between members of the Council and countries involved in peace-keeping operations mandated by the Council. Greece had supported that process as desirable and even inevitable, given the complexity of peace-keeping operations in recent years. Troop-contributing countries had a right to be consulted on the decision-making process on peace-keeping operations.
Greece fully associated itself with the statement made by Argentina, which summarized with accuracy the discussions as well as the opinions expressed by a large number of interested delegations. Greece, which apart from its substantial voluntary contribution to the peace-keeping budget was currently participating in various peace-keeping operations, had always supported improved consultation procedures, in the context of efforts to achieve greater transparency in the operations of the Council. The benefit of such increased transparency would be a higher level of political support among Member States for the peace-keeping role and activities of the Untied Nations. That support was essential for ensuring continued participation by the troops in United Nations peace-keeping operations.
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HUSEYIN E. CELEM (Turkey) said that openness and democratization in the working methods and procedures of the Council would enhance its efficiency and effectiveness. Under the Charter, the Member States had agreed to accept and carry out the decisions of the Council. Those decisions emanated from the fact that the Council acted on behalf of all Members of the United Nations. For that reason, it was essential that the Council's decisions be in accord with the views of the general membership.
He said the fact that Council decisions must have an adequate consensual basis was inherent in the letter and spirit of the Charter, which cited harmonizing the efforts of nations as one of the purposes of the Organization. Therefore, the creation of a credible and workable mechanism for dialogue was of utmost importance. That would enable the general membership to participate in the Council's decision-making process and would ensure greater support for the actions of the Council.
His Government had welcomed and supported all the initiatives and steps for achieving transparency, he said. It had underlined its support for the Argentina/New Zealand initiative pertaining to the institutionalization of the consultation procedures between the Council and contributors. In the same vein, it had welcomed the French initiative of 9 November 1994.
He said the new and improved proposal on the institutionalization of dialogue between the Council and troop contributors had been outlined by the representative of Argentina. Such a mechanism would enhance the effectiveness and moral authority of the Council.
NGONI FRANCIS SENGWE (Zimbabwe) said he appreciated the efforts of Argentina and other interested delegations to discussions on the important topic before the Council. Zimbabwe viewed today's discussions as a continuation of the New Zealand/Argentina initiative of 1994 on the same subject. As one of the troop contributors to peace-keeping operations, his country found the current system of consultations between the Council and troop contributors unsatisfactory. Contacts between the Security Council and troop contributors were now more in the nature of briefings by the former than consultations on substantive issues pertaining to international peace and security.
Under current practice, he said, the Council decided to launch a peace- keeping operation and determined the mandate of that operation. Troop contributors only emerged after the mandate had been authorized. Member States were not able to influence decisions of the Council during the informal consultations which had become the hallmark of the Council's decision-making mechanism in the post-cold-war period. It was logical therefore to conclude that the general membership -- on whose behalf the Council purported to act -- had no role in determining the mandate. That brand of decision-making
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excluded the entire membership, in an era in which the victims of democracy and transparency were being preached. It was time to implement Article 44 of the Charter.
Zimbabwe supported the proposal to institutionalize the mechanism of consultations, he said. That would allow Member States to be involved in decision-making by providing inputs for the launching of a peace-keeping operation. The involvement of Member States would assist the general membership to understand the nature of the problems in all their aspects, determine the risks involved and assess the duration of a given peace-keeping operation. It would foster the spirit of accountability of the Security Council to the general membership, on whose behalf it acted, as called for in resolution 48/264.
He realized the pressure exerted on the Council to respond to emergency situations, he said. He was, however, convinced that meaningful consultations by the Security Council would increase the international community's confidence in its capacity to execute its mandate.
YANG LEE (Republic of Korea) said that the current tripartite consultations had revealed many limitations and shortcomings. It was often the case that meetings were convened only moments before the expiration of a mandate. The meetings required greater organization and scheduling as envisaged in the presidential statement. Moreover, the briefings at the meetings sometimes did not offer any new elements other than those already made available through the published report of the Secretary-General. Moreover, the recommendations and views expressed by the troop contributors in the course of the tripartite meeting had not been adequately reflected in subsequent Council decisions, and to many troop-contributing countries, the unpredictability of the fate of their own troops remained a persistent concern.
He said his Government recognized that the Council bore the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and assumed the overall responsibility for the peace-keeping operations of the United Nations. However, the success of the peace-keeping operations was equally dependent on the active support and participation of the Member States, particularly the troop contributors. He supported the proposal regarding the establishment of a subsidiary organ under Article 29 of the Charter.
Given the limited military planning capability of the United Nations, he said, the proposal was particularly pertinent. With such a formal mechanism for consultations in place, the views of the troop contributors could be more clearly conveyed to the Council on the operational issues germane to the specific mission, including those of a military nature, so that the Council could make more informed decisions. Increased transparency and
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democratization in decision-making, together with an adequate information- sharing system, was of vital importance for maintaining both broad support and a strong mandate, which were considered to be the main factors necessary for the success of peace-keeping operations.
BRUNO RODRIGUEZ PARRILLA (Cuba) said that two days of debate in the current plenary session of the General Assembly had made it clear that there was a need for revision or replacement of certain Security Council practices, in the interests of the transparency and democratization demanded by the character and function of that United Nations body.
The Council's practice of informal consultations -- a negotiating forum par excellence in which the bulk of the Council's business took place -- continued to take place behind closed doors, without the participation of the general membership of the Organization, which then had to rely for information as to what had transpired on voluntary post-consultation briefings delivered by the current Council President.
The lack of proportion between the number of formal and informal Council meetings was on the increase, while documentation relating to those confidential Council discussions was made available only with the greatest discretion. The question of communication between members and non-members of the Council was therefore of the greatest concern. The procedure recently established for the exchange of information, while commendable, was not in itself enough. Negotiations between Council members and troop contributors required more participatory and institutionalized modalities. The present international situation, which was constantly changing, required dynamic and transparent procedures for negotiation and cooperation.
Cuba regarded as positive the proposal for establishment of a subsidiary organ of the Security Council. However, even better than that would be a completely new mechanism with universal participation, including observers from non-troop-contributing States that nevertheless had an interest in peace- keeping. Only when the United Nations could count on a representative, democratic and transparent Security Council, making appropriate use of the powers invested in it by Member States, would it have a truly effective Council, not only in current questions of international peace and security but also in confronting the challenges of the future.
EMILIO CARDENAS (Argentina) said subsidiary organs were provided for in the Charter. To set one up did not imply institutional reform but was intended to maximize the possibilities derived from the Charter. To provide an opportunity for Member States to be heard would enrich the Council and allow it to hear Member States that belonged to the Organization but were not Council members. It would also enhance its transparency. The initiative he had proposed was not an attempt to establish a new category. It was specifically provided for in the Charter. The meeting of any organ could
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always be open. To improve procedures, one must believe in openness and protect transparency. "We have to have a vision of the future of the Organization that is more generous than autocratic", he said.
He said the philosophy of openness lay behind meetings like that of today. Discussions were being held before the item was taken up in the Council itself. Unfortunately, there had been only two such meetings on this issue this year. Overcoming some domestic resistance, they had been able to have a dialogue with the Secretariat and the force commanders. Moreover, the members had tried to go into the field more often.
The initiative was being made against that background, he said. Listening and sharing was the path for the Organization. It would mean that instead of being carried away by emotions, Members would not fight against the times, but move ahead. The procedures he had suggested earlier today deserved a thorough analysis by the Council.
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