SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES DEMOCRATIZATION OF INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM IN ADDRESS TO MEXICAN PARLIAMENT
Press Release
SG/SM/5911
SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES DEMOCRATIZATION OF INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM IN ADDRESS TO MEXICAN PARLIAMENT
19960305 ADVANCE TEXT Following is a text of Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's address in Mexico City to the joint session of Commissions of Foreign Affairs of both Houses of Mexican Parliament, on 5 March:I am honoured to be here, in the Chamber of this great democratic institution.
The world is witnessing a wave of democratization. From this great region of Latin America, to Africa, Europe and Asia, the United Nations is being called to support this new impulse. The emphasis is on democratization as a process of creating a more open, more participatory society. States decide if and when to begin democratization. Throughout democratization, each society chooses the form, speed and character of its democratization process.
The United Nations today offers a full range of support for democratization -- from support for a culture of democratization, to assistance in democratic elections, to assistance in building institutions which support democracy.
It was here, in Mexico, that an important new approach to electoral assistance was born. I call it "support for national observers". Before its national elections in August 1994, Mexico asked the United Nations to help it create a national observation network. The United Nations provided technical and financial support, including training, to 14 Mexican non-governmental organizations. When election day came, these non-governmental organizations successfully fielded nearly 30,000 observers throughout the country. Working with United Nations experts, Mexican electoral authorities and Mexican citizen observers gave birth to this new model, which, by its very design, helps to fulfil the two critical goals of electoral assistance -- to build long-term national capacity to conduct periodic and genuine elections, and to build confidence among citizens in their own electoral process.
The entire range of support for democratization reflects the broadening scope of Member States' requests. It also reveals the need for other international actors to contribute. Regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, business and professional associations, academia,
Parliamentarians such as yourselves -- all have an essential and complementary role to play. Many of you in this Chamber, through your Government, or through organizations such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, already provide international support for democratization processes. You help promote a culture of democratization. You provide electoral assistance. You facilitate the creation and operation of representative institutions. You are valued partners of the United Nations in the effort to promote and support democratization.
I wish now to discuss with you a crucial new dimension of this support -- the democratization of the international system. Democratization of the international system means working to extend democratic principles and processes to international organizations, and to the daily practice of international politics. I am convinced that such an effort has become essential. I see three reasons for this.
First, the reality of globalization now means that international decisions carry far-reaching domestic consequences. Unrepresentative decisions at the international level can run counter to democratization within a State. They can undermine a people's commitment to it. Thus, democratization within States may fail to take root unless democratization extends to the international arena.
Second, globalization has drawn forward a new array of problems, affecting all societies. Democratization at the international level provides a way for States to manage the global pressures that must affect the lives of their peoples. It provides a way for the world to reduce the negative consequences of globalization, while reinforcing its many positive aspects.
Third, we commonly refer to "the international system". But in the aftermath of the cold war, and with the collapse of the bipolar confrontation, a new system for international relations has yet to emerge. International affairs are being shaped not only by States, but by new actors on the international scene. The most legitimate, effective and responsive way to build a new international system is by democratizing the structures and mechanisms already in place. Thus, democratization at the international level has become a new priority.
The first and greatest step forward in this effort must be increased engagement with international affairs by all Member States of the United Nations. Mexico provides an example for all. Mexico has an admirable record in meeting its financial obligations to the United Nations. Mexico's role as one of the "Friends of the Secretary-General" has contributed greatly to progress on key Central American issues such as in El Salvador. And Mexico is known as a powerful advocate of development for the poorest countries of the world.
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Next is the integration of new international actors -- from regional organizations to non-governmental organizations, academia, transnational corporations, the media, and -- not least -- Parliamentarians. States must find a way to engage the cooperation of these new actors, who are an increasing influence in world affairs. The United Nations is the world Organization of sovereign States. Yet, it also has, from its inception, served its Member States as a mechanism for cooperation with actors -- both governmental and non-governmental -- operating outside the United Nations.
With Parliamentarians, for example, the United Nations has a long history of cooperation. At the United Nations, Parliamentarians have participated in Member State delegations, contributed to the preparation for international conferences, convened their own conferences in the General Assembly Hall, and held informal consultations with the Secretariat. And United Nations experts and Parliamentarians have joined together in many countries to support democratization processes.
Improving United Nations cooperation with Parliamentarians has taken on even greater importance. Making the transition to a new international era is no simple task. The new challenges are complex, difficult and, at times, dangerous. Around the world, United Nations personnel are asked to confront unprecedented situations -- all too often without sufficient mandates or resources.
The Untied Nations needs its Member States and their peoples to recognize the complexity of today's challenges. In the task of communication, you, as Parliamentarians, can play an indispensable role. You are an essential link between the United Nations and international public opinion. You are uniquely placed to help build recognition, understanding and support for the United Nations and its work.
Communication must flow both ways. If the new international system is truly to be legitimate, responsive and effective, all must take part in its creation. As direct representatives of your constituents, you can carry their voices to the international arena. You can help ensure their participation and their support. As such, you, Parliamentarians, are a direct and motive force for democratization at the international level. And you can bring to bear on world affairs your commitment to dialogue, discussion and agreement -- to democratic principles and cooperation.
Enhanced cooperation with Parliamentarians and the other new actors will pave the way for the major changes in the structure of the international system, now being contemplated. We can see this potential in the global conferences, convened by the United Nations, which bring together all the State and non-State actors concerned with a particular global matter. The conferences create issue-based constituencies. They allow for declarations to be reached that are akin to general referendums. Through the series of global
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conferences on economic and social issues, the United Nations is providing an ongoing democratic process. Through it, a new global consensus on and framework for development are being built. Hence, the relationship between engaging with the new actors and reforming the architecture of the international system.
Within the United Nations architecture lies much potential for democratization at the international level. Since entering office, I have made democratization a guiding objective of Secretariat reform. A broad decentralization of decision-making has already taken place. This reform needs to be advanced by reform in the United Nations intergovernmental machinery. I refer here not only to making the three main deliberative Organs -- the Security Council, the General Assembly, and the Economic and Social Council -- more representative and open, but also to addressing the imbalance in authority among these Organs. The General Assembly, for example, could take on a role such as that now served by global conferences. The Assembly would become the venue for sustained thematic discussion. And the Economic and Social Council could then be strengthened as a permanent channel of participation for new actors on the world scene, who are playing such an important role in the preparation and follow-up of the global conferences.
Also to be addressed are ways to increase use by Member States of the International Court of Justice -- not only for arbitration and the pacific settlement of disputes, but also by offering advisory opinions where requested by the Secretary-General. I salute Mexico for its stated readiness to withdraw its reservation regarding compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice if others do the same.
The United Nations is the forum and mechanism for the advancement of international law. International law promotes mutual respect among States and peoples. It provides an analytical framework for cooperative problem-solving. It provides a powerful basis for multilateral action. International law is, thus, a powerful tool for democratization at the international level.
The next step in the advancement of international law must be the expansion of international jurisdiction. The General Assembly is now considering the establishment of a permanent international criminal court. Clearly, the new global scale of crimes such as narcotics trafficking make a court of international criminal jurisdiction a necessity. The creation of such a court would be a monumental advance towards the effective rule of law in world affairs.
The new wave of democratization within States, and the new international era we have entered, have made democratization at the international level not only necessary but possible. My message to you today is that we must grasp this opportunity. Through democratization is the way forward to the better world we all seek. You, as Parliamentarians, have a key role to play in this
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effort. This is why I place such importance on meeting with you, and your counterparts, in all the other Member States I am able to visit.
Thank you for this opportunity to be here today. I look forward to your continued participation and support as we strive to construct a new international system for today, and for tomorrow.
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