PRESS CONFERENCE BY General Assembly President

 

At a Headquarters press conference today, General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa said that, with the General Debate completed, she was encouraged by the renewed commitment of world leaders to multilateralism as the most appropriate way to address many global challenges, and outlined her priorities for the programme of work during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly.

She said she saw a clear vision from world leaders for achievement of internationally agreed development goals including the Millennium Development Goals.  An informal thematic debate would be organized during the session centred on a review of practical measures to eradicate extreme poverty.  The revitalization of the General Assembly as the Organization’s principle policy organ was very important to Member States, and the subjects of gender and dialogue among civilizations would also be informally debated.

Turning to United Nations reform, she emphasized that the sixty-first session’s achievements should not be a one-time event.  Completing negotiations on reform of the Economic and Social Council so it would be the principle body for coordination, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic and social development issues was high on the agenda.  Discussion of managerial and Secretariat reform in the Fifth Committee as well as mandate review were also of importance.  She also made note of the need to work on system-wide coherence. 

She also looked forward to the return of consultations in the Assembly on environmental governance.  She said that the session would have to address Security Council reform and a comprehensive convention on international terrorism. 

Finally, she noted that there had been many questions on the General Assembly’s procedure for the upcoming appointment of the Secretary-General.  She said that a note prepared by her office on the subject was available and contained many of the answers.

In response to a question, she said that South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon had in-depth knowledge of most world issues and sufficient skills, finesse and expertise to be the next Secretary-General.

When asked questions about reform of the Organization, she said that all areas were of considerable importance, but that the Member States had made their interest in reforming the Economic and Social Council and revitalization of the General Assembly clear to her.  The two co-chairs concerned with the Economic and Social Council had promised to complete the issue before the end of the month.  Mandate review would quickly take up the first 400 mandates and then continue.  She explained that it was a requirement of the Charter that many General Assembly Committee meetings be closed to journalists especially the General Committee.

In response to a query about Security Council reform, she noted that it was the most controversial issue.  Dialogue was ongoing between Member States and a discussion would take place on 27 November.

Asked about the Secretary-General’s financial disclosure form, she said it was a very sensitive matter and taken up by the Secretariat according to the rules of procedure.

On the subject of Western Sahara, she said the matter was now dealt with by the Security Council and could not be taken up by the General Assembly.  But, she agreed that it was a matter of importance to the General Assembly because it was the kind of humanitarian issue, like the conflict in Darfur, which the founders of the Untied Nations had in mind when they crated the Organization. 

When asked why there was not more emphasis on sustainable development, she said that, once the report on environmental governance was completed, the matter could be better addressed.  She hoped that Member States and the private sector could be appealed to in order to finance various environmental projects.

Replying to a number of other questions about Ban Ki-Moon’s candidacy as Secretary-General, she said she had met with him and called him an exceptional diplomat.  She disagreed with the opinion that he lacked charisma and leadership abilities and instead found that his calm nature was a strength.  Although she acknowledged that he didn’t appear to have detailed expertise on Middle East issues, she believed his ability to analyze issues and take them up in a diplomatic way would be of added value to the Organization. 

In reference to the procedures of the General Assembly’s selection of the Secretary-General, she explained that, while there could be a vote, according to 23 years of practice, the appointment had been done by consensus.  But, if Member States requested a vote, it was their right, although she did not think the matter would come to a vote, because of the custom. 

She also acknowledged that she would meet with Mr. Ban next Tuesday, but explained that she did not know if his return to New York next week related to being formally elevated as Secretary-General-elect at that time.

Finally, when asked if the United Nations had considered encouraging Member States to give private companies tax incentives to donate to the United Nations, she said it was a concern of local law in the United States and a matter for Member States to take up.  As far as pushing forward development goals, she hoped that Member States, donors and the private sector would directly donate to those areas and not necessarily through the United Nations.

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For information media • not an official record