Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila on the Working Methods of the Security Council-Implementation of the Note by the President of the Security Council
6 February 2018
My President,
We would like to, firstly, congratulate you and your delegation for assuming the Presidency of the Council for the Month. The matter of the working methods of the Council remains one of the most pertinent issues before the Council, as it relates to the manner in which the Council seeks to resolve crises affecting the entire globe. We, therefore, welcome this open debate, which itself is in keeping with the provisions of Document 507 calling for greater involvement on non-members of the Council in its work and creating greater transparency.
From its inception, the structure of this Council has been contested particularly because it charges 15 of the United Nations Member States with the responsibility to pursue and maintain peace and security on behalf of 193. Furthermore, it allows for only five to prevent progress on any matter, thus securing the interest of one at the expense of all. Each Member State of the UN has very specific contextual circumstance, and restoring or maintaining peace in each of our states and/or regions requires as awareness and account of the particular complexity entailed. Therefore, transparency and inclusiveness does not come as a matter of courtesy but of necessity if the Council is to be effective.
The newest iteration of the Note 507 issued in 2017 further improves the work of the Council. However, the test is not what is in the Note itself, but rather the test is whether the Council is willing to implement what is contained therein. South Africa stresses that Note 507, as well as the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, should become permanent so that the body can be more effective, accountable and predictable, with well understood rules. It is our strong belief that the more the Council shares information, consults and accepts the views from those relevant to a particular conflict, the more operative, accountable and transparent it will be. Further to this, the more responsive the Council becomes, the better placed it will be to meet the challenges presented by a continuously more complex world.
In this regard, my delegation would like to thank Portugal, Argentina, Angola, and Japan for their sterling work in moving this matter forward as respective chairs of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions. We welcome Kuwait assuming this role, and we pledge our full support to Kuwait’s Chairpersonship of the Informal Working Group.
Mr President,
I would like to highlight four practical suggestions, which South Africa believes can help in developing a more effective Security Council”
Firstly, South Africa would like to see implementation of the commitment in Note 507 for more regular consultation and coordination between the Council and Troop and Police Contributing Countries. This is specifically necessary when considering the renewal of mandates. Such consultations are a vital mechanism to ensure peacekeeping mandates are informed by troop and police contributing countries, knowledge of realities on the ground and that their expectations are realistic and well understood. Such consultation is also important throughout the life-cycle of the mission and in the planning of transitions.
Secondly, the importance of annual joint consultative meetings and informal dialogues with the Peace and Security Council of the African Union is essential. The Council has consistently agreed to continue to expand consultation and cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations, including in Note 507, undertaking to invite relevant organizations to participate in the Council’s public and private meetings, when appropriate. Additionally in Note 507 the Council commits itself to continue to informally consult with regional organizations when drafting, inter alia, resolutions, presidential statements and press statements, as appropriate. The African Union and other regional bodies have the comparative advantage of having a nuanced understanding of their own region, and being able to respond quickly to crises as they occur. We should avoid a practice where the Council is selective in its approach and where the relationships with regional bodies are merely utilized in times of political convenience. The language in Note 507 can thus be strengthened to emphasize the necessity of this cooperation, in lights Council resolutions such as Resolution 2033, adopted subsequent to the issuance of Note 507, and which provides an array of strategies that could ensure greater strategic coherence.
Thirdly, South Africa stresses the need to continue to enhance the relationship between the Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. In its advisory capacity the PBC serves as a platform contributing to improving coordination and enhancing coherence among the UN, AU and other international actors in sustaining peace in Africa and preventing relapse into conflict. We also believe that the Council could do more to draw on the expertise of the PBC, particularly during the renewal of mission mandates.
Fourthly, in Note 507 the Security Council has committed itself to seeking the views of Member States that are parties to a conflict, and/or other interest and affected parties. This commitment should be applied uniformly. Therefore, it would be necessary for the Council, as a matter of principle, to always consult with all relevant parties to the conflict to ensure the Council has at its disposal all relevant facts, before deliberating on a matter.
In conclusion Mr President,
While we fully support the implementation of working methods that improve the inclusivity and transparency of the work of the Council, these incremental changes do nothing to address the problem of the structure of the Council. While it still remains that the membership of the Council and right to veto is determined by long past historical circumstances, no amount of changes to its methods will prevent the interests of a few hindering the maintenance and pursuit of peace and prosperity for all. There needs to be a comprehensive reform of the Security Council. The goal of African countries is: “to be fully represented in all the decision-making organs of the UN, particularly in the Security Council.” We must therefore stress the fundamental need to urgently reform the Council if we are to avoid further erosion of not only the legitimacy and credibility of this organ, but its ultimate effectiveness in a world very different from when the UN was founded over 70 years ago.
I thank you.
Rev. Thursday, 26-Jul-2018 11:31 AM