MEMBER STATES CALL FOR MORE EQUITABLE UN GOVERNANCE SYSTEM

MEMBER STATES CALL FOR MORE EQUITABLE UN GOVERNANCE SYSTEM
New York, Sep 27 2007 9:00PM
As the General Assembly continued its annual high-level debate today, numerous countries called for more fair and equitable governance within the United Nations system.

"This great Organization, dedicated to the well-being of humanity, which emerged after the tragedy of the Second World War, has to reform itself," said the President of the <"http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/62/2007/pdfs/dominicanrepublic-eng.pdf">Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernàndez Reyna.

"The current structure of the United Nations no longer represents the modern day. The structure corresponds to the Cold War era still, although the world has advanced beyond the era that was dictated by the rivalry of the superpowers."

He questioned the representation at senior levels in various parts of the UN system. "We, the Dominican Republic, do not truly comprehend why the President of the World Bank must be an American, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) a European, while all the important global decisions are taken by only five countries," he said, referring to the permanent members of the Security Council.

He said the Dominican Republic would like to serve as a non-permanent member on the Council to "be a voice in favour of the weak, the most vulnerable, the derived and the most condemned on Earth."

The President of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, also called for a reform of UN structures. The world body, he said, had been transformed from an organization with the aim of achieving results through consensus to one that is controlled by blocs of the strong against the weak.

He called for a restructuring of veto power in the Security Council not only to prevent "abuses of power by the few against humanity" but to defend the interests of groups and individuals.

He emphasized that Africa had interests to defend and the continent deserved the veto power. At the same time, he said that the veto does not signify much considering that the Council's resolutions are not very respected.

Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy of the <"http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/62/2007/pdfs/gambia-en.pdf">Gambia called for a re-examination of the framework of key rules that govern international trade and finance, global competition, foreign direct investment and international migration.

"It is important that bodies making rules in these areas accommodate the views of developing countries in general, and the least developed countries in particular," she said.

"For Africa, where we must of necessity move away from aid dependency, the development of the continent must be addressed from the crucial vantage point of trade and market access, so as to enable our economies to be advantageously positioned in order for us to begin enjoying the fruits of globalization."

<"http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/62/2007/pdfs/kuwait-en.pdf">Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister told the Assembly that it was time for an overhaul of international trade relations to assist the world's poorest States.

Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah, who is also Foreign Minister, called for the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank "to alleviate the restrictions imposed on the exports of the developing countries and put forward a more just and equitable trade system."

Sheikh Mohammad added: "It is regrettable to see poverty, hunger and sickness continue in the developing countries. It is even painful to see more than half of the world's population living on less than $2 a day."

Also addressing the Assembly today on the issue of equitable international relations was the Prime Minister of Viet Nam, Tan Dzung Nguyen, who issued a strong call for fairer relations in the commercial and financial domains.

He also called for the lifting of economic embargoes, and urged the UN to put more resources into realizing development objectives.

In addition, he announced Viet Nam's intention to seek a non-permanent seat on the Security Council in the coming year.

<"http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/62/2007/pdfs/andorra-eng.pdf">Andorra's Head of Government said it was time to redouble global efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the set of anti-poverty and other goals which world leaders agreed at a UN summit in 2000 to strive to reach by 2015.

"I call on everyone not to lose speed. Press the foot down a little harder on the accelerator," Albert Pintat said in a speech in which he said it was time that the ideals contained in the UN Charter are "energetically renewed" to help weaker countries.

"We all benefit from the progress that we have made. We know the persistent relationship that there is between poverty and nearly all the challenges which we are facing: mortality, differences in life expectancy, health, injustice, intolerance, marginalization and armed conflicts."

Mr. Pintat said it was important to remember that the illnesses prevalent in poor countries "are perfectly avoidable and can be prevented" and that these nations are also "capable of installing efficient public health programmes when they receive adequate aid."
2007-09-27 00:00:00.000

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