GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM
New York, Nov 12 2007 6:00PM
As the General Assembly today embarked on a wide-ranging <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/ga10656.doc.htm">debate on Security Council reform, the 192-member body's president said he looked forward to hearing the proposals of Member States and urged them to adopt a framework that would foster concrete results.

"I wish to assure you of my determination to work with all of you in an open and transparent manner to establish the most appropriate process, based on the views of the entire membership," Srgjan Kerim told the Assembly.

Mr. Kerim, who has been holding informal consultations with all interested parties since the beginning of the current Assembly session, said countries "have articulated their preparedness, taking into account the progress achieved, to use the current momentum to move forward."

He said the process must advance. "Based on these consultations, our objective should be to develop a framework, in order to begin intergovernmental negotiations, by identifying and reaching agreement on the various negotiable elements," he said, urging those present to be guided by the report of a working group dealing with the issue, and the positions and proposals of Member Sates.

The President also said countries "should have primary ownership" of the issue and welcomed their "substantive proposals and views on how to embark on the next stage in this important process so that we can achieve concrete results during the sixty-second session."

Security Council reform is an integral part of strengthening the United Nations, he stressed, encouraging all Member States to "remain actively engaged and committed to addressing this issue."

The current President of the Security Council, Ambassador R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa of Indonesia, presented the 15-member body's annual report to the Assembly, giving an overview of its "ambitious and important agenda."
2007-11-12 00:00:00.000

___________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
To listen to news and in-depth programmes from UN Radio go to: http://radio.un.org/

_______________________________

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/