NEW YORK, 12
DECEMBER 2006
STATEMENT BY
H.E. AMBASSADOR JOÃO SALGUEIRO, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF PORTUGAL AT THE
PLENARY MEETING UNDER AGENDA ITEM 9 “REPORT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL” AND UNDER
AGENDA ITEM 111 “QUESTION OF EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION ON AND INCREASE IN THE
MEMBERSHIP OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND RELATED MATTERS”
]
Madam President,
First and foremost I would like to start by thanking you for convening
this joint debate and for your words of encouragement regarding Security
Council reform expressed at the beginning of our deliberations.
I also wish to thank the Permanent Representative of Qatar and current
President of the Security Council, Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser for his introduction of the report of
the Security Council for the period of 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2006.
Madam President,
I will focus my intervention on the two agenda items we have before us
today.
On the report of the Security Council, I would like to highlight the
issue of Timor-Leste.
During the period covered by the report, Timor-Leste
experienced a serious deterioration of its political and security situation.
The international community reacted promptly acknowledging that its
sustained support was paramount to ensure that Timor-Leste
would continue to progress in the path of consolidation of its sovereign institutions.
Portugal, along with other partners and with the support of the Security
Council, responded to the request for emergency assistance in the security
field formulated by the Timorese authorities.
At the same time, the Secretary-General and the Security Council took into
their hands a comprehensive assessment of the situation on the ground and a much
needed review of the international approach to Timor-Leste.
This process led to a strengthened engagement by the United Nations, through
the adoption of resolution 1704 and the establishment of UNMIT.
Major tasks lay ahead in the fields of national reconciliation and
dialogue, security sector reform, economic recovery and institution building in
key areas such as justice, rule of law and
human rights. Priority attention must also be paid to the preparation of the
forthcoming 2007 elections.
Portugal will continue to give its full support and contribution to UN
efforts. We welcome the recent appointment of Mr. Atulm
Khare as the new Special Representative of the
Secretary-General and we look forward to the full deployment of UNMIT and to a
sustained support from the United Nations to Timor-Leste.
Also, and as the major bilateral donor to Timor-Leste,
Portugal will pursue its cherished partnership with this young but promising
country.
Allow me now, Madam President, to say a few words on Security Council reform and I would
like to begin by commending the work and the efforts by the two vice co-chairs
of the “Open ended working Group on the question of equitable representation on
and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters”,
Ambassador Paulette Bethel of Bahamas and Ambassador Frank Majoor
of the Netherlands.
Madam President,
Since the 2005 World Summit several important measures and decisions
have been adopted in the reform process of our organization. Much has been done
but one major issue remains to be addressed and that is precisely Security
Council reform.
We must not lose sight of the mandate entrusted to us by our leaders in
September 2005 when they agreed to consider “…early reform of the Security
Council as an essential element of our overall effort to reform the United
Nations…”.
Although momentum on this
issue is not at its highest, interventions by delegations yesterday and today
prove that the need for Security Council reform is shared by almost all members
of this Assembly.
And just last week, the Secretary-General urged us, once again, not to
delay action on Security Council reform.
This demonstrates that keeping the current status quo is not an option that would serve this organization and that
the more the reform process advances the more a sense of lack of accomplishment
regarding Security Council reform becomes apparent.
Madam President,
The Portuguese positions on SC reform are on record and have been
reiterated before this Assembly in the debate that took place in July.
At this stage I would just like to recall that according to article 24
of the Charter of the United Nations, the Security Council acts on behalf of all
Member States.
There are a number of consequences that should derive from this
assertion. As for membership, I would stress that the legitimate aspirations
for accession to the Security Council by medium-sized and small countries
–which comprise the vast majority of UN membership - must be taken into
account.
Therefore, we remain wary of proposals that would make it almost
impossible for medium-sized and small countries to serve in the Security
Council.
Madam President,
We believe that, at this stage, we should reflect on how to proceed and
on how to move the issue forward.
We need to engage on a path that would set the conditions for substantial
progress in the current session of the General Assembly.
The task is difficult, as we all know, but difficulty must not be an
excuse to postpone issues that are vital for the credibility and efficiency of
this organization.
Portugal continues to believe that transparent and inclusive negotiations,
based on principles, values and criteria are susceptible of making Security
Council reform a reality.
Strong political input and commitment by our leaders, incentives by you,
Madam President, and support from the Secretary-General would significantly
raise the chances of a successful outcome.
Portugal stands ready to contribute to such a process.
Thank you, Madam President.