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UN Security Council Reform-2005 Is Decision Year
A modern, representative, and efficient United Nations Security Council is needed to meet the global challenges and threats. That is why German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and French President Jacques Chirac welcome the reform proposals of the high-level panel appointed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. UN Secretary General Annan received the report from the six-member panel on December 2. The working group was set up by Annan in November 2003 to work out proposals for UN Security Council reform. On the basis of this report, Annan plans to present his own recommendations to the 59th General Assembly — tentatively in early 2005. UN Security Council reform requires a Charter amendment, which can be adopted only by a two-thirds majority of the 191 UN member states. To enter into force, the resolution must then be ratified by the responsible constitutional bodies of, likewise, two-thirds of the UN member states — including all the permanent members of the UN Security Council. Germany and France Support UN Secretary General Chancellor Schröder and President Chirac held a conference call with Annan following their meeting in the northern German city of Lübeck on December 2. In the conversation, they expressed their gratitude to the UN secretary general and their support for the work of the panel set up by him. They furthermore emphasized strengthening the mechanisms and institutions of collective security in the face of new threats. The chancellor and president also praised efforts to make the United Nations more effective in dealing with international security threats. Germany and France reaffirmed their full support for the initiative of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Report Almost Entirely Reflects German Concepts for Reform The UN Security Council in its current form reflects the international situation after World War II. The reform aims to achieve a better regional distribution in the UN Security Council and to take better account of the potential of states. This is particularly true for Germany and Japan, but also for countries such as India, which will be one of the major powers in tomorrow’s world. It is not a matter of national ambitions. Rather, the Iraq conflict revealed weaknesses in the world organization. At the same time, it demonstrated the need, now, after 60 years, to create a United Nations which is effective, efficient, and representative of the world of the 21st century.
December 3, 2004 Links
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