Plenary

STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR VANU GOPALA MENON, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE INFORMAL MEETING OF THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON REVITALIZATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 26 FEBRUARY 2010

Mr/Madame Co-Facilitator,

1 Congratulations on your appointments as Co-Facilitators of this session's work. Please be assured of my delegation's support in order to make meaningful progress in the coming months.

2 Revitalization is a topic of paramount importance, not only to bring our practices into the current century but also to prove that the UN understands and can adapt to the challenges of the day. Revitalization is especially critical in light of the growth of alternative global governance structures like the G-20, which has renewed questions about the role of the UN and the GA. We therefore welcome the efforts of the two Co-Facilitators to bring fresh impetus into our work.

Mr/Madame Co-Facilitator,

3 The task of revitalising the GA and of reforming the UN in general should be done in a pragmatic fashion. Let us be realistic and revamp our house one room at a time. A good starting point would be to fully implement existing provisions on GA revitalization agreed to in previous years. We can start all meetings on time, enforce mandatory time limits on speeches and utilise optical scanners to expedite the counting of votes cast through secret ballots. I am confident that by using optical scanners, we can do so without compromising the confidentiality of ballots cast. These are modest ideas, but their proper implementation would undoubtedly have a positive impact on our work. In the same vein, it might be worthwhile for us to revisit some of the proposals that have been discussed in previous sessions as well as consider new ideas to enhance the role and relevance of the GA. In this connection, my delegation would make the following suggestions.

4 First, the GA should be given a bigger voice in the selection of the UN Secretary-General. Three years ago, the Canadian delegation made a set of proposals to enhance transparency and involvement of Member States in the selection process, including the idea of holding informal sessions for Member States to pose questions to the candidates. This is a sensible suggestion that was taken up by the membership in paragraph 20 of resolution 60/286, where the GA: "...encourages formal presentation of candidatures for the position of Secretary-General in a manner that allows sufficient time for interaction with Member States, and requests candidates to present their views to all States Members of the General Assembly". In our view, this would provide a useful platform for Member States to gauge the quality of the candidates. The modalities for such interaction need not be complicated. For instance, each candidate might be given an opportunity to do a short presentation and then answer a few questions from the floor to share his or her vision for the Organisation.

5 Second, this concerns the role of the UNSG in briefing Member States regularly on his priorities and activities. This is a good practice that the GA can welcome and encourage. We acknowledge that sometimes, it might be more appropriate for the UNSG to brief the Security Council on sensitive issues pertaining to peace and security. However, the UNSG can and should continue to share his perspectives with the GA on other relevant and pressing issues of the day, such as climate change and disaster relief. After all, the UNSG has to be readily accountable to Member States. Furthermore, such briefings would give Member States a better understanding and appreciation of the constraints and challenges faced by the UNSG and the Organization in fulfilling the mandates set out by the GA.

6 Third, this brings me back to the point I made at the beginning about the challenges to the UN and the GA posed by the alternative forums such as the G-20. The GA needs to address the implications of the G-20 process, in light of the grouping's increasingly prominent role in coordinating economic policy and taking decisions on global issues of concern to this Organization's members. We do the GA a disservice by refusing to think about the impact of G-20 upon our work. My delegation believes that it is essential to reflect upon how to build and strengthen a framework for constructive engagement between the UN and G-20 in the context of revitalising the GA. The G-20 should not ignore the multilateral voice of the UN membership. At the same time, we should ensure that the GA is revitalised so that our views are not only heard but also heeded by others, including the G-20.

Mr/Madame Co-Facilitator,

7 In past debates on this item, speakers would affirm the role and relevance of the GA as the "chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations". Indeed, the GA remains a uniquely legitimate forum for the deliberation of multilateral issues, by virtue of our universality. Still, we must exercise caution and avoid becoming relegated to the sidelines by failing to take basic but necessary steps to inject renewed vigour and vision into this august body.

8 I thank you, Co-Facilitators.

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