UNITED
NATIONS 
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
ADDRESS BY
THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
H.E.
MR. JULIAN R. HUNTE
TO
THE
COUNCIL
OF PRESIDENTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
VALLETTA, MALTA
4 -5 February 2004
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My
dear colleagues:
It
is my pleasure to join you at this extraordinary meeting
of the Council of Presidents of the General Assembly
here in Valletta, Malta. President De Marco, the arrangements
for this meeting are excellent, and your generous hospitality
and that of the Government and people of Malta is sincerely
appreciated.
When
we met in New York only a few months ago we had the
benefit of the company and counsel of our friend and
colleague, Ambassador Jaime de Piñes, President
of the Fortieth Session of the General Assembly. I was
saddened by his passing, as we all were. Today, I join
in commending him for his contribution to the work of
the United Nations, and particularly the General Assembly,
and to his country, Spain. The work this Council undertook
to carry out at its inaugural meeting in 1997 goes on
inspired, I believe, by the memory of Ambassador de
Piñes.
I
speak in this Council ever conscious that, as the current
President of the General Assembly and ex-officio member,
I am "the new kid on the block" - waiting
in the wings to become a full member while going through
the fiery trial of the Presidency, the initiation for
membership. I know that there will be a place waiting
for me when I become eligible for full membership on
13 September 2004. For the time being, I consider myself
to be an apprentice among seasoned veterans, and thank
you for the privilege of having a seat at the table
and the right to speak.
I regard the establishment of this Council as one of
the positive developments that has occurred in recent
years in our efforts to facilitate the work of the United
Nations and enhance its role and standing in the world.
This Council is a common platform from which those who
have held the Presidency of the General Assembly - the
only universal organ in the world's premier international
organization - can put their combined experience and
expertise at the service of the Assembly and the organization,
nationally, regionally and internationally.
The
multifaceted role we assume when we take up the Presidency
has, I believe, prepared us to be at the forefront of
efforts to support and promote the United Nations General
Assembly and to enhance its capacity to address the
myriad issues on the global agenda.
From the special vantage point of the Presidency, we
have endeavoured to provide effective leadership; consulted
with Heads of State and Government and other high level
officials; provided direction for the work we do with
the Secretary-General and his staff, conducted consultations
and negotiations, spearheaded initiatives on a broad
range of issues, sought to bring long-standing issues
to conclusion, and to enhance recognition of the role
and function of the General Assembly, including by appropriately
representing the membership. Depending on the issues
and the matters at stake, it could be the best of times
or the worse of times for the President.
It always helps, however, when the President, Prime
Minister or Minister with whom the President of the
General Assembly is consulting is a previous office
holder as you are, President de Marco, and others of
my colleagues around the table. The understanding and
pragmatism you bring no doubt stems from your firsthand
knowledge of the rigours of the Presidency, and what
is required to assist the President to advance the work
of the Assembly. This, in my view, is the logic that
underpins the Council of Presidents of the General Assembly
- it is evident from the Articles of Association of
the Council.
Article
I, in particular, speaks to the continuing supportive
involvement of the Council of Presidents in the work
and objectives of the General Assembly and the establishment
of links with the activities of the Assembly. The Article
also commits the Council to promote consultation and
cooperation with the principal organs of the United
Nations system, and to take action that would help promote
the ideals of the United Nations in respect of peace,
security and development - important ideals of the Charter.
My
own interaction with the Council leads me to conclude
that it is taking action in the areas defined in the
Articles of Association. But I ask myself as a soon
to be full member of the Council, "Are there additional
courses of action we might take to facilitate and enhance
the work of the President in Office, to promote international
consciousness of the principles and purposes of the
United Nations and to otherwise achieve our goals?"
I
know you will all agree with me when I say that the
General Assembly, in particular, needs all the support
it can get. In recent years, and particularly in the
last three years, many critical issues are radically
altering the boundaries of international relations.
Technological
advances, particularly in communications and transportation
have introduced new dimensions in global issues and
problems that could not have been contemplated when
the United Nations was established some fifty-nine years
ago. Ensuring that the General Assembly keeps in steps
with global developments requires constant creative
thinking and action and a proactive approach that takes
into account the sensitivities involved in relations
among nations and groups and the need to build partnership
with civil society, outside the customary diplomatic
processes.
I
am sure that my colleague and friend Jan Kavan would
agree that the United Nations was in a troubled mood
in the wake of the military action in Iraq. In respect
of the General Assembly, many voiced serious concern
that the disproportionate attention being given to the
Security Council by the media was sapping the authority
and energy of the General Assembly. I know Mr. Kavan
will also agree that notwithstanding the troubled mood,
there was a distinctly hopeful, if cautious view that
this trend could be reversed and that the General Assembly
could reassert itself as the principal policy making
and coordination body of the United Nations.
There
was somewhat of a sense of urgency to get the General
Assembly back on track to address the myriad complex
and troubling issues on the global agenda. Indeed, critical
global problems - poverty, medical pandemics such as
HIV/AIDS, the international trafficking in drugs and
small arms and light weapons, terrorism, conflict and
war - challenge all member states. More, the need to
urgently address these problems, constituted a persuasive
argument for greater cooperation and collaboration.
There
was an undercurrent permeating most of the consultations
and discussion I undertook as well as those that were
taking place among Member States of the General Assembly.
The message was that the Assembly needed to revitalize
itself, to better carry out its obligations under the
Charter and enhance its role and authority. I made this
matter one of my priorities, in response to what Member
States were saying to me.
True
to their word, Member States endorsed a far-reaching
revitalization package in a President's resolution adopted
on 19 December 2003. Among its various provisions, the
resolution provides for a transitional office for the
President-elect and the strengthening of the Office
of the President in respect of human resources. It addresses
the matter of coordination between the General Assembly,
the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council,
providing scope for closer cooperation on matters of
development and of peace and security.
Some
say the resolution is radical. I say it is rational
and pragmatic, and, an important step on the road of
revitalization, on which the Assembly must remain. Importantly,
this revitalization package represented continuity of
the work of the colleagues around this table, for which
as current President, I thank you.
At
the same time, the General Assembly made good strides
in the area of development. The High-level Dialogue
on Financing for Development provided the context in
which important decisions were taken in respect of the
implementation of the United Nations development agenda
on issues including commodities and tax cooperation,
and for a critical dialogue with civil society. It also
addressed some very thorny problems, from the United
Nations budget to cloning.
I have recounted the developments above to underscore
my viewpoint that this is an important juncture for
the General Assembly and the United Nations, and that
the Council of Presidents can make a particular impact
at this juncture. The members of the Council, when they
speak as former Presidents of the General Assembly,
have independence of position that puts them outside
any national or other grouping. This leaves Council
members free to help build consensus, to take impartial
stances and to garner support for the General Assembly
and the United Nations.
I believe that in the current international environment,
the Council cannot play its role according to a script.
The high-level standing and respect that Council members
can command, however, gives this Council authority to
write its own script, and there is good scope for doing
so.
I
believe that the Council might consider preparing and
submitting to the President elect of the General Assembly
each year its viewpoints on the work of the Assembly
and generally, on global issues likely to come up during
the course of the session, to assist the President in
consultations.
I
believe that members of the Council might consider offering
their assistance and practical suggestions to a sitting
President on matters before the Assembly on which the
Council member took a particular initiative in his/her
capacity as President of the General Assembly. Revitalization
of the General Assembly and Reform of the Security Council,
in particular, are issues that come to mind.
I
believe that members of the Council might consider making
pronouncements in the name of the Council on the occasion
of selected special commemorations and events of the
United Nations. The Assembly is currently negotiating
in respect of a special event to take place in 2005,
for example. The Council might consider issuing a statement
on that occasion.
I
believe that members of the Council might consider preparing
papers setting out their opinion on important issues
on the global agenda that have, or are likely to have
an impact on the work of the General Assembly. These
papers might take the form of press releases or as offers
of advice to a sitting President.
I
believe that Council members might consider strategies
for enhancing the image of the General Assembly by publicizing
this work and their support for the Assembly and the
United Nations in the Media in their countries, regionally
and internationally. Meetings of the Council provide
invaluable opportunities, in that regard.
I
believe that Council members should continue to give
their strong support to United Nations Associations
and other civil society organizations having as their
objective support for the ideals and work of the United
Nations. I believe that members of the Council might
continue to advise the sitting President of their availability
to participate in interactive events under the auspices
of the General Assembly. It should be noted that the
reform exercise addresses the issue of interactive debates
such as Panel and other discussions.
My
own view is that this Council constitutes its own group
of wise men who are familiar with the work of the General
Assembly and committed to it. It is, I believe, a bridge
of continuity between the current President of the General
Assembly and his/her predecessors and a much-needed
source of strength and support for the Assembly and
the United Nations. Count on me to play my part.
4 February 2004
