STATEMENT BY
H.E. AMBASSADOR HUSSEIN HANIFF
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE OPEN DEBATE OF
THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ON
“WORKING METHODS
OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL”
NEW YORK, 23 OCTOBER 2014
Madam President,
I wish to echo earlier speakers in thanking you for convening today’s Open Debate on the Council’s Working Methods. I wish to also express my delegation’s appreciation to you and your delegation for so ably chairing the Council’s Informal Working Group on Documentation Other Procedural Questions during Argentina’s term on the Council.
2. I further wish to also thank Ms. Kimberly Prost, Ombudsperson of the Council’s 1267 Committee and Ms. Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), for their respective presentations.
3. My delegation associates itself with the statement delivered by the delegation of Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Madam President,
4. As an incoming member of the Council, Malaysia is of the view that today’s Open Debate affords a timely opportunity for the members of the Council and the wider UN Membership to take stock of and further discuss measures aimed at improving the Council’s working methods.
5. We are encouraged to note that under Argentina’s current presidency, the Council will convene 3 Open Debates. We view this practice as commendable as it provides the wider UN membership with more opportunity to participate in the work of the Council.
6. Malaysia is also encouraged to note that the calls for better transparency, coherence and accountability on the part of the Council by the wider membership has - to a certain extent - been implemented or taken on board by the Council.
7. These improvements, have among others, been reflected in the various notes issued by the Council’s Presidency over the course of 2013 – 2014.
8. In addition, Malaysia welcomes the development of possible mechanisms to serve as early warning systems for the Council, including through increased use of Arría-formula meetings as well as more regular briefings by the relevant UN Special Advisers, Rapporteurs and other high officials. That said, there remains room for further improvement in other areas of the Council’s working methods.
Madam President,
9. At this juncture, my delegation wishes to underscore that effecting possible improvements on the Council’s working methods should not take place in a vacuum.
10. In this regard, Malaysia recalls that there are already several initiatives underway or about to commence such as the upcoming review of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), review of UN Peacekeeping Operations as well as review of Special Political Missions.
11. The outcomes of these and other relevant intergovernmental initiatives should be factored in the Council’s deliberations on improving its working methods. In this connection, the ongoing initiative by the Governments of Australia, Finland, Germany, Greece and Sweden on the high-level review of UN sanctions is also worth noting.
12. In addition, there should be more coordination between the Security Council and troop contributing countries (TCCs), towards strengthening the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations. The Council’s meetings with TCCs should be sustained, regular and timely, in particular with regards to resolutions and mandates of the operations. In this context, the Council’s Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations should involve TCC’s more frequently and intensively in its deliberations, especially in the early stages of mission planning.
13. On the Council’s application of sanctions as authorised under the Charter, Malaysia recognises the shift from comprehensive economic sanctions to targeted sanctions.
14. However, despite such shift, there should not be a generalized assumption that targeted sanctions have no effect whatsoever on the broader population of the concerned country, and in certain cases, on neighbouring countries and populations. Council must be open to reviewing the negative or unintended consequences of sanctions and respond as appropriate.
Madam President,
15. With a view to further contribute to today’s debate, Malaysia wishes to make the following brief comments:
15.1. On transparency, Malaysia supports the continuation of existing practice on wrap-up sessions and interactive briefings at the end of Council presidencies;
15.2. Malaysia also supports a fairer and more inclusive allocation of ‘penholderships’ as well as a more transparent process when electing Chairs of the Council’s subsidiary bodies;
15.3. Malaysia welcomes the proposal by the French delegation and in this connection, reaffirms that Permanent Members of the Council should refrain from resorting to the veto in situations involving genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression;
15.4. On a related note, the intersection in terms of the roles of the Security Council and the ICC also raises certain questions on the need to further clarify the relationship between the two bodies, particularly in the context of designation of individuals for sanctions by the Council and/or prosecution by the ICC;
15.5. Malaysia reaffirms its support for the mandate of the Ombudsperson of the Council’s 1267 Committee which was recently renewed. In this regard, Malaysia is of the view that the Council should fully consider the recommendations by the Ombudsperson as contained in her reports to the Council; and
15.6. Furthermore, while giving due consideration to both security and human rights concerns, Malaysia also believes that there is merit in exploring the possibility of extending the Ombudsperson’s role or mandate to include all sanctions Committees of the Council.
I thank you, Madam President.