Global Policy Forum

Day One: GA/10268

Fifty-ninth General Assembly
Plenary
18th & 19th Meetings (AM & PM)

Link to day two of the debate

With an expanding network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) active virtually throughout the global scene –– from village meeting halls to world summits –– Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette today supported the compelling case for the United Nations to try harder to "connect the global with the local", so the people of the world felt that their agenda was the Organization's agenda.

Opening the General Assembly's joint debate on United Nations reform and revitalization of the Assembly's work, Ms. Fréchette said the contribution of civil society to the United Nations had been invaluable, and the time was right to take that partnership a step further -- for the benefit of the Organization and the people it was created to serve.

Introducing the Secretary-General's report in response to the findings of the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations, she said that where once global conferences were largely the realm of governments, today, staging such events would be unthinkable without the unique advocacy and mobilization of civic actors. Indeed, NGOs were now making increasingly important contributions to global policy debates and inter-governmental deliberations in areas ranging from the environment to gender mainstreaming.

In February 2003, the Secretary-General appointed Fernando Henrique Cardoso, former President of Brazil, to chair the panel, which aimed to assess and draw lessons from United Nations interaction with civil society and recommend ways to improve it. In his response to the report of the "Cardoso Panel", he stressed that NGO action should not supplant the role of governments. He also made a number of concrete suggestions on, among other things, establishing a single accreditation process, and establishing a single trust fund to facilitate the participation of NGO representatives from developing countries.

There was general agreement among the nearly 40 speakers today that enhancing participation with NGOs would ensure better outreach and better implementation of the Organization's initiatives on the ground. It would also help with development efforts, humanitarian assistance and peace and security. The representative of Kazakhstan said the panel had also made a compelling case for the United Nations to become a more outward-looking organization. Also, expanding and deepening the relationship with NGOs would further strengthen the intergovernmental debates on global issues.

But India's representative believed that a convincing case had not been made for opening the regular work of the Assembly to increased participation by accredited NGOs, and the nature of the participation and the benefits to be derived from that were not apparent. He would also militate against both the intergovernmental principle and the principle of democratic representation, he said, because civil society NGOs, in the strict meaning of the term, were not elected. The Charter had determined that the principal relationship between the United Nations and civil society would be through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and India would be hesitant to tamper with the Charter.

Taking another direction, the representative of Namibia said that while NGO contribution to the Organization's work was unquestioned, their participation had been unbalanced, both in terms of geographical representation and in accessibility to the United Nations system. Accreditation and participation were two different issues, she said, concurring with the panel on the demerits of a single accreditation system. So while it was necessary to seek more effective ways of carrying out activities with the inclusion of all relevant partners, it must be examined whether the problem rested with the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations or the seeming erosion of the intergovernmental character of the wider United Nations.

The representative of the Netherlands, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, was among the many speakers who underlined the need to address both the strengthening of the United Nations itself and its intergovernmental structure. The United Nations was uniquely placed to provide the framework for international cooperation and had no substitute in the international community, he noted.

However, it had to adapt to changing conditions, and that did not require reform for reform's sake, but in order to make the Organization stronger, he added. Key tasks before the Assembly included the further rationalization of the agendas of the Main Committees; further improvement of the General Committee's working methods; reducing the burden of documentation; and streamlining the agenda of the plenary, as well as the number and length of the approximately 300 annual resolutions in the Assembly.

Speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, Algeria's representative stressed that the revitalization of the Assembly's work was a Member States-driven process, which entailed transparency and a clear distinction between the role of the Member States and that of the Secretariat. The consultations on the revitalization should be conducted in an inclusive manner, taking into account the views of the full membership, including those of the regional and negotiating groups. The focus of the work during the current session should be on the continuation of the reform process, within the framework of resolution 58/316.

At the top of the meeting, the Assembly, acting on the recommendations of its General Committee, decided to include two additional items in its agenda, in an effort to boost cooperation between the United Nations and two regional bodies.

It decided to include an item on Observer Status for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on its current agenda, and to allocate it to the Sixth Committee (Legal). It also decided to include on its agenda an item on cooperation between the United Nations and the community of Portuguese-speaking countries, which would be considered directly in plenary.

Also acting on the General Committee's recommendation, the Assembly decided that item 109 (Programme Planning) would be allocated to the Third Committee (Social, Cultural and Humanitarian) with respect to programme 19 (Human Rights) of the proposed strategic framework for the period 2006-2007.

In other action, the Assembly decided that the relevant parts of chapter 1 of the report of the Economic and Social Council that are under agenda items already allocated to the Main Committees would be considered by the Committee concerned for final action by the Assembly.

The Assembly also decided to explicitly authorize the Administrative Tribunal to meet in New York during the main part of its substantive session.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus also participated in the debate today, as well as the representatives of Australia (speaking on behalf of Canada and New Zealand), Brazil (speaking on behalf of the Rio Group), Bangladesh, South Africa, Egypt, Monaco, Pakistan, China, Japan, United States, Philippines, Viet Nam, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Korea, Kenya, Jamaica, Malaysia, Uganda, Singapore, Cuba, San Marino, Zimbabwe, Ukraine, Ecuador, Cameroon, Colombia, Israel, Morocco and Indonesia.

The Assembly will meet again tomorrow, 5 October, at 10 a.m. to continue its joint debate.

Background

When the General Assembly met today to discuss its revitalization, it had before it the Report of the Secretary-General in Response to the report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations (document A/59/354). The Panel's key observation is that although the relationship between the United Nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is as old as the Charter itself, the system for facilitating interaction between the Organization and civil society needs to be strengthened.

The Secretary-General recommends the Panel's report for the attention of the Assembly and hopes that the recommendations within will receive careful consideration. Among the Panel's recommendations are the following: increasing participation of NGOs in intergovernmental bodies; establishing a trust fund to increase the participation of civil society representatives from developing countries; improving NGO accreditation at the United Nations; improving the Secretariat's dialogue with NGOs; and enhancing country level engagement with civil society.

The Secretary-General recommends that prior to major events, the Assembly could start holding interactive hearings between MemberStates and NGO representatives that have necessary expertise on issues on the Assembly's agenda. In the coming year, for example, such a hearing could be "piloted" before the high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS, scheduled for 2 June 2005.

Noting that the Panel had also encouraged the Security Council to increase contact with NGOs, the Secretary-General further encourages that body to strengthen its relationship with civil society. Regarding a Panel recommendation that independent commissions of inquiry be established after Council-mandated operations, the Secretary-General states that such a formal mechanism could be reserved for special cases. He adds that the Council may, however, wish to adopt the practice of conducting some form of assessment with input from selected NGOs, following the completion of each peace mission.

Noting that there has been intensification of involvement between the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and civil society in recent years, the Secretary-General recommends that such a practice could be emulated in the Council's other subsidiary bodies. The Panel also highlights that increase in the participation of NGOs in intergovernmental bodies is unbalanced and that civil society groups from underdeveloped countries are underrepresented, partly due to lack of resources for civil society representatives from poorer countries to cover travel and accommodation costs. The Secretary-General states that he will create a trust fund that will provide financial support for representatives of accredited NGOs from developing countries to attend intergovernmental meetings.

Regarding accreditation of NGOs, the Report states that if the Assembly decides in favour of accrediting NGOs to its Main Committees, the rights and responsibilities pertaining to this participation would then need to be defined.

Introduction of Report by Deputy Secretary-General

LOUISE FRECHETTE, Deputy Secretary-General, said that although the relationship between the Organization and civil society was as old as the Charter itself, only in the past decade had an enormous transformation in the nature and importance of the role of civil society on the global scene occurred. Where once global conferences were largely the realm of governments, today, staging such events would be unthinkable without the unique advocacy and mobilization of non-governmental actors.

NGOs, which had always been key partners of the United Nations at the country level in both development work and the delivery of humanitarian assistance, were today making increasingly important contributions to global policy debates and intergovernmental deliberations in areas ranging from the environment to gender mainstreaming, she observed. Such an exponential growth in both numbers and influence had created a range of new challenges for the United Nations. The Cardoso Panel, established by the Secretary-General to assess and draw lessons from United Nations interaction with civil society and recommend ways to improve it, had come up with a report that contained well-considered and innovative recommendations, which offered a solid basis for discussion and debate. The Secretary-General hoped his response to the Panel's report would assist the Assembly in taking those recommendations forward.

The starting point for all those recommendations, she said, was that the United Nations was, and still remained, an intergovernmental organization where decisions were taken by its Member States. However, the Panel made two important appeals. First, the Organization must become even more outward-looking, expanding its global reach and influence. Secondly, the United Nations needed to do more to "connect the global with the local", so that people felt that their agenda was the Organization's agenda.

She stated that both the Panel's report and the Secretary-General's response sought to embed, expand and deepen participation of different constituencies in the work of the intergovernmental bodies. The Secretary-General suggested action in six main areas, outlined in his report, including establishing a single trust fund to facilitate the participation of NGO representatives from developing countries and establishing a single system of accreditation. The Secretary-General hoped the Assembly could reach agreement on the proposals by the end of the fall session. The contribution of civil society groups to the United Nations had been invaluable, she added, noting the time was right to take that partnership a step further for the benefit of the Organization and the people it was created to serve.

Statements

DIRK JAN VAN DEN BERG (Netherlands), speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, underlined the need to address both the strengthening of the United Nations itself and its intergovernmental structure. The United Nations was uniquely placed to provide the framework for international cooperation and had no substitute in the international community. However, it had to adapt to changing conditions, and that did not require reform for reform's sake, but in order to make the Organization stronger. The European Union considered the establishment by the Secretary-General of the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change to be of the highest importance, and the high level event of September 2005 a logical culmination point to agree on change and implementation.

The European Union, he continued, was of the opinion that the Secretary-General, sometimes under opposition from Member States, had managed to introduce "courageous and constructive changes" to the Organization. Still, a lot more needed to be done and Member States needed to fully support the Secretary-General in achieving further necessary reforms. In the area of intergovernmental reforms, for which Member States bore primary responsibility, only limited progress had been achieved, and proposals had often been met with resistance or suspicion. The Secretary-General, he said, had often been reluctant to give his advice on intergovernmental reform, but proposals from his side could possibly help speed up the process.

Regarding the institutional side of United Nations reform, the Secretary-General had undertaken many important initiatives since he took office, including rationalizing the United Nations system; consolidating previously separate activities at the country level; improving deployment of peacekeeping operations; improving internal management and services at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); and achieving better human resources planning and adaptations to the budget process. All of those things, however, were still "work in progress", he said, and much of that could only be attributed to indecisiveness on the part of Member States. Key tasks before the Assembly included the further rationalization of the agendas of the Main Committees; further improvement of the working methods of the General Committee; reducing the burden of documentation; and streamlining the agenda of the plenary, as well as the number and length of the approximately 300 annual resolutions in the Assembly.

Welcoming the report of the Panel of Eminent Persons, he said the Union favoured innovative forms of interaction with civil society, including hearings before major policy-setting events. He suggested looking into the possibility of allowing NGOs to take part in certain Assembly debates. Also, he would welcome a role for the Assembly in streamlining the accreditation process.

JOHN DAUTH (Australia), speaking on behalf of Canada and New Zealand (CANZ), said last year's initiatives aimed at revitalization of the Assembly and wider United Nations reform had been major steps forward, but the process would need to be further advanced during the current session, and beyond, if the body were to be fully reformed. The Assembly, for the most part, was still plagued by the ills many had recognized for years –- it was overloaded, and its agenda was outdated and often irrelevant. Nevertheless, the work underway to reform the agenda was promising. The Main Committees should be vigorous and bold in making recommendations, in that regard, aiming to clear away the detritus of years past to make the wider Organization more relevant. Everyone should also work to curb the vast number of documents the Assembly requested. A similar exercise was needed in the Economic and Social Council and in that body's substantive committees. Further, the General Committee must be put to better use to manage the overall work of the Assembly.

Turning to the importance of civil society actors in the work of the United Nations, he said enhancing participation with NGOs would ensure better outreach and better implementation of the Organization's initiatives on the ground. It would also help with development efforts, humanitarian assistance and peace and security. He agreed that the United Nations and its organs would benefit from more civic interaction and that it was time to see how that could be achieved. His delegation looked forward to a more detailed discussion on the issue.

In the meantime, he stressed that a greater dialogue with NGOs would be helpful, although the parameters of such participation would need to be carefully reviewed. A single accreditation process would also be helpful. The enlargement of the Partnerships Office to expand relationships with civil society groups would also be helpful, and he looked forward to further discussions on that matter during talks for the 2006-2007 biennium. On budget issues, he had been surprised that the Committee on Programme and Coordination had failed to reform itself and remained of "negligible value". He added that continued reform of human resources management, practices and policies was critical to enable the Organization to meet the challenges facing it.

ABDALLAH BAALI (Algeria), speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement Working Group on Reform of the United Nations and Revitalization of the General Assembly, stressed that the revitalization of the Assembly's work was a Member States-driven process, which entailed transparency and a clear distinction between the role of the Member States and that of the Secretariat. The consultations on the revitalization should be conducted in an inclusive manner, taking into account the views of the full membership, including those of the regional and negotiating groups. The Non-Aligned Movement was of the view, he said, that the focus of the work during the current session should be on the continuation of the reform process, within the framework of resolution 58/316.

Bearing in mind that the revitalization of the Assembly's work was an ongoing process, with the main objective of restoring the authority of the Assembly, he stressed the importance of the first paragraph of the annex to resolution 55/285, which stipulated that improvement of the procedures and working methods was only a first step toward more substantive improvements in the revitalization of the Assembly. From a methodological point of view, it would be more appropriate to focus, during the current session, on the implementation of the two resolutions, 58/126 and 58/316, as well as on the outstanding issues outlined in the annex to the resolution 58/316.

RONALDO SARDENBERG (Brazil), speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, regretted that, despite all efforts during the fifty-eighth session, an agreement could not be reached on the possibility of making better use of the time available during the entire General Assembly session in programming the work of the Main Committees. He would join others in searching for results that would allow for a more effective allocation of available time for the holding of Main Committee sessions. Further efforts were needed, he added, to ensure that resolutions approved by the Assembly were more concise, to the point and action-oriented.

He said that the Assembly now had ahead of it the delicate questions over which it was not possible to arrive at agreement during the last session. The results achieved so far indicated that, regardless of the obstacles, it was possible to promote changes with a direct bearing on the Assembly's work. Regarding strengthening the United Nations system, he stated Brazil's readiness to consider the proposals of the Cardoso Report. He was pleased to note the Secretary-General's intention to create a trust fund to help representatives of NGOs from developing countries attend intergovernmental meetings. The Rio Group would participate in discussions on that issue, bearing in mind the goal of promoting integration in a way that strengthened the work of the Organization and other intergovernmental bodies.

REAZ RAHMAN (Bangladesh) said that the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly and the strengthening of the United Nations system could be accomplished through a concerted effort on the part of the Member States, and that agreeing to discuss agenda items 52 and 54 together was already a step in the right direction. Similar opportunities could be explored in the work of the Main Committees through biennialization, triennialization, clustering and elimination of agenda items, as that would allow for more focused and in-depth discussions on issues of relevance, resulting in actionable outcomes. He also believed that the practice of "question time" should be introduced in all Main Committees, to enable a dynamic and candid exchange among the delegates, United Nations staff, representatives of the Secretary-General and special rapporteurs.

In order to strengthen the United Nations system, he continued, the General Assembly should be made the focal point of activities. He also urged the President of the General Assembly to put into practice the recommendations of having the Security Council submit special subject-oriented reports to the Assembly on issues of international concern, as well as being briefed by the President of the Security Council, and meeting periodically with the Presidents of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. Efforts at reforms, particularly expansion of the Security Council, should not be bound by any imposed deadline. Any such expansion should be addressed on the basis of definitive criteria, the topmost of which should be the track record or performance of the aspirant. Certain aspects, including a country's records in democracy and compliance with United Nations resolutions, as well as its avowed commitment to disarmament, should also be taken into consideration. Finally, any reform of the Council should adequately reflect the interests of the smaller developing countries, he said.

SELMA MUSAVYI (Namibia) said that streamlining the agenda of the General Assembly had been an ongoing process and that some of the Main Committees had set the pace on the issue. While a focused discussion among Member States would further enhance work on that score, the provisions of General Assembly resolution 58/316, in the meantime, were very clear and gave room to observe the practicality and suitability of rearranging the agenda.

The contribution of NGOs to the work of the United Nations, she continued, was unquestionable. However, participation of NGOs had been unbalanced, both in terms of geographical representation, as well as accessibility to the United Nations system. Accreditation and participation of NGOs were two different issues, she said, concurring with the Panel on the demerit of the single system of accreditation. While it was necessary to continue to seek more effective ways of carrying out activities with the inclusion of all relevant partners, it must be examined whether the problem rested with the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations or the seeming erosion of the intergovernmental character of the Organization. Furthermore, in considering the accountability of NGOs, the particularities of NGOs from developing countries needed to be taken into account.

DUMISANI S. KUMALO (South Africa) said his country placed a very high premium on the contribution that civil society could and had made to society. NGOs had an important role to play in analysing, evaluating and shaping the world. It was, therefore, important for the United Nations to enhance its cooperation with that crucial sector of society. The Secretary-General's report contained a number of useful and practical suggestions that should be pursued further. The intergovernmental nature of the United Nations, where decisions were taken by Member States, went without saying. But those same Member States should be able to draw on the best and most up-to-date information on which to base their discussions and decisions. In that regard, civil society could contribute and play an important role, as it continued to highlight topics and develop debates around important local, national and global issues.

Speaking as Chairman of the Economic and Social Council Ad Hoc Advisory Groups on Guinea-Bissau and Burundi, he said interaction with civil society in those countries had made a significant contribution to the Council's understanding of the challenges faced by those States and also of the different available approaches to deal with nations emerging from conflict. "I was thus pleased that during the last visit to West Africa, the Security Council mission also made it a particular point to interact with civil society organizations in the countries they visited." He was pleased to hear about the trust fund to be established by the Secretary-General to facilitate the travel and accommodation of accredited NGOs from developing countries who wished to attend United Nations meetings. He hoped donors would contribute generously, as that would be a tangible way to demonstrate the importance attached to the contribution of civil society.

AMR ABOUL ATTA (Egypt), aligning his statement with that made earlier on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), said he was convinced that the major objective of revitalizing the Assembly was essential if it was to assume its role as the wider Organization's chief global deliberating body. The Assembly could not be bypassed, and its importance could not be discounted, he said, adding that last year's efforts to spur reform should be advanced and the relevant resolutions adopted on the matter should be scrupulously followed. All such efforts should consider the Assembly's relationship with the other major United Nations bodies.

On enhancing the Organization's participation with civil society, he said that Egypt had always sought to strengthen dialogue with NGOs and agreed that the work and reach of the United Nations would be greatly enhanced by seeking the expertise of civic actors. While NGOs could be helpful in promoting the ideals of wider civil society, strengthened cooperation and participation must proceed according to the Organization's recognized rules and practices.

GILLE NOGHES (Monaco) said that efforts to rearrange and rationalize the Assembly's agenda would give Member States the opportunity to focus their efforts in areas in which they were most competent. The measures that had been adopted thus far, while promising and tangible, were nonetheless modest. He stressed, among other things, that the General Committee's role should be strengthened. He welcomed the expansion of interactive debates and "question and answer" sessions within the Main Committees as a way to promote transparency and dynamism.

On the upcoming report from the Secretary-General's Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, he said he looked forward to bold proposals that would ensure that the United Nations could better meet the challenges of the new century. He also hoped that such bold proposals were forthcoming on a more rationalized agenda for the Assembly. With that in mind, it was up to Member States to provide valuable input on the matter, and to give the Assembly a forward-looking agenda, which could help it better address the needs of the people of the world. Finally, he added that Monaco shared the belief that NGOs could enhance the Organization's work overall.

AIZAZ AHMAD CHAUDHRY (Pakistan) said he fully supported the reform of the Assembly, in order to strengthen its role as the chief organ of the United Nations. There should be a focus both on enhancing the efficiency of the Assembly, as well as in restoring its rightful authority. He recalled that Pakistan had presented a set of ideas last year, and the idea that the Assembly's role was political, and not procedural, bore repetition. The Assembly should be the primary locus of the discussions of the United Nations, and Member States should preserve and implement the resolutions of the Assembly. Pakistan aligned itself with the Non-Aligned Movement countries on item 52, and believed that consensual decision-making should be the guiding principle on making changes.

Turning to the revitalization of the Assembly's work, he said that a greater interaction among the presidents of the three major organs of the United Nations would bring synergy to the work of the Assembly and also add to the central role of the Assembly, as reflected in the Charter and the Millennium Declaration. He suggested the establishment of ad hoc composite committees with membership from the three organs, and hoped that the proposal would be reflected upon. A strengthening of the United Nations system, he continued, should be based on cooperative multilateralism and on the principles of the United Nations Charter, and should not come at the cost of human principles. He also believed that there was a need to clearly define the rights and responsibilities of NGOs for participation in the Assembly, and that the process of accreditation must continue to be regulated through intergovernmental decisions.

ZHANG YISHAN (China) said revitalization of the Assembly was an important part of overall United Nations reform. While a good framework already existed, it was important to vigorously ensure the implementation of the resolutions that had been adopted on the matter. Efforts should proceed on rationalization of the agendas of the Main Committees before next April, he said, adding that the General Committee should also continue to study ways to improve its methods of work, including ways and means to further rationalize the Assembly's own agenda. The Assembly would also have to return to the issue of Security Council reform.

With the Organization's sixtieth anniversary fast approaching, he said careful preparations before hand would be required, and the current session faced an enormous task in that regard. The Assembly must also not lose sight of further consideration of other important issues. China recognized the importance of comprehensively considering the participation of civil society in the work of the United Nations along with reform issues. Member States should look back at the contributions such groups had made to the United Nations over the past 60 years as a way to map out the way forward.

KOICHI HARAGUCHI (Japan) said the Millennium Declaration laid out various areas in which the Organization needed to be strengthened: reaffirmation of the General Assembly's position; intensification of comprehensive Security Council reform; further strengthening of the Economic and Social Council; and better use by the Secretariat of its resources. Nevertheless, the core of all efforts must be Security Council reform. Rationalization and streamlining of the Assembly's agenda was most urgent, and hopefully the new agenda would contribute to a better work structure and increased productivity. Each Main Committee would work on the rationalization of its agenda during the current session and hopefully come up with bold and substantive results.

Realizing "A New United Nations for a New Era", required resource backing, he noted. Firm commitments were needed by Member States to foot the bill for projects and activities that would enable the Organization to meet new threats and challenges. But it was necessary to recognize the fact that there were limits on the capacity of Member States to pay. "Therefore, we must ensure that the United Nations further rationalizes its budgets through strict prioritisation of its activities", he said. Re-allocating resources from outdated activities to new priorities was crucial. If the United Nations were to remain an effective system of world governance, the obligations and rights of its Members States needed to be balanced. If the Organization were to be perceived as losing legitimacy and fairness, it would become difficult to retain the wholehearted support of its members. In that regard, the current scale of assessments needed to be adjusted to be more balanced, taking into account each country's status and level of responsibility in the United Nations.

SICHAN SIV (United States) said the United States strongly agreed that NGOs provided valuable input to the work of the United Nations. They were advocates and implemented programmes at all levels of society. They also enhanced the work of the United Nations in social and economic spheres. However, a compelling argument had not been made that the relationship must be broadened beyond the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). ECOSOC, he said, continued to be the appropriate venue for meaningful NGO participation, and NGOs had ample opportunities to participate in ECOSOC and United Nations conferences.

The United States, he continued, requested further clarification on the establishment of a single trust fund for NGOs, relating, in particular, to the replacement of established funds. He also welcomed improvements to the NGO accreditation process, and encouraged country-level engagement with NGOs. Finally, he reiterated the support of the United States for civil society participation in the United Nations system through the ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, and acknowledged the innovative work done by the Commission on Sustainable Development.

LESLIE GATAN (Philippines) said that although the Assembly had adopted two major resolutions on revitalizing its working methods, it had been unable to fully implement the tasks it had given itself. That could give critics the opportunity to continue to suggest that the body could not carry out the much-needed reform initiatives. Member States must redouble their efforts and prove the critics wrong. They must work hard to ensure that the Assembly could become a more streamlined and effective body. Every effort should be made to ensure that that task was completed during the current session.

The Assembly had a brilliant record of producing resolutions and decisions, but when it came to implementation, its performance record was not so encouraging, he noted. As efforts to reform the Assembly went forward, he hoped the body could prove to the world that it stood by its actions. Last year's resolutions had also called for more engagement between the Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. And while there had been some compliance, much more was required, particularly in the area of joint consultations. He added that the reports on the results of those consultations could also be issued more quickly and in a more uniform manner.

LE LUONG MINH (Viet Nam) said that, as one of the most essential elements of the reform process, the Assembly should continue to receive priority and efforts should be made to enable it to play its role as the main deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the Organization. The events of the past few years had made it imperative to comprehensively reform the United Nations, as called for by world leaders at the 2000 Millennium Summit. While pressing on with efforts to reform the Security Council, he noted that it was vital that Member States did not lose sight of the fact that strengthening of the United Nations system called for reform and revitalization of the work of all its main bodies.

In that regard, it was necessary to strengthen the Economic and Social Council, whose working methods had revealed serious flaws. He fully supported initiatives to strengthen ECOSOC's role as the mechanism for system-wide coordination in social and economic matters, especially with other entities such as the Breton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Once strengthened, ECOSOC would become more effective in addressing the Organization's agenda for development. The revitalization of the Assembly's work and the strengthening of the United Nations system were all aimed at making the Organization stronger and more effective in facing and responding to traditional, as well as new, global threats and challenges.

PETER MAURER (Switzerland) said he agreed with the Secretary-General's proposal to organize interactive meetings with NGOs and parliamentarians before important sessions, and supported trying out such meetings before the high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS in June 2005. Relations with civil society should not be restricted by bureaucratic and centralising approaches. Room for manoeuvre of specialised organizations, funds and programmes should be preserved, while maintaining positive existing practices. Initiatives, in that regard, had been developed in Geneva for some time now and his country was willing to study formal and informal modes of interaction that had taken place in Geneva between civil society, NGOs and the United Nations, and to select good practices and lessons learnt to share with interested parties. He went on to say that the Global Compact must remain completely autonomous.

The specific nature of its activities with companies required that it retain the maximum independence, he said. In contrast to traditional partnership approaches, the Global Compact did not seek to mobilize additional resources for development activities supported by the Organization. In addition, revitalization of the work of the Assembly was a cornerstone of United Nations reform. The Assembly needed to recover its central role and operate more effectively and efficiently. He was not convinced of the added value of distributing the work of the Main Committees throughout the current session. Such dispersal could encourage postponement of decisions and lead to prolongation of sessions or even to a need for more plenary meetings, that would involve additional cost.

Moreover, he added, the question of synchronisation with the budgetary cycle had not yet been resolved. He stressed the need to hold the sessions of the Committees until the end of December by reducing, if necessary, the number of meeting days and by imposing strict deadlines on the completion of their work.

CHRISTIAN WENAWESER (Liechtenstein) said revitalization of the General Assembly had received a jump start that must be translated into action. Some areas of particular importance were better cooperation with the Security Council; increased interactive debates; better monitoring of follow-up of resolutions; and reduction of documentation and the number of resolutions. Conceived as the most important part of a system of checks and balances, the Assembly no longer fulfilled that function effectively, and that was lamentable at a time when the Security Council was more active than ever. The Assembly should provide a certain counterbalance to the Council, and was far from using its powers effectively and efficiently.

The Assembly must once again find its role as the prime representative of the Organization's membership, he stated. In terms of reform, momentum must not only be directed at the reform of the Security Council. Enlargement of the Council was "the talk of the day", however, its enlargement alone would not make the Organization stronger and more effective. It was important to look at the overall picture in which the interplay of the main organs, and thus the role of the Assembly, would play a decisive role. He hoped the report of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change would be a source of inspiration to streamline the reform process. In conclusion, he appreciated the work done by the Secretary-General on a number of issues, in particular the implementation of his 2002 report on the "Strengthening of the United Nations".

YERZHAN KAZYKHANOV (Kazakhstan) said Member States should provide the United Nations with all the necessary resources to enable it to perform its multiple tasks in an effective way. It was important to ensure a balance in the functioning of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. He insisted on the need to strengthen the role of the Assembly in the settlement of the most important issues facing humanity today. The efforts of the international community to combat terrorism and to settle armed conflicts could only be more effective on the basis of such an approach. Regional arrangements also played an increasingly important role in the collective security system. Better coordination between them and the United Nations would go a long way to building up a capacity for effective response in the field.

The Secretary-General had made it quite clear that improved relations between the United Nations and civil society were an important element of the programme for reforming the Organization. The report prepared by the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations had made a valuable contribution to that reform process. It offered innovative ideas to strengthen the partnership with civil society in humanitarian and development activities and contained concrete measures to increase the participation of civil society in the work of the Organization. The panel had also made a compelling case for the United Nations to become a more outward-looking organization and to "connect the global with the local". Expanding and deepening the relationship with NGOs would further strengthen the intergovernmental debates on global issues, he added.

KIM SAM-HOON (Republic of Korea) said that although the resolutions that were deliberated at length in the fifty-eighth General Assembly, namely 58/316 and 58/126, were not as comprehensive as initially hoped for, he was nonetheless pleased with the progress that had been made as a result. The Office of the President of the General Assembly had been considerably strengthened, and, beginning this year, the Assembly's agenda was more accessible. Nevertheless, there was more work to be done, and it was vital that the momentum for change be maintained. Highlighting specific areas of reform, he stressed the importance of allowing the General Committee to play a leading role in advising the Assembly in the coordination and management of its work. Also, the General Committee must meet regularly and the Assembly President must be actively involved in its work.

The sheer amount of documents from the Secretariat, he continued, was inhibiting the analysis of issues, and it was almost impossible for Member States to effectively absorb what was being provided. He hoped that concrete measures would be taken during the current session to curtail the length and frequency of documents. He also urged the Assembly President to meet regularly -- perhaps once every month -- with the Presidents of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as that would allow for better coordination among the major organs of the United Nations, as well as lead to more interactive debates. On the issue of strengthening the United Nations system, he concurred with the Secretary-General that expanding and deepening relationships with NGOs would further strengthen the United Nations and the intergovernmental debates on issues of global importance. The revitalization of the Assembly and the strengthening of the United Nations system must be an ongoing and dynamic process, and Member States must look beyond their own individual priorities to the greater collective good if they were to truly strengthen the global body.

THUITA MWANGI (Kenya), decried what he termed the emasculation of the General Assembly by other organs of the United Nations, saying that to reinvent the Organization, the starting point had to be the General Assembly, which should regain its role as the chief policy-making body. Far-reaching decisions that greatly impacted on global affairs had to be made by the voice of the majority, which could only be found in the General Assembly.

With regard to the Security Council, he believed that body had to be transparent, responsive and democratised, so as to meet the security threats of the twenty-first century. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) had to undergo "drastic surgery" for it to meet economic and social challenges, particularly in developing countries. He urged the ECOSOC to meet more frequently and establish closer working and coordinated relations with international financial institutions and the United Nations specialized agencies and programmes. He welcomed the Secretary-General's efforts to strengthen the Organization and urged him to explore and establish relations with non-traditional groups and bodies for the mutual benefit of the Organization.

ALYAKSANDR SYCHOV, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, said the reform of the United Nations must not be linked to either the belittling of the significance or the revision of the Charter. That position was not based on conservatism, but rather the aspiration of his country to enhance the integrity of the fundamental foundations of the Organization, an important prerequisite for peaceful coexistence of States and a fair international order. Also, broadening the interaction of the United Nations with NGOs should be organized in such manner that the role of the Organization as an effective forum for intergovernmental communication was not put into any doubt. At present, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) positively contributed to developing the contacts between parliamentarians and the United Nations through annual hearings during the substantive session of the General Assembly. Other means of enhancing that cooperation could also be developed.

Addressing revitalization of the Assembly, he warned against bureaucratization and unjustified burdens on the United Nations budget as a consequence of reform measures. Any reordering of the programmes of work of the six Main Committees was advisable within the traditional period –- September to December. The priority was to further improve the working methods of the Assembly to optimise its agenda, and refrain from the practice of adopting overlapping and repetitive resolutions. He also suggested cutting down the length of debates and focusing on quality texts. Belarus further proposed establishing a coordination mechanism between the Presidents of the Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as the first practical step towards enhancing the Assembly's authority in the United Nations.

STAFFORD O. NEIL (Jamaica) said his country supported the position of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) that was articulated by Algeria this morning in its position as coordinator of that body. He wished to stress the primacy of the General Assembly as the central and chief deliberative organ of the United Nations, as stipulated in the Charter. Its revitalization was, therefore, a major priority. He supported the premise that there was a need to reorder the work of the Assembly, to spread it over one year and dilute the current concentration over three months. That spread over one year would enable more participation, possibly through two main sessions rather than one. There was need for further work on rationalizing the Assembly's agenda and improving its methods of work. The Assembly should debate topical issues that affected the international community and it should be convened more frequently to provide expressions of world opinion on the issues of the day. He also underscored that resolutions should be more qualitative.

Referring to the report of the Secretary-General that was currently before the Assembly, he said it was important to engage civil society, as NGOs added value to United Nations activities. They had an important role to play and could provide innovative ideas and expertise. However, one had to be careful to avoid compromising the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations. Experience had shown that NGO participation was the greatest in the area of socio-economic development. But in some committees there had been politicisation of some activities and that had given rise to concern. Sensitive issues would require proceeding with caution, particularly if they related to the internal affairs of States. The second issue he highlighted was enforcing the rules of engagement, especially when there was agitation by NGOs against certain Members States. Efforts should, therefore, continue to develop a programme for civil society participation in the work of the United Nations.

RASTAM MOHD ISA (Malaysia) said that, as reaffirmed in the Millennium Declaration, the General Assembly was the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative body of the United Nations. It should be the true symbol of multilateralism, that embodied the set of ideals and principles which Member States depend upon. While some improvements to the workings of the Assembly had been achieved, there were still many other areas that had yet to be addressed, and the key to success was the implementation of resolutions 58/126 and 58/316. A proper monitoring mechanism must be put in place, he said, to ensure that Assembly resolutions were implemented. The revitalization of the Assembly should focus on the strengthening of the Office of the President of the General Assembly; improvement in the methods of work; further rationalization of the agenda, resolutions and reports; and streamlining of the work of the Main Committees.

He believed that all Member States should continue to seriously look into the urgent implementation of the recommendations made under resolution 58/269, regarding the issue of strengthening the United Nations, especially in the full participation of the Member States for the planning, programming and budgetary process of the United Nations. He would also be willing to further examine, with other delegations and the Secretariat, the recommendations of the Secretary-General regarding the involvement of NGOs on issues of mutual dialogue. Furthermore, he said Malaysia continued to fully subscribe to the position of the Non-Aligned Movement on the strengthening of the United Nations.

FRANCIS K. BUTAGIRA (Uganda) said NGOs and civil society groups generally played a vital role in forging useful partnerships with governments towards realizing development goals and other important United Nations objectives, particularly at the grass-roots level. However, as important as that role was, NGOs should not be elevated to the level of governments. And with limited mandates, NGOs were not accountable to the people in the same ways and to the same degrees that governments were.

Therefore, their role should be of a consultative nature, he said, rejecting the recommendation that NGOs be given accreditation to participate in the Assembly's sessions. While he supported the expansive role NGOs were playing at the country level, particularly towards realizing the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, he proposed that, at the international level, a consultative forum be created where Member States could interact with civil society and discuss items on the Assembly's agenda in the margins of Assembly meetings, rather than before the plenary itself. He applauded the Security Council's expanding relationship with NGOs, but stressed the need for clear guidelines pertaining to participation. He added that the reports of NGOs participating in the Council's work should be made available to the wider United Nations membership.

VANU GOPALA MENON (Singapore) said that despite the inefficient way the United Nations did business, it could not simply jettison the way it operated overnight. While a physical building could be refurbished, "unfortunately, in the work of our Organization, we cannot call for timeout to overhaul our working methods and then start anew on an entirely revamped way of work", he said. Since the Assembly could not be torn down and rebuilt from scratch, it could only be renovated room-by-room, through consultation and the agreements among its 191 co-owners. It was also important for the Assembly and the Security Council to work in tandem and not at cross purposes. There could not be two co-pilots of an aeroplane trying to take the aircraft in different directions. Where decisions were taken by either body, especially by consensus, ways should be looked at so that their positions could be reaffirmed in other organs of the United Nations. He said that for the flag of the Assembly to fly high, it should identify niche areas or issues to which it could make a significant contribution.

One impediment, however, to the Assembly moving towards dealing with niches of common concern, he continued, was its bloated agenda and the culture of rituals that placed heavy demands on time and resources without significant results. He was not sure how many inches could be trimmed from the Assembly waistline since every agenda item represented a vested interest of either a State or group of States, which included both developed and developing countries. How much longer those items remained on the agenda would depend on whether there could be a satisfactory resolution of issues and conflicts, some of which were as old as the United Nations itself. He hoped that through a spirit of compromise, the workloads could be lightened. He agreed that the United Nations should be a forward-looking organization and that there was merit in expanding consultations to different constituencies, including NGOs. The question to be asked, however, was how best to include civil society in deliberations.

ORLANDO REQUEIJO GUAL (Cuba) said that reform of the United Nations should focus on re-establishing the Organization's central role within the system of international relations, ensuring the rule of law and reconstructing the system of collective security. Multilateralism should not be reinterpreted in a capricious way by some, he added. It should be defended by Member States. "If we wish to restore the international community's confidence in the United Nations and its overall credibility before international public opinion, we should make sure the Organization meets the collective needs of its Member States", he said.

Revitalization of the Assembly should ensure that the body remained independent and that Member States were not restricted or limited when referring to issues that were of their interest. The current session should focus on consolidating the Assembly's authority. And actions aimed at revitalizing the work of the Main Committees should comply with the general guidelines established at the plenary level, after a comprehensive consultation process with Member States. On civil society participation in the work of the Organization, he said that while some of the panel's recommendations were helpful, others, such as those which had budgetary implications and methodologies that had not been agreed upon, were far from having intergovernmental consensus. Therefore, implementation of any of the initiatives outlined in the report would require a clear legislative mandate from Member States.

GIAN NICOLA FILIPPI BALESTRA (San Marino) called on Member States to retain the General Assembly as the main forum for the discussion of relevant political issues by the international community, saying the international system had already established a wide range of technical and political organs to discuss matters that needed expert attention. The composition of and the role played by the General Assembly were two aspects that made it a unique organ inside the United Nations. Those characteristics were the basis of its legitimacy, allowing it to obtain a global consensus on many issues of international politics.

He believed that the Assembly had to develop its mandate effectively through the reduction of the agenda and the limitations of the number of issues dealt with in order to consider them in a deeper and more reflective manner. Limiting the number of issues did not mean depriving the Assembly of its power. On the contrary, it allowed that body to deepen its priorities, as laid down in the Millennium Declaration. Also, the Main Committees themselves could take advantage of such a reduction and of the possibility to concentrate on specific issues, and adopt more incisive resolutions.

ANAND SHARMA (India) said the process of reform and revitalization was necessarily slow and measured, and results could not be expected overnight. The reform process must eventually enhance the prestige, authority and effectiveness of the Assembly and its ability to deliberate and review policy. That could be brought about by, as an important first step, returning the thematic debates currently being held in the Security Council to the General Assembly, "where they rightly belong", he said. He recommended reviewing the contribution made by the addition of manpower to the working of the Office of the President of the General Assembly, as well as evaluating the functioning of the Assembly following the many changes brought about from the beginning of the session, which he said would help States choose the direction for the future.

India's consideration of the Secretary-General's report of the work of the Cardoso panel, he continued, was complicated by the ambiguity of the definition of civil society in the report. The definition used in the panel was at some variance with the elements of "civil society" identified by the Secretary-General himself and with what had come to be commonly understood by the term. Regarding the participation of NGOs in the work of the Assembly, he believed that a convincing case had not been made for opening the regular work of the Assembly to increased participation by accredited NGOs, and the nature of the participation and the benefits to be derived from that were not apparent. He would also militate against both the intergovernmental principle and the principle of democratic representation, he said, because civil society NGOs, in the strict meaning of the term, were not elected. The Charter, through Article 71, determined that the principal relationship between the United Nations and civil society would be through the Economic and Social Council, and India would be hesitant to tamper with the Charter.

BONIFACE G. CHIDYAUSIKU (Zimbabwe) said the debate about enhancing the role of civil society in the work of the Organization suggested, unfortunately, that national governments were not representative enough. Assuming gaps in representation existed, strengthening consultation at the national level was necessary. In the past, non-governmental and other civil society organisations had participated in the work of the General Assembly during special sessions, round table meetings and preparatory processes for international conferences. However, they did not participate in plenary meetings of the Assembly and no compelling reasons existed for that practice to change.

Civil society organisations in different parts of the world were at different levels of development, he said, and something needed to be done to bridge that gap. He welcomed the Secretary-General's intention to create a trust fund to facilitate participation of NGOs from developing countries. Regarding the accreditation question, he said the reasons put forward for disbanding the Committee on NGOs were unconvincing. Apart from granting certain defined rights to approved organisations, the Committee was an indispensable tool that ensured that the same organisations recognized their responsibilities, and were accountable for their actions. He added that enhanced country-level engagement with NGOs had merit, particularly in developing nations.

OLEH HERASYMENKO (Ukraine) said progress to date on reform and revitalization reaffirmed the joint commitment to the central position of the Assembly as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations -- and the desire that it play that role effectively. While many would like to see bolder steps to give new breath to the Assembly, it was appropriate to focus efforts on those proposals, which would gain wide support. He welcomed the adoption of resolutions 58/126 and 58/316 as important steps forward, and said the establishment of defined timeframes would contribute to the implementation of provisions and lay down the framework for further consideration of others.

He supported strengthening the Office of the Assembly President, and called for regular consultations of the President with the Presidents of the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and with representatives of regional groups to better plan and organize the work of the Assembly. He also stressed close and regular contact between the Assembly President and the Council of the Presidents of the General Assembly to make full use of their experience and advice. Welcoming the submission of the report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations, he said the Organization's effectiveness and relevance would only increase with the strengthened involvement and participation of civil society.

LUIS GALLEGOS CHIRIBOGA (Ecuador) said it was imperative that the General Assembly, as the most important democratic and deliberative body on the planet where each Member States had a voice and a vote, be given the capabilities necessary to lead the international community. There had clearly been historic changes since its creation more than a half a century ago, which made it necessary, and even vital, that the Assembly reform its procedures in order to confront the changing international scene. The absence of political decisions, combined with a loaded agenda and repetitive subjects, meant that the Assembly did not take up the challenge of dealing with current politics, and very often that incapacity had meant that subjects that could have been dealt with were not.

The Assembly, he continued, was a debate and reconciliation mechanism in favour of the people. Resolution 58/316, he said, only removed two subjects from the workload, which represented less than one per cent of the total, and that was worrisome. The work programme of the Assembly should be a true reflection of the state of relations between States at the moment. The Assembly, he said, should face up to the challenges, since the relevance of the United Nations, which had been questioned so much in recent times, was in the hands of the representatives of the General Assembly. The international community, furthermore, would be taking a very close look at what was going on in the Hall.

MARTIN BELINGA EBOUTOU (Cameroon) said his country associated itself with the statement made this morning by Algeria, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The debate begun today was important because it dealt with the functioning of the Organization. For some, the General Assembly harmonized the principles and purposes of the United Nations. For others, it reflected consciences, while some saw it as a moral body that manifested diversified views. Thankfully, there was now some progress as the resolutions adopted last year were landmarks in the quest for a revitalized Assembly.

The current debate was more than just a review of general statements, he said. Rather, it provided recommendations that were food for thought for the Economic and Social Council. There should also be a continuation of the consultations for proposals to lay down a new schedule for the Assembly. Commenting on the relationship between the United Nations and civil society, he said it was time to rationalize synergies between the Organization and NGOs based on socio economic realities. The report of the Panel of Eminent Persons could only serve to improve the quality of the relationship. Partnerships with NGOs would also contribute to helping fulfil basic humanitarian goals.

MARlA ANGELA HOLGUlN (Colombia) said the dialogue between the United Nations and civil society had to be transparent and actively involve MemberStates and intergovernmental bodies. It was important to point out that the sovereignty of States, as laid down in the Charter of the United Nations, was "alive and well" and that was largely due to the healthy relationship of dialogue presently existing between the United Nations and civil society.

She said she did not agree with the proposed elimination of the intergovernmental organ responsible for accreditation of NGOs. Just as the United Nations belonged to Member States, its work agenda had to be the product of its own deliberations. She urged States and civil society to continue to be fully involved with the each other. To that end, she saw no need to extend the bureaucratic structures of the Secretariat as was being proposed.

MARCO SERMONETA (Israel) said that in realizing goals in such important areas as technology-based development solutions, water issues, the promotion of good governance as the foundation for peace, and the strengthening of the United Nations' capacity to fight terrorism, Member States must first streamline their energies and avoid the process of harping on the "skewed obsessions" of a repetitive agenda. There had been some signs of improvement in that regard in recent years, he said, in line with the Secretary-General's reports and the visions often enunciated by the Assembly. The number of joint debates was expanding, which in itself was a very important trend, but that still needed to continue further. There was no reason for the same parties to endlessly discuss the same substantive material in the same forums.

Israel was still disappointed, he continued, by the automatic yearly repetition of resolutions, without any regard to their usefulness or relevance. He would like to see a reduction in the overall number of resolutions, as well as a consolidation of resolutions into omnibus resolutions, as was the practice in the past. He would also welcome an increase in the number of resolutions that would be considered on a biannual rather than annual basis, as that would save time, money and paperwork. Any future attempts to add additional repetition to an already redundant agenda should be abandoned, because not only were those wastes of resources harmful to the proceedings and credibility of the United Nations, they were often harmful to the underlying issues as well. He also called on the United Nations to review and improve the terms and conditions governing the accreditation and participation of NGOs in United Nations conferences. Just as inefficiencies in the agenda could subvert the work of the United Nations, so could the hidden agendas of politicized outside bodies.

ABDESSALAN ARIFI (Morocco) said at the end of the general debate, some 120 Member States had addressed the issue of United Nations reform and emphasized both progress made to date and the road ahead. While there had been specific proposals, all speakers had urged efforts vis-í -vis reform to continue. Those proposals should be heeded and used to continue to further fuel whatever progress had been made so far. He recommended that the various positions expressed about reform during the general debate be compiled and used as a guide, rather than going through yet another repetitious debate. The ineffectiveness of multilateralism to deal with global problems could only exacerbate the quest for peace. Also, the lack of democracy in the Security Council was still the key obstacle to United Nations reform. Hopefully, the international community would find a formula that would not exacerbate existing differences.

He urged the Security Council to fully shoulder its responsibility to maintain international peace and security. Membership of that body must reflect geopolitical realities and would require increasing the numbers of non-permanent seats. Reform of the Council, however, was not just a mathematical process but an ongoing one. The Assembly President with the assistance of a limited working group could play a fundamental role in advancing a framework that could be taken up at the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations. United Nations reform would require coordination and synergies between the Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. Strengthening the participation of NGOs in the work of the Organization, particularly those from developing countries, was also a priority.

IWAN WIRANATAATMADJA (Indonesia) drew attention to the importance of enabling the United Nations to perform at optimum efficiency to deliver the benefits of development and peace. In that regard, any proposal by the Secretary-General had to be considered within the context of the extent to which it supported the Organization's efforts in the development arena. That action required the Secretary-General to allocate more resources to development activities, as well as first-rate staff, so that the Secretariat delivered adequate services to Member States. In that context, he stressed the need to achieve equal geographical distribution and gender balance, particularly at the Secretariat's policy making level, without compromising excellence in the quality of personnel, as that was the Organization's strength.

He supported the need to make the United Nations a more outward looking organization and expand its consultation with different constituencies and facilitate their input into issues of global importance. However, some proposals contained in the report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations, such as the participation of NGOs in intergovernmental bodies, had to be seriously studied. They appeared difficult to operationalize and, in his view, would have to be clearly defined.

Link to day two of the debate