Statement at the Follow-up meeting to the outcome of the Millennium Summit by
H.E. Mr. Ahmed Khaleel, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations
Friday, 21 July 2006
The resolve of the international community to reform and revitalize the United Nations has never been stronger. The momentum generated by the reforms process over the past year has been remarkable, and we should not let the goodwill and understanding that we have witnessed
recently diminish before real and meaningful reforms can be implemented.
Since the world summit last September, much indeed has been achieved. The establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission, the creation of the Human Rights Council and the various reforms that have already been agreed, on the administration and management of the Organization, are major achievements that we all can be proud of in that regard. However, it is equally important that we make advances in our deliberations to reform the Security Council.
For more than a decade, we have discussed the need to reform the Security Council to enable it to better reflect present-day realities, without much success. The Maldives believes that the time has come to break the impasse and take bold and concrete decisions. The Maldives has always supported the enlargement of the Security Council. We believe that reform of the Council should include the enlargement of its membership — both in the permanent and the non-permanent member categories — as well as a thorough examination of its working methods and decision-making process.
At this juncture allow me to acknowledge with appreciation the work being done by the Security Council’s Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, aimed at enhancing the transparency and efficiency of the Council. We are fully convinced that a more transparent and more representative Council would enjoy increased and strengthened authority and effectiveness.
While we welcome and remain open to the various proposals that are before the Assembly, in our view, the proposals of the group of four nations on the reform of the Council would form a good basis for a resolution on that important issue.
Sound multilateralism is crucial to our quest for a better world in an age of globalization. Strengthening the role of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security, fostering economic cooperation and harmonizing international reforms towards a better future are not impossible tasks.
