Intervention of the Charge d’Affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative, Minister Mateo Estrémé

February 3

Madam Chair,

Given that this is the first meeting of Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Reform of the Security Council, allow me first to congratulate you for your designation to facilitate our work and to offer you the full cooperation of my Delegation.

I would also like to thank you for convening this meeting to exchange points of view on the issue of “Relationship between the Council and the General Assembly”, an issue in which over the years we have realized that it exists a principle of convergence and in which we hope to make substantive progress.

Although my Delegation associates itself with the intervention made by Italy on behalf of “Uniting for Consensus”, we would like to highlight some aspects.

Firstly, Argentina supports a more effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the UN Charter regarding the relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council.

The role and authority of the General Assembly, even regarding issues related to international peace and security, emanate from articles 10 to 14, and 35 of the Charter where appropriate, using the procedures enunciated in articles 7 to 10 of its Rules of Procedure, that allow the General Assembly to act quickly and urgently, bearing in mind that the Security Council has the main responsibility of keeping international peace and security, in accordance with article 24 of the Charter.

At the same time, and taking into account that the main organs of this organization complement and reinforce each other, in accordance with their respective roles, authority, faculties and competences enshrined in the Charter and with full respect for them, it is of fundamental importance to ensure that cooperation, coordination and exchange of information between the Presidents of the main organs increased, as well with the Secretariat of the United Nations, in particular with the Secretary General.

In this context, the Security Council should not exercise competencies that have not been assigned in accordance with the Charter, and from its side the General Assembly should exercise its authority when necessary, including in matters related to international peace and security.

It is also important to work in the consistency between the actions that both organs undertake, and to emphasize that the relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council is not and it should not be competitive, but rather complementary in benefit of international peace and security.

A promising example in this sense are the parameters adopted in Resolution 69/321 for the selection and appointment of the next Secretary General, in accordance with the provisions of Article 97 of the Charter, guided by the principles of transparency and inclusiveness.

There is no doubt that the position of the Secretary General is of big importance and requires the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, as well as a strong compromise with the purposes and principles of the Charter and from there, the unavoidable need that the General Assembly and the Security Council fully complement each other in this process.
In conclusion, it is important to continue strengthening the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly, through regular institutionalized consultations, timely exchange and flow of information. The Council’s methods should continue to be improved and not just the reports to the Assembly, but also to find a way in which the Security Council is accountable before the entire UN Membership. 

Thank you.