SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON WORKING METHODS
Statement by Ambassador María Cristina Perceval
Permanent Representative of the Argentine Republic
 

Thank you, Mr. President

I would like to thank the Indian Delegation for convening this important debate. I would also like to convey Argentina’s appreciation to Portugal for its work to further improve transparency, inclusiveness and efficiency in the Security Council’s work during its Presidency of the Working Group on Documentation.

Mr. President,

Historically, Argentina has promoted a more transparent and inclusive Security Council on every occasion it has had, including in the course of the Intergovernmental Negotiation on Security Council Reform that take place in the General Assembly.

It is worth recalling that it was Argentina who, in February 2000, during its Presidency of the Security Council, urged the adoption of a Note of the President allowing newly elected members to participate as observers in consultations prior to assuming their duties. Also the last time it sat in the Security Council, in 2005-2006, my country promoted and supported a number of initiatives aimed at achieving further transparency and access for the wider membership to the Council.

Mr. President,

It would be unfair not to acknowledge the positive developments that have taken place in the last few years, including the celebration of these debates offering an opportunity for non-Council members to put forward proposals aimed at further improving the working methods and democratizing the decision-making process of the Security Council. Both the interaction of the Security Council with troop and police contributing countries, with regional organizations and with relevant United Nations bodies, as well as the more frequent use of the Arria Formula meetings, inter alia, are developments also worth mentioning.

However, we believe that, although necessary, these achievements are not sufficient, as became clear last May when the proposals of the “Small Five” were discussed. These proposals are in line with Argentina’s position on the matter. At that time, Argentina did not consider advisable to force a decision through a non-consensual resolution in the General Assembly. However, there are no reasons why the Security Council should not benefit from the ideas that an in-depth debate in the General Assembly can generate. We believe that such a debate on methodological improvements is both appropriate and timely, and in no manner affects the process towards a more far-reaching and holistic reform of the Security Council.

The new measures that are being considered by the Council, concerning the process of appointment of the Chairs of Subsidiary bodies and the exercise and role of penholders, seem to be going in the good direction despite the fact that, once again, its discussion has been circumscribed to the Council members, without a participatory process of the wider membership.

Mr. President,

The objective of achieving a more democratic and transparent Security Council presupposes and requires that the means for its transformation be through an open and inclusive debate. If Article 1.2 of Chapter I of the Charter that governs and inspires us reads: “The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members”, then, Mr. President, it is evident that the most legitimate, representative and efficient way of ensuring that the process advances positively is to work in consultation with the wider membership, respecting and taking into account its expectations.

Argentina believes that updating the working methods of the Security Council in response to the demands of the international community for a more democratic and transparent Security Council continues to be an important goal, one which Argentina endorses. In this regard, Argentina reaffirms and promises its best efforts to contribute to this process in 2013-2014 as a non-permanent member of the Council.

Thank you very much.