Statement
by
Mr. Ivan Nimac
Depuy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations
General Assembly Fifty-ninth Session
Report of the Secretary-General "In Larger Freedom: Towards Security, Development and Human Rights for All"
7 April 2005
Mr. President,
Thank you for convening these consultations of the Plenary and for preparing the calendar of work on United Nations reform leading up to the Summit to be held in September. The Croatian delegation also extends its thanks to the Secretary-General and to the Secretariat for the report "In Larger Freedom". My delegation fully aligns itself with the statement of the Permanent Representative of Luxembourg on behalf of the European Union but wishes to take this opportunity to provide some short additional comments on particular aspects of the report.
Croatia subscribes to the sentiment evident in the report of the timeliness of United Nations reform. The art will be in finding the way amongst the diverse interests of member states. We believe that this is an achievable task.
Development is a pillar of the United Nations'' mandate and the Millennium Development Goals are international obligations. As such, we welcome the recommitment to the Monterrey and Johannesburg outcomes and the renewed emphasis upon the achievement of the target of 0.7% of GNI for ODA. We consider it important to reaffirm all the outcomes of the UN conferences, which form part of the agreed international development framework of which comprehensive debt relief and completion of the Doha round are key additional elements.
The maintenance of international peace and security, the struggle against terrorism and transnational organized crime are our common concern. "In Larger Freedom" proposes a range of measures to strengthen the normative basis for state and human security. Croatia will engage constructively in the dialogue to come on these issues.
We are pleased to see the attempt to draw together security and development. To many countries with the experience of conflict but also that of building national capacities and institutions post-conflict, this link is clear. We, therefore, welcome the proposal of a Peace Building Commission, which could fill a void in the UN system. We await with interest a more detailed elaboration of what is envisaged.
The proposed structure of the Peace Building Commission appears restrictive towards small states by limiting membership to leading troop contributors, major donors, the IFIs and subsets of the Security Council and Economic and Social Council. A modality needs to be found for the inclusion of the legitimate voice of small states which have, by their own experience, spanned the transition from conflict to relief and then development. Moreover, the report seems to exclude a direct preventative role for the proposed Commission. We look forward to further consultations on these issues.
Lasting peace and security can only be founded upon the rule of law. Croatia supports a stronger UN role in building state capacity to allow states to deliver rule of law for all their citizens. Responsible states provide safety for their citizens and security to their neighborhood. Croatia supports the proposal of the Secretary-General to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights.
Reform of the Security Council has been on the agenda of the United Nations for many years. In relation to the proposed models, the Republic of Croatia supports an expansion in the number of permanent and non-permanent seats. However, Croatia is concerned that the proposals do not foresee the existence of the Eastern European Group. This will not serve a final agreement on Council reform. We also believe that the Eastern European Group, given the growth in its membership in the last fifteen years, has an equally legitimate claim, as do others, to an additional non-permanent place on the Council.
Croatia has aligned itself with that part of the statement of the Chairman of the Eastern European Group for the month of April, Estonia, which sets out the common position of the states members of the Eastern European Group eligible for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council.
Reform, if it is to succeed, must justly account for the interests of all and not be, or be perceived to be, at the expense of anyone. Additionally, reform of the Council must extend to its working methods and its interaction with other principal organs, particularly the Economic and Social Council.
The Security Council is not the only principal organ in need of reform. Proposals for the rationalization of the work of the General Assembly and ECOSOC and linking the mandate of the latter to MDG follow-up is an idea worthy of further elaboration.
The Secretary-General''s Report has set in train a discussion which needs to be conducted. The timetable is a tight one but, with the goodwill of member states, there is sufficient time for a proper distillation of views.
Thank you Mr. President.
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