S/PV.7539Resumption1 Security Council

The President (spoke in Spanish): In accordance with the concept note circulated for this open debate (S/20lS/793, annex), I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements as follows: joint statements, up to 10 minutes; national statements complementing joint statements, 2 minutes; and national statements, 3 minutes. Delegations with lengthy statements are kindly requested to circulate the texts in writing and to deliver a condensed version when speaking in the Chamber. I would like to appeal to speakers to deliver their statements at a normal speed so that interpretation may be provided properly. I now give the floor to the representative of Thailand.

Mr. Bamrungphong (Thailand): As we celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations this year, and as conflicts continue to pose grave threats in many parts of the world, the Security Council must remain effective in carrying out the primary responsibility conferred on it by Member States for the maintenance of international peace and security. Thailand firmly believes that, in order to be effective, the Council and its subsidiary bodies must be efficient and transparent, ensure inclusive participation, and be accountable. Let me share with the Council the following views. First, sanctions are important tools for maintaining and restoring peace and security. To remain effective in deterring actions that threaten peace and security, the Council should exercise the utmost care in devising targeted sanctions. Sanctions regimes should minimize unintended economic and social consequences. Thailand welcomes a research-based approach, including the use of statistical analysis to evaluate and quantify the impact and effectiveness of sanctions and to provide valuable guidance for future policymaking. The application of clear criteria in the listing and delisting of those on the sanctions lists is also of great importance. In that regard, streamlined communications with Member States would effectively help the latter to address the increasing number of sanctions-related issues. Another tool to improve the Council's effectiveness is the Security Council's annual report, which should be more than a collection of resolutions and statistics and should include assessments and ways forward. Secondly, it is important to ensure transparency in the Council's deliberations. Thailand urges members of the Council to continue convening public meetings, thereby engaging the wider membership of the United Nations, particularly on issues of broad impact and complexity. Closed meetings and informal consultations are necessary, but Council members should share information, developments and outcomes with the wider membership of the United Nations through frequent briefing sessions. The Council should also engage with countries on issues related to their situation that affect international peace and security. Thailand is in agreement with the improvements identified by Spain in the concept paper (S/2015/793, annex) as ways of making open debates more interactive and productive. Thirdly, there is no greater threat to the Council's credibility and effectiveness than the inability to respond in a timely and decisive manner to prevent loss of life through mass atrocities. The Council must remain committed to its obligations and act to prevent genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The proposal put forward by France and Mexico on the code of conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes elaborated by the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group are reasonable and commendable. Thailand lends its support to those initiatives. Lastly, in addition to working with all Member States towards the noble goals of the Charter of the United Nations, the Council must also work with the other organs of the United Nations to enhance synergies and to avoid the overlapping of mandates. That aspect will be of particular importance in 2016, during the selection process for the next Secretary- General. Thailand supports the essential roles of both the Council and the General Assembly in a transparent and inclusive selection process, as outlined in Assembly resolution 69/231.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.

Mr. Cardi (Italy): I thank you, Mr. President. The debate on the Council's working methods is timely. We, as Member States, must work together and with the Organization to satisfy the growing demand for effective multilateralism. Those efforts involve every United Nations body, including the Council. First, we must acknowledge that today's security challenges are different from those of the past. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (General Assembly resolution 70/1) introduces an integrated approach to sustainable development by linking together the five Ps of the Agenda: people, prosperity, partnership, planet and peace. Its implementation will require a fresh look at working methods and effective synergies among the various bodies of the United Nations. Similar challenges are posed by the need for an integrated approach to implement the recommendations stemming from the three major reviews underway on the future of peacekeeping, peacebuilding and the role of women in peace and security. Improvements have already been achieved. Nevertheless, Italy believes there is room for further improvement. Allow me to highlight some potential areas. We believe that the Council could make use of the tools at its disposal, including informal meetings and briefings, to foster synergies with the other bodies of the Organization. At the same time, we share the view that closer attention should be paid to wider security issues, which are a matter of concern to the wider membership. As an example of best practice, allow me to refer to the open debate held during the New Zealand presidency of the Council on the security challenges facing small island developing States (see S/PV.7499). We fully supported that initiative and followed it up by organizing a ministerial meeting in Milan on climate adaptation and food security in small island developing States. Let me also mention the issue of migration as a joint integrated challenge confronting us. Secondly, knowledge leads to prevention. We must act ahead of crises, rather than react after the fact. Information-sharing is key, and interaction between the Council and the Secretary-General can indeed foster awareness and early warning. Italy is committed to providing additional support to the Department of Political Affairs to ensure an effective deployment of mediation teams where needed. We also welcome the strengthening of early warning mechanisms, such as the Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes, the Rights Up Front Initiative and the role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. All of them represent valuable tools whose potential will have to be fully exploited. That leads me to my third point, which concerns the revitalization of Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations, in connection with the work of the Council and the systematic recourse to cooperation with regional and subregional organizations under Chapter VIII. We should collectively renew our focus on the peaceful settlement of disputes, by promoting good offices and mediation efforts and by apportioning work to regional and sub-regional partners. Fourthly, we must not shy away from debating the reform of the Council, with a View to making it more representative, transparent, democratic, effective and accountable. While the membership is engaged in seeking a appropriate and comprehensive compromise solution that includes all five clusters, we believe that there is scope for action under the current system to further improve the Council's working methods. Bearing that in mind, Italy has endorsed both the joint French/Mexican initiative and the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group's code of conduct to limit the use of the veto on issues linked to mass atrocities and crimes, as provided for under the Rome Statute. My last point is that we should invest in the preventive power of justice by fighting impunity and promoting accountability. Improved working methods are crucial to the Security Council's ability to fulfil its responsibilities. As Vice-President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, I stress the importance of responsible follow-up to cases referred to the Court by the Council. We believe that the Council should have a forum where international criminal justice issues can be regularly discussed, bearing in mind the various sensitivities at stake. In conclusion, the aforementioned is part of Italy's commitment to improving the working methods of the Security Council. Italy will consistently pursue the goal of a more transparent, efficient and accountable Council, where elected members can make a bigger contribution to its work by acting as a bridge towards non-Council members and their concerns. Enhancing the transparency and efficiency of the Council's working methods should be a constant objective for all Member States. The general membership of the Organization can rely on Italy's strong determination in that endeavour.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

Mr. Aboulatta (Egypt): In recent years, notable improvements have been introduced into the working methods of the Council, including the holding of more frequent open debates, public briefings, interactive dialogues and wrap-up sessions. Nevertheless, there is, in our View, always room, as well as the need, for more transparency and efficiency in the Council's work. Mindful of the time limitations today, I will limit my comments to the matters that we consider to be of the greatest priority. First, the work of the Council is a collective responsibility. Equal participation and contribution on the part of all Council members, permanent and elected, in the conduct of activities and the formulation of outcomes is a fundamental principle. The Council could benefit from more deliberations and consultations among its members, as well as the timely and transparent exchange of information. Such a collective approach would help to further democratize the Council's decision-making process and ensure that it is more legitimate and effective. Secondly, We firmly support a more robust engagement between the Council and the wider membership of the United Nations, including, first and foremost, those countries particularly affected by specific crises. The Council should also enhance the participation of troop- and police-contributing countries in its decision-making process. We would like to recall, in that respect, the relevant provisions of the President's note in document S/2010/507, and affirm that consultations with troop- and police-contributing countries should address the political and long- term strategy of the relevant peacekeeping missions. We also stress the need for practical and more meaningful partnerships with regional and subregional organizations. We welcome, in that regard, the calls by the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations and the Advisory Group of Experts on the Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture for a stronger, more inclusive, global and regional partnership in peace and security. Thirdly, it is essential to improve cooperation between the Security Council and the other United Nations bodies. That does not pertain only to the General Assembly, but also to the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (General Assembly resolution 70/1), the ongoing reviews of peace operations, peacebuilding and the most recently issued global study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) all offer a unique opportunity to draw upon the broad-based membership of those bodies and to ensure a more holistic approach to sustaining peace and to reinforcing the linkages between the three pillars of the work of the United Nations. There is a need for closer cooperation and interaction among those organs, while observing a balanced respect for their respective functions and mandates. Speaking of transparent and effective cooperation between the General Assembly and the Security Council, I wish to address the most important task that the two organs have to undertake jointly during the coming year, which is the selection of the new Secretary-General of the Organization. Last month, the General Assembly adopted landmark resolution 69/321, which paves the way for a transparent and merit-based selection process. By doing so, the Assembly addressed some of the multiple imperfections that have negatively impacted the process for the past 70 years. Now, with this resolution, the responsibility for its timely and effective implementation falls collectively upon us. In this connection, Egypt urges the expeditious commencement of the process through a joint letter from the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council. As we have heard from various speakers today, the demand for greater efficiency and openness is real, improvements are overdue, and solutions exist. It is therefore important to take stock of all the valuable proposals that were made today by Member States and to translate them into concrete action. I assure the Council of Egypt's support for any measure it takes towards this goal.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Estonia.

Ms. Lind (Estonia): Estonia, as a member of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) Group, aligns itself with the statement delivered by Switzerland and would like to make some additional remarks on the issue of the appointment of the next Secretary-General. My statement is endorsed by the 26 States members of ACT. As Philip Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, said several centuries ago: "Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request". Although the wider membership would definitely value reflection on more suggestions coming from outside the Security Council, the main goal should be increased ownership of the Council's work by all countries. Estonia cannot speak from first-hand experience about the complicated everyday work of the Security Council, since we have never served as one of its members. But we truly believe in the positive impact of open and inclusive processes. We saw very clearly the importance of effective and substantive communication between the permanent members of the Security Council and the wider membership during negotiations on General Assembly resolution 69/321, on the revitalization of the work of the Assembly. ACT, with Costa Rica and Estonia in the forefront in those negotiations, is pleased with the outcome and consensual adoption on 11 September of the resolution, which set up a structured process for the selection of the next Secretary-General. Of course, implementation is key. Over the years, we have seen many resolutions adopted but not implemented on the issue of the selection of the next Secretary-General. We must change this. As a first step, a joint letter from the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council should be sent to all Member States calling for nominations. We would hope to receive this letter in the coming weeks so as to set in motion the whole process before the end of the year. The President of the General Assembly has received a very strong mandate from the resolution on the revitalization of the Assembly; the elements of the letter are also outlined therein. Now we are looking for the Council to do its part. In this regard, we were pleased to hear about the informal discussions that the Security Council had under the New Zealand presidency in July. More generally, our main concern should be ensuring that the best candidates come forward and are considered based on concrete selection criteria. In 1945, the United Nations Preparatory Commission said that, "The Secretary-General, more than anyone else, will stand for the United Nations as a whole". We want to ensure that all Member States, as well as the wider international community, have the possibility of learning about the Vision of the candidates presented and interacting with them. Additionally, and finally, we believe that after 70 years the time has come to be even more innovative. Therefore we are of the opinion that in making the final decision, preference should be given to equally qualified female candidates. We also look forward to a thorough discussion at this session of the duration of the term in office of the Secretary-General, including the option of a single, non-renewable term.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Australia.

Ms. Bird (Australia): As Article 24 of the Charter makes clear, Security Council members act on behalf of the United Nations membership as a whole. This open debate usefully enables the broader United Nations membership to inform the Council of its expectations. Let me briefly highlight a few working-method reforms that Australia believes should be priorities. First, with respect to atrocity prevention, proposals calling for restraint on use of the veto and negative votes in situations involving mass atrocities are fundamental working-method reforms which should be supported. Secondly, concerning conflict prevention, the peacebuilding review found that the Council should do better on conflict prevention and that overcoming fragmentation between the principal organs of the United Nations would strengthen its work in preventing conflict and sustaining peace. To this end, the Council should draw more regularly on the Peacebuilding Commission's advice. The Council should also make better use of early- warning mechanisms and timely briefings on threats. The Secretariat should be empowered to bring to the Council's attention emerging threats, in line with the Human Rights Up Front initiative and Article 99 of the Charter. Thirdly, a better informed Council is a more effective Council. The use of a diverse range of briefers and informal mechanisms such as Arria-Formula meetings will help ensure that the Council is well informed. Fourthly, concerning procedural decisions, the Council's general practice of deciding on procedural matters by consensus is appropriate. But where consensus cannot be reached on crucial matters, the Council should not prevent itself from taking the necessary action. That was the case with the vote that took place in December 2014 (see S/PV.7353) that placed on the Council's agenda the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Finally, with respect to improved interaction with the General Assembly, let me note, as many others have today, that last month the General Assembly adopted by consensus historic resolution 69/321, which demands greater transparency in the selection of the Secretary- General. The onus is now on the Council to act soon, including by issuing a joint letter by the Presidents of the Council and the General Assembly to solicit candidate nominations. Australia recently announced its candidacy for the 2029-2030 Council term. Working-methods reform in the interim will help determine whether the Council at that time will be transparent, credible and effective.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Indonesia.

Mr. Percaya (Indonesia): I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for having convened this open debate on issues of importance to the majority of Member States. Indonesia associates itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. To ensure that the Security Council is fully enabled to carry out its responsibilities and that its actions are owned by the wider Member States, robust cooperation, communication, genuine consultation and support vis-a-vis all States Members of the United Nations is crucial. In that regard, allow me to emphasize six important points. First, the Security Council should conduct the process of dialogue and interaction with States that are non-members of the Security Council in the context of a more meaningful and genuine conversation. In addition, Articles 31 and 32 of the Charter should be implemented fully by taking seriously into consideration the views of the non-member countries affected in dealing with conflict situations under the purview of the Council. Secondly, it is my delegation's View that the Council should focus more strongly on Chapters VI and VIII of the Charter. Therefore, there should be a strengthened mechanism for consultations with regional and subregional organizations in resolving regional security issues of global concern. Indonesia therefore underscores that the Council, in this regard, should pay greater attention to conflict prevention and to the quest for political solutions to global conflicts. Thirdly, strengthened, balanced and harmonious cooperation between the Security Council and the General Assembly is equally critical. The Council should also take into account the recommendations of the General Assembly on matters relating to international peace and security, consistent with Article 11, paragraph 2, of the Charter. A comprehensive and analytical monthly assessment of the work of the Council would greatly facilitate the provision of relevant inputs to the Council by the wider membership, including through the General Assembly, on peace and security issues of common concern. Indonesia attaches great importance to the implementation of General Assembly resolution 69/321 on the revitalization of the General Assembly, in particular closer collaboration between the Security Council and the General Assembly on the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General. Fourthly, because of the exercise of the veto and the threat to exercise the veto, the Council has too often taken no action in the face of mass atrocities and serious threats to international peace and security. Indonesia supports the abolishment of the veto. However, considering the entrenched realities, we welcome any steps that would strictly regulate the use of the veto. The Council should determine a workable mechanism to ensure that the veto will not impede the cause of humankind and justice. Fifthly, Indonesia underscores the importance of enhanced and regular consultations with troop- and police-contributing countries throughout all stages of United Nations peacekeeping operations. Finally, it is worth recalling that merely improving the working methods is not a solution to the larger problem. Our efforts cannot be limited to procedures. The global citizenry looks to the Council to be responsive, effective, fair andjust in resolving conflicts in accordance with international law. Regrettably, lingering cases, such as those of Palestine and Syria, illustrate all the ways in which the Council has failed. Indonesia will therefore continue to be relentless in calling for and contributing to efforts to realize a democratic, judicious, transparent, accountable and effective Council that reflects the plurality and concerns of all people.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Liechtenstein.

Mr. Wenaweser (Liechtenstein): Liechtenstein is a member of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group and aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Switzerland on behalf of the group. We have been leading the Group's efforts to make the Security Council more effective in preventing or ending atrocity crimes. It is on that subject that I wish to make the following brief remarks. The people of the world expect the Council to protect them from genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes - the worst crimes under international law. Too often, the Council has failed to live up to those expectations, such as in Rwanda and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s and in Syria and other places as we speak. Such well-known examples illustrate the human and political cost of inaction, but there are many others, including situations that never even made it on to the Council's agenda. It is for that reason that our group has come together to prepare a code of conduct for States regarding Security Council action against atrocity crimes. We have done so in a process of detailed consultation with States, the Secretariat and civil society. The product is a text that reflects the political commitment of States and that, over time, will help us create a culture of political accountability, which is needed to make the Council more effective and legitimate. By committing to the code, States pledge that, while serving as members of the Council, they will support timely and decisive action by the Council to prevent or end atrocity crimes. As part of that general commitment, they also pledge more specifically not to vote against a credible draft resolution submitted to that end. Eighty-three States from all regions of the world have already signed on to the code of conduct. That includes seven members of the current Council and three of the five States that were just elected to serve on it starting in 2016. That is an impressive number, and we are confident that many more States are to follow. The code of conduct will be launched this Friday, 23 October, by our Foreign Minister at an event open to everybody. The more States that join the initiative by Friday, the stronger the call for change in the way the Council addresses atrocity crimes will be. We therefore urge all States Members of the United Nations that have not yet done so to join the code of conduct within the next few days, so that they can be reflected in the original list of supporters. The code of conduct is an important and serious political commitment for any State that serves on the Council. It also represents a minimum standard that we expect any Council member to live up to, as they are called upon to collectively exercise the primary responsibility for international peace and security on our behalf. We are confident that the code-of-conduct initiative can bring about an essential change in the decision-making of the Council.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the observer of the Holy See.

Mr. Carroll (Holy See): My delegation wishes to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this open debate on the Security Council's working methods and wishes to raise four points. First, there is a need for genuine equity among Member States with regard to the influence that they can exert. on the decision-making processes in the various United Nations bodies, including the Security Council. Pope Francis, in his address to the General Assembly on 25 September, affirmed that, beyond the many achievements of the United Nations, "the experience of the past 70 years has shown that reform and adaptation to the times are always essential as we work towards the ultimate goal of ensuring that all countries without exception can participate in our decisions and have a genuine and equitable influence on them" (A/70/PV.3, p. 3). My delegation believes that Member States would like to have an equitable share in influence, especially in the Security Council, the only United Nations body with the power to make binding decisions. That calls for greater interactivity; in particular, it requires real open debates and a willingness to take into account the Views of the wider membership and the actors in the various conflicts being considered. Such views can bring greater legitimacy to the Council, helping it to better shape its understanding of crisis situations and improving its ability to respond. Moreover, in order to show greater consideration of the views of the wider membership, the Council may want to re-examine its practice of first adopting a resolution on a matter that is only subsequently debated by the wider United Nations membership. There are, doubtlessly, good reasons for that practice. However, it makes some of the wider membership wonder if their inputs really matter and if the resolution has already been decided on and adopted before they are heard. Secondly, with regard to the question of the transparency that the wider membership demands from the Council, we hear that voice getting stronger lately, not only in the context of the bigger question of the reinvigoration of the work of the United Nations as it turns 70, but also in the more immediate context of the selection of the Organization's next Secretary- General. In that regard, it is imperative that the Security Council and the General Assembly maintain a transparent working relationship. As laid out in General Assembly resolution 69/321, the membership deems that the criteria for qualified candidates must include proven leadership and managerial abilities, extensive experience in international relations, strong diplomatic communication and multilingual skills, while considering equal and fair distribution based on gender and geographical balance. Thirdly, on the question of fairness in the application of the Charter of the United Nations and all international agreements and treaties, my delegation believes that the arbitrary interpretation of existing laws and the application of double standards in dealing with the parties in conflict are some of the underlying causes of the feelings of victimization that turn into hatred and violence. Fourthly, the United Nations, and the Council in particular, would acquire greater authority and legitimacy if countries could discern clear and effective criteria for the application of the principle of the responsibility to protect and for the corresponding invocation of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. The responsibility to protect all peoples from massive atrocities, instances of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity is today widely recognized and accepted. Yet, it is not easy to carry out that duty in practice because of the prevailing geopolitical interests and, not least, because actions under that principle can lead to conflicts with a strictly literal interpretation of another principle, that of non-intervention, as enshrined in paragraph 7 ofArticle 2 of the Charter of the United Nations. Nonetheless, owing to the unacceptable human costs of inaction, the search for effective juridical means for practical applications of the principle of the responsibility to protect must be one of the most urgent priorities of the United Nations. The Holy See strongly supports any initiative and any step towards achieving a more effective and concrete application ofthe principle ofthe responsibility to protect, especially in cases of mass atrocities.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mr. Khoshroo (Islamic Republic of Iran): I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). At the outset, let me express the appreciation of NAM. to you, Mr. President, and the Spanish presidency ofthe Council for convening this debate on the Council's working methods and for presenting the concept note (S/2015/793, annex) on the issue. NAM. welcomes this open debate, since it provides an opportunity for the entire United Nations membership to express their views on Security Council working methods and encourages the broader membership to participate in the debate. For NAM, transparency, openness and consistency are key elements that the Security Council should observe in all its activities, approaches and procedures. We regret that the Council has neglected those important elements on numerous instances. Examples of that failing can be seen in its reluctance to convene open debates on some issues of high significance, its holding of unscheduled open debates with selective notifications, its practice of repeatedly restricting participation in certain debates and of discriminating between members and non-members of the Council, particularly with regard to the sequence and time limits of statements allowed during the open debates. In View of the time limit and the fact that the NAM position on the subject at hand is reflected in the May 2014 final document of the seventeenth Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, I will confine myself to the following nine specific measures that NAM. calls for with a View to improving the working methods of the Council and enhancing its efficiency in fulfilling its primary responsibility. First, the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council, which have remained provisional for 70 years, should be formalized in order to improve its transparency and accountability. Second, the number of public meetings should be increased, in accordance with Articles 31 and 32 of the Charter of the United Nations, and the meetings should provide real opportunities to take into account the Views and contributions of the wider membership of the United Nations, particularly non-members of the Council whose affairs are under discussion by the Council. Third, closed meetings and informal consultations should be kept to a minimum and should be the exception rather than the rule, as they were meant to be. Meetings should be open, especially when they include briefings by the Special Envoys or Representatives of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Secretariat. Fourth, the establishment of subsidiary organs by the Council should be in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations, and those organs should function in a manner that provides adequate and timely information on their activities to the broad United Nations membership. Fifth, the annual reports of the Security Council to the General Assembly should be more explanatory, comprehensive and analytical, assessing the work of the Council, including such cases in which the Council has failed to act, and should include the views expressed by members during the consideration of the agenda items. We also call on the Council to elaborate on the circumstances under which it adopts the various outcomes, whether resolutions, presidential statements, press statements or other elements to the press. Sixth, the Council should, pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 15 and paragraph 3 of Article 24of the Charter of the United Nations, submit special reports for the consideration of the General Assembly. Seventh, the Council should ensure that its monthly assessments are comprehensive and analytical and that they are issued in a timely fashion. The General Assembly may consider proposing parameters for the elaboration of such assessments. Eighth, the Council should fully take into account the recommendations of the General Assembly on matters relating to international peace and security, consistent with paragraph 2 of Article 1 of the Charter. Ninth, the Council should cease its ongoing attempts to shift issues on the agenda of the General Assembly or the United Nations Economic and Social Council over to the Security Council and the encroachment by the latter on the functions and powers of the Assembly. The Non-Aligned Movement rejects the use of the Security Council as a tool to pursue national political interests and agendas, since that practice aggravates rather than alleviates situations and runs counter to its mission as enshrined in the Charter. We reiterate the necessity of non-selectivity, impartiality and accountability in the work of the Council. The decision by the Security Council to initiate formal or informal discussions on the situation in any Member State or on any issue that does not constitute a threat to international peace and security is contrary to Article 24 of the Charter. In such cases, there is a need for the Council to remain strictly within the powers and functions accorded to it by Member States under the Charter. In recent years, the Security Council has been too quick to threaten or authorize enforcement action in some cases, while remaining silent and inactive in others. Furthermore, the Council has increasingly resorted to Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations as an umbrella for addressing issues that do not necessarily pose an immediate threat to international peace and security. A careful review of those trends indicates that the Council could have opted for alternative provisions to respond more appropriately to particular cases. Instead of making excessive and quick resort to Chapter VII, efforts should be made to fully utilize the provisions of Chapters VI and VIII for the pacific settlement of disputes. Chapter VII should be invoked, as intended, as a measure of last resort. Unfortunately, provisions of Articles 41 and 42 have in some cases been resorted to with undue speed before other options were fully exhausted. Finally, as we approach the process to appoint a new Secretary-General for the Organization, NAM underlines its position as elaborated in the Algiers ministerial declaration of May 2014, along with the central role of the General Assembly in the process of selecting and appointing the Secretary-General, and expresses its support for efforts aimed at reinforcing and strengthening the role of the Assembly in that regard.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Singapore.

Mr. Teo (Singapore): Singapore aligns itself with the statement just delivered by the respresentative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Singapore has for many years called for improvements to the working methods of the Security Council. Our latest proposals are included in the document on Security Council reform circulated by the President of the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly on 31 July. As a small city-State, we will not have many opportunities to be a member of the Security Council, but we attach much importance to the issue of the Council's working methods and would like to see quick progress. We therefore thank Spain for convening today's meeting and for its concept note ((S/2015/793, annex) on the theme of this open debate. We would like to focus on three aspects of the working methods of the Security Council. First, to improve its own effectiveness and accountability, the Council must address the elephant in the room. Too often in the past, the veto has been used to prevent action to address genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes that had led to the loss of many innocent lives. Singapore reiterates its call to the permanent members of the Council to refrain from using their right of veto to block Council action aimed at preventing or ending genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. If they must, they should at least explain to the wider United Nations membership why they cannot support initiatives aimed at preventing or ending mass atrocities. In that regard, Singapore supports the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group's code of conduct on Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. We also support the joint proposal of France and Mexico for the permanent members of the Security Council to refrain from using the veto in cases ofmass atrocities. We call on all States Members of the United Nations to do likewise. Secondly, with respect to transparency and accountability, the Council has been operating on provisional rules of procedure for decades. Many of the current working methods are also captured outside the provisional rules of procedure in successive notes by the President of the Council. Given the importance of the Security Council, that is not ideal. It is time for the Council to adopt its rules of procedure to improve the transparency and accountability of its work. That in turn would enhance the Council's credibility with the wider membership of the United Nations. Thirdly, with respect to inclusiveness, in order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, the Security Council has been conferred with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. However, the Council should not allow that to prevent it from working with the wider United Nations membership on key issues that affect all Member States. Ifthe Security Council is to act for the benefit of the wider United Nations membership, it should engage the Member States in a Virtuous cycle of dialogue and effective decision-making. Next year, the United Nations membership will need to decide on the next candidate to lead the Organization. We call on the Council to work more closely with the General Assembly, in accordance with their respective mandates as laid down in the Charter of the United Nations, in order to make the process for selecting the Secretary-General more open and transparent. Some of the measures adopted in General Assembly resolution 69/321, such as the joint letter by the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Council inviting candidates to be presented in a timely manner with a description ofthe entire process, are a good start. We need to take further steps in that direction. Singapore welcomes opportunities like today's open debate to discuss the important issue of the working methods of the Security Council. We look forward to a meaningful outcome on this issue that will help to further strengthen the effectiveness and credibility of the Council.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Uruguay.

Mrs. Carrien (Uruguay) (spoke in Spanish): Allow me, Sir, to congratulate you on convening this open debate, which is of great importance to our country, and to thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak for the first time as a member-elect of the Council. Uruguay aligns itself with the statements made by the representatives of Switzerland on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group; of Liechtenstein with regard to the code of conduct; and of Estonia on the election of the Secretary-General. In the spirit of the Spanish presidency's call to refrain from repeating ideas that have already been raised, I shall not linger on the issues already covered by the statements of the delegations just mentioned, but concentrate on a very important point that my country wishes to highlight. Peacekeeping operations are fundamental tools for the maintenance of international peace and security and are an instrument to which Uruguay has been committed for decades through concrete contributions to the system and through its ongoing contribution to policy discussions held within the Organization with regard to those operations. Therefore, as an actor committed to peacekeeping, Uruguay hopes for success in the processes currently under way to review or consider United Nations peace operations, peacebuilding and resolution 1325 (2000). The report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (S/2015/446) and the Secretary- General's report on its implementation (S/2015/682) make it clear that the subject of consultations with troop-contributing and police-contributing countries remains a priority for improving the effectiveness of peacekeeping mandates, in particular through the earlier involvement of those countries in the process of developing such mandates. The need for early consultations with troop-contributing and police-contributing countries in the current context, in which we are witnessing an increase in direct attacks on peacekeepers, and when mandates are becoming increasingly complex, including offensive actions in some cases, has become increasingly important. This means that listening to the voices from the ground will lead to more credible and realistic mandates. Similarly, the triangular cooperation between the Security Council, the Secretariat and Member States at large, in particular the troop-contributing countries (TCCs) and police-contributing countries, also needs to be improved if we are to achieve a true partnership. As my country has noted in other forums, no new instruments are needed for consultations to be conducted in an efficient manner; the challenge lies in the implementation of the existing ones. The United Nations Charter, Security Council resolutions, including resolution 1353 (2001), and various presidential statements establish and refer to these mechanisms, including provisions for early consultations with TCCs before establishing or renewing new mandates; ad hoc meetings at any stage of mandates, at the request of the TCCs; and information exchange and thematic discussions. In this regard, we believe that there is room to improve the use of these tools, such as anything to do with sharing information, including early access to the reports of the Secretary-General, which my country has insisted on in other areas, for example, during our presidency of the Group of Friends of Haiti when the first draft ofresolution 1542 (2004), for the mandate for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, was being prepared. Finally, the Security Council Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations is key to improving the interaction between those who are establishing and renewing mandates and those that implement them, as well as with the Secretariat. In this regard, Uruguay remains committed to improving the working methods for the biennium 2016-2017 in which it will sit as a non-permanent member of this body.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Sierra Leone.

Mr. Minah (Sierra Leone): I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of African States. At the outset, Iwould like to thank you, Mr. President, for including the issue of Security Council reform on the Council's programme of work. I would also like to congratulate Spain for its assumption of the presidency for the month of October 2015. We welcome the concept note circulated by the Permanent Representative of Spain (S/2015/793, annex) and take note of the issues contained therein regarding efforts by the Security Council to improve its working methods. We take note of the improvement in the working methods of the Council, including the use of the informal interactive dialogue, to interact and engage informally with individual Member States, the Peacebuilding Commission and regional and subregional organizations. We also take note of efforts to address issues such as penholdership, chairs of subsidiary bodies, preparation of annual reports and monthly assessments. We consider these to be modest but meaningful steps towards improving the work of the Council. We note that the main focus of the Security Council's Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Matters has been on the Council's annual report to the General Assembly. We further note that elected members of the Security Council have not made much progress in pushing for the implementation of certain issues and we hope that things will improve in the future. We encourage the Council to continue to build on the important advances made through further improvement of its working methods by implementing actions outlined in note 5/2010/507 and subsequent relevant notes. We remain convinced that cosmetic changes to the working methods will not advance the fundamental need for comprehensive reform of the Security Council and expansion of its membership in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, as contained in General Assembly decision 62/557. The status quo continues to be inconsistent with the principles, purposes and spirit of the Charter of this great and noble Organization, in that we have a Security Council in which Africa and other regions remain underrepresented or unrepresented in both categories. Our continued participation in this debate is firmly rooted in our commitment to working with the entire United Nations membership in achieving comprehensive reform of the Security Council along the lines elucidated in the African Common Position. We therefore reiterate our call for a comprehensive reform as contained in decision 62/557 and, in that regard, we stress the interlinkage of the five clusters of Security Council's reform. On two ofthose clusters - the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly, on the one hand, and the working methods, on the other - we have at all times maintained a principled position. Our position is the one we submitted to the Chair of the intergovernmental negotiations on 22 April and is reflected in the framework document; it underscores the need to uphold the primacy of and full respect for the provisions of the United Nations Charter that pertain to the powers and functions of the General Assembly. The two clusters remain inextricably linked and, while there has been some convergence of Views on how to improve them, key elements of the reform have not come to fruition. Notwithstanding the efforts made by various delegations, certain proposals that are worthy of consideration remain on the table. These include how to improve transparency and access to the Council and the creation of established rules of procedure for the Council. We maintain that the Security Council and the General Assembly must work closely together within their respective spheres of responsibility to seek solutions to the plethora of challenges confronting the international community, with the Security Council focusing on issues as mandated under the Charter, in order to foster harmonious interaction and a cooperative relationship between the two organs. The relationship between the Council and the General Assembly remains, for all delegations, a matter of paramount importance on the reform agenda. In January, the Security Council underscored the interlinkages between security and development, including their mutually reinforcing nature. It is therefore key that we remain focused on this aspect as a means for attaining sustainable peace. Maintaining the balance between the two principal organs of the United Nations: the Security Council and the General Assembly, is extremely necessary in order to enable the United Nations to meet existing and emerging threats. It is also necessary for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (General Assembly resolution 70/1). The role of the General Assembly, including questions relating to international peace and security, as provided for in the relevant Articles of the Charter, need to be enhanced and strengthened in order to enable it to play its proper role as the most representative and democratic policymaking body of the United Nations. We commend the enhanced cooperation between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the Security Council, which has led to a more structured and effective annual consultation between the two bodies. We continue to urge for the enhanced coordination between them in order to ensure predictable and sustained funding for African Union peacekeeping operations and to support post-conflict reconstruction and development on the African continent. Sustained cooperation between the Council and regional organizations will yield immense benefits in addressing the present and future challenges to international peace and security. Despite these positive developments, we are concerned about the inconsistency of the Security Council's decisions by its demonstrated selectivity in addressing issues that are of grave concern to regional organizations. In conclusion, improving the working methods of the Security Council is an integral part of the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council. All five issues of Security Council reform are interrelated and must be addressed in a holistic manner. It has been several decades since the Security Council has been seized of the matter of the review of its working methods. The fact that after 70 years the Council's rules of procedure remain provisional underscores the urgency of addressing this issue. We note that the main thrust of all the positions of the various groups and delegations has been to ensure that the Security Council becomes transparent, inclusive, accountable and accessible in its working methods. The Group of African States supports those initiatives. We would therefore like to reiterate Africa's readiness to work with all interest groups and Member States to achieve decisive and irreversible progress, but as a comprehensive package of reform, not in isolated silos. General Assembly decision 62/557 continues to be our guiding light. We remain convinced of the need for comprehensive reform that takes into account the principles, objectives and ideals of the United Nations Charter, for a fairer world based on universalism, equity and regional balance.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Portugal.

Mr. Mendonca e Moura (Portugal): While it is a principal organ of the United Nations, the Security Council is, however, restricted in its composition. It acts on behalf of all of us, the Member States - hence the need for transparency in the Council Vis-a-vis the general membership to which it is accountable. As a member of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group, we associate ourselves with the statement delivered earlier on its behalf by the representative of Switzerland and wish to touch briefly on the following four complementary aspects. First, open debates such as today's can prove very useful for listening to the general membership's views on various subjects and situations relevant to peace and security and, on the other hand, for enabling Member States to better understand the measures the Council adopts and helping to strengthen their commitment to their full implementation. However, we have to make open debates more efficient. We should be able to conclude a productive debate in a single morning session if we all cooperate in helping to focus on the messages we deem important. So we support the format that Spain has proposed for use in future open debates and, like many others, including Council members, we will abide by the shorter time allotted. Indeed, the proposed format builds on presidential note S/2012/922, which is aimed at increasing efficiency, interaction and transparency in the outcome of open debates. Secondly, with their specific knowledge of the situations and areas they cover, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the Economic and Social Council can bring new and complementary perspectives to the Council. The Council has already recognized the importance of interaction with them; that is not new. What we need to do now is to put that into full practice and for the presidencies of the Security Council to promote such interaction through their monthly programmes ofwork, regularly scheduling the Chairs of the PBC and its configurations, and the President of the Economic and Social Council, as briefers in meetings or participants in informal dialogues, as appropriate. We therefore fully agree with the statement made on behalf of other Council members by the representative of Angola highlighting the crucial role of Council presidencies when preparing their programmes of work. Thirdly, concerning the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council specifically, we see merit in organizing periodic meetings to discuss issues relevant to both their agendas. We are encouraged to hear that the next presidency of the Security Council, the United Kingdom, will continue to focus on these important interrelations between security and development. Such interaction could also be channeled through the subsidiary bodies, such as the Sanctions Committees and Working Groups, particularly those on peacekeeping and conflict prevention. Fourthly, the Council's consultation with the PBC and the Economic and Social Council could become part of a much broader aspect, conflict prevention. And to respond to the challenge issued this morning by the representative of the United Kingdom to put forward concrete suggestions, we propose that the Council do some thinking on how to make better use of the subsidiary bodies, including existing Working Groups, to capture the signs of emerging challenges to peace and security that are closely connected to the larger development agenda - such as climate change, pandemics, illegal trafficking and organized crime - and submit timely reports on them to the Council when they deem action to be necessary. I want to emphasize that we are not talking about endless meetings that merely prolong decision-making. We know that the Council is an action-oriented body, not a debate forum, but the inclusion of these bodies' perspectives in Council meetings can, if efficiently conducted, be extremely important to more coherent decision-making in the United Nations. The diversity of the United Nations is its strength. Today, security is linked to many aspects that we see dealt with across the United Nations system. The Security Council should not insulate itself from such experience, indeed, it can only benefit from it. We hope that the members of the Council can reflect on that fact and establish a practice that allows such interaction to occur regularly, without of course overburdening the Council's already heavy workload.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Turkey.

Ms. Callskan (Turkey): We would like to join others in thanking you, Mr. President, and today's briefers. The issue of the Council's working methods is one that has a direct impact on our Organization's most critical undertakings. Although we consider the subject to be one of the main components of Security Council reform, there is still room for further improvement before we reach general agreement on the matter. That said, at the outset we would like to state that many of the challenges we face daily in the Organization are a result of a lack of transparency, accountability and effectiveness in the Council and of its undemocratic nature. To some degree, we can only address these problems by increasing the number of elected members. The use of the veto is one of the most pressing issues we have to tackle. It is almost impossible to tell whether a country is motivated by the desire to maintain international peace and security or by national interest. In any case, the result is inaction on the part of our Organization's principal body, whose primary task is the maintenance of international peace and security. In that regard, we welcome the initiatives of France and Mexico, as well as of Liechtenstein, on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group, aimed at limiting the use of a negative vote by permanent or non-permanent members in cases of mass atrocities. We support both initiatives. However, we do not think that the idea of a code of conduct for non-permanent members can be meaningful unless the permanent members also embrace it. Our discussion of working methods also covers the relationship between the Council and other bodies of the United Nations. One particularly important topic on today's agenda is the selection process of the next Secretary-General, an issue connected to the relationship between the Council and the General Assembly. This year we are witnessing a thorough discussion of the matter that includes civil society as well as Member States. The General Assembly's recent resolution 69/321, on the revitalization of its work, includes landmark provisions, as others have mentioned. However, since it includes no references to deadlines or numbers of candidates to be recommended by the Council, we think the current situation has a long way to go in addressing the structural shortcomings of the process. Regular and more substantive interaction between the Council and other United Nations bodies, including the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, would not only augment the Council's transparency, openness and inclusiveness but would also enhance the efficiency of the United Nations system in general. Needless to say, the dialogue between the Council and non-Council members is one of the critical aspects of our discussion today. Although we are cognizant of the need for the Council to conduct its own deliberations during its decision-making process, we think there is much room for improvement in terms of increasing the transparency of its work. In that regard, scheduling more informative briefings and Arria Formula meetings, ensuring that draft resolutions, presidential statements and information on the work of the subsidiary bodies, as well as their reports, are made available in a timely manner, and, last but not least, reducing the frequency of closed meetings are what we need if we are to have meaningful interaction.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Brazil.

Mr. De Aguiar Patriota (Brazil) (spoke in Spanish): I would like to thank the Spanish delegation for organizing today's important debate on the working methods of the Security Council. (spoke in English) I would also like to thank the President ofthe General Assembly for his briefing and to commend Ambassador Gaspar Martins of Angola for his leadership in his capacity as Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions. Brazil has long advocated that the Security Council should be more transparent, more accessible to the other Member States of the United Nations and more accountable to the broader membership on whose behalf it acts. The Council should carry out its work in an open and public manner as often as possible. In line with the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations, Brazil has also been calling for countries with a special interest in a substantive matter under consideration by the Council to have their views fully taken into account and to be allowed to participate in its consultations. That applies particularly to those countries on the Council's agenda, but also to troop- and police-contributing countries. We understand that this is an important topic that should addressed as the review process for peacekeeping operations and special political missions progresses. In the context of discussions on the review, the consultations among the Security Council, the troop- and police-contributing countries and the Secretariat should become more institutionalized. In this regard, the positive experience of the Group of Friends of Haiti could be replicated. This body should also consider new ways to improve the participation of regional and subregional organizations in its decision-making process. We have also long advocated that the Security Council should spend more of its time and effort on prevention. In this context, allow me to welcome once again the strong emphasis given by the High-level Panel on United Nations Peace Operations, chaired by President Jose Ramos-Horta, to the primacy of politics and to preventive diplomacy, and underline the importance of translating the Panel's recommendations into concrete strategies. There is wide recognition that voting in the Security Council should be carried out in ways that favour our Charter responsibilities with respect to collective security. There are currently two initiatives under discussion by member States that touch upon this issue - one by France and the other by the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group. We welcome the French proposal on the veto, as that initiative reflects the widespread perception that the Council has not been able to adequately fulfil its Charter responsibilities in certain particularly problematic situations. The ACT code of conduct also points to the necessity and urgency of updating the working methods of the Council. The code can be seen as a constructive contribution to the debate on voting patterns to the extent that it highlights the fact that the international community's response to mass atrocities should not lie at the sole discretion of permanent members. We believe, however, that such a code should also address certain other aspects relating to prevention and accountability. The twenty-first century provides us with abundant and tragic evidence that the resort to military force more often than not increases civilian suffering and vulnerability. Therefore, it would have been important for ACT's code to emphasize two notions in particular. The first is that military action is a measure of last resort that can take place only in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and after a judicious analysis of its possible consequences. The second is that decisions authorizing the use of force should rely on enhanced procedures for monitoring and assessing their implementation in order to ensure compliance with the original mandate and with international law. Apart from the United Nations membership, many civil society actors are expressing a strong interest in the process of selecting the next Secretary-General. Important initiatives outside the United Nations - such as, the "l for 7 Billion" campaign and a proposal by the group known as The Elders - have been launched, calling for more transparency and inclusiveness in the selection process. This is a topic closely related to the working methods of this organ and, in particular, to its relationship with the General Assembly. Brazil supports a more active role for the General Assembly in nominating the Secretary-General, in accordance with article 97 of the Charter and in line with our commitment to democratic and transparent procedural practices. Regarding the relationship between the Security Council and other United Nations bodies, closer cooperation is needed not only with the General Assembly - particularly concerning the issue of Security Council encroachment on the Assembly's prerogatives - but also with the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). Brazil believes that the Council should make better use of the advisory function of the PBC. As I can testify from my own experience, there is scope for additional value added to the Council's deliberations when Chairs of PBC configurations are invited to informally meet Council members, before a situation they follow closely is up for consideration. One of the most easily implemented recommendations of the Advisory Group of Experts for the 2015 Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture, contained in its report "The challenges of sustaining peace", is for the Security Council to regularly request and draw upon the advisory, early-warning and preventive roles that the PBC can play to enrich the peacebuilding dimensions of mandates. We take this opportunity to encourage all Member States, not least the members of the Council, to fully engage in the intergovernmental phase of the peacebuilding architecture review, which was recently launched by the two co-facilitators, the Permanent Representatives of Angola and Australia. When discussing the working methods ofthe Security Council, one cannot help but note that the permanent five (P-5) have a significant edge in mastering the procedures and legal intricacies of the Council's work. The so-called penholders for resolutions are almost invariably permanent members. To a great extent, this happens because newly elected members, for obvious reasons, take some time to adjust to the complexity ofthe Security Council's working methods. However, under improved working methods, non-permanent members should not only take part in the negotiations from the early stages of the process onwards, but also take on greater drafting responsibilities. The contribution of non-permanent members can be of great relevance to overcoming impasses. Let us not forget that one of the most constructive initiatives regarding the situation in Syria, which led to the adoption of resolution 2139 (2014) on humanitarian access to the country, was conducted by three non-permanent members. Let us also recall that resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, came about through the persistence of elected members, under the leadership of Namibia, 15 years ago. It is difficult to see how we will be able to significantly improve the working methods of this organ without tackling the need to expand it. In the view of a majority of United Nations Member States, the best way to enhance the Council's dynamics with a view to ensuring that its decisions become more effective and legitimate is through the creation of new permanent and non-permanent seats. That would allow for countries committed to a more transparent, efficient, accessible and accountable Security Council to acquire the expertise and ability required to help modernize the Council from within. The improvement of the working methods of the Security Council will depend to a great extent on a comprehensive reform that brings the Council closer to the contemporary world. That is why the working methods cluster is one of the five key interrelated issues of the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform, as established by General Assembly decision 62/557. In conclusion, in the same vein as the intervention made by my colleague from Sierra Leone, I would like to stress that the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations and the current session of the General Assembly represent an invaluable opportunity to achieve a concrete outcome regarding this long overdue task of Security Council reform.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Paraguay.

Mr. Gonzalez Franco (Paraguay) (spoke in Spanish): The Republic of Paraguay takes this opportunity to reaffirm our position on the working methods of the Security Council, as expressed in statements we have made in discussions on reform of this organ. Paraguay believes that in addressing the working methods of the Security Council, the key issues are transparency, participation, accountability and efficiency. Transparency is a feature that should permeate all levels of deliberation and decision-making in the Council. One crucial aspect in that regard is the holding of open meetings of the Council. As the Council works today, open meetings seem to be the exception and not the rule - a situation that prevents non-member States from having any effect on the Council, particularly in the adoption of its decisions. The issue of participation is twofold. The first aspect of participation exclusively involves the States members of the Council, whereas the second involves non-members. With regard to the first, we believe that non-permanent members should participate on an equal footing with permanent members. The treatment of certain items as reserved and withheld exlusively for the permanent members and not to be addressed by non-permanent members is a discredit to the work of the multilateral system and restricts the rights of the latter as members of this organ. With regard to the second, Paraguay feels that measures should be taken to allow non-permanent members of the Council to participate in matters that are addressed by the permanent members, particularly when they involve issues that affect those countries or the Organization. To this end, these subjects should be made known with sufficient time in advance. With regard to accountability, it is essential to recall that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the members of the Council act on behalf of all States Members of the United Nations. This implies a particular and special commitment. Acting on behalf of everyone requires responsible action and, therefore, accountability. In this regard, we call for the annual reports of the Council to the General Assembly to contain a substantive analysis and not simply a list of facts or a summary of meetings and decisions adopted. Finally, let us address the issue of efficiency. The Council's working methods must ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of this organ, which will require improving its capacity to respond in a timely and appropriate manner to issues that are vital to the maintenance of international peace and security. Paraguay expresses its firm desire for the selection of the next Secretary-General to be undertaken through a transparent, dynamic and inclusive process in which the Security Council and the General Assembly act in a coordinated and complementary manner. In conclusion, we know that some members of the Council believe that only they have the authority to choose their working methods. However, at various points in the past we have seen this organ heed the concerns of the General Assembly or of non-member States, and in this regard it has incorporated suggestions, proposals or specific contributions to improve, correct or optimize its working methods. That is why we ask that the outcomes of this debate be taken up by the members of the Security Council.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Costa Rica.

Mr. Mendoza-Garcia (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): Costa Rica would like to thank Spain for convening this open debate on the Security Council's working methods, and the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, and the Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council, Mr. Sven Jiirgenson, for their opening statements. Allow me to address two specific points. First, my delegation recognizes the importance of deepening communication between the Security Council and other bodies and actors in order to allow the former to effectively carry out its tasks. This communication should be much more fluid and dynamic, not only with the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Secretariat, but also with the Peacebuilding Commission, the Special Representatives and Envoys of the Secretary-General, and especially with the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. This communication should also extend to regional and subregional organizations, troop-contributing countries and civil society organizations that, through the Arria Formula format, have the opportunity to directly influence the Council's work. The fact that 15 Arria Formula meetings have been held this year is worth noting with appreciation.In that regard, we also commend the work of the non-permanent members of the Security Council and urge them to use all means at their disposal to ensure that the Council increases both its transparency and its effective engagement with other relevant stakeholders. This brings me to the second point that I should like to highlight in this debate - the importance of the role of the Secretary-General, whether through his good offices in accordance with Article 99 of the Charter, or through initiatives such as "Rights up front". The election of the next Secretary-General will be a golden opportunity to increase the equality, transparency, predictability and inclusivity of this process and to further strengthen the relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council, as it is a decision taken not by the 15 members of the Council alone but by the entire membership. Costa Rica would urge us all to take advantage of the momentum surrounding the adoption of General Assembly resolution 69/321, on the revitalization of the General Assembly's work, by launching as soon as possible the process to determine who will occupy the role of Secretary-General as of 1 January 2017. It is urgent that the process of selection for the next Secretary-General - whom Costa Rica hopes will be a woman - begin as soon as possible with the dispatch of a joint letter from the President of the General and the President of the Security Council. The recently adopted resolution maps the way forward ,and my delegation will attach due importance and attention to the implementation of the process. My delegation is encouraged that from this point on, and for the first time in history, we will have the opportunity to know the names of the candidates and their platforms and to interact with them. Nevertheless, Costa Rica and other will continue to work to generate the political momentum needed to ensure that the Security Council presents not just one, but two or more candidates to the General Assembly, and that the process include an election, and not simply an appointment. Rather than ask when we should begin to implement resolution 69/321, the question we should be asking ourselves is why we have taken so long. We ask the same question every year when we find that the Security Council's rules of procedure are still provisional and that, despite the calls of the membership, a plan of action for implementing presidential note S/2010/507 and its subsequent updates has yet to be adopted. The Security Council is at a critical juncture in terms of its transparency and working methods in general. It can choose to refresh its collaborative energy, renew the momentum to consolidate current achievements and meet new challenges, or it can retreat to its familiar protocol and close ranks around its own prerogatives, which would negatively impact its effectiveness and legitimacy. We all know that the first of these is the only viable option.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Panama.

Ms. Flores Herrera (Panama) (spoke in Spanish): I should like to begin by thanking Spain for having convened this meeting on the working methods of the Council at a moment of fundamental importance for the United Nations as we debate Security Council reform, the new dynamic for selecting the Secretary-General and the changing relationship between the various organs and bodies. In that contect, Panama believes that the time has come for this debate to be revitalized in the light of two interrelated aspects: transparency in the acts of the Organization and ethics as the indisputable guiding principle of the decision-making process of all bodies of the United Nations without exception. Although the world has been subject to the most diverse changes since 1946, the structures and internal dynamics of the Organization have not necessarily responded to these new realities as required and demanded by the international agenda. The process of Security Council reform today is a matter of growing interest to 97.4 per cent of this community and represents no less than the need for States to ensure that their membership is representative of current geopolitical and regional realities. The efforts of the 51 Member States, including Panama, that founded the Organization in 1945 are noteworthy and have fulfilled many of their objectives, but the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, must respond to another historic moment, and the current membership must be open not only to sustaining debate but to encouraging it so as to strengthen a decision-making organ that speaks for the Member States, which now number 193. After 70 years, the essential functions assigned by the Charter of the United Nations to the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security continue and will continue to be relevantm, but it is beyond doubt that this organ needs to be revitalized so that it will be not only more representative but also more effective, transparent, open and accountable to the international community. That need underlines the importance of the various initiatives aimed at overcoming the right of veto in the Security Council, which in various cases limits the immediate action and efficiency of the United Nations in specific situations or where there is a risk of crimes or violations. We have expressed our support of the initiative promoted by Liechtenstein and the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group with regard to a code of conduct that would promote the idea of a more democratic Security Council. We also support the initiative of France and Mexico and are following it particularly closely because it reflects the first time that a permanent member of the Security Council has taken leadership in the discussion on revising and updating its own privilege. Panama has previously stated that diverse participation within the Security Council, particularly on the part of developing countries, would provide greater transparency in decision-making and the implementation of decisions. Likewise, we believe that the veto in the Security Council played its historic role in previous decades following the conflict of the Second World War. Today, however, even the smallest of countries demand that they be treated equally as we are all subject to international law. I would like to conclude by emphasizing that it is important that we consider the recommendations of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, which, since its establishment, in 1993, has been working on those issues in order to improve and rationalize the modalities and methods used by the Security Council. We acknowledge the opportunity afforded to us by this open debate to consider the question ofthe Council's working methods. We are encouraged that we are moving in the right direction to come up with the comprehensive reforms that the Organization so urgently requires.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of the Czech Republic.

Mr. Ellinger (Czech Republic): The Czech Republic would like to thank the Spanish presidency for convening today's open debate on the working methods of the Security Council. The Czech Republic supports strongly the reform of the Security Council, including its working methods. We have expressed our opinion both in the form of an input to the framework document of the Chair of the intergovernmental negotiations and during the interactive dialogue in May. The Czech Republic also wishes to reiterate its support for Ambassador Rattray's efforts to facilitate the intergovernmental negotiations on the reform of the Security Council, which, 70 years after the birth of the United Nations, is clearly overdue. We agree with the Spanish concept note (S/2015/793, annex) that there is certainly room for improvement in the way the Security Council interacts with other bodies of the United Nations, notably with the General Assembly. We also feel that open debates with an outcome pre-agreed beforehand do not give rise to an interactive nature for such debates, nor does it give the Member States outside the Security Council a feeling that the reviews matter to this body. We therefore support further debate on how those deficiencies can be remedied. That goes also for draft resolutions and presidential statements, where the exchange with non-member States of the Security Council could also be intensified. The Czech Republic considers the question of the selection of the Secretary-General to be one of the most important parts of the process. We appreciate the fact that the Spanish delegation has not overlooked that issue. The current way of selecting the Secretary- General is clearly outdated. The Czech Republic fully supports a more transparent process of selection, as set out in General Assembly resolution 69/321, which goes in the right direction. We especially welcome the idea that candidates for Secretary-General should introduce and present themselves to the General Assembly during informal dialogues and meetings. We would be happy to go even further towards transparency and inclusiveness in the selection process. The Czech Republic also appreciates the efforts to improve and intensify the Security Council's relationship with other United Nations bodies, in particular with the Peacebuilding Commission but especially with the Economic and Social Council. The recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (General Assembly resolution 70/ 1) lends new impetus to the relationship between the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council and underlines the important link between security and development. In that context, we would like to remind delegations of the candidature of the Czech Republic to the Economic and Social Council during the elections to be held tomorrow in the General Assembly. The Czech Republic would like to stress its commitment to Agenda 2030 and supports further building on the link between sustainable development and sustainable peace.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Peru.

Mr. Meza-Cuadra (Peru) (spoke in Spanish): I would like to welcome Spain's initiative in convening an open debate on the working methods of the Security Council. I also thank you, Mr. President, for the concept note (S/2015/793, annex) prepared for this meeting. Peru associates itself with the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Switzerland on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group, particularly with regard to the importance of General Assembly resolution 69/321 as it pertains to the procedure for selecting the next Secretary-General. We hope that it will be effectively implemented soon. In signing the Charter of the United Nations all States Members grant to the Security Council the mandate to ensure international peace and security and also undertake to comply with its resolutions. That gives us the necessary legitimacy to express our views with regard to the working methods of this organ. In that context, my delegation would like to reiterate the urgent need to continue to make progress towards reforming the working methods of the Council with the aim of increasing its legitimacy, its necessary transparency in multilateral relations, as well as its efficiency and the effectiveness of its work. In that regard, my delegation would like to share three ideas that have been mentioned by some of the speakers who preceded me, which shows a meeting of minds on so many of these things. First, in order to find transparency, this organ needs to hold more public meetings, and they need to be substantive meetings and held at the appropriate time. My delegation also favours the scheduling open debates, given that they provide non-members of the Council an opportunity to express their opinions. Secondly, with regard to the democratization of the Security Council, my country has always expressed a position of principle whose ultimate aim is that that the right to the veto should be eliminated. We are aware of the difficulties of doing that, which is why we support all efforts aimed at restricting the use of the veto. We should point out that, without genuine reform of the working methods as they pertain to the veto, the important concept of the responsibility to protect is at serious risk of being diluted. In that context, Peru supports the political declaration put forward by France and Mexico aimed at preventing the use of the veto in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and flagrant violations of human rights law or international humanitarian law. We call upon the other permanent members of the Council to support that initiative. Also in the framework of the ACT group, we have been working towards the adoption of a code of conduct according to which Member States would commit to not vote against a draft resolution of the Security Council aimed at preventing cases of genocide or crimes against humanity. Thirdly, in order to promote greater interaction and participation, Peru considers it fundamental to consolidate the practice of Security Council consultations with countries that contribute troops to peacekeeping operations. The increasing complexity of the mandates of peacekeeping operations as well as the growing challenges that they face requires ever greater coordination and an exchange of information. The opinions oftroop-contributing countries need to be taken into account when mandates are being renewed or designed, as they will have to implement them on the ground. Finally, as others have pointed out, I should like to stress the importance of moving from a conflict- management approach to a prevention approach. Only an early warning system can prevent conflicts and fully meet the primary objective of our Organization, which is to preserve future generations from the scourge of war.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Mr. Munir (Pakistan): We are pleased to see you, Mr. President, preesiding over today's open debate of the Security Council. We fully align ourselves with the statement made by the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned countries. Over the years there have been improvements in the Security Council's working methods. That has happened in no small measure due to the persistent efforts of the non-permanent members. Much more, however, needs to be done. In that regard, my delegation would like to highlight the following key points. The Council must continue to work towards enhancing openness, transparency and inclusivity in its decision-making processes. Member States not serving on the Council nevertheless have high stakes in its decisions, and dialogue with the wider membership is therefore crucial. Effective and consistent implementation of the decision to improve the Council's working methods, including the decision on intra-Council communication adapted from Pakistan's proposal during its last term on the Council, is important. We should continue to find ways to forge a more robust partnership among the Council, the troop- contributing countries, the Secretariat and general membership. Troop-contributing countries and police-contributing countries must be closely consulted before the formulation and adoption of peacekeeping mandates. Their involvement in the processes of mission formation will address many issues related to command, control, communication, coordination and inter-mission movements. Such consultations would help peacekeeping missions to adapt to realities on the ground. A transparent process leading to a balanced representation on the Council's expert panels is required. And the Office of the Ombudsperson needs to be strengthened. There is no justification for limiting its role to only one sanctions committee. To enhance the relationship between the Council and the General Assembly more public briefings, substantive annual reports by the Council and meaningful interaction between the Council and the Assembly on the annual report of the Council would be helpful. Taking up some of the proposals set out in the letter written last year by the President of the General Assembly in that regard could be a good beginning. The process of the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General is upon us. The opaqueness of that process is good for neither the Council nor the United Nations as a whole. Finally, the early election of non-permanent members next year will enable the Council to allocate the Chairs of subsidiary bodies in a timely manner - a demand that we have been making for many years. Perhaps that will also enable the Council to have more penholders from among the non-permanent members. The Security Council is a master of its own rules of procedure, which unfortunately to date remain provisional. Many of us today are giving our opinions on what needs to be done. The important question to ask is, How could all this be accomplished? It is a fact that non-permanent members have convened almost all the debates on the working methods of the Security Council. It is a fact worth pondering over. There is an inextricable link between the nature of the membership of the Council and the need felt to make the Council more open and transparent. That link is called accountability.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Cuba.

Mr. Reyes Rodriguez (Cuba) (spoke in Spanish): We support the statement made by the representative of Iran on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. A genuine reform of the Security Council to transform it into a transparent, representative and democratic organ and which is in line with developments experienced by the United Nations and developments in international relations over the past 70 years continues to be an outstanding issue. Without that reform, the reform of the Organization will be incomplete. Changes to the Security Council's working methods are an essential aspect of its reform. In our view, the changes that have been made to date have been merely formal and do not guarantee the genuine participation of Member States in the work and decision-making within the Council. Fundamental agreements - above all on sensitive or highly relevant issues - continue to be taken just by the permanent members of the Council and, on occasion, not even by all of them. The remainder of the members have a limited margin to influence the process. The majority of them face the dilemma of accepting or not accepting the final product presented to them without having had a possibility of participating in genuine negotiations that would address their opinions and interests. The public debates should be the ideal opportunity to channel the contributions of non-member States to the Council in analysing specific aspects on its agenda in order to contribute to the negotiation of draft resolutions and decisions that will be adopted. However, in practice those debates become a formal exercise and the members of the Council do not even wait until the conclusion ofthe debates before effectively taking their decisions. In accordance with Article 24 of the Charter of the United Nations, Member States recognize that the Security Council is acting on their behalf in the exercise of its functions, which implies that it should guarantee genuine participation on the part of the 193 States Members in its work and in its decisions. Cuba reiterates that, at a minimum, it is urgent to make the following changes in the working methods of the Security Council. There is a need to increase the number of public meetings pursuant to Articles 31 and 32 of the Charter. Closed-door meetings and informal consultations should be held only in very exceptional cases. The countries concerned should always be allowed to participate in the Council's discussions that directly affect them, pursuant to Article 31 of the Charter. The Council's resolutions and presidential statements should reflect the views of Member States as expressed in the public debates. Countries not members of the Council should have access to the subsidiary bodies, including the right to participate in their discussions. We should formalize the rules of procedure of the Council - which unfortunately continue to be provisional rules, as has been the case now for 70 years - in order to increase transparency and the level of accountability. We are concerned about the growing trend in the Security Council to consider matters and assume functions that do not fall within its area of competence, increasingly usurping the role assigned by the Charter to other organs of the United Nations, particularly to the General Assembly. The Council is required to present annual reports to the General Assembly. Such reports should be genuinely analytical and make it possible to adequately evaluate its work, including the reasons that prevented it from taking action in a given situation or specific case in fulfilment of its mandate. We reiterate the need for the Council to present special reports mentioned by the Charter in Articles 15 and 24, which unfortunately continue to go unpublished. The issue of the veto is intrinsically linked to the Council's working methods, particularly the decision-making mechanism. The veto is an anachronistic and anti-democratic privilege that should be eliminated as soon as possible. A more transparent Council will be a more legitimate Council. And an inclusive and accessible Council that takes into account the opinions of the Member States of the Organization would be a more effective Council. Let us leave aside rhetorical devices as we discuss this important subject. There is no lack of ideas or proposals. What we need is immediate action. Let us once and for all remove the secrecy and lack of transparency in the work of the Security Council, as well as the exclusion of the great majority of the Members of the Organization from its work and its decisions. Let us not delay this task any longer.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.

Mr. Tsymbaliuk (Ukraine): I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting. I cannot help but note the emblematic side of the fact that the first meeting of the Security Council in which Ukraine is takinig part since its election as one of this body's non-permanent members for the next two years is devoted to the topic of improving the Council's working methods, the very hallmark of Ukraine's electoral campaign. In looking ahead this important issue will be one of the major priorities of Ukraine's non-permanent membership ofthe Council during the period 2016-2017. Ukraine has always been a staunch supporter of increasing transparency in the Council's activities and enhancing its interaction with the wider membership of the United Nations and the bodies of the Organization. In that respect, we commend the Spanish presidency of the Security Council for inviting the President of the General Assembly to address the Council at its annual debate on working methods, for the first time in the past eight years. In our electoral campaign we made a strong case for transforming the Council into a body, open and fully accessible to all States, as well as promoting, as a matter of principle, broad and constructive cooperation with each and every State Member. The United Nations membership can rest assured that we will deliver on that pledge in the next two years. It is through permanent dialogue, consultation and accessibility to all interested delegations that Ukraine will maintain its close contacts with other States, taking into account their legitimate interests in the day-to-day work of the Council. Next year an important cluster of the Council's working methods will come under the scrutiny of the world community as the United Nations family elects a new Secretary-General. As an incoming non-permanent member of the Council, Ukraine is fully cognizant of its responsibility to contribute to the proper implementation of General Assembly resolution 69/321, which provides that the process of the selection of the Secretary-General shall be guided by the principles of transparency and inclusiveness. Bearing in mind that the Council's chief responsibility lies in the maintenance of international peace and security, the issue of conflict prevention must feature more prominently in the Council's work. That is of particular importance to countries not represented on the Council that are facing clear and imminent threats to their security. Therefore, preventive diplomacy must become a staple of the Council's work. Interacting with troop- and police-contributing countries is of particular interest to Ukraine, as an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping efforts. Noting some positive changes in that area, we believe that holding more regular and timely consultations with such countries, both during the elaboration of United Nations peace missions and mandates and throughout the entire life cycle, is crucially important in the ultimate success of those missions. We strongly support the idea that contributing countries must have a stronger voice in the overall decision-making process in the Council. External aggression against Ukraine made my country and many others take a closer look at the Council's working methods. What became even more crystal clear was the direct linkage between ensuring the effective functioning of the Council and genuine commitment on the part of each and every of its members - the permanent ones in the first place - to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. In that light, an area of a particular concern for us is the use of the veto in the Security Council. In our opinion, that instrument has long outlived its utility and now has a detrimental impact on the Council's performance. We therefore welcome and support the French and Mexican proposal on suspending the use of the veto in cases of mass atrocities, as well as the code of conduct put forward by the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group. We encourage all Security Council members to give due consideration to those initiatives. Further steps towards the eventual elimination of the veto could be taken in the direction of the non-use of the veto when considering cases of aggression against a United Nations State Member. Blocking the Council's action under such circumstances would run contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter. However, being realists, we realize that the veto will remain with us for at least the foreseeable future. In that regard, we propose that, if the veto is used, the permanent member resorting to it have to explain the reasons for such action, in particular with regard to its consistency with the Charter of the United Nations. We also believe that there is an urgent need to ensure the proper implementation of paragraph 3 of Article 27 of the Charter, which obliges a party to a dispute to abstain from voting. In making our contribution to achieving one of the presidency's goals of reducing the overall length of the debate, I will conclude with a final remark. In its future work in the Security Council, Ukraine will strive to enhance the openness and transparency of the Council with the goal of improving its efficiency and restoring its credibility, which has been severely undermined recently.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Argentina.

Mr. Oyarzabal (Argentina) (spoke in Spanish): We are grateful to Spain for its initiative in convening this open debate. As all are aware, during 2014 and 2015, Argentina chaired the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions. Based on that experience, we remain grateful to all members ofthe Council and now wish every success to Angola as it chairs the Working Group and that this will contribute to transparency and accountability in the Council. The President's concept note (S/2015/793, annex) cites presidential note S/2013/515, which was the first note adopted during the Argentine chairmanship of the Working Group, and which reflected a joint effort on the part of all Council members. The note refers to the dialogue between the Council and Member States and bodies, whether they be part of the United Nations system or not. In our opinion, such dialogue is essential in fulfilling the Council's functions. The organizations mentioned in the presidential note include the Peacebuilding Commission, the International Criminal Court and humanitarian agencies. The Security Council has a multiplicity of responsibilities, and meeting them requires coordination with other actors. However, Argentina is not in favour of the Council, whose function is the maintenance of international peace and security, absorbing the functions of other bodies. There is a trend, which in my opinion should be discouraged, to raise in the Council issues that go beyond the level of necessary coordination and encroach upon matters dealt with by the General Assembly. That is a dangerous trend, given that the securitization of the United Nations agenda could lead to the Council assuming such matters to the detriment of bodies with universal representation, in particular the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. Although it is true that peace and security are mutually interrelated, I want to stress the term "mutually", because that relationship is not only one-way. Just as peace is needed for development, development also promotes peace. However, peace is not the only factor influencing development. My delegation wanted to to make those clarifications because, as a developing country, we must remain loyal to the multiplicity of factors involved and because securitizing the development agenda could lead to over- simplifying the recipes for development and give rise to the temptation of attributing to the Council functions that are of the General Assembly, to the detriment of the Council's own functions. I would also like to take this opportunity to share some thoughts on the Council's working methods generally. My delegation attaches great importance 4 following the holding of open debates - to the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Matters taking into account the areas of agreement among the broader membership as to how the Council works. There are two aspects I would like to mention, as they are issues that delegations repeatedly mention but on which the Council has not made substantive progress. One such issue is due process in the Council's sanctions committees, in particular when it comes to the listing and delisting of persons. Argentina favours including Ombudspersons in all sanctions committees, beginning perhaps as a first step with the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban. The other issue pertains to the referrals made by the Council to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Council regularly receives from the Prosecutor of the ICC the reports required by its own resolutions. However, it takes no action in response, even when the Court informs the Council that cooperation required under the Council's resolutions has not been provided. Both issues can affect the credibility of the Council if they are not addressed promptly. Finally, we cannot fail to mention that the year 2017 is of fundamental importance in that together we must select the next Secretary-General. We call on all delegations to work together to ensure that the process is a genuine election. That is why we welcome General Assembly resolution 69/321, adopted by consensus on 11 September. Although it is not perfect, the resolution served to strengthen the transparency of the process and is a step forward in the right direction. In that regard, we again call on delegations and on the Council to present more than one candidate for the post to the General Assembly. It would also be desirable for at least one candidate to be a woman. Finally, we welcome the very important innovation that the selection and election process begin with a joint letter from the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Algeria.

Mr. Boukadoum (Algeria): I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting and for your concept note (S/2015/793, annex). I would like to start by saying that we should keep in mind that we must tackle a two-track reform of the Security Council, one is structural and the other deals with the working methods. Algeria commends the efforts to hold more open debates, interactive dialogues and monthly wrap-up sessions. However, we strongly believe that the Security Council can do more in terms of its transparency and openness - and thus its effectiveness. Obviously, some steps could be easily taken. I wish to mention open debates as an example. It is rather puzzling that decisions are often made on an issue by the Security Council, and only then does that constitute a reason for initiating an open debate. It is certainly important to have Member States express their opinions, but their opinions should precede decisions. I would like to highlight some of the measures that my country deems important for improving the efficiency of the work of the Security Council. First, there is the matter of formalizing of the rules of procedure, which have remained provisional for the past 70 years, Secondly, the number of public meetings should be increased in accordance with Articles 31 and 32 of the Charter of the United Nations. Closed meetings and informal consultations should be kept to a minimum and held only as an exception. The use of what is known as groups of friends or penholders on specific issues needs to acquire perennial relevance through more interaction between members and non-members alike. Thirdly, the Council should establish subsidiary organs in accordance with the Charter. Wuch organs should report on their activities to the general membership of the United Nations, in an adequate and timely manner. Fourthly, cooperation between the Council and regional and subregional organizations is crucial. States that have undertaken mediation or good offices initiatives should be given ample opportunity to interact with the Council. Chapters VI and VIII of the Charter ought to be given priority on a more frequent basis. Moreover, with regard to article 99 of the Charter, the Secretary-General has a powerful tool at his disposal. Inclusiveness would most certainly benefit the international community as a whole when it comes to early warning, conflict prevention and resolution and the promotion of peace. Fifthly, the Security Council should take into account the recommendations of the General Assembly on matters relating to international peace and security, pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 11 of the Charter. Issues on the agenda of the General Assembly or the Economic and Social Council should not be shifted to the Security Council agenda. Sixthly, we need to have enhanced cooperation between the Security Council and the General Assembly. The Council's report to the Assembly should be more detailed and analytical, and discussions on its contents need to be more comprehensive. My country, which serves as the coordinator for the Non-Alligned Movement on the question of the revitalization of the General Assembly, has always strongly advocated for the improvement of the structural relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council. In that regard, the selection of the next Secretary-General and the use of the veto are matters that require our attention, if we want to send the right message and strengthen our collective work in the maintenance of international peace and security. The Security Council is the executive board of the General Assembly. It acts on behalf of the entire international community and is also answerable to it through the General Assembly. Finally, I would like to stress that the question on the working methods of the Security Council is an integral part of its reform process. I therefore reaffirm the African common position as outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of South Africa.

Mr. Mminele (South Africa): My delegation expresses its appreciation to you, Mr. President, for organizing this debate, and we welcome the invitation to the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Lykketoft, to participate in this important meeting. His participation in this debate is an important step in improving cooperation and coordination between the principal organs of the United Nations. We hope that the Council will invite the President of the Assembly to participate in its work more often. We also thank the Deputy-Secretary-General for his briefing, as well as that by the Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council. South Africa aligns itself with the statement delivered earlier by the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. We are especially pleased by the format outlined in the concept note (S/2015/793, annex) drafted by your delegation, Sir, which aims to reduce the overall length of the debate and produce an outcome - with that outcome being drafted after the debate in order to take into account the positions of non-Council members. That is only proper, as, after all, the Council acts on behalf of all os us, not just on behalf of the privileged 15 members. Over a number of recent years, we have debated ad infinitum the question of Security Council working methods. However, little has happened in terms of implementing the useful proposals put forth by the general membership of the United Nations in terms of improving the Council's working methods. One of the key areas of reform identified has been the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General. In view of the fact that the term of office of the current Secretary-General is drawing to an end, one ofthe most immediate changes the Council could embark upon would be to increase its engagement with the broader United Nations membership. That could be achieved by the holding of Arria Formula meetings to discuss that matter. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 69/321, South Africa calls on the Security Council to coordinate closely with the President of the General Assembly in formally starting the process as early as possible. That should be accompanied by a list of criteria, developed in consultation with Member States and drawing on the Charter of the United Nations and additional sources, such as previous Joint Inspection Unit reports on the criteria for senior management positions in the United Nations. South Africa believes that the membership should be kept abreast of developments and that the names of candidates, as well as their curriculums vitae, should be circulated. Member States should also be given an opportunity to formally engage with candidates through a series of interactive dialogues in the General Assembly. Finally, South Africa fully supports the call for the Council to send more than one name to the General Assembly, in order for the entire membership to make the appointment and for the next Secretary-General to be appointed for only one term of seven years. South Africa is pleased with the Council's enhanced strategic cooperation with the African Union Peace and Security Council. In that regard, South Africa implores the Security Council to give effect to resolution 2033 (2012), which calls on the Council to elaborate further ways of strengthening relations between the two Councils, including through achieving more effective annual consultative meetings, the holding of timely consultations and collaborative field missions of the two Councils, as appropriate, to formulate cohesive positions and strategies on a case-by-case basis in dealing with conflict situations in Africa. While we have noted significant areas of improvement in the strategic coordination between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, we are concerned about the inconsistency with which the Security Council coordinates its position with that of the African Union. A recent example in that regard is the situation in South Sudan, where some members of the Security Council were ready to impose sanctions despite the African Union Peace and Security Council being seized with the matter and the unfolding processes at the African Union level. We wish to thank those permanent and elected members of the Security Council that heeded the call of the African Union. South Africa welcomes the debate on the use of the veto and on restricting the use of the veto, which has featured prominently in discussions over the past few years. While South Africa in principle agrees to a discussion on the use of the veto, we wish to reiterate that the fundamental question that needs to be addressed remains the composition and reform of the Security Council. We reiterate our stance that improving the working methods of the Council is but a small step in making the Council more effective. The only way to truly and profoundly improve its efficiency is by instituting a substantive reform of the Council to make it representative of the geopolitical realities of this century. It cannot be that in the seventieth year of its existence, the Council still excludes vast geographical areas in its permanent composition. In that connection, we reiterate our commitment to the Ezulwini Consensus, which seeks to provide Africa with two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats. In tandem with over two thirds of the United Nations membership, we call for the abolition of the use of the veto, which only serves to promote the interests of a few. However, if that does not happen, we believe that the new permanent members of the Council should not be at a disadvantage and should be afforded all the rights and privileges that come with a permanent seat, including the right of veto.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Nepal.

Mr. Bhattarai (Nepal): I would first like to compliment the Spanish presidency of the Security Council this month for having convened this debate on improving the Council's working methods. Nepal joined the United Nations, together with Spain and many other countries, on 14 December 1955, and has twice served in the Council as a non-permanent member. Throughout this period, Nepal has closely engaged in the Council's work to maintain international peace and security, especially through United Nations peacekeeping. We long to see genuine reform in all aspects of the Council's working methods as well as in its structure. In this connection, I align my statement with that of the Non-Aligned Movement and wish briefly to make some points in my national capacity. First, reform of the Council's working methods should not be a half-hearted measure but should reflect the conviction that only through reform can trust in it be built, its efficiency and effectiveness increased and its acceptability cemented. Such reforms should be complemented by steps to ensure greater coordination with the troop- and police-contributing countries and a balanced revitalization of the Organization as a whole, so as to make it fit for the purpose for which it was created and the challenges it has to confront. Bringing forward the election of non-permanent members of the Security Council by several months beginning next year is a positive step. We feel that the election of non-permanent members should be further brought forward to allow the elected members at least one full year to prepare for their responsibilities, with a view to helping ensure that their membership substantially enriches the work of the Council. The Council should not in any way allow the feeling to be perpetuated that it hijacks other bodies' agendas, trumpets them as its own, takes little action and tends to shift the burden of action to others. It must conduct these debates with a truly open mind, proving that important ideas are taken on board and sharing full information for decision-making, without gatekeeping. In these open debates, the practice of adopting outcomes at the beginning, thus undermining the utility of such debates, must stop. Council members should set an honourable precedent for non-members by making concise and meaningful speeches, rather than asking them to abbreviate their statements on important issues. The practice of the same countries voting for candidates twice, once in the Council and again in the General Assembly, such as in the case of International Court of Justice judges, should change. Similarly, the term of the Secretary-General should be fixed and closed to extension to ensure that it is strong and effective, and to prevent the first term from being spent ensuring a second. Finally, I wish to add that it is time that the United Nations take a leaf out ofNepal's Constitution, adopted last month, to ensure gender balance in top positions. It provides that either the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament, and either the Chair or Vice-Chair of the Upper House of Parliament, must be a woman. Similarly, no persons of the same gender or community can simultaneously hold the offices of President and Vice-President of the country. To conclude, my delegation is convinced that the Security Council must rise to the challenge with courage, determination and accountability, so as to emerge from opacity into transparency and credibility, in the cause of global peace, security and prosperity.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Rwanda.

Mr. Sana (Rwanda): Allow me to thank you, Mr. President, for having convened this important open debate on the working methods ofthe Security Council. Rwanda aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Sierra Leone on behalf of the African Group, the statement delivered by the representative of Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and the statement delivered by the representative of Switzerland on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group. This year marks important milestones for the United Nations and its wider membership. From socioeconomic development, with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to the review of peace operations, peacebuilding, and women and peace and security, Member States and different organizations have acknowledged the importance of adjusting the activities of the United Nations to the context of the world we live in today. There is no doubt that this is a welcome step that, hopefully, will lead to the measurable achievement of sustainable development, with a tangible impact on peace and security. That is the reason why Rwanda is a strong believer in a collective and inclusive approach when it comes to peacebuilding and development, which are intrinsically linked to security and stability. Peacebuilding and the Economic and Social Council are therefore partners of the Security Council and should actively participate in its meetings and fulfil their mission accordingly. Today's debate offers an opportunity to discuss how the Security Council can improve its working methods, 70 years after its establishment, in order to reflect the current realities of the world. Among the many elements raised today by various speakers, allow me to mention a few that we believe can help improve the effectiveness of the Security Council. Despite the current positive trends in the working methods of the Security Council, we have yet to live up to the expectations of the 2005 World Summit, mainly on efficiency and effectiveness, on transparency and accountability, and on the implementation of Council decisions. In this regard, we hope that the Council will make tangible progress on the issue of penholdership on the basis of the note by the President contained in document S/2014/268, which recognized the right of any Council member to be a penholder. This reform would allow Council members representing the regions affected by conflicts on the Council's agenda to at least share the pen with the current penholders. On relations with and the role of the General Assembly, let me say that if one person is expected to work for more than 7 billion people, the people that the United Nations represents should have also their say in his or her selection. The selection of the Secretary- General should be characterized by transparency and inclusiveness, in the interests of the credibility of the Organization. Along these lines, we welcome the adoption by consensus on 11 September of resolution 69/321, on the revitalization of the General Assembly. We hope that the recommendations contained in the resolution will be fully implemented. The joint letter calling for a nomination by the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council, as well as the conduct of dialogues or meetings with candidates for the position of Secretary-General, is worthy of note and will definitely enhance the transparency and inclusivity of the selection process. On issues related to the use of the veto, Rwanda believes that there is a need to reform the use of the veto right, as proposed by the ACT group and the France-Mexico and Elders initiatives. Indeed, given the recent history of the Council and its past failures, permanent members should agree on how to refrain from exercising the veto in cases of mass atrocities and genocide. We call on the Permanent Five to remember the unique responsibility entrusted to them by the Charter and to ensure that their decisions are always guided by the quest for a sustainable solution to conflicts instead of their own geostrategic interests. Enhancing interaction and dialogue with the wider membership of the United Nations through Arria- Formula meetings or informal interactive dialogues also remains critical in increasing the effectiveness and transparency of the Council. These are very important tools that can be used in order to have a frank exchange of views with a concerned party. In the same vein, consultations among the Council, the Secretariat and the troop- and police-contributing countries, and dialogue with non-Council members, among other things, are critical to the swift implementation of Council resolutions. In addition, it is of great added value for the Council to maintain regular consultations with regional and subregional organizations, including countries that are on the agenda of the Council, for a better outcome in peacekeeping, peacebuilding and prevention. This kind of partnership will help the Security Council move from a culture of the daily management of crises to that of the effective prevention of conflicts. The Council should also take stock of the wrap- up session in the format of a public briefing, which can provide feedback to Member States. Member States are also strongly encouraged to participate in these important meetings, which are dedicated to the assessment of the activities of the Council, including the progress made, the challenges facing it and its effectiveness. With regard to the annual report of the Security Council, we hope that in the future the Security Council will consider improving its annual reports by introducing a section dedicated to the assessment of its effectiveness in the reporting period with concrete recommendations on how to act better and faster while maintaining international peace and security. While we acknowledge the progress achieved so far with regard to the working methods of the Council, much more remains to be done. While waiting for the adoption of a definitive rule of procedures, Rwanda believes that various notes on the working methods of the Council will greatly contribute to a more transparent, democratic and effective Security Council, provided that they are implemented in good faith, which will uphold the equal sovereignty of States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. Let me conclude by reiterating Rwanda's position on Security Council reform. As a member of both the African Group and the L.69 group and given our two- year experience in the Council, we believe, more than ever, that the Security Council should be expanded in both categories, with the same rights and privileges, including the right to veto, as long as it exists. In the meantime, it is critical for the Security Council to continue improving its working methods, with a focus on transparency, effectiveness, inclusiveness and fairness. After all, the Council calls, in every one of its decisions, for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. This is a real test for this body: to reflect exactly what it preaches. Therefore, walk the talk, dear Council members.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Kuwait.

Mr. AlJarallah (Kuwait) (spoke in Arabic): I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf the Group ofArab States. At the outset, Iwould like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Council for the current month and for convening this important meeting. With regard to your concept note (S/2015/793, annex) of 15 October, which includes guidelines for this meeting, and while we emphasize the importance of the topics laid out in note S/2010/507 for improving the Council's efficiency and transparency, the topic of today's meeting - the working methods of the Security Council - is one of the most important of the five key issues put forth in General Assembly decision 62/557 on the reform of the Security Council. I shall therefore focus on the theme of our meeting today. The growing challenges experienced by the international community and the substantial changes in the international reality since the inception of the United Nations in 1945 have bolstered our resolve to step up our efforts to strengthen the role of the Security Council in order to make it more capable and effective in addressing and overcoming those challenges within a more representative, transparent, neutral and credible context. The Arab Group underscores that the efficiency of the Security Council is primarily dependent on the reform of its working methods. It is necessary to develop and improve the working methods of the Council to make them more effective and transparent. Consideration must therefore be given to establishing a permanent rules of procedure, instead of the current provisional rules of procedure, which have been in effect for decades. Also, consideration must be given to increasing the number of Security Council meetings that are open to all members. Furthermore, the States concerned in the questions under discussion by the Council should be allowed a decision-making role in the Council, and such meetings should afford genuine opportunities for contributions from the general membership in the Council debate. Closed meetings and informal consultations should be minimized such that they are the exception rather than the rule. In addition to consultations with the States concerned and their participation in the Council's decision-making, in accordance with Article 31 of the Charter ofthe United Nations, the Arab Group also calls on the subsidiary organs of the Security Council and its Committees to report adequately on their activities to the members of the Council. It also underscores the need for the Council to strictly observe the limits ofits mandates established in the Charter. While the Arab Group grasps the importance of comprehensive reform of the Security Council, it recognizes the possibility of taking gradual steps with regard to improving the working methods of the Council. In this regard, we would like to stress our support for the position of the Non-Aligned Movement, established in document A/66/574, including the comprehensive detailed proposals to improve the Council's working methods and procedures, the adoption and implementation of which would effect a qualitative change in the Council's work.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor the representative of the Sudan.

Mr. Mohamed (Sudan) (spoke in Arabic): I am pleased to see you, Mr. President, at the helm of the Council for this month. At the outset, I would like to align myself with the statements made by the representatives of Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and the of Kuwait on behalf of the Group of Arab States. At the outset, I should like to reiterate my congratulations to you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Council and on organizing this important discussion to review the progress made at the procedural level and with regard to note S/2010/507 by the President of the Council on improving and enhancing the working methods of the Council in a transparent manner that would achieve the aspirations of all States Members of the United Nations, in accordance with the principles of the Charter relating to the competencies and mandates of the Security Council on the maintenance of international peace and security. I would also like to extend my thanks to you, Sir, for the concept note (S/2015/793, annex), which you circulated to States Members to inform these deliberations. Reform of the Council's modus operandi and procedures constitutes an important part of achieving comprehensive reform in a manner that establishes equitable geographic representation of the world's continents, especially with regard to Africa, which includes 54 States, and which is the region of concern in 67 per cent of the questions before the Council. While we are focusing today on the procedures necessary for improving the efficiency ofthe Council, we underscore the Position of the Non-Aligned Movement concerning the working methods of the Security Council as stipulated in the relevant paragraphs of the final document (S/2011/407, annex I), held in Bali, Indonesia, in May 2011, on the reform of the working methods of the Security Council. With regard to the implementation of presidential note S/2010/507 on the reform of procedural matters, making the Council's daily agenda available to everybody and circulating the monthly journal to all States members are priorities. We appreciate the efforts of some member States, which, while taking over the presidency, have organized a briefing to which all Member States of the United Nations are invited and all the matters on the monthly agenda are reviewed with transparency and objectivity. With regard to the briefings, despite the increase in open meetings, it is a universally acknowledged truth that the majority of the Council meetings are closed consultations for only Council members and members of the Secretariat whose guidance the Council is seeking. Transparency and objectivity require that the States concerned can participate in such consultations. I would also like to emphasize the importance of fostering the principle of consultation and cooperation between the Security Council and regional and subregional organizations, in accordance with the letter and spirit of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. We also recall that the rights of Member States are safeguarded in the Charter and the Council's provisional rules of procedure with regard to the participation of any Member State in open meetings, in accordance with rules 37 and 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There are a number of matters of concern to the Sudan currently under discussion in the Council, which manages its proceedings according to Article 34 of the Charter. In our experience, Member States must share any matter that concerns them and, when dealing with such matters, the Council should allow adequate time to the States concerned when undertaking any procedure. The matter should also be accorded further attention when it or its manifestation coincides with a weekend, as may be the case with developing events. After all, the Security Council must focus first and foremost on the maintenance of international peace and security. We appreciate the efforts on the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions. We look forward to the outcomes and recommendations of the Working Group in accordance with the annual report to be presented by the Council to the General Assembly so that all States will be able to participate in the recommendations and outcomes. (spoke in English) In conclusion, with regard to Chapter VII of the Charter, I would like to recall part of a statement delivered in the Security Council six decades ago: "A very sharp instrument has been entrusted to the Security Council by the United Nations under Chapter VII of the Charter, and the Security Council must be careful that this instrument is not blunted". I believe that statement is still valid and is even more relevant today.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of Tunisia.

Mr. Khiari (Tunisia): I understand that the last speaker has until six o'clock to deliver his statement. At the outset, let me thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this open debate on the Security Council's working methods as well as for the comprehensive concept note (S/2015/793, annex) you have presented as a guide for this discussion. I would like to also take this opportunity to congratulate the newly elected members of the Security Council - Egypt, Senegal, Japan, Ukraine and Uruguay. My delegation wishes to highlight the following key aspects that we believe are of particular importance for the reform and the improvements of the effectiveness and the transparency of the Security Council. In accordance with Article 24 of the Charter of the United Nations, Member States have conferred upon the Security Council the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, while recognizing that the Council acts on behalf of all Member States when fulfilling its duties. Therefore, to ensure the accomplishment of that mandate in a transparent and efficient way, we believe that it is imperative for the Council to further improve its openness and its communication with the broader United Nations membership. In that context, Tunisia welcomes the progress made during the past few years, in particular in the implementation of the presidential note S/2010/507. Nevertheless, we think that more efforts should be exerted to fully implement the measures set out in the note and to ensure greater coordination and dialogue between the Security Council and non-members of the Council, particularly countries involved in the decisions of the Council, and the troop- and police-contributing countries, as well as with relevant regional and subregional organizations and the Peacebuilding Commission. We also welcome the commitment made by the members of Security Council through presidential note S/2013/515 to make more effective use of public meetings, interactive dialogues, wrap-up sessions and Arria Formula meetings. Those practices contribute to increase the transparency, credibility and ability of the Security Council in carrying out its mandate and addressing emerging challenges. Private meetings and informal consultations should be kept to a minimum and ought to be the exception rather than the rule. With regard to the issues you have highlighted in your concept note (S/2015/793, annex), Mr. President, my delegation strongly believes that it is crucial to improve the cooperation and the dialogue between Security Council and other United Nations bodies, mainly the General Assembly. A rich dialogue and collaboration between the two will enhance both entities and avoid overlap between their activities and the encroachment of the Security Council on the functions and prerogatives of the General Assembly. On the other hand, the adoption ofthe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (General Assembly resolution 70/ 1) lends new impetus to the relationship between the Security Council and the United Nations Economic and Social Council. As stated in presidential statement S/PRST/2015/3, security and development are closely interlinked and mutually reinforcing and key to attaining sustainable peace. Similarly, as rightly pointed out in the concept note, the fulfilment of the functions entrusted to the Secretary-General by Articles 98 and 99 of Charter of the United Nations requires joint efforts and close collaboration with the Security Council, so as to ease the task of the Secretariat in undertaking good offices, promoting political settlement and peacekeeping, and implementing peace agreements and sanctions regimes. I would also like to address the process of the selection and appointment of the next Secretary- General. My delegation underlines the role of the General Assembly in the process, which should be transparent and inclusive and take into consideration an equal and fair distribution of candidates based on gender and geographical balance. On the right of the use of the veto, we are of the view that the exercise of that right should be restrained in cases of mass atrocities. We furthermore believe that the initiative introduced by France and the one launched by the Accountability Coherence and Transparency group, led by Switzerland and Liechtenstein, represent appropriate steps in that direction. Finally, let me ensure you, Sir, of the commitment of Tunisia to continue its support for improving the work of the Security Council as part of a comprehensive and inclusive approach in the context of the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform, in accordance with General Assembly decision 62/557.

The President (spoke in Spanish): I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.

Mr. Hahn Choonghee (Republic of Korea): My delegation would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Spain on its successful presidency of the Security Council this month. We also welcome Spain's initiative to convene today's open debate on the working methods of the Security Council. We also thank the President of the General Assembly, the Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council and the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission for their briefings this morning. We recognize that, in addition to the Security Council's relationship with non-members ofthe Council, its interaction with those bodies represents an important dynamic that can improve the overall performance of the United Nations. Against that backdrop, the Republic of Korea would like to make several comments on the working methods of the Security Council. First, improving the working methods of the Security Council is indeed an important issue for the United Nations membership as a whole. During our term as a member of the Council, the Republic of Korea made the utmost effort to promote transparency in the Council's work and to improve its interaction with the wider United Nations membership. Outside the Council, we continue our involvement on issues pertaining to the maintenance of international peace and security - through various formats made available by the Council, such as Arria Formula meetings, informal interactive dialogues and open briefings by various Special Representatives and Special Advisers. We therefore urge Council members to continue to make such occasions available as much as possible. Secondly, the Security Council's cooperation and interaction with other bodies of the United Nations is also very much desired. This morning's briefers - representing the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission - all expressed their desire to interact more closely with the Security Council. Coincidently, the Republic of Korea currently belongs to all three bodies and will make its best efforts to transform such an aspiration into substantive and practical improvements, starting with the ongoing intergovernmental process of reviewing the peacebuilding architecture. As President ofthe Economic and Social Council and as a member of the Peacebuilding Commission, the Republic of Korea attaches great importance to how peacekeeping could dovetail with peacebuilding, while taking into account the visionary global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (General Assembly resolution 70/1), in particular Goal 16, on peace, justice and institutions. In that regard, we look forward to working with the members of the Security Council in the months and years to come. My delegation is also strongly committed to implementing the recommendations of the report (8/2015/682) of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations. In particular, the call for Security Council's early engagement in conflict situations and more in-depth dialogue with the Secretariat and troop contributors should be given due attention. On its part, in Seoul this Thursday and then early next year, the Republic of Korea will host a series of international conferences on ways to implement the recommendations. Finally, on the issue of the selection of the next Secretary-General, my delegation welcomes General Assembly resolution 69/321, on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, adopted 11 September. The Republic of Korea is of the view that the selection process of the Secretary-General should be more participatory and transparent, as reflected in paragraphs 29 and 30 of that resolution. Overall, we believe that an important topic for discussion among the general membership has begun. We hope it will lead to a convergence of views that will improve the way that the Organization selects its most prominent officer. In conclusion, the Republic of Korea has long supported the idea that the working methods of the Security Council must be improved with a view to enhancing the Council's transparency, accountability, legitimacy and efficiency. We view that as an important matter within the broader context of Security Council reform. The Republic of Korea appreciates all the efforts made thus far by various delegations. We stand ready to work with others to formulate a solution that can garner the support and understanding of the broader membership.

The President (spoke in Spanish): We have heard the last speaker in today's debate. I mentioned this morning that it was my intention to take the floor in my national capacity at the end of this debate. I will therefore now make some comments and observations in such capacity - but I may perhaps not adhere to the three-minute rule. I have had a team of people from the Spanish Mission and the Secretariat here during the entire day, following with great attention each and every statement made. The team has noted the various proposals made by the members of the Security Council as well as, of course, non-members. I think that the summary I now have before me intelligently and very well distils all the currents of opinion among the membership of the United Nations. This is just a first summary; later on I will make a more detailed, written proposal to the Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, namely, the Ambassador of Angola. Six main themes were raised today. The first is the importance ofthe Security Council's working methods. Almost every speaker pointed out that, while it is the prerogative of the Council to adopt its rules of procedure, the impact of its authority means that the rules affect all of us. We have also noted full agreement on the relevance of open debates - and I have personally heard so in the last statements made today. Such meetings are important in making it possible for the Council to assess the interactive nature and effectiveness of its work and to note the contributions of the membership. In that connection, the representative of Nepal, the representatie speaking on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group, the observer of the Holy See, and the representatives of the Czech Republic and India, among others, called for follow-up to the debates and that the product of such encompass relevant contributions by Member States in the course of the debates. That is exactly what Spain is endeavouring to do today. There have been many other substantive advances in the work of the Security Council, as reflected in the various presidential notes. I join the overall commendation of the efforts by the members of the Council and by the leadership of the Chair of the Informal Working Group. The second theme has to do with practical implementation. Many Member States, including the representatives of Panama and Peru, underscored that the practical implementation of those notes was essential. I now want to point out some of the many suggestions made today for strengthening the Council's political effectiveness. The representative of the United Kingdom suggested lending greater dynamism to consultations. Speaking on behalf of several members of the Council, the representative ofAngola referred to the need for greater restrain when proposing Security Council products. The representatives of Venezuela and Uruguay spoke about a more inclusive process for drafting resolutions and presidential statements. The representative of the Russian Federation and the speaker on behalf of the ACT group called for reviewing the penholder system in order to foster greater participation by the members of the Security Council. And the representatives of Lithuania, Japan and Pakistan spoke of the need to hold a discussion on the assigning and handover of the chairmanships of the subsidiary organs. The use of the veto was raised by almost every delegation. The Mexican and French initiative was the subject of particular mention, as was the code of conduct proposed by the ACT group with regard to the Council's action in connection with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Many others referred more broadly to the reform of the Security Council. Transparency was the third major theme. In a general way, speakers recalled that, in acting on behalf of all the States Members of the United Nations, it is legitimate to expect that the Council's work is transparent, inclusive, accountable and in line with current reality. In that regard, the representatives of Algeria, Cuba, Finland, speaking on behalfofthe Nordic countries, and Thailand called for the Security Council to step up its practice of holding public meetings and to hold consultations only when necessary. Speaking on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned countries, the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran highlighted the usefulness of monthly summaries, which inform the Council's annual report. The representative of Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the ACT group, as well as the representatives of France, Germany and Mexico, emphasized their interest in monthly briefing meetings by the Council's Presidents. Spain intends to continue that practice and will convene an informal meeting open to the entire membership, to which we will also invite the members of the Council, in order to lay out what has transpired during this month. That will be ajoint exercise involving the presidency and the members of the Council. The fourth theme has to do with cooperation with other organs. There was clear consensus on the need for the Council to maintain close cooperation with other bodies of the United Nations and with regional bodies. It was felt that there was much room for improvement and that it was urgent to to do so. On behalf of various Council members, the representatives of Portugal and Angola stressed that the manner in which the Council organized its monthly programme of work should seize the opportunity to maintain constant interaction with the Secretariat, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, as well as with other organs of the United Nations system. Many noted that the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (General Assembly resolution 70/1) provides an opportunity for collaboration among the Council, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. The representatives of Australia, Chad, China, Brazil and Ukraine stressed the importance of such cooperation in conflict prevention, and many delegations emphasized the importance of using the early warning capability of the Peacebuilding Commission. The representatives of Nigeria, Egypt, Sierra Leone, speaking on behalf of the African Group, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, speaking on behalf of the Benelux countries, among many others, highlighted the need for greater Council interaction with other organs and entities, including troop-contributing countries, regional organizations and stakeholders and the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General. Some delegations, including Italy and Lithuania, explicitly referred to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, while the delegations of Germany and France in particular mentioned the International Criminal Court. The fifth theme, which raised a great deal of interest among all the delegations, was the appointment of the next Secretary-General. Most speakers identified the appointment of the next Secretary-General as one of the key decisions that we will have to take and called for greater transparency and involvement on the part of the membership in the process. The representatives of South Africa, Guatemala, Turkey and Costa Rica stressed the need for the Council to submit the names of various candidates to the Assembly. The representative of Mexico suggested that the candidates could be met in Arria Formula meetings, while the representatives of Colombia, Argentina, Poland and Venezuela, among many other delegations, stressed the importance of there being women candidates. With today's debate, Spain trusts that it has contributed to what should be the result of a transparent and inclusive dialogue between the Council and the General Assembly. The sixth theme is follow-up, which is a truly fundamental because without it the debates remain theoretical and the ideas presented never become grounded in texts. Reforming the working methods is a dynamic process. Therefore, Spain plans to grant the request of many delegations to follow up on today's I new resume my functions as President of the debate with a summary of the recommendations that Security Council. were tnadc in our discussions and which go well beyond the points that were highlighted, with the intention of guiding the Informal Working Group going forward. We welcome Member States' contributions in that The meeting rose at 6.05pm. regard, for which we thank them in advance. There being no further speakers on my list, 1 warmly thank all participants.