What Asian, African leaders say about UN reform

What Asian, African leaders say about UN reform

One of the main discussions during the two-day Asian-African
Summit which concluded on Saturday was a global demand for
sweeping reform within the United Nations so as to make it
relevant to a changing world. Some of the leaders, however,
failed to comment on the issue, including co-chair, Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The following are comments
made from some of the leaders who did speak out.

Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India:

We account for over half of humanity and we represent a
kaleidoscope of diverse cultures. Our continents bring together
most of the great religions of the world. Yet, we do not have a
commensurate voice in the international institutions of the
modern world. Democratization of the United Nations and its
specialized agencies must be a fundamental plank of our strategic
partnership. The evolving global economy needs the guiding hand
of a well-managed global polity to bring about an efficient and
equitable management of global independence.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia:

On the broad issue of United Nations reform, we must work
together to remove the power asymmetries institutionalized by the
current arrangements in the UN system. Reform of the UN must aim
towards the strengthening of the multilateral system, not
allowing its diminution. Principles should prevail over power.

Lee Hae-chan, Prime Minister of Republic of Korea:

We believe that the restructuring of the Security Council is
essential for the promotion of peace and security in the
international community. The Security Council needs to be changed
in such a manner as to enhance its representation, accountability
and operational efficiency. We also believe that the reform
should be based on the broadest possible concensus, reflecting
the balanced general interests of the UN membership.

Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria:

We should actively participate in strengthening our activities in
international organizations by coordinating our strategies and by
according each other mutually beneficial support in pursuit of
our common interests. In this context we should cooperate to
ensure timely conclusion of reform of the United Nations to
enable our regions greater participation and influence in the
decision-making organs.

Tran Duc Luong, President of Vietnam:

We should continue to deepen the traditional solidarity,
friendship and cooperation between Asia and Africa in all fields
on the basis of mutual benefit, the United Nations Charter and
the 10 Bandung principles. To this end, it is essential for us to
coordinate positions on United Nations reform toward greater
democracy, transparency and efficiency for the common benefit of
all member countries.

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, King of Nepal:

The United Nations and other multilateral institutions must be
strengthened and their initiatives should be conducted in a more
transparent and democratic manner consistent with changing
realities. It is high time that the UN paid due attention to the
problems of the small and weak economies on all fronts, including
the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and beyond.

Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan:

We need to revive the spirit of early cohesiveness of the G 77 on
economic issues. With the United Nations providing an overarching
framework, we need to work together on consensus based on UN
reform, guided by the principle of sovereign equality with due
emphasis on development issues.

Xanana Gusmao, President of East Timor:

Asia and Africa need to focus on the enhancement of cooperation
and solidarity to overcome the drawbacks of globalization.
Cooperation and solidarity will enable the two continents to play
a more decisive role in world politics, to effectively contribute
with ideas towards the process of reforming the United Nations in
ways that benefit the developing nations, to promote dialog,
reconciliation and world peace.

Hu Jintao, President of China:

We must uphold sovereign equality, jointly promote
multilateralism, push for greater democracy in international
relations, maintain the central role of the UN in international
affairs, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of the
developing countries.

Mohammad Reza Aref, First Vice President of Iran:

There is another extremely important issue currently on the
agenda of the United Nations which calls for a unanimous move
from developing countries in the issue of restructuring the UN
organization. With regard to modern international changes, it is
inevitable to reconstruct the UN to enable it to face new
challenges. We, like many other members of the UN, strongly
believe that this procedure must be more transparent, more
comprehensive and away from any imposition.