To Become a More Vibrant and Effective Organization: ROK to Play Its Part And More for UN's Successful Endeavors: Minister Ban
The following are excerpts from a paper "The Republic of Korea and the United Nations at Sixty Years," addressed by Ban Ki-moon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, at a luncheon meeting hosted by the United Nations Association of the Republic of Korea (UNA-ROK - President: Park Soo-gil) to commemorate the 60th United Nations Day, on October 24, 2005, at Plaza Hotel in Seoul. - Ed.
This year, the day is even more special. As anyone accustomed to tradition in this part of the world would know, the 60th birthday is very special. It marks the completion of one's life-cycle. In the old days, when life expectancy was short, it meant the rest of life was a process of disengagement and withdrawal. But these days, it means an opportunity for renewal and transformation toward greater fulfillment in life. Other countries may not share this tradition, but all members would share the view that the United Nations, at 60 years of age, is at a vital turning point. The organization is called upon to change and reform to take charge of the 21st century and meet the growing expectations of the peoples around the world. Indeed, the past few years have been rich with debate and ideas on how the organization should be reformed. Building upon the discussions, the UN must make hard choices and undertake difficult tasks in self-renewal. As friends and supporters of the United Nations, you must keep close track of UN developments and are well aware of the significance of the World Summit last month and its outcome. I would just like to highlight some of the key elements that are particularly important to the Republic of Korea. First, we very much welcome the renewed commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and applaud the timetables offered by many developed countries to reach the target of 0.7% of GNI (Gross National Income) for official development assistance by 2015. As an emerging donor, the Republic of Korea has doubled its own development assistance since the Millennium Summit in 2000 and aspires to reach the target of 0.1% of GNI by the end of the decade. Second, we are strongly supportive of the establishment of a peace building commission (PBC) at the United Nations by the end of this year, as instructed in the outcome document of the Summit. Peacekeeping operations (PKO) mandated by the Security Council have been one of the most significant undertakings by the United Nations. However, too many postconflict societies have fallen back into conflict once the peacekeepers left. Obviously, systematic efforts are needed to stabilize the peace and assist the society in making a solid transition toward normalcy. Hence, the need for a more vigorous peace building efforts by the United Nations. Korea's own experience amply demonstrates the need for sustained cooperation and assistance from the international community for a post-conflict society to make the transition to peace and prosperity. Third, we wholly support the creation of a Human Rights Council under the General Assembly. The Council would replace the current Commission on Human Rights, which is a functional commission under the Economic and Social Council. The UN machinery on human rights should rightly be elevated to the same level of profile and importance as peace and development. However, the issue is a sensitive one, and the diplomats in New York have much to work out in terms of the formation and work of the Commission. We very much hope for an early conclusion to their work, in a way that clears the air of the politicization and divisiveness that has discredited the UN's discussion on human rights in recent years. The work must be guided by a recommitment by all UN members to the original ideals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Republic of Korea is committed to human rights and democracy, at home and abroad. We remain a strong supporter for the continuing mission of the United Nations, to support democracies and human rights and the rule of law around the world. Fourth, on the reform of the Security Council, we have long sustained the position that if the goal is to enhance its accountability, representativeness and effectiveness, then the best option is to increase the number of elected seats on the Council, without any addition of permanent seats. Ours is a principled position, and not one in favor or against any particular country. The issue has been the source of much division at the United Nations during the past year. The best way forward, we believe, is to foster broadbased consensus on this vital issue. Fifth, we fully support the UN management reforms, as initiated by the Secretary- General and endorsed in the outcome of the World Summit. The credibility and integrity of the system has been damaged by a series of mismanagement and corruption cases in recent years, not least of which is the oil-for-food scandal. These may have been isolated incidents, but the general perception is that they are symptomatic of deep-seated systemic issues of an organization designed for simpler times. The system must be reformed and revitalized for these much more complex and challenging times. The goal should be strengthened accountability and oversight, higher performance and ethical standards for staff, and greater authority and responsibility for the Secretary-General as the chief administrative officer of the Organization. Sixth, on terrorism, we fully joined in the strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as clearly stated in the outcome of the World Summit. The Republic of Korea is a party to all 12 international terrorism conventions in force. Furthermore, we have been among the first to sign the 13th treaty, that is, the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, as soon as it was opened for signature last month. We continue to actively take part in the UN efforts to conclude a comprehensive convention on international terrorism as promptly as possible. Seventh, the proliferation of WMD is among the most pressing international security challenges. The Republic of Korea is fully committed to the global nonproliferation regime and is an active participant in global and regional efforts to halt the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Thus, we are disappointed that the outcome of the World Summit was silent on this issue. After years of stalled negotiations in the field of disarmament, including at the 4th review conference on NPT in April this year, we had very much hoped that the Summit would provide a breakthrough. Unfortunately, the gap between the hardened views of the major players was simply too wide for an agreement to be reached even at the summit. But we have not lost heart. We remain steadfast in doing what we can to strengthen the global nonproliferation regime, including by joining the call for an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and actively seeking a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue through the Six-Party Talks. We also look forward to the next opportunity for the international society to come together to advance the global non-proliferation agenda.
To some, the failure of the World Summit to make progress on WMD non-proliferation and other cases of deadlock at the United Nations are an indication that the global body is ineffectual on the critical issues of the day. Indeed, during the Cold War era, that had frequently been the case. With the big powers playing out their rivalry in the global forum, the United Nations had been marginalized and unable to actively perform many of the roles that its founding fathers had prescribed. Few expected it to do any better. However, we need only to think of the rich and diverse body of global norms that the United Nations has produced over the last six decades to realize that deadlock has been the exception rather than the norm for the United Nations. Furthermore, freed from the constraint of the Cold War global order, the United Nations is now taking charge, and the accomplishments are being noted. As an example, in the area of peace and security, a recent study sponsored by five governments and reported in the media shows that armed conflicts have declined by more than 40% since 1992, and the number of international crises fell by more than 70% between 1981 and 2001. The biggest reason, the study points out, is the UN's expanding role in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and post-conflict peace building activities. Indeed, the challenge now for the UN is too much expectation rather than too little. The high expectation can be the source of another kind of criticism launched against the United Nations: that it is all about talk with little action. But without talk and discussion among all interested countries on what action to take, there can be no action to speak of, or one that has wide support. Indeed, the fundamental nature of the United Nations is talk - a process of intergovernmental deliberation where words are the means to narrow gaps and forge agreements. With countries arguing from their own positions, progress is necessarily slow. On a day-to-day basis, little seems accomplished. But the long-term view makes clear that there is progress for sure. The primary responsibility for action called for by the agreements so reached lies with individual governments, and the blame for inaction should also fall primarily on individual governments. The Republic of Korea is a firm believer in the deliberative democracy of the United Nations and a faithful implementer of its agreements. We are a relatively young member of the global organization, having joined only in 1991. Only 23 out of 191 member states are younger. Since joining, however, we have become actively engaged in all areas of its work, and our presence can be found in many corners of the vast UN terrain. No other country would harbor greater affection for and trust in the global organization as the Republic of Korea. The country's own evolution during the past six decades has been achieved in close ties with the United Nations. The birth of the Republic was the result of UN-sponsored elections that created the first government in 1948. A few years later, the fledgling democracy was saved from communist aggression by allied forces fighting together under the UN banner. After the war, when the country lied in total ruin, it was the UNled assistance for reconstruction that brought us back on our feet. The following decades of economic development were also generously assisted by the United Nations and other international organizations. In our struggle for democratization, we took inspiration and guidance from the values of human rights and democracy that the United Nations stood for. Now a thriving market economy and maturing democracy, the Republic of Korea stands as a shining example of success for the ideals that the United Nations has striven to achieve around the world. Thus indebted to the United Nations in so many ways, the Republic of Korea aspires to do what it can to strengthen and reform the global body so that it may effectively deal with the challenges of the 21st Century. Our unique accomplishment in economic and social development enables us to play a bridging role between developed and developing countries: our experience in democratization, between mature democracies and transitional societies aspiring towards democracy. The world is becoming more and more integrated as globalization deepens in the 21st Century. Collective deliberation and action, in matters of peace and security, development, and human rights, are increasingly needed for the integration to be smooth and beneficial to all. The United Nations has much work ahead as it enters the 7th decade. The Republic of Korea will play its part and more, for the success of the United Nations in its endeavors to become a more vibrant and effective organization for the 21st Century. ¡Ú
The following are excerpts from a paper "The Republic of Korea and the United Nations at Sixty Years," addressed by Ban Ki-moon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, at a luncheon meeting hosted by the United Nations Association of the Republic of Korea (UNA-ROK - President: Park Soo-gil) to commemorate the 60th United Nations Day, on October 24, 2005, at Plaza Hotel in Seoul. - Ed.
