Statement by H.E. Ambassador YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Security Council Open Debate on “Implementation of the note by the President of the Security Council (S/2024/507): Working methods”

 
Thank you very much, Mr. President, for convening this Open Debate on the Implementation of Note 507. You know how much passion Japan has on this agenda, and we also appreciate the valuable inputs from today’s briefers. As prescribed in paragraph 111 of the Note, the members of the Council are committed to holding an annual open debate on the Security Council’s working methods, and we welcome today’s session in this regard. Japan views that the annual debate serves an important opportunity for Member States to propose ways to improve the Council’s working methods, which can be considered by the Council members in their work.
 
Japan would also like to extend its gratitude to Denmark and Pakistan for co-chairing the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions (IWG). As a country that has served as the IWG Chair four times including last year, we are fully aware of how difficult it is to gather thoughts on developing the working methods of the Council, so let me congratulate them for their dedicated efforts.
 
Mr. President,
 
Improving the Security Council’s working methods is a matter directly linked to the Council’s mandate of maintaining international peace and security, and the Council should therefore strive to establish more efficient and transparent rules.
 
Japan, therefore, is proud of its work to have developed the new Note 507. I am confident that the latest update of Note 507 fairly reflects the established practices for facilitating smooth daily business in the Council. I am delighted that Council members are now making use of the latest edition of the “Handbook on the Working Methods of the Security Council”, the so-called “Green Book”, which my mission published this past March and distributed to all the Member States that requested copies.
 
Based on the achievement we made last year, the Council is expected to implement the Note. Unfortunately, the fact that the chairs of the subsidiary bodies could not be decided on until June this year is proof that the agreements stipulated in the Note have not been fully respected. We strongly hope that agreement on which Council members will chair the subsidiary bodies for next year will be reached as soon as possible.
 
If and when cases arise where the text of the Note does not provide appropriate guidance, the Council should seek new arrangements. For instance, Japan understands that the Council members are discussing matters regarding the participation of non-Council members under Rule 37. This rule concerns all Member States, and Japan expects discussions to continue to ensure fair and equitable participation.
 
Mr. President,
 
With the election of the Secretary-General scheduled for next year, clarifying the selection process within the Security Council has become a matter of great interest not only for Member States but for the international community. In this regard, Japan would like to emphasize the importance of further efforts by the Council to achieve a more transparent process than ever before, adhering to the resolution on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly adopted this September.
 
Japan would also like to strongly recommend that current and incoming Council members refer to the identical letter issued by Ambassador BESSHO Koro, Japan’s Permanent Representative at the time, which shares lessons learnt from his experience serving as President of the Council in July 2016 when the process of selecting the next Secretary-General last took place. I believe this insightful letter will serve as a good basis for discussions in the Council to further enhance transparency, inclusivity, and predictability of the process.
 
I thank you.