第77回国連総会議題126「国連システムの強化」における大菅大使ステートメント
令和4年10月10日
(As delivered)
Mr. President,
The High-level Week of the 77th session of the General Assembly brought into the open the sense of crisis among the Member States that today, the international order is being seriously challenged and the role of the United Nations is being tested. In the past quarter of a century, our Leaders discussed in numerous occasions how to strengthen the UN in a holistic manner. Their visions and decisions are reflected in the outcomes of major UN summits, in particular, the Millennium Declaration and 2005 World Summit Outcome. As the majority of Member States aspire to strengthen the UN system under the current crisis, we should revert to those documents and review if they are being properly followed up. Japan therefore considers this joint debate on three items truly relevant and important.
Mr. President,
The trust in the United Nations has been severely damaged by the aggression by a permanent member of the Security Council against its neighbour. In order to restore trust, it is essential to return to the visions and principles of the UN Charter and uphold the rule of law in the international community. In 2005 World Summit Outcome, our Leaders recognized “the need for universal adherence to and implementation of the rule of law at both the national and international levels” and reaffirmed their commitment to “an international order based on the rule of law and international law, which is essential for peaceful coexistence and cooperation among States.” We must strengthen the functions of the UN along these lines.
It is also important that the Security Council, which holds the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, should give every consideration to the peaceful settlement of disputes. As an incoming non-permanent member, Japan will do its utmost to ensure that the Council and the GA function effectively to make the rule of law prevail.
Mr. President,
The world of today is not what it was 75 years ago. There are more countries, more people, and more challenges. We should not hesitate to update the UN Charter while defending its unchanging purposes and principles. During the High-level Week, we heard many Leaders, including permanent members of the Security Council, raise their voices for the reform of the UN which instilled new life into the debate on the Security Council reform. The reform is not for any particular Member State, but for future generations of all countries to enjoy peace and prosperity. We need concrete action. It is high time we move to text-based negotiations.
At the same time, there is room for improvement that can be realized without revising the Charter. In 2005 World Summit, our Leaders recognized that they were facing a whole range of interlinked threats, that “development, peace, security and human rights are mutually reinforcing,” and also that “addressing such threats requires cooperation among all the principal organs of the United Nations within their respective mandates.” To strengthen the nexus, it would be meaningful to activate the discussion at the Security Council on issues such as global food and energy crisis, climate change, oceans, space and cyber security. Digital technology can also be better used to improve the transparency and efficiency of the Council.
Mr. President,
Japan also prioritizes strengthening of the General Assembly as the sole universal organ where all Member States gather and demonstrate the whereabouts of a just cause of the international community.
In order to enable the GA Presidents to achieve results in their short one-year term, a solid organizational back up by the Secretariat as well the support from Member States are indispensable. We should make full use of existing fora, such as the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, to make the GA debates and decisions more relevant to the impending global issues while improving its efficiency by streamlining its agendas and working methods.
Attention should also be paid to the complementarity between the Security Council and the General Assembly, particularly in case veto is cast at the Council. GA Resolution 377 (V), "Uniting for Peace," is a mechanism established in anticipation of the Council’s dysfunction. GA resolution 76/262, adopted in April this year also imposes stronger accountability with regard to the exercise of veto. The GA meetings held under these mechanisms this year were instrumental in clearly demonstrating the strong will of the international community on serious security issues.
Mr. President,
The role of the Secretary-General also needs to be strengthened. The good office of the SG and his envoys plays a very significant role. The SG can also proactively call the attention of the Security Council to situations that are recognized as threats to the maintenance of international peace and security. Japan commends Secretary-General António Guterres for his clear condemnation of the outrages that violate the UN Charter and international law. We are encouraged by the SG's initiative in the evacuation of civilians from the Azovstari steel plant and the export of grain from the Black Sea.
Japan is willing to take an active part in the follow-up process of the Secretary-General’s "Our Common Agenda" which has its origin in the Declaration of our Leaders on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the UN. The Member States need to seriously discuss what kind of world they want to hand over to future generations, and prepare for the SDG Summit next year and the Summit of the Future in 2024. The successful outcome of the Transforming Education Summit (TES) in September should be one of valuable inputs to this process.
What needs to be done to reform and strengthen the functions of the UN, including the Security Council, in such a way that the Organization will revert to the visions and principles of the Charter? We have high expectation that the High-Level Advisory Board and other stakeholders will make useful recommendations and “instil new life” to the discussions on strengthening multilateralism with the UN at its core.
Mr. President,
The common challenges faced by the citizens of the world are by no means limited to those directly linked to peace and security. They include issues such as pandemics, climate change, natural disasters, food and energy shortages, poverty, inequality and many others. They are all intimately interlinked and threaten the survival, livelihood and dignity of individuals, in particular the most vulnerable people.
In this new era of multifaceted uncertainties, Japan will work closely with other Member States under the UN framework so that we will enhance the resilience of individuals, societies and nations, come closer to achieving the SDGs and realize human security without leaving anyone behind.
Thank you.
The High-level Week of the 77th session of the General Assembly brought into the open the sense of crisis among the Member States that today, the international order is being seriously challenged and the role of the United Nations is being tested. In the past quarter of a century, our Leaders discussed in numerous occasions how to strengthen the UN in a holistic manner. Their visions and decisions are reflected in the outcomes of major UN summits, in particular, the Millennium Declaration and 2005 World Summit Outcome. As the majority of Member States aspire to strengthen the UN system under the current crisis, we should revert to those documents and review if they are being properly followed up. Japan therefore considers this joint debate on three items truly relevant and important.
Mr. President,
The trust in the United Nations has been severely damaged by the aggression by a permanent member of the Security Council against its neighbour. In order to restore trust, it is essential to return to the visions and principles of the UN Charter and uphold the rule of law in the international community. In 2005 World Summit Outcome, our Leaders recognized “the need for universal adherence to and implementation of the rule of law at both the national and international levels” and reaffirmed their commitment to “an international order based on the rule of law and international law, which is essential for peaceful coexistence and cooperation among States.” We must strengthen the functions of the UN along these lines.
It is also important that the Security Council, which holds the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, should give every consideration to the peaceful settlement of disputes. As an incoming non-permanent member, Japan will do its utmost to ensure that the Council and the GA function effectively to make the rule of law prevail.
Mr. President,
The world of today is not what it was 75 years ago. There are more countries, more people, and more challenges. We should not hesitate to update the UN Charter while defending its unchanging purposes and principles. During the High-level Week, we heard many Leaders, including permanent members of the Security Council, raise their voices for the reform of the UN which instilled new life into the debate on the Security Council reform. The reform is not for any particular Member State, but for future generations of all countries to enjoy peace and prosperity. We need concrete action. It is high time we move to text-based negotiations.
At the same time, there is room for improvement that can be realized without revising the Charter. In 2005 World Summit, our Leaders recognized that they were facing a whole range of interlinked threats, that “development, peace, security and human rights are mutually reinforcing,” and also that “addressing such threats requires cooperation among all the principal organs of the United Nations within their respective mandates.” To strengthen the nexus, it would be meaningful to activate the discussion at the Security Council on issues such as global food and energy crisis, climate change, oceans, space and cyber security. Digital technology can also be better used to improve the transparency and efficiency of the Council.
Mr. President,
Japan also prioritizes strengthening of the General Assembly as the sole universal organ where all Member States gather and demonstrate the whereabouts of a just cause of the international community.
In order to enable the GA Presidents to achieve results in their short one-year term, a solid organizational back up by the Secretariat as well the support from Member States are indispensable. We should make full use of existing fora, such as the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, to make the GA debates and decisions more relevant to the impending global issues while improving its efficiency by streamlining its agendas and working methods.
Attention should also be paid to the complementarity between the Security Council and the General Assembly, particularly in case veto is cast at the Council. GA Resolution 377 (V), "Uniting for Peace," is a mechanism established in anticipation of the Council’s dysfunction. GA resolution 76/262, adopted in April this year also imposes stronger accountability with regard to the exercise of veto. The GA meetings held under these mechanisms this year were instrumental in clearly demonstrating the strong will of the international community on serious security issues.
Mr. President,
The role of the Secretary-General also needs to be strengthened. The good office of the SG and his envoys plays a very significant role. The SG can also proactively call the attention of the Security Council to situations that are recognized as threats to the maintenance of international peace and security. Japan commends Secretary-General António Guterres for his clear condemnation of the outrages that violate the UN Charter and international law. We are encouraged by the SG's initiative in the evacuation of civilians from the Azovstari steel plant and the export of grain from the Black Sea.
Japan is willing to take an active part in the follow-up process of the Secretary-General’s "Our Common Agenda" which has its origin in the Declaration of our Leaders on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the UN. The Member States need to seriously discuss what kind of world they want to hand over to future generations, and prepare for the SDG Summit next year and the Summit of the Future in 2024. The successful outcome of the Transforming Education Summit (TES) in September should be one of valuable inputs to this process.
What needs to be done to reform and strengthen the functions of the UN, including the Security Council, in such a way that the Organization will revert to the visions and principles of the Charter? We have high expectation that the High-Level Advisory Board and other stakeholders will make useful recommendations and “instil new life” to the discussions on strengthening multilateralism with the UN at its core.
Mr. President,
The common challenges faced by the citizens of the world are by no means limited to those directly linked to peace and security. They include issues such as pandemics, climate change, natural disasters, food and energy shortages, poverty, inequality and many others. They are all intimately interlinked and threaten the survival, livelihood and dignity of individuals, in particular the most vulnerable people.
In this new era of multifaceted uncertainties, Japan will work closely with other Member States under the UN framework so that we will enhance the resilience of individuals, societies and nations, come closer to achieving the SDGs and realize human security without leaving anyone behind.
Thank you.