Initial reaction to the Report of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.

Brazil, Germany, India and Japan welcome the Report of the High-level Panel and thank the Secretary-General as well as the Panel for having created new momentum in the debate about reforms needed to face tomorrow's interconnected threats. The timing of the Secretary-General in initiating the needed broad based debate is highly commendable, as the threats lying ahead are unparalleled in kind and scope.

We support the call for a comprehensive approach. The interconnection of threats to international peace and security is more evident than ever before. In particular, we agree with the Panel's view that development and security are closely linked.

An effective multilateral system is essential to cope with the challenges of today's world. No individual state can protect itself from global threats, let alone find sustainable solutions. Therefore a common understanding is needed on the future of collective security and the necessary institutional reforms.

Having this in mind, we will actively participate in the efforts towards more effective policies and in adapting the UN System to the realities of today's world.

In order to comment on the proposals in detail, we will first have to consider the report thoroughly. For the time being, we will restrict ourselves to some preliminary observations:

We believe the Panel has put the focus on the right issues: economic and social threats, including poverty and infectious disease and environmental degradation, inter-state conflict, internal conflict, including civil war, genocide and other large scale atrocities, nuclear, radiological, chemical and biological waepons, terrorism as well as transnational organized crime. We also share the importance attributed to institutional reform as an essential tool to adress many of these issues.

Developmental issues are closely linked to global security. Perceptions of injustice due to extreme poverty and lack of opportunity to improve living conditions often provide fertile breeding grounds for terrorism, civil unrest, intra state and inter state conflict. We should therefore make joint efforts - both developed and developing countries - to effectively promote development.

The issue of legality and legitimacy of the use of force has, for good reason, attracted great attention for a number of years. We will carefully consider the criteria developed by the Panel in this context.

Institutional reforms are essential if the UN is to perform in a way that will generate the needed trust and support among the membership. This applies to several bodies, most importantly to the Security Council.

The expansion of both categories of Security Council membership, permanent and non-permanent, and the inclusion of developing countries in both, will remedy the Council's structural shortcomings. Such a proposal figures, inter alia, in the High-level Panel report and will enable the Security Council to reflect today's realities.

The international community needs to embrace this opportunity wholeheartedly to bring about the needed change. It is a historic moment, "a fork in the road" as the Secretary-General said when he announced setting up the Panel.

Many of the issues have been discussed for long years. Possible solutions, options, interests, set backs and advantages are well known.

We therefore believe in acting, with the required attention and without artificial acceleration, or delays. The time between now and the September Summit should be fully used so as not to lose the current momentum.

This requires a result oriented organization of the work: all major clusters of issues should be discussed in parallel. Achievable results must be secured, if need be voted. No issue should be made hostage to others. Only by consolidating a maximum of results prior to the September Summit will we make of this event the major success we are looking for.

We therefore welcome President Ping's intention to start work in the General Assembly soon and to nominate a Group of Friends at the earliest that will support him in organizing this highly complex endeavour.

Related Information:
Report of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change