Statement by Ambassador Asoke K. Mukerji, Permanent Representative at the Joint Debate on Agenda Item 117: Implementation of the Resolutions of the United Nations & Agenda Item 118: Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly at the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on November 18, 2014

Mr. President,

1. Thank you for convening this important meeting.At the outset, allow me to align myself with the statement made by Algeria on behalf of Non-Aligned Group.

2. I would like to express our appreciation for the good work done by co-chairs of the Ad Hoc working group during the previous session, H.E. Mr. Frantisek Ruzicka, the Permanent Representative of Slovakia and H.E. Mr. Norachit Sinhaseni, the Permanent Representative of Thailand.

3. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate H.E. Mr. Wilfred I. Emvula, the Permanent Representative of Namibia and H.E. Mr. Vladmir Drobnjak, the Permanent Representative of Croatia for their appointments as Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group during the 69th session and wish them success in this endeavor.

Mr. President,

4. We believe that the issue of General Assembly revitalization has assumed particular significance in recent years. This is quite vividly captured in the emphasis which you Mr. President have placed on UN reform, including the revitalization of the General Assembly and reform of the Security Council.

Mr. President,

5. In your acceptance speech in June 2014, you had rightly pointed out that, Today, the world is vastly different from what it was in 1945. While the principles of the organization remain solid, the changing world necessitates that, we adjust to the new and changing realities. Central to this, is the continuous revitalization of the General Assembly; and reform of the Security Council and other relevant UN bodies.

6. Similarly, we also believe that urgent and comprehensive UN reform is imperative to make it reflective of current geopolitical realities and enhance its capability to meet increasingly complex and pressing transnational challenges of our time. These would include the issues of peace and security, development, human rights, the environment and health, among others.

7. We are appreciative of the importance that you, Mr. President, have attached to these issues. You can count on India's support in these endeavors of yours.

Mr. President,

8. We believe that the General Assembly will not be empowered merely by strengthening procedures and streamlining working methods. It will only be empowered if its position as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations under Article 10 of the UN Charter is respected in letter and in spirit. This requires that the General Assembly should take the lead in setting the global agenda and restoring the centrality of the United Nations in formulating multilateral approaches to resolving transnational issues. In particular, revitalization must restore the primacy of the UN in development matters.

Mr. President,

9. We would like to make three points in this context.

First of all, it is critical that the issue of preventing encroachment upon the mandate of the General Assembly, and making the Security Council more responsive to it must be addressed. The encroachment by the Security Council on issues that traditionally fall within the GA's competence are of particular concern. The consequent undermining of the role and authority of the General Assembly needs to be redressed. The resort to thematic debates and, of late, Resolutions in the Security Council, on issues that very often fall within the purview of the General Assembly or the Economic and Social Council, remains an area of concern. The balance between the principal organs of the United Nations as stipulated by the Charter must be respected and maintained.

Second, the General Assembly, being the voice of the international community, must be given a greater say in the selection of the UN Secretary-General.The continued circumscribing of the Assembly's role and responsibilities in the process of selection and appointment of the Secretary General needs to change. This is in the interests of the United Nations system in general, and the Assembly's prerogatives in particular. Efforts to put in place a more inclusive and transparent procedure for the appointment of the Secretary-General, consistent with Article 97 of the Charter, need to be undertaken without further delay.

And, thirdly, the Assembly and the other entities that form part of the UN system must reflect best practices in its day to day functioning. This would require a review of the way the Assembly conducts its business, including, for example, the just concluded elections to the ICJ. Our attention is also drawn to the fact that the Report of the Human Rights Council is debated in both the plenary and the Third Committee. Some delegations which spoke on this subject in the plenary yesterday are, even as to speak, repeating their statements in the Third Committee today. This, perhaps, is infructuous.

Mr. President,

10. In our view, the primacy of the Assembly flows from the universality of its membership as well as the diligent application of the principle of sovereign equality of all its members. Ownership therefore, of the Assembly's decisions and activities, is reflected in the degree of participation by member-states. So, the presence of political will on part of member-sates to take concrete measures to reinforce the role and authority of the Assembly is of utmost importance.

Mr. President,

11. In conclusion, let me re-emphasize the need to discuss substantive measures that would strengthen the role of General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative body of the international community.

12. You can count on my delegation's constructive support and participation in these efforts.

I thank you, Mr. President.

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