Thank you, Mr. President.
Bangladesh welcomes the Albanian Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of September 2023, and expresses its appreciation to Albania for convening this open debate.
I would also like to thank H.E. Ferit Hoxha, Permanent Representative of Albania, for his valuable briefing.
The Informal Working Group has identified a number of gaps in the implementation of Note 507, focusing on improving open debate quality, boosting female civil society participation, and enhancing Council’s cooperation with other UN principal organs.
We all agree that the Council’s membership and structure as well as working methods are not in tune with the current realities on the ground. In order to effectively address evolving security challenges, it is crucial that the Council adopts fair, transparent, efficient, and effective working methods.
Mr. President
Allow me to share a few points in this regard:
First: The Council should strengthen its engagement with the wider UN membership. To achieve this, permanent mechanisms should facilitate consultations and information exchanges. While we appreciate open debates, we need to enhance their efficiency and explore innovative ways to involve the broader UN membership effectively. This strategic approach will not only prevent redundancy but also ensure that the Council operates within its designated mandate, without infringing upon the General Assembly’s jurisdiction. Additionally, the Council needs to expand its outreach to the affected countries when a situation is discussed in a private or closed setting.
Second: To make the Council proactive, improving coordination and cooperation among UN principal organs is crucial. For example, the Council’s engagement with the Peacebuilding Commission may be further strengthened by leveraging unique advisory role of the Commission. As such, the Council may continue seeking specific, strategic and targeted advice, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1645 (2005), 2282 (2016) and 2558 (2020). To further enhance the synergy, a follow-up mechanism may be established which will, in effect, systematize the two-way communications between the Security Council and the Commission. Furthermore, we emphasize substantive consultations with top TPCCs throughout all stages of peacekeeping missions including the transition.
Third: A comprehensive reform on the use of the veto is required taking into account the current geopolitical realities. We believe that required measures should be taken to ensure its judicious application so long as it exists, including by limiting its application only for certain compelling situations. We express our support for Resolution 76/262, as it allows Member States to express their views on the Council’s actions.
Fourth: We underscore the importance of ensuring accountability and transparency in the work of the sanction committees. The Council must assess the effectiveness of sanctions and ensure that sanctions do not have adverse humanitarian consequences for civilian populations nor adversely affect humanitarian activities carried out by the humanitarian organizations.
Finally: To promote transparency, accountability, inclusivity, and effectiveness, the Council’s workload must be shared more evenly among all its members. This applies to penholderships, co-penholderships, the selection, and chairing of subsidiary bodies.
Let us work together towards a more effective, transparent, inclusive, representative Council for all.
I thank you.