New York, 22 April 2010

Statement by H.E. Mr. Ivan Barbalic, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations
at the UN Security Council Debate
on Implementation of the note by the President of the Security Council (S/2006/507)

Thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this important debate. Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomes the efforts of the Security Council to improve its working methods, which have been particularly intensified in recent years. The first open debate in 1994 had historical significance and launched a true evolution, resulting in the adoption of the presidential note contained in document S/2006/507.

The measures contained in the note and their implementation reaffirm the principles of efficiency, transparency, interaction and dialogue with non-members, which are recognized not only by States members of the Security Council itself, but also by the broader United Nations membership. In today’s debate, together with non-member States, we have the opportunity to exchange views and assess the implementation of the measures set out in the annex of note S/2006/507, with the aim of improving their implementation.

Bosnia and Herzegovina attaches high importance to the implementation of the measures identified in document S/2006/507, for we are confident that it could help to promote the Security Council’s transparency, interaction with the United Nations membership and efficiency.

We are grateful to the presidency for the concept paper (S/2010/165) on the implementation of document S/2006/507. We would also agree with the analysis provided in it. Indeed, the Security Council has made progress in implementing the measures set out in document S/2006/507 and, by doing so, has achieved better efficiency and transparency, as well as interaction and dialogue with non-members.

Furthermore, we share the same views when it comes to the challenges in implementing the measures. Some of these challenges could be addressed through additional efforts by the Security Council, including in the field of information-sharing, where there is room for improvement.

The general approach of Bosnia and Herzegovina to issues related to working methods is based on the need to find a proper and adequate balance among generally accepted principles or guidelines on efficiency, transparency and interaction and dialogue with non-members. These principles are compatible, but in practice they very often contradict each other.

Bearing in mind the primary responsibility of the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security, we would like to express the position of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the following issues related to the working methods.

First, on consultations, the Security Council needs enough flexibility to allow it to choose the best format for a meeting depending on the issue being considered. While recognizing the importance of informal consultations to the decision-making process, we underline the need to balance informal consultations with public meetings. It is indicative that rule 48 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council states that “Unless it decides otherwise, the Security Council shall meet in public”.

Therefore, in the spirit of this rule, the Security Council should hold public meetings as often as possible. We also believe that it is particularly important to strengthen the interactive nature of public meetings.

Secondly, with respect to strengthening interactions with troop- and police-contributing countries, regional organizations, the Peacebuilding Commission, parties that have direct interests in an issue, and the broader United Nations membership, we welcome the progress and development of new practices, including informal interactive dialogues. We believe such interaction has the potential to enhance the quality of the Security Council’s decisions and to generate a sense of common ownership, strengthening in that way the prospects for effective implementation. Of particular significance is the interaction between the Security Council and troop-contributing countries, both in drawing up and in implementing mandates. We also urge the Secretariat to ensure the timely circulation of the reports prepared by the Secretary-General to the Security Council members, as well as to troopcontributing countries, thus contributing to the efficiency of their work.

We welcome increased interaction with regional and subregional organizations as important partners of the Security Council. The Security Council should also increase exchanges and the sharing of information with other United Nations bodies, especially the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.

Thirdly, on the way forward, the presidential note was designed to improve the efficiency of the work of the Security Council. We believe that, through its practical implementation, this goal will be largely achieved. We also believe that the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions should continue to work in order to agree on new measures in a reasonable time frame. Furthermore, we prefer the option of creating a new, consolidated text that could include the measures contained in notes S/2006/507, S/2007/784 and S/2008/847.

Finally, we are convinced that this open debate will significantly contribute to the future work of the Informal Working Group.
 
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