Pakistan, on Tuesday proposed that the UN Security Council should consistently discuss the implementation of its resolutions, especially resolutions on longstanding disputes like Jammu and Kashmir, while stressing the need for enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency in the 15-member body’s work.
“Failure to enforce its own resolutions undercuts not just the Security Council’s standing in the world, but the UN’s as well,” stated Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, stressing that the Council should implement its decisions non-selectively to uphold its credibility. In her comments, Ambassador Lodhi also pressed that the Council’s enhanced engagement with the wider United Nations membership was critical, as everyone had a stake in the maintenance of international peace and security. “Nothing undermines the credibility of the Council more than “selective” implementation of its resolutions,” she said on Tuesday in a debate on the ‘Working Methods of the Security Council.
The frequency and scope of open meetings must be more than what it is now, while the meaningful participation of States with a legitimate stake in the Council’s matters should be ensured throughout the decision making process, she said.
That was especially true for troop and police contributing countries, Pakistan among the constant and leading ones, she added. The Security Council should also be more transparent and must maintain balance in the work of its subsidiary organs, while elected members should have a more say on them and play a bigger role as penholders.
Ambassador Lodhi also said that the Council should rely more on diplomacy and the pacific settlement of disputes instead of enforcement measures (Chapter-VII) provided in the UN Charter. “Increasing reliance on Chapter VII can lead to impasse and at times a diminished focus on diplomacy, which is not desirable,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding better utilization of regional and sub-regional organizations in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter would also help.
“The best way to enhance the representative and democratic character of the Council is to reinforce the norms of accountability and transparency” she said.