Statement 

by

H. E. Ambassador Yusra Khan

Deputy Permanent Representative

 

of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations

 

 

 

on Agenda item: 121

Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly

 

 

 

New York, 1 December 2011

 

 

Mr. President,

Indonesia would like to begin by thanking you for convening this meeting.

 

Considering the theme of our current session, “the role of mediation in the settlement of disputes by peaceful means”, it is now more important than ever that this august Assembly is strengthened, so that it too can enhance its vital role in ensuring that peaceful settlement of disputes is given the primacy that it so much deserves.

 

We strongly believe in the strong relevance between the theme of the current session and our deliberation today.

 

It should further encourage and nurture mediation efforts in a timely manner, and back preventive diplomacy and peacemaking well before conflicts shape up. On these and other common social, political and developmental challenges faced by our world today, the Assembly must be given space and enabled to perform its Charter functions effectively.

 

We welcome the adoption of the General Assembly resolution A/65/283 on mediation earlier this year, which inter-alia, establishes the forum for Member States to interact with the Secretary General on this issue, further enables the Assembly to perform its rightful oversight role, and propose concrete ways to mainstream use of mediation across the UN system.

 

Before proceeding, my delegation wishes to associate with the statement made earlier by Algeria, as our NAM Coordinator.

 

We would also like to join others in congratulating the Permanent Representatives of Tanzania and Georgia, respectively, for their appointment as the Co-Facilitators of the Ad-Hoc Working Group for the sixty sixth session.

 

Indonesia adds its voice in commending both Ambassador Camillo Gonzales of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Ambassador Dalius Cekuolis of Lithuania for their very valuable work while co-facilitating the Ad-Hoc Working Group (AHWG) during the 65^th Session.

 

We underline the importance of our forthcoming AHWG in its robustly building upon the achievements from its previous sessions. To that end, we are convinced that the resolution A/65/153 along with its preceding resolutions can and should serve as the main basis for the AHWG work.

Mr. President,

 

Allow me to highlight some points from resolution 65/315 as below, which Indonesia views are critical in taking forward the AHWG work:

 

We underscore that greater political will by countries remains central to advancing our collective efforts for energizing the Assembly. It is not for any shortage of UN resolutions and its decisions that we continue to persevere for Assembly’s revitalization after 18 years of the UN reform debate.  It is the lack or slow implementation of the already adopted resolutions on the issue that is fundamentally behind the Assembly not being able to discharge its Charter role fully.

 

Therefore, the WG should continue and intensify its efforts to identify further ways to enhance the role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency of the Assembly, inter alia, by building on the previous relevant resolutions and evaluating the status of their implementation.

 

In this regard, the Inventory Chart, annexed to the annual reports of the AHWG has proved a highly useful instrument. We welcome the stipulation in the resolution, requesting the Secretary-General to submit an update on the provisions of the General Assembly resolutions on revitalization that are addressed to the Secretariat for implementation.

 

My delegation is looking forward to learning from this update about the reasons and constraints, which might be behind the lack of implementation of the relevant resolutions.

 

We also believe that the improvement in Working Method of the General Assembly and its Main Committees ­remain very important in increasing efficiency and effectiveness of the work by the Assembly. Thus, my delegation supports the call for the Assembly Main Committees to discuss their working methods at the 66^th session. In this regard, we are ready to engage in a constructive manner with the Chairs of the Main Committees in the AHWG.

 

On the relationship with other UN principal organs and other Groups outside the UN, we wish to stress that while there should be cooperation and collaboration among these stakeholders to effectively address the many collective global challenges, it is vital that there are balanced relations between them and that they work within their mandates

 

Indonesia also welcomes the efforts by the Assembly to broaden and deepen its cooperation with the civil society as well as national and regional parliaments.

 

Mr. President,

 

Regarding the selection and appointment process of UN Secretaries-General, which has consistently been among the topics of dynamic debate in AHWG, our view is that without prejudice to Article 97, the Assembly should play a more meaningful role in the process of selection and appointment of UN Secretaries-General. We share the views expressed that there must be substantive interaction of the candidates with the Assembly, and that due regard must continue to be given to regional rotation.

 

In this regard, my delegation welcomes the work by the Joint Inspection Unit (A/65/71), proposing that the Assembly conduct hearings or meetings with candidates for the post of the UN SG.

 

We reiterate the significance for the General Assembly to play its crucial role in all aspects of the work by the various UN organs, including in the selection and appointment of the Heads of UN Agencies and Senior Officials in the Secretariat.

 

To conclude, let me once again reassure of Indonesian commitment to continue working with all delegations in the endeavor to reinforce the status and functions of the General Assembly.

 

 

I thank you.