STATEMENT BY
H.E. SYED MOHAMAD HASRIN AIDID
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE INFORMAL MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL
NEW YORK, 11 JUNE 2021
Mr. President,
Let me begin by thanking you for convening today's plenary meeting to consider the annual report of the Security Council for 2020, as contained in document A/75/2. I wish to also thank the Permanent Representative of Estonia for the presentation of the report.
2. Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate in advance all newly elected Members of the Security Council for 2022 – 2023.
Mr. President,
3. Today's debate is important for a number of reasons. First, the Security Council is obligated under the UN Charter to submit an annual report to the General Assembly for the latter’s consideration. Second, the members of the Security Council, elected or non-elected, act on behalf of the general membership; and this debate is an important accountability mechanism that governs the relationship between the two Organs. Finally, this debate allows the membership to give its views on the entire work of the Council during the reporting period.
Mr. President,
4. Malaysia welcomes the deliberation of the Council's annual report at the General Assembly in spring this year compared to August in the previous year. With regard to the content of the report for 2020, my delegation continues to call for a more analytical and reflective report, rather than just a compilation of statistics, letters, and resolutions. The report is still far from being the substantial document needed to allow Member States to satisfactorily assess the Council's work– with a view to improving its work. In addition, the report could have offered analysis on the Council's actions as well as inactions and polarisation in addressing some international peace and security threats, including in highlighting violations of Security Council's resolutions.
5. We also note that only eight Council members have submitted their monthly assessments for 2020. In this connection, we continue to call all Council members to make their reports available to the broader UN membership in a timely manner.
6. We also note the challenge faced by Council members in making frank assessment due to the unanimity requirement. However, we believe Council members are capable of being innovative in presenting their presidency assessments. In this connection, we strongly welcome the efforts undertaken by Estonia, Belgium, Germany, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in taking this approach for their report last year.
Mr. President,
7. My delegation commends some positive developments in enhancing accountability, transparency, and coherence of the Security Council. We applaud the monthly presidency informal briefings by Council members on their work and the convening of Open Debates as well as Arria Formula meetings. We also commend the constant efforts of the Council in exploring practical working methods during the reporting period amid the Covid-19 pandemic. However, we hope that in-person participation of wider UN membership in the open meetings can be reinstated to allow for more meaningful engagement.
Mr. President,
8. Although the Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, it does not, and should not, act entirely in isolation. Its engagement with other principal UN Organs and the wider membership is crucial in addressing the cross-cutting issues, as well as in improving the efficiency, credibility and legitimacy of the Security Council. We hope that more substantive progress can be made concerning the report in the future.
Thank you.