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, 31 AUGUST 2020
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. President,
At the outset, I would like to thank you for convening today's plenary meeting to consider the annual report of the Security Council for 2019, as contained in document A/74/2. I wish to also thank the Permanent Representative of Indonesia for the presentation of the annual report.
2. The importance of today's debate can barely be overstated. As the Security Council in discharging its responsibilities, acts on behalf of all Member States, it is vital for the wider UN membership to be heard. 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.
3. The UN Charter also provides a clear obligation for the Security Council to submit an annual report to the General Assembly. The reporting is a crucial mechanism of accountability in governing the relationship between these two important Organs. The annual report of the Security Council, hence, deserves a substantive discussion at the General Assembly. We also call on the Presidents of Security Council and the General Assembly, on a frequent basis to explore ways of strengthening this relationship, allowing for substantive interaction and collaboration between these two Organs.
Mr. President,
4. My delegation regrets that in the last few years, the annual report submission has missed the "spring's deadline". The late submission of the report restricts Member States with ample time to prepare and engage in a more productive manner. We call on the Council to fulfill its commitment for timely submission of its report as stipulated in its President’s Note of December 2019.
5. We also note that only nine Council members have submitted their monthly assessment for 2019. In this connection, we encourage all Council members to make their reports available to the broader UN membership in a timely manner.
6. With regard to the content of the report for 2019, my delegation is also of the view that the report should have more analytical element on the Council's work for that calendar year, rather than just compilation of statistics, letters, and resolutions – that are already accessible on the Council's website. We believe that this component would provide added value for a more deliberate discussion with all Member States – with a view to improving the Council's work.
Mr. President,
7. My delegation also takes this opportunity to commend 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 these unprecedented circumstances.
Mr. President,
8. Malaysia has consistently called for a more transparent, inclusive, and accountable Security Council so that it could address the integrated nature of today’s security threats. As we celebrate the UN's 75th anniversary, we should muster greater efforts to strengthen the interaction between the Security Council and the General Assembly, recognizing that the latter is the only UN organ with universal representation. The annual report of the Security Council is an important contribution towards ensuring the credibility and legitimacy of the Council, and we hope that substantive progress could be made in the near future.
Thank you.