AlHijjah 13, 1432, Nov 9, 2011, SPA -- Kuwait called on the international community to step up efforts to boost and reactivate the UN Security Council's role in overcoming challenges. Addressing a UN General Assembly meeting on fair representation at the UNSC and potential expansion late Tuesday, Kuwait's Permanent Representative at the UN Abdulaziz Al-Jarallah said the UNSC needs to play a more active role in facing and meeting the current challenges and issues. He said a "decisive" position was needed today. Despite the consensus of the UNSC Member States on the principles of change, they had remained incapable of carrying out the basic steps of Security Council reform. Enlarging the Council enjoyed the support of the majority of States, he noted, but added that the question remained complicated, and political will was needed to bring the individual positions of States closer together. The final objective concerned the international community as a whole. Kuwait's position with regard to reform remained unchanged, and was based on the fact that a comprehensive vision must underlay reform. The Kuwaiti diplomat believed that coordination and balance between United Nations organs and bodies must be stressed. Reform must reflect the current international situation, which has changed since 1945. He went on to note that the working tools of the Council must be improved, with an increase in transparency and accountability. Also, the question of the veto must be considered and a "reasonable" control of its use mandated, Al-Jarallah requested. Finally, an increase in the number of seats of the Council should give a greater opportunity for small States to participate in the Council's work. Additionally, the rights of Arab States and Muslim States to participate must be promoted, in keeping with their importance to the defence of the principles of the Charter, KUNA reported.
