Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
FOREIGN AFFAIRS Minister K.D. Knight on Tuesday re-emphasised the need for reform within the United Nations (UN).
Delivering his contribution to the 2005/2006 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, Mr. Knight said Jamaica's perspective on the reform proposals would reflect its interest in promoting and safeguarding the UN's role in
sustainable development.
He said Jamaica wanted reform to bring coordination of the UN's work programme, particularly concerning small developing states and initiatives to alleviate poverty.
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
"Jamaica particularly sees the need for the increased participation of developing states in the decision-making process of the UN to strengthen (the UN's) capacity to consider development issues in the wider multilateral
system," Minister Knight said.
He said Jamaica's thrust to reform the UN is based on recommendations of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, which UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan initiated.
He added that another report, 'In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security and Human Rights for All', would support Jamaica's case for reform. That document, Mr. Knight said, would be discussed at the 60th session of the UN General Assembly in September.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson is expected to lead Jamaica's delegation to the event.
FOR REVAMP
Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Minister noted that Jamaica has been pressing for a revamping of the UN Security Council, to make it "more democratic in nature, more representative in scope and more transparent in its operations and procedures."
He said Jamaica would "continue to be engaged in discussions to develop consensus and common positions on the principles governing the reform of the Council, the expansion of the permanent and non-permanent membership and the use of veto (powers)".
He said Jamaica and other UN member-states believed that an expanded Security Council should include increased representation from the developing world, in keeping with the important move towards democratic global governance.
SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM
"However, Jamaica will seek to ensure that preoccupation with Security Council reform will not be allowed to obfuscate the critical need for reform of the entire UN system in which the development agenda receives priority attention," Minister Knight said.
He added that Jamaica would have dialogue with other UN member-states on issues which continue to retard the progress of developing countries. These issues include the persistence of poverty, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the illicit trafficking in drugs and small arms, and the growing threat of transnational organised crime and acts of terrorism.
