NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY WELCOMES INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL
January 21, 2000 (3:30 p.m. EST) No. 7
AXWORTHY WELCOMES INCREASED TRANSPARENCY
AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today welcomed the adoption of a Note by
the President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which outlines specific
steps to render the working methods of the UNSC more transparent and accessible.
Canada led the effort to ensure a UNSC commitment to using a range of meeting
options, most of which permit access by other UN members states, as well as the
media and the public. Included in the Note are commitments to use various meeting
options to ensure that all UN member states have better access to, and can
participate in, UNSC deliberations, to hold UNSC public meetings more frequently,
and to ensure timely communication with all UN member states. This commitment
stands in sharp contrast to the previous UNSC practice of holding the vast majority
of its meetings behind closed doors.
"One of our prime objectives on entering the Security Council was to ensure that its
working methods better reflect the principles of accountability, accessibility and
democracy -- principles upon which the United Nations was based," said Mr.
Axworthy. "Our efforts have been rewarded by the adoption of this Note by the
President -- which makes clear that the secretive, closed-door way of doing
business can no longer be the modus operandi of the Security Council.
"In the wake of reports by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the tragedies of
Rwanda and Srebrenica, it is clear that the Security Council must be more
accountable to the greater United Nations membership. Effective decision making
does not fear transparency," the Minister added.
Canada has consistently called for greater interaction between the UNSC and non-members, non-governmental organizations, and others who could contribute to the
UNSC's deliberations. For example, during the February 1999 meeting on the
protection of civilians in armed conflict, on Canada's invitation, the President of the
International Red Cross addressed the UNSC for the first time. The meeting also
included briefings by the Executive Director of UNICEF and Secretary-General
Annan's Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict. This Canadian
initiative has led other UNSC members to follow suit.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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