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Reforming the United Nations for Peace and Security

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speech at Ox<strong>for</strong>d in 1993. Ten years ago many people felt it was importantenough to support it publicly. It should at least be mentioned.The report’s proposals on streng<strong>the</strong>ning <strong>the</strong> UN Secretariat are excellent.Most certainly a Deputy Secretary-General <strong>for</strong> <strong>Peace</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Security</strong> (not anew idea) is long overdue. I believe that a Deputy Secretary-General <strong>for</strong>Management <strong>and</strong> Administration is equally important. The Oil-<strong>for</strong>-Foodaffair has once again underlined <strong>the</strong> weakness of <strong>the</strong> UN in managinglarge <strong>and</strong> complex missions <strong>and</strong> operations. Improvement is urgentlyneeded <strong>and</strong> is unlikely to be achieved with <strong>the</strong> present organizationalsetup.IMPLEMENTATIONThe Secretary-General has already agreed to take action on <strong>the</strong> report’srecommendations that fall within his authority, <strong>and</strong> to consult with <strong>the</strong>heads of specialized agencies <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r parts of <strong>the</strong> UN system on <strong>the</strong>implementation of <strong>the</strong> report’s proposals that concern <strong>the</strong>m.Some of <strong>the</strong> most far-reaching proposals can only be achieved through <strong>the</strong>support <strong>and</strong> cooperation of governments <strong>and</strong> by follow-up action in <strong>the</strong>intergovernmental organs of <strong>the</strong> UN system, starting with <strong>the</strong> <strong>Security</strong>Council. I am sure that <strong>the</strong> Panel has given much thought to <strong>the</strong> kind ofhigh-level representation that will be necessary to secure <strong>the</strong> cooperation<strong>and</strong> agreement of <strong>the</strong> UN’s member governments, <strong>and</strong> in particular of <strong>the</strong>five permanent members of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Security</strong> Council. In <strong>the</strong> past manyexcellent <strong>and</strong> <strong>for</strong>ward-looking ideas have died a dismal death being tom topieces by junior diplomats in <strong>the</strong> committees of <strong>the</strong> General Assembly. TheHigh-level Panel’s report is too important <strong>and</strong> too valuable to suffer such afate.185

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