MUGABETO ADRESS UN TODAY

The Security Council is in danger of becoming increasingly inefficient and illegitimate if it is not urgently reformed, United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-Moon, has said.

Mr Ban said this as he officially opened the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly here yesterday.

President Mugabe and other world leaders were in New York as Mr Ban opened the global organisation’s Grand Debate for the last time, with world leaders expected to select his successor after 10 years at the helm of the world body.

President Mugabe was accompanied to New York by First Lady Grace Mugabe, son ChatungaMinisters Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign Affairs) and Dr Walter Mzembi (Tourism and Hospitality Industry) and senior Government officials.

The Zimbabwean leader is expected to address the General Assembly and make his contribution to the Grand Debate today. Yesterday, Mr Ban echoed Zimbabwe and Africa’s calls for changes to the main organs of the UN, namely the Security Council and the General Assembly.

“Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Member states have still not agreed on a formula for reform of the Security Council — a continuing risk to its effectiveness and legitimacy.

“In the same spirit, I want to put on the table today a major and much needed reform for fairness and effectiveness in the United Nations. Far too often, I have seen widely-supported proposals blocked in the name of consensus by a few, or sometimes even just one country. We see this being done by large and small countries alike. Time and again, I have seen essential action and good ideas blocked in the Security Council. Blocked in the General Assembly. Blocked in the budget process. Blocked in the Conference on Disarmament and other bodies.

“Is it fair in this complicated 21st century for any one country, or a few countries, to yield such disproportionate power and hold the world hostage on so many important issues? Consensus should not be confused with unanimity. The global public is right to ask whether this is how an organisation in which we have invested so much hope and aspirations should function,” he said.

Mr Ban also slammed attempts to undermine the independence of the UN Secretariat. Herald