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Bahamas Says UN Reform Must Benefit Member States

Posted on: Saturday, 17 September 2005, 09:00 CDT

Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website on 16 September

United Nations: The Bahamas Friday [16 September] said the United Nations is in dire need of reform, but insisted it must be done to the advantage of its members and the UN Secretariat.

Foreign Affairs Minister Frederick Mitchell told the United Nations World Summit that reform cannot be undertaken for its own sake or to meet the requirements for just a few.

"Nor can it be undertaken under threat of siege," he said, adding, however, that various proposals submitted by the Group of 77 and China satisfactorily address the needs of member states and the secretariat.

In addition to management reform, Mitchell said the Bahamas supported all efforts to reinvigorate the United Nations system "so as to better serve our needs".

He said the United Nations human rights machinery must bring greater credibility and efficacy to the organization's work, and that efforts should be made to formally organize the machinery and peace-building commission.

"Likewise, we encourage this assembly to bring the negotiations for a draft comprehensive convention on terrorism to a conclusion during this session," he said.

"In this regard, the Bahamas recalls and fully supports the recommendation of the High Level Panel to improve the cooperative nature of the U.N.

counter-terrorism machinery, to promote greater dialogue, and provide greater assistance to states to meet counter-terrorism guidelines."

The Foreign Minister also welcomed any initiative to find "pragmatic and innovative" ways in ensuring the effective, permanent representation of developing countries, particularly small developing states, in international economic, trade and financial institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Mitchell was particularly pleased with recognition of the concerns of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the transport of radioactive materials by sea.

"The Bahamas, along with its Caricom (Caribbean Community) partners, has consistently expressed its grave concerns regarding the threat posed to the security and environmental and economic sustainability of the Small Island Developing States of the region by trans shipment of nuclear waste through the Caribbean Sea," he said.

"It is a peril that cannot be overstated, as it threatens our very survival and way of life.

"Accordingly, we continue to call on States involved in transshipments to desist from this practice," he added.

Source: BBC Monitoring Americas

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