Kutesa cites benefits for the region as his UN presidency ends

US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) shakes hands with Ugandan Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa (R) on May 1, 2014. The Ugandan diplomat expressed satisfaction with efforts to spur reform of the UN Security Council by broadening its core membership. PHOTO | FILE |  AFP

By Kevin J Kelley

In Summary

• The Ugandan Foreign minister warned that if the nations of the world fail to make the council a more effective instrument, they "risk making the UN irrelevant."
• He also expressed satisfaction with efforts to spur reform of the UN Security Council by broadening its core membership.

Reflecting on his leadership of the United Nations General Assembly, Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa said on Monday that East Africa will benefit from adoption of a "transformative agenda" focussed on ending severe poverty.

Steering the 193-nation body toward consensus on a set of sustainable development goals was his "most important achievement," Mr Kutesa said at a press briefing marking the end of his year-long tenure as president of the General Assembly.

His biggest disappointment, he added, was the assembly's inaction in response to "the disquieting rise of violent extremism."

The Ugandan diplomat expressed satisfaction with efforts to spur reform of the UN Security Council by broadening its core membership.

The General Assembly adopted on Monday a document meant to serve as a starting point for negotiating changes in the Security Council's structure.

Asked whether Africa can expect more powerful representation on the council, Mr Kutesa said "I don't think it will be done for Africa only," adding that an enhanced role for Africa could only be achieved as part of a general solution of reforming the Security Council.

The Ugandan minister warned that if the nations of the world fail to make the council a more effective instrument, they "risk making the UN irrelevant."

"Urgent action regarding the council's composition should be seen as a matter of enlightened self-interest on the part of all UN member states," the outgoing General Assembly president said.

"The UN's inability to resolve protracted crisis in Syria "serves as an indictment of our current arrangement," he added.

"One country can brake an entire process that can benefit millions of people," he noted in reference to council rules permitting any one of its five permanent members to veto actions favoured by the other members.

Mr Kutesa also counselled patience in responding to a question as to when the 20-year-long effort to reform the council might produce results.

Noting his background as "an animal conservationist in Africa," Mr Kutesa cited an African proverb to the effect that "if you want to eat an elephant, you do it bit by bit."

The General Assembly also sought during the past year to enhance its own role within the UN system, Mr Kutesa noted. Its members agreed to give the assembly a greater say in the choice of a successor to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, he recounted.

"This is an important step toward openness and transparency in the selection process," he said.

He also cited the General Assembly's response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa as one of the accomplishments of his presidency.