Statement by H.E. Dr. M. Javad Zarif

Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN
Before the General Assembly on

“Report of the Security Council” and
"Question of Equitable Representation on and
Increase in the Membership of the Security
Council and Related Matters

New York , December 11,2006

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Madam President,

I wish to begin by expressing my appreciation to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Qatar, the President of the Security Council, for presenting the annual report of the Council to the Assembly today. The report at hand, indeed, deserves a careful consideration in all its aspects, including its format and content.

We associate ourselves with the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Cuba on behalf of the NAM and concur with him that a more comprehensive and analytical annual report to the General Assembly, assessing the work of the Council including cases where the Council has failed to act, is necessary for a thorough consideration.

As to the working methods of the Council, we have noted that a few steps have been taken in the period under review. Although Important, these steps have yet to meet the legitimate expectations of the general membership that has long been calling for genuine transparency and real change in the Council's working methods.

Transparency, impartiality and fairness are key premises on which the Security Council should base its approach in discharging its Charter-mandated responsibilities. Nonetheless, we continue to witness a tendency to undermine these principles by few Permanent Members of the Council.

Such practices have continued to occur in the period under review, including a continued disregard of Article 31 of the Charter, which entitles any non-Council member to participate in discussions on matters affecting it, as well as denial of the right of the concerned countries to appraise the Council of their positions on issues directly affecting their national interest, or giving them the possibility to speak only after the decision has been made. Selective notification about some meetings of the Council, reluctance in convening daily briefings and restricting the participation of the general membership in some open debates are but a few examples of persistent deficiencies.

In our view, to increase the transparency of its work and improve its working methods, the Council should seriously take into consideration the relevant provisions of the Charter as well as the resolutions which clarify its relationship with the General Assembly, and other organs of the UN, specifically the GA resolution 58/126. In the same vain, rule 48 of the Security Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure should be thoroughly observed, and accordingly, closed meetings and informal consultations should be kept to a minimum and as the exception they were meant to be.

Madam President,

In the period under review, we have witnessed an unjustifiable increase in the number of cases of encroachment by the Security Council on the powers and mandate of other UN bodies. In doing so, the Council has taken up issues that present no threats to international peace and security or fall within the competence of the General Assembly and ECOSOC. Quick and unnecessary resort to Chapter VII of the Charter and the threat or use of sanctions, in cases where either no action has even been necessary or provisions of Chapters VI and VIII of the Charter had not been fully utilized, is yet another dangerous trend which has marked the Council's approach on certain issues despite the dissenting views of an overwhelming majority of the member states.

Even more disturbing is the persistence and exacerbation of the pattern of behavior on the part of certain powers permanently represented at the Council that have, on the one hand, continued to push this body to no action and rendering it incapacitated in cases where action was really and urgently needed, while on the other hand, rushed the Council to take unwarranted actions on cases that posed no threat to international peace and security nor presented any reason for the Council to be involved.

The Council's failure to address issues of serious concern can be best seen in its inaction toward the situation in the Middle East where the Israeli atrocities have persistently threatened and violated peace and security in the region and beyond. Last summer when the international community was deeply outraged by the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, the Council was prevented from even calling for a cease fire or even a 72 hours humanitarian truce. As a result, 34 long days of Israeli crimes went on before the Council agreed to act. Ironically and in those days, the Council hurriedly acted on Iran's peaceful nuclear program that has never posed any threat to international peace and security.

Sadly, there is a clear tendency to downgrade the Security Council to "a tool in the tool box" of certain powers, as one of its permanent members recently acknowledged. Such a dangerous intention and practice has seriously damaged the credibility and legitimacy of the Council, as the Secretary General warned in the course of Israeli aggression against Lebanon. We should not miss the momentum to rectify these shortcomings in our endeavor to reform the work of the Council.

Madam President,

The report has referred to the actions taken by the Council as regards the peaceful nuclear program of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It must be emphasized that far from reflecting – as advertised -- the concerns of the international community, the approach imposed on the Council in addressing this issue flouts the stated position of the overwhelming majority of the international community, clearly reflected in the most recent statements by Heads of State and Government of 118 members of the Non-Aligned Movement and of the OIC, who have clearly supported Iran’s rights and rejected the Council’s action. It is indeed deplorable that the propensity of certain permanent members to abuse the Security Council as an instrument of pressure has prevented them from even considering a multitude of alternatives, presented by Iran and others, that could – and still can -- guarantee Iran’s rights and at the same time preclude any possibility of diversion and in the process strengthen the NPT.

The report also refers to the situation in the Middle East, especially the Palestinian question, which has continued to be under consideration by the Council. In the period under review, the situation on the ground deteriorated as a result of Israeli aggression and crimes against the people in Gaza, west bank and Lebanon and its continued occupation of Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian lands. The Council was persistently rendered ineffective in addressing these crimes despite their gravity. During the period under review, two draft resolutions on the Palestinian issue were again vetoed and efforts to end Israeli aggression against Lebanon were thwarted and delayed for 34 days. Moreover, no action has been allowed to ensure compliance by the Israeli regime with many Security Council resolutions adopted in the last 6 decades.

The situation in Iraq has also continued to be a main item on the Council’s agenda. We are gravely concerned over the growing insecurity, terrorism and sectarian violence in Iraq that has continued unabated despite the sincere efforts made by the Iraqi Government to bring about peace, stability and development to the country. We strongly condemn all these terrorist acts, and reject all attempts that promote sectarian division in Iraq. At the same time, we should never lose sight of the fact that the root of the current mayhem in Iraq lies in the occupation of Iraq.

We have noted that the Council has continued to hold periodic meetings and receive reports on Afghanistan and has also sent a Mission to the country recently. Despite all positive and encouraging developments in Afghanistan, the Islamic republic of Iran is extremely concerned over the increase in insecurity, terrorism and opium production in Afghanistan. We are of the view that the leading role of the UN in Afghanistan should be maintained and strengthened and the security and developmental challenges of the country should be addressed through a process under the leadership and ownership of Afghans.

Madam President,

Allow me to conclude by addressing the reform of the Council. We are of the view that the composition of the Security Council does not correspond to today’s realities of the world and this deficiency should be thoroughly addressed. The debate in the Working Group has proved that, despite some limited success in the area of working methods, significant progress has yet to be made on the substantive matters such as the size and composition of the Council and the veto power. We continue to believe that the Council must become more democratic, more representative, more accountable and more effective in accordance with the provisions of the Charter. We are of the view that the legitimacy deficiency that the Council is obviously suffering from today, will only be rectified by creating a situation where developing countries are more fairly represented in the Security Council, where the question of representation by more than one billion Muslims is adequately addressed, and where democratization of the Security Council is sufficiently met.

Thank you Madam President