Egypt demands structural reform of all UN bodies
Regional, Politics, 5/16/2000

Egypt's Permanent Delegate to the UN Ambassador Ahmad Abul-Gheit said that UN General Assembly Former Chairmen were keen on inviting Egypt's representative to their meeting Thursday in recognition of the country's regional and international weight and its pivotal contribution to enhancing the role of the UN and General Assembly.

Abul-Gheit had received an invitation, together with limited number of other permanent delegates, to partake in a more than three-hour meeting with the Members of the General Assembly Presidents Council.

The consultative meeting aimed at working out necessary means for bolstering the UN role in the fields of peace, security and development.

Emerging from the meeting, Abul-Gheit underlined the need to reassess and activate the UN General Assembly role.

"The General Assembly should have the upper hand in all issues not only those related to development and human rights but also those regarding the safeguarding of international peace and security," Abul-Gheit added.

Abul-Gheit stressed the importance of reforming the UN Security Council in a manner that would boost the role and credibility of the international agency.

"The UNSC double standards in handling political issues and its varied reactions to serious matters have adverse impact on the legitimacy and credibility of its resolutions. Dual standards also tarnish the image of the international body," Abul-Gheit said.

He referred to a clear imbalance in representation inside the UNSC in favor of the major industrialized nations.

The Egyptian senior diplomat asserted that the veto right, granted to the UNSC five permanent countries since 1945, gives them an edge inside the council over the other ten members, elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly.

Abul-Gheit indicated that the world is passing through a very complicated juncture with so many countries reeling under the yoke of poverty, terrorism, military conflicts and other problems.

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