UNSC holds expanded consultations on Council's style of work
Regional, Politics, 6/16/2001

UN Security Council (UNSC) members held expanded consultations with non-members at the council on its style of work and its non-democratic practices.

The UNSC non-members, during the consultations held late Thursday, criticized the permanent states' keenness on holding secret deliberations until the resolutions were issued, without declaring the stances of the various countries or the background against these resolutions.

Discussions were held during the meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) team entrusted with enlarging and reforming the UNSC's works. UNSC member states and others took part in the meeting.

Egypt's Chief Delegate to the UN Ambassador Ahmed Abul-Gheit said that the UNSC discussions, which were somehow characterized with intensity and encounters, reflect how far the UN members are generally dissatisfied with the secrecy surrounding the UNSC work.

"It became a basic matter that the UNSC holds deliberations behind closed door, without informing non-member states," he added.

''He also explained that many states criticized the council's lack of democracy in consultations with non-member states in matters concerning the interests of these countries, such as imposition of sanctions on a third country.

In accordance with Article 50 of the UN Charter, any country is entitled to hold consultations with the UNSC on how far it would be economically affected by the sanctions the council would impose on a third country.

Abul-Gheit highlighted the importance of the UNSC transparency and democracy in order to acquire credibility and respect of UN members.

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