December 14, 2008 17:25 PM

Un Security Council Must Be Reformed, Says Hasmy Agam

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- The Security Council of the United Nations (UN) must be reformed, former Malaysian permanent representatives to the UN Tan Sri Hasmy Agam said today.

He said the reform must eventually take place in the international body in order to avoid further practice of double-standards in dealing with problems such as the Palestine and Israel conflicts.

"The UN in the 21st century should be a different kind of UN compared to he old days. There is no other alternative, but the question is how to do it," he said during his talk on "The State of The World and Malaysia's Response: A Diplomat's Perspective" organised by the Faculty of Arts and Social Science at University Malaya here.

Hasmy said the real problem in the security council was the existing veto power held by super power countries namely the United States, China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom.

"For example, the US is very quick to use its veto power in the Palestine-Israel conflict, and it is very hard for the security council to get a sanction against Israel even after Israel's attacks on Palestine are found to be unjustified.

"There should be an international campaign for the five super powers to be more responsible in the usage of the veto, he said, adding that they should be asked to explain their position and reasons as to why they want to use the veto power.

During Malaysia's presidency of the UN General Assembly in 1996-1997, it had proposed a rotating regional permanent membership of the UN Security Council for a period of, say, two or more years, only to be turned down by many countries, including Asian countries but the African countries were receptive of the idea and adopted it for their own negotiations for a system of regional rotation for Africa.

Also present were Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Jon A.Soer, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Malaysia Zheenbek Kulubaer, Ghana High Commissioner Stephen Osei Tutu Kyerematen, Ambassador of Brazil Sergio Arruda, Defence Adviser of India High Commission Col. PK Siwach and Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Malaysia and Brunei, Alexander A.Karchara.

-- BERNAMA

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