Kuwait calls for improving UNSC transparency

KUWAIT: Kuwait Friday expressed support to improving functions of the UN Security Council to make the international body more transparent and efficient, and said it was ready to play a part in this endeavor. Kuwait Permanent Representative to the UN Mansour Al-Otaibi, speaking during a UNSC virtual debate about Security Council’s work, said the UNSC, UN and the international community were facing an “unprecedented health crisis” in their fight against the novel coronavirus. He commended China, Dominican Republic and Estonia for chairing the UNSC since outbreak of the pandemic in March, as well as closure of the UN building and thus working and voting remotely in a drive to curb spread of the virus. This was Kuwait’s first participation in an open debate since its end of its 2018-19 non-permanent membership.

Otaibi said that UNSC adopted, on December 27, 2019, eight memos from the presidency regarding proposals aimed at boost transparency and efficiency. The memos talked about promoting transparency regarding informal sessions, selection of heads of sub-authorities and visiting delegates. Kuwait organized an informal workshop, on January 17-19, about UNSC’s works, said Otaibi. He said he was positive a concrete and effective change in the UNSC’s work could not be achieved but through cooperation and genuine will among member countries. The Security Council made good progress in terms of transparency in the recent years, he said, but more needed to be done.

Otaibi said it was important to develop the distribution of tasks among UNSC members to ensure equal contribution to decision making.He also called for the improvement of legal procedures in the committees, finalizing UNSC’s annual report on time and continue the efforts aimed at approving press statements. Otaibi called for participation of relevant countries and organizations in UNSC meetings, as well as providing all Security Council’s documents to UN members in proper time.