Notes for Roy Cullen, Member of Parliament

House of Commons, Ottawa, Canada

 2004 Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the

Council of Europe

Strasbourg, France,

April 28, 2004

Debate on: Strengthening of the United Nations 

Mr. President, I would like to thank and congratulate the Rapporteur, Mrs. Tana de Zulueta, for an excellent analysis and set of recommendations. 

Le Canada s’est engagé dans une approche multilatérale de la sécurité internationale et de la prévention des conflits armés.  Voila pourquoi nous avons décidé de ne pas participer à la guerre en Irak – parce qu’il n’existait pas de consensus international à l’époque pour agir militairement.  Les Canadiens en général étaient d’accord avec cette politique, et le sont toujours. 

(Canada is committed to a multilateral approach to international security and the prevention of armed conflict. This is why we decided not to participate in the war against Iraq – because there was no international consensus to act militarily at that time. The Canadian public generally was very supportive of this position - and continue to be.) 

The United Nations is in need of reform, however. There are times when the United Nations seemed to be paralyzed into inaction.  Ten years ago, hundreds of thousands of Rwandans lost their lives in a genocide, while the international community failed to act. Our own Lieutenant-General Romeo D’Allaire was very much at the epicentre of this tragedy.  Secretary-General Kofi Annan is aware of these structural and decision-making problems at the UN, and I applaud him for addressing this - especially with the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.  

Canada has promoted the human security agenda which emphasizes that the security of individuals transcends national borders and requires the international community to act if it is at risk. There is a balance here, however, that needs to be carefully maintained to ensure that the sovereignty of nations is respected.  

When is it appropriate for a country, or the international community, to attempt to overthrow a despotic ruler in a failed or failing state when the personal security of citizens is threatened?  

What criteria should apply?  

In its reform agenda, the United Nations needs to address these vexing questions, and design a governance model that will facilitate timely and appropriate responses when the safety and security of our fellow citizens of the world are at risk. 

Reform of the UN Security Council must protect the role of middle powers – like many of the member states of the Council of Europe and Canada, while acknowledging the need for new permanent members. 

The rapporteur has appropriately categorized international security issues as “hard” threats. Equally problematic are the ‘soft’ threats, because as Mrs. Zulueta rightly points out these ‘soft’ threats are often at the origin of ‘hard’ threats.  

While we shouldn’t be naïve about ideological differences that are often at the centre of international disputes, the growing gap between the ‘have’ and ‘have-not’ nations is also at the root of the problem. Corruption however, is impeding the investment of public and private funds in developing countries – at the very moment when help is most needed. I should note the good work in the fight against corruption and money laundering being performed by the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption, or GOPAC - an international network of over 250 Parliamentarians from 72 countries of the world, organized by region, to build integrity and promote effective governance. Canada hosted the first meeting of this group in Ottawa in October, 2002. 

The area of so-called ‘soft’ threats is one where the United nations can play a larger role as well – principally through the Economic and Social Council or ECOSOC. The rapporteur’s suggestion to form an Economic and Social Security Council at the UN is an interesting proposition and worthy of examination. 

The United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the UN Commission on the Private Sector and Development are two very important recent initiatives focused in this area – but more needs to be done. 

I look forward to the reform of the United Nations and to the contribution that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe can make to this transformation.  The UN is a very important institution that deserves our full attention. 

Je vous remercie Monsieur le Président et cher collègues parlementaires pour l’honneur qui m’a été fait aujourd’hui de participer à ce débat.