The United Nations remains ”irreplaceable” and “indispensable” in its role in development, security, transition to democracy and human rights, even as it needs to reform in certain areas, European leaders stressed in the U.N. General Assembly in New York, USA.
For Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski, the U.N.’s communication, negotiations and ability to compromise are vital in ensuring security, respect for human rights and transition towards democracy.
But Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Chairman of the Presidency Željko Komšic said reforms within the United Nations are necessary to ensure efficient and coordinated functioning of all its agencies and bodies. In particular, he noted the Security Council needs to be more active in preventive diplomacy rather than reacting once a crisis has already escalated.
Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak promised his country will double its overseas development aid as he rallied rich countries to increase their efforts in helping poor countries overcome poverty and attain the Millennium Development Goals.
The widening gap among the rich and poor, he said, poses a threat to global peace.
But the greatest threat to international peace and security, according to Lee, remains to be nuclear terrorism. He announced to the General Assembly that South Korea will be hosting a nuclear security summit in March 2012, where the international community could build a solid system of cooperation to prevent nuclear terrorism.
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