NEW YORK, NY, November 19, 2008: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joined other Member States of the United Nations in assessing the latest report of the United Nations Security Council and calling for reform of the body.

On the occasion of the Annual Report of the Security Council, and amidst the current discussion on the future of the Council, the United Nations General Assembly held a two-day debate on the content of the report and the prospects for reform.

Ambassador Gonsalves began his statement by thanking the Council for its cotinued role in Haiti, and for its work in other "hotspots and flashpoints" around the world. "For every conflict contained, resolved, or avoided through the work of the Council, we are grateful," he said. Ambassador Gonsalves also hailed "the magnificent bravery and sacrifice of the troops, police and other personnel, and thank[ed] those States who have volunteered their sons and daughters to the noble cause of world peace."

However, the assesment of the Annual Report was less rosy. In particular, Ambassador Gonsalves criticised the Report's discussion of the Council's work in the Sudan, noting that, apart from a number of strongly-worded statements, there was little real work done to halt the genocide in Darfur. "What did the Council actually do to stop people from being massacred?" he asked. "Is this what we mean by "never again?" An endless stream of impotent statements and interminable hand wringing is of no comfort to the murdered innocents in Darfur, and is a stark failing of the Council to fulfill its mandate."

Ambassador Gonsalves asserted that these and other failings of the Security Council indicated a need for reform of the body. He questioned why the Security Council, which was so preoccupied with the African Continent, lacked any permanent members from Africa. He also noted that 134 of the 192 Member States joined the United Nations after the Security Council had been established in 1948, and thus had little voice in its form or functioning. He demanded that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and other states be afforded the opportunity to "stand up and be counted" on the issue of Security Council reform.

The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines representative also hailed the recent General Assembly decision to commence intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform. He rejected attempts of some countries to delay the commencement of negotiations, and urged "good faith" participation in the process.

"Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has no aspirations to join the Permanent Membership of a reformed Council, and is under no illusions as to the difficulties inherent in the reform process or the myriad modern challenges facing a reformed Council," he said.

"Instead, we approach this issue from a position of principle and pragmatism, and we see the efficacious functioning of a democratic, representative, nimble, responsive and transparent Council as absolutely essential to core values of the United Nations. Let us rise above pettiness and dilatory tactics, and get on with the serious work of reform."