STATEMENT BY MS LIU LU, COUNSELLOR (POLITICAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE WORKING GROUP ON THE STRENGTHENING AND REVITALIZING OF THE WORK OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Co-Chairs, 

        Thank you for convening us today to review the implementation of a very important pillar of the process of strengthening and revitalizing the work of the General Assembly. We appreciate your leadership of this Working Group and assure you of Singapore’s support. 

2      Today’s thematic debate is both timely and salient, as we look to select and appoint the tenth UN Secretary-General by the end of this year. This is arguably the most consequential process for our Organisation this year and beyond. As the Chief Administrative Officer, the Secretary-General is the UN’s principal diplomat, advocate and peacekeeper, invested with the Organisation’s moral authority and overseeing the discharge of all its primary responsibilities. The leadership, vision and approach towards reform of our next Secretary-General will be critical in shaping the role, relevance and future of the UN, particularly now as we navigate unprecedented geopolitical turbulence and crises. 

Co-Chairs, 

3      Given its importance, Singapore believes that the selection process for the Secretary-General must evolve to have more clarity, transparency and inclusiveness to meet the expectations of the membership today, as clearly outlined in Action 42 Paragraph 70(c) of the Pact for the Future. Singapore aligns itself with the statement delivered by Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and would like to add a few points in our national capacity. 

4      First, we welcome the incremental progress reflected in UNGA resolution 79/327 in establishing greater clarity, predictability and structure in the selection process of the Secretary-General. The resolution builds on its predecessor resolutions (internal note: particularly UNGA resolution 77/335) by further clarifying the process with the inclusion of timelines for the start and conclusion of the process, guidelines on nomination and withdrawal, and the conduct of candidates. We welcome the timely circulation of the Joint Letter from the President of the General Assembly (PGA) and the President of the Security Council last November that marks the start of the selection process, in line with Para 42(a) of Resolution 79/327. The Joint Letter captures a number of key points in Paragraph 42 of the resolution. This lends transparency and predictability to the process that benefits all parties, including the candidates and Member States. 

5      Second, the General Assembly, through its Member States and President, should play a more active and meaningful role in the selection process. It is the Assembly that, upon the recommendation of the Security Council, is responsible for appointing the Secretary-General, as outlined in Article 97 of the Charter. We look forward to the convening of the informal dialogues between the candidates and Member States, which are scheduled to be held in the week of 20 April. We see this as a meaningful and important part of the selection process. We call on all candidates to actively take part in these interactive meetings and circulate a vision statement of their policy priorities in advance. We also believe that there is scope to improve the interactive format of these meetings to facilitate the consideration of the candidates by the General Assembly and by the Security Council. 

6      Third, we support the strengthening of the representation of women in leadership positions across the UN. We hope that more Member States would consider nominating women candidates for these posts, including for the Presidency of the General Assembly and UN Secretary-General. Equitable geographical representation is also a key consideration, and we believe that senior posts in the UN should not be dominated by any country or any group of countries.  

Co-chairs, 

7      For Singapore, this process of strengthening and revitalizing the work of the General Assembly is crucial to strengthening the UN as a whole and is complementary with the UN80 reform process that is underway. We stand ready to work with all Member States to implement the commitments we have made under UNGA resolution 79/327. 

8      Thank you for your attention. 

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