STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE AT THE OPEN DEBATE ON “MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY: STRENGTHENING MULTILATERALISM AND THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS” 9 NOVEMBER 2018, UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL

Mr President,

            I have the honour to address this Council on behalf of the ten Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, in today’s open debate. I wish to begin by thanking China for convening this open debate on the very important topic of strengthening multilateralism.  

            The United Nations is the ultimate global institution for multilateralism, where nations large and small interact with each other on the basis of sovereign equality. It is therefore appropriate and timely that we are discussing this topic of multilateralism in the Security Council.    The Security Council has a special responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.   Accordingly, the members of the Council have the special responsibility to be custodians of multilateralism, and to be guardians of the multilateral rules-based system.  In particular, the Permanent Members of the Security Council have a duty to strengthen, and not weaken multilateralism through their words and their actions. 

            In the last seven decades, the UN has been an important pillar of the multilateral architecture, by providing a forum for dialogue and cooperation. More importantly, it provides a framework of rules and norms that governs the behaviour of countries. This rules-based framework that we have built painstakingly has brought peace and security as well as sustainable development to all our peoples.

            However, there is no doubt today, that multilateralism is at a cross-roads.  In fact, there is a clear sense that multilateralism is under siege, as evidenced by the number of speakers we have today. In his remarks to the General Assembly at the opening session of High Level Week, the Secretary-General spoke of a crisis of confidence in multilateralism. As he put it, there is a “trust deficit disorder”, especially among the major players.  The lack of trust and polarisation that we are witnessing among members of the Council is not new.  However, it comes at a time when the world expects Members of the Council to work closely, to resolve global issues and transnational problems.

            The lack of trust between the major players has also affected the rules-based multilateral trading system, of which the WTO, or World Trade Organisation, is an important component.  In ASEAN, we are deeply concerned by the spectre of a prolonged trade war that could seriously damage global economic prospects.  While we must adapt and reform the global trading system, unilateral actions cannot be the solution. Unilateral actions only serve to undermine the multilateral trading system that has underpinned global prosperity for decades.  Ultimately, all of us will be worse off if the current rules-based multilateral trading system is damaged or destroyed.

Mr President,

            ASEAN has been actively promoting political-security dialogue, economic integration, and people-to-people links.  Regional organisations like ASEAN complement and reinforce the work of the UN in areas such as peace, security and sustainable development.  However, for regional organisations to be successful, they must operate in a world that is governed by a rules-based multilateral system.  When the multilateral system and the UN is vibrant and healthy, regional organisations like ASEAN can thrive and prosper.

            For over 50 years, ASEAN has put in practice these principles of a rules-based multilateral system. Through dialogue and consensus, ASEAN has established a framework to manage our differences and helped to build peace and mutual trust in our region. ASEAN’s success is testament to the fact that we need more multilateralism, not less, to overcome the challenges that confront us today.   

            If multilateralism is to be effective, we need to reform and strengthen the UN.   To this end, ASEAN Member States have been strong supporters of efforts to reform the United Nations and make it more fit for purpose. ASEAN countries have played an active and constructive role in the three pillars of the UN reform process.  We were the first region to universally endorse the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative. ASEAN Member States now rank among the largest troop-and police-contributing countries.

Mr President,

            The United Nations remains the torch-bearer of multilateralism. All of us here have a duty and responsibility to defend what we have built together.  More importantly, we have a duty to adapt and reform the multilateral system to build a better future for all.

            Thank you. 

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