EISAKU SATO ESSAY CONTEST 2016

NAME : SHUHADA BINTI SHAMSUDDIN

AFFILIATION : UNIVERSITY SAINS MALAYSIA ( Assignment For Business

Communication )

AGES : 20 YEARS

GENDER : FEMALE

NATIONALITY : MALAYSIAN

EMAIL : shuhadashamsuddin@yahoo.com
HISTORY OF UNITED NATIONS

On 1 January 1942, the name United Nations is coined by United States President Franklin D.
Roosevelt , during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their
Governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers .

In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference
on International Orgaanization to draw up the United Nations Charter. Those delegates
deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet
Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks, United States in August-
October 1944.

The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries. Poland,
which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51
Member States.

The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had
been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by
a majority of other signatories.United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year.
INTRODUCTION OF UNITED NATIONS

United Nations peacekeeping and humanitarian have been heard by most of us. There are
actually many other ways that United Nations affects all our lives.
The United Nations is central to global efforts to solve problems that challenge humanity.
United Nations system, cooperating in this effort in more than 30 affiliated organizations.
Throughout the day morning till night, the United Nations and its family of organizations work
to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations, to
cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights and to be
a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations. Other than that, United Nations agencies define
the standard for safe and efficient air travel, and help improve telecommunications and enhance
consumer protection. International campaign against drug trafficking and terrorism was lead by
United Nations. Throughout the world, the United Nations and its agencies assit refugees, set up
programs to clear landmines, help expand food production and lead the fight against AIDS.

United Nations have faced a lot of challenges since 1945 until now. We are here today to discuss
on how the multiple and pressing challenges the United Nations faces today and the role of the
Secretary General as top international public servant. Three most challenges faced by United
Nations are sustainable development, peacekeeping and working with and for women and young
people.
Secretary-General's press conference (full transcript)
Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a great pleasure to see you.

This years session of the General Assembly opens at a time of turmoil and hope.

Turmoil -- because conflicts have deepened in so many places, and civilians are
paying the price.

Hope -- because a historic number of world leaders will gather here at the United
Nations to forge solutions and adopt an inspiring new development agenda.

It will start with His Holiness Pope Francis, who I look forward to welcoming here on
September 25th. His call for climate action and a global ethical mobilization has
resounded across the world, among people of all faiths.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development embodies the yearnings of people
everywhere for lives of dignity on a healthy planet. It shows what Member States
can achieve when they work together in solidarity.

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda adopted in July of this year provides a financing
framework to implement the new agenda.

Now we look to Paris in December for a universal agreement on climate change.

I am encouraged by the phenomenal changes that are under way. New

investments in renewable energy, and major commitments to reduce harmful
greenhouse emissions, are putting wind in the sails of climate action.

I am concerned, however, that not enough is being done to keep temperature rise
under the 2-degree Celsius threshold. I urge world leaders to raise ambition and
then match ambition with action.

With political will and resources, we can transform our future and do more to
prevent the kinds of crises we see in far too many places.
In Syria, the combatants are defying all norms of humanity. My Special Envoy
continues his efforts. But responsibility for ending this horror rests on the parties,
and on the neighbours and external forces that are fuelling the fighting.

In Yemen, the escalating conflict and especially the aerial attacks are devastating
the civilian population. I urge the Yemeni parties to immediately rejoin the
political process under the facilitation of my Special Envoy, and in accordance with
relevant Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2216. There is no
military solution to this conflict.

In Libya, recent weeks have seen progress, and my Special Representative

continues to press the parties to form a Government of National Accord. A political
framework is also critical for urgently putting in place sustainable security
arrangements.

In South Sudan, more than 200,000 displaced people are now sheltering at UN
peacekeeping bases. Thousands more are in need of urgent humanitarian
assistance. All efforts must now focus on implementing the new peace agreement.
I urge the two leaders to uphold the recent commitments they made to end this
brutal conflict.

Around the world, 100 million people about one of every seventy people on earth
-- need lifesaving support. Yet all our humanitarian appeals are chronically under-
funded.

Brutal conflicts, breakdowns in basic governance, economic despair and other

factors have generated displacements of people not seen since the Second World
War. Sixty million people have fled their homes.

Men, women and children fleeing war and persecution deserve real support,
including asylum.

I ask those standing in the way of the rights of refugees to stand in their shoes.
People facing barrel bombs and brutality in their country will continue to seek life in
another.

People with few prospects at home will continue to seek opportunity elsewhere.

This is natural. It is what any of us would do for ourselves and for our children.

I commend those countries that are admirably doing all they can for people in need.

Lebanon is hosting Syrian refugees equal in number to 25 per cent of its

population.

Jordan is also a major per capita host, providing shelter to Syrians equal to almost
10 per cent of its population.

And nearly 10 per cent of Syrias pre-war population -- some 2 million people --
today live in Turkey.

I salute leaders and citizens in many other countries, including Germany, Sweden
and Austria, for opening doors and showing solidarity. I am also grateful for the
financial generosity of many countries in addressing the humanitarian
consequences, in particular the United Kingdom and Kuwait.

On September 30th, I will convene a high-level meeting to mobilize a humane,

effective and rights-based response to the refugee crisis. I urge all states to
shoulder their responsibilities and live up to their legal obligations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Todays crises highlight the failures of long-established peace and security and
development responses.

My concern led me to establish a high-level panel, which reported to me earlier this

year. Last Friday I issued my own assessment of the future of United Nations peace
operations. My report sets out the actions I believe we must take to maximize our
impact today while putting in place the foundations for more long-term
transformation.

I am calling for three key changes: 1/ an urgent emphasis on conflict prevention

and mediation; 2/ steps to improve the speed and agility of UN peacekeeping and
political missions; and 3/ deeper partnerships with regional organizations, in
particular the African Union.

We do not have many opportunities to reform UN peace operations in such a

comprehensive way. It is essential that we act urgently and collectively. I am
moving ahead with what can be done under my own executive authority. Much
depends on the General Assembly and the Security Council, and I urge Member
States to give this effort their full support.

The future of UN peace operations also depends on concerted action to rid UN

peace operations of sexual exploitation and abuse. It is shameful when UN and
other personnel sent to protect people compound the suffering and become part of
the problem.

I have set out a number of new measures, and doing everything within my
authority to stamp out this unacceptable behaviour. I have stressed to all my
special representatives the need for their vigilance and leadership. Member States
must also do more to train their personnel and hold them accountable. Tomorrow, I
will meet with troop and police contributing countries to emphasize this point.

Despite many challenges on [many] fronts, the forthcoming session of the General
Assembly my ninth as Secretary-General -- is filled with possibility. I am
determined to press ahead as we serve we the peoples in our 70th year.

Thank you very much. I will be happy to answer some of your questions.

**Questions and Answers

Question: Mr. Secretary-General, on behalf of the United Nations Correspondents
Association, thank you for the press conference and thank you for choosing this
very busy time and find time for us. I have two quick questions. One is this: that
why does UN continue to look impotent in front of the migrant crisis? And the
second one is: is it time that the female Secretary-General will be your successor?

Secretary-General: I have been urging in addressing all the challenges we face...

this is a human society. You always produce, make problems. When we show
solidarity and work with the unity of purpose, I think there is nothing which cannot
be overcome, which cannot be resolved. One good example why we are failing is in
Syria. Continuing [for] five years, such a tragic situation in Syria has created
unexpectedly much more problems, not to mention destruction and killing and
humanitarian crisis. But extremism and terrorism, ISIS and Daesh, this kind of a
continuing crisis has created the perfect breeding ground for these extremists and
terrorists to put their ground firmly. That, we have to address.

For your second question, as I'm continuing until the end of next year, I have been
hearing a lot of voices coming from many quarters of the world, saying that this is
the time for a woman a qualified, accomplished and leadership woman should
lead this United Nations. As I'm very much committed to gender empowerment
and gender equality, and as I'm the eighth Secretary-General, male, then I think it
is high time for Member States to discuss and consider this kind of aspiration of
many people. It's not only women or female women community. Many people
are asking for that. But as the Secretary-General at this time, while I recognise
that there are many qualified, experienced, and committed women leaders, it's
entirely [up to] Member States of the United Nations to decide who should be the
best person who will lead this organisation. As far as I'm concerned, I will continue
to exert all my efforts to do my job as the Secretary-General, until last day of my
mandate, to leave this United Nations in best of conditions.

Correspondent: Thank you.

Spokesman: Thank you. Jonathan. If I could ask you to just ask one question so
we can get in as many as possible. Jonathan?

Question: Jonathan Wachtel with Fox News. Sir, the Pope will be coming here. You
mentioned you have lot of common positions with him. What are you going to say
to him if he takes it out on you, says: Sir, you haven't shown enough leadership?
Look at all these problems like Syria and everything else. What can you really do?
How can you intervene to really make a difference?

Secretary-General: I'm really looking forward to the visit, historic visit of his
holiness, Pope Francis. We have welcomed in the past, several Popes in the past,
but no Pope has come at the time of the opening of the General Assembly. So this
is quite historic. His time coincides with such a historic opportunity when all the
leaders of the world are gathering to discuss about our future and how to preserve
this planet Earth, environmentally sustainable. This is a time of hope and great
expectation. And this will be my fourth time to meet Pope Francis third time in
Vatican and three times. And the first time in New York. We have been
discussing many issues, including poverty eradication and migration, refugee issues
last time and, most importantly, climate change. I do appreciate... I'm very much
grateful for his humanity. He's a man of humility and humanity.

We expect that he will send his spiritual guidance to all the Member States of the
United Nations so that we will take this opportunity again, recommit ourselves to
address with a sense of humility and humanity and also unity of purpose for the
United Nations, addressing many issues, including climate change and migration,
poverty education, gender empowerment and many crises where many people are
literally dying. Therefore, I really count on his leadership.

Spokesman: Thank you. James?

Question: Secretary-General, refugees from war and conflict at great risk have
travelled across land and sea. As we speak right now, some of them are at the
Hungarian border. And as we speak right now, they are being attacked by riot
police firing water cannon and tear gas. Can I have your comment on what is going
on right now at that border? And do you believe Hungary is breaching international
humanitarian law?

Secretary-General: First of all, I would like to tell you that I have been speaking to
most of the European leaders, including Prime Minister [Viktor] Orbn of Hungary,
and I have emphasized the importance of addressing this issue in accordance with
relevant international Conventions, like international Refugee Conventions and
international humanitarian and international human rights. And he told me that he
would do his best.

I was shocked to see how these refugees and migrants were treated. It's not
acceptable. What is important at this time that... I know that there may be some
domestic issues, problems. It's not that all the countries... in fact, all the countries
have their domestic problems, but since they are the people who are fleeing the
violence and persecution, we must ensure our compassionate leadership. We have
shown them caring hands, not to mention international humanitarian law, but as a
human being, we first and foremost we have provide the lifesaving assistance and
shelter and all sanitation. Then we can discuss how they should be treated,
accommodated. I'm very much appreciative that the European Union has been
discussing this matter very closely. But I know that there are some differences of
positions, depending upon the countries. That is why last April, together with Prime
Minister Matteo Renzi and the (European Union) High Representative, Madame
(Federica) Mogherini, we went to the Mediterranean Sea on a naval ship. I watched
how difficult these search and rescue operations are, how many people are just
risking their lives for a better future. But these... of course, they are coming,
risking their lives to have better future. But mostly, the first priority for them will
be to save their own lives, because they cannot live there. So they must be treated
with human dignity and human rights. That's my consistent message to European
and Asian leaders, wherever this migration and refugees are coming.

Spokesman: Raghida? Your microphone, please.

Question: Apologies. I know it's your ninth assembly. It's my 39th this year, 39.
And I just want to ask you kindly to make sure that we at your press corps are
treated equal to the visiting press corps with the Presidents, because we are
considered to be yours. I'd like that you consider that and influence DPI
(Department of Public Information) decisions accordingly.

My question to you is actually inherent in Jonathan's point, when he somehow

mentioned the... when he mentioned somehow the potential accusation that you
have lacked or you're not active in moral leadership on Syria. Do you feel that your
hands have been tied by the Security Council members, who have now reduced
Syria to the issue of ISIS and terrorism? And what can you do, Mr. Secretary-
General, right now? You have called on everyone else to do something on Syria.
What else can you do? Do you agree or disagree that it's time, for example,
President [Vladimir] Putin says you need to give more arms to the Government. Do
you agree with that? Is this in the spirit of Geneva, against the spirit of Geneva?
Thank you.

Secretary-General: It's very sad and tragic, and for me it's heartbreaking as the
Secretary-General, sometimes I have been thinking how and what can I do to
address this issue? We have seen many divisions among the parties. First of all,
Syrian people are divided among themselves. The United Nations, particularly the
Security Council, is not able to find unity, particularly among members. The
regional powers, they are also divided, depending upon the countries. This kind of
division really makes this situation unsolvable. That, I deeply regret, why we have
not been able to find such solidarity and compassionate leadership and unity of
purpose. When the Security Council showed solidarity and unity, we were able to
deliver very expeditiously. A good example is investigation on the allegation of
chemical weapons use. We were able to take immediate action and we delivered.
The second time, we are now going to deliver. We are going to organize this
investigation team. I sincerely hope that this kind of solidarity should be shown
again. Then, what we have seen in the case of Iranian nuclear issues, the P5s and
European Union, they have shown perfect solidarity and unity. When I was
speaking to all the leaders of the P5 and Iran and the European Union, after this
deal was announced, my main message was that now is time for you to show
solidarity and unity in addressing Syrian crisis. I'm going to urge them again.

Question: But the issue is about arming. The issue is about everybody is
intervening in Syria in the name of fighting ISIS, and President Putin himself said,
we are supporting the Government militarily. We will continue to, because this fight
is against ISIS and we need that. Is this in the spirit of Geneva, of the resolutions,
of what you want, sir? Is this the way you feel it will be more militarized or useful?
What's your opinion?

Secretary-General: By this time everybody should know, including those parties

involved, that there is no such military solution; only political solution through
inclusive dialogue can solve this problem. That is why even though we are not in a
position to provide, present any comprehensive framework for solution, last month,
together with Staffan de Mistura and I, in July, on July 29, we presented this idea of
establishing working groups, four working groups, covering all these areas, the
political and constitutional issues and safety and protection, and also military and
security issues, as well as reconciliation, institution building, and development.
Those four areas cover all the areas. Of course, we may still lack the political
dialogue. And we are in the process of finalizing this, establishing this one, during
this month. Then we will move ahead in parallel in trying to expand the political
space as much as possible. And I'm going to have a meeting with the foreign
ministers of P5 this month on the margins of this. We will discuss the topic of our
meeting will be on Syria.

Spokesman: Thank you. Somini -- all the way in the back.

Question: Thank you. To follow up on that: As Russia increases military support to

the Syrian Government, what is your assessment specifically of that? And what do
you expect members of the P5 to do now, especially after the Iran nuclear deal?
Secretary-General: I have seen such reports and my response was that there is no
military solution. I'm concerned about the parties arming and providing arms. This
kind of a situation will only help the situation growing worse and worse,
deteriorating. Therefore, I am again urging the parties... all the parties and
particularly the members of the Security Council -- they show their solidarity by this
time. It's been almost five years. You have seen a number of people killed, more
than 200,000, 250,000 people. And the number of people who are refugees: more
than 4 million. And number of people, you know, half of the population, they need
urgent humanitarian assistance at this time. We have seen such terrible scenes on
the media. The whole complete disruption. This country has been completely
destroyed now. I do not know how long they will have to take to recover,
reconstruct this one. So I think even though we have spent almost five years now,
we have to take action now.

Spokesman: Edie?

Question: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary-General. Looking back at the last
70 years of the United Nations, this organisation was born out of a war, and yet
today we're facing the greatest humanitarian crisis, refugee crisis, major conflicts in
Africa, the Middle East. People looking back at this would say, well, what has the
UN done? Has it done anything? Has it lived up to what it was supposed to be
formed to achieve?

Secretary-General: This is quite a serious question, which may require long, long
answer. But because of our time limit, if I may just say the United Nations born in
1945, and 70 years now, 2015, the United Nations now is a completely different
United Nations. And the circumstances and conditions and the level and depth of
progress and transformation of this world has been phenomenal. So we are living
in a completely different society. During last 70 years, I think United Nations, while
I am very much conscious of such criticism, effectiveness, efficiencies,
accountability, transparency, and even relevance of the United Nations, I am very
much conscious of this kind of criticism. But if you look back, it is the United
Nations... most of the important global decisions have been made here. Most
importantly, decolonization has brought so many countries to an independent and
free society. That has grown, with the strong awareness on the importance of
human rights, human dignity and equality and justice issues. This is what the
United Nations has contributed to the healthy and peaceful society.

Now, with all this technology development and diversification of all these societies, I
think we have seen more problems than solutions. That I regret. But if you think
had there been no United Nations, no common ground where all the members of
the United Nations could sit down together and discuss all the issues, I'm afraid to
tell you that the world might have been much bloodier, much more tragic without
the United Nations. That does not mean that we should [have] some complacency.
No. We are doing our best efforts to make ourselves change, adapting to a
changing situation. This is what the United Nations is doing.

The Sustainable Development Goals, even though they may have nothing to do with
crisis, but it is, I think, the most important vision the United Nations is now
presenting to the people of the world. When there is no development, sustainable
development, then it will again provide a breeding ground for complaint and
despair, political instability. So development is the key of all our pillars of the
United Nations Charter: peace and security, development, human rights. I think
among these three pillars, key is development. Of course, they are all
interconnected. I am proud to serve as the Secretary-General, even though we
have to work much more. I'm conscious of that.

Spokesman: Abdel Hamid?

Question: Thank you. Mr. Secretary-General, the United Nations stands for
international law, human dignity, human rights, and development. And my
question is about one State of the whole 193 that has stands above the law. The
United Nations tell that State: do not build settlement. They don't listen and they
build settlement. The United Nations tell that State: do not build the separation
wall. They don't listen. They continue building the separation wall. The United
Nations tell them: join NPT (Non Proliferation Treaty). They don't join NPT. The
United Nations tell them you cannot have whole 6,000 prisoners and detainees.
They don't listen. The United Nations condemn them when they

Spokesman: If I could ask you to find a question mark, please, with respect.
Thank you.

Question: Why that State stands out above the law? What can you do to tell that
State to abide by the law, by international law? Thank you.

Secretary-General: The fundamental principle is that all the Member States of the
United Nations, they have obligation to abide by all the resolutions and decisions of
the Member States, and there is no country above the law. That is a fundamental
principle, like human rights. Every human being is equal. All the Member States
are equal. We have seen some countries who have been late or who have not been
implementing or abiding by the resolutions. The Security Council has been acting
on this, trying to take some punitive measures through the imposition of sanctions
and some other issues. But as you said, I agree with your point. There are some
countries who have not been faithfully implementing all these resolutions. That is
why it's important that we help all the Israelis and all Palestinians so that they can
sit down together. Again, on the margins of this General Assembly, we are going to
have Quartet principals meeting, together with some key Arab countries, and I'm...
we are going to discuss this matter very, very seriously.

Spokesman: Apostolis, Cyprus News Agency?

Question: Mr. Secretary-General, do you expect that during your tenure to see the
Cyprus issue solved, if you could give us an update on the negotiations, and when
do you expect to get more personally involved?

Secretary-General: I'm encouraged that the two leaders are meeting and
negotiating in a detailed manner. And since the formal resumption of negotiation
on May 15 of this year, we have witnessed both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots
approaching the talks with a positive, constructive and problem-solving spirit. And
this has helped to generate fresh and important momentum, as well as significant
progress in the talks. I have been greatly encouraged by the two leaders'
commitment, recently reaffirmed on Monday, September 14, this week, to continue
to work tirelessly in order to reach a comprehensive settlement as soon as
possible. In this regard, I also welcome their agreement to intensify their work
and to increase the frequency of their meetings. My Special Envoy, Mr. [Espen
Barth] Eide, is staying in the region, and he's closely coordinating with the two
leaders. And I'm also looking forward to meeting the leaders during the time of
General Assembly and discuss further, and I'll add my political support.

Spokesman: Olga?

Question: Thank you. Secretary-General, during this session of General Assembly,

as you mentioned, you are calling for a meeting on refugee crisis and also on the
Middle East Quartet, but will you also try to organize any side events to bring
together, for example, Presidents [Barack] Obama and Putin or Presidents Putin and
[Petro] Poroshenko during their visit to GA?

Secretary-General: First of all, I have seen the report that President Obama and
President Putin, they may have their bilateral meeting. I myself will have bilateral
meetings with President Obama and President Putin and President Poroshenko, and
I have a list of more than 100 bilateral meetings scheduled now. This is a real
timing and venue and forum where world leaders, whatever the differences they
may have, sit down together to discuss and resolve all the pending issues through
dialogue, inclusive dialogue. On the Ukrainian situation, we've been... the United
Nations has been involved, even though we have not been directly involved in the
Minsk, Normandy type meetings, we have been providing humanitarian assistance
and we have been deploying human rights teams, and I have been continuously
discussing this matter with President Poroshenko and President Putin, and I'll
continue my own efforts.

Spokesman: Margaret?
Question: Secretary-General, following up to Edie's question about the UN at 70,
you're nearing the end of your term. Could you tell us a little bit how your legacy
will fit into the 70-year history of the UN? Where do you see your legacy being so
far? Because we know you still have time but so far.

Secretary-General: I hope I will be able to answer your question this time next
year. [Laughter] It's too early. [Laughter] Too early for me. It's Member States who
will assess my legacy and my contributions to the United Nations. But I still have a
lot of things to do. Wait until next year.

Spokesman: Mr. Abbadi?

Question: Thank you, Stphane. Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General, for this press
conference. My question is about reforms at the United Nations. Each one of your
predecessors has proceeded to reform the UN, you yourself included, and yet there
are people who think that these reforms are not leading to deep changes -- in other
words, to innovation in the United Nations. The Charter in its article 109 provides
for ways of reforming or amending the Charter, through a general conference. Do
you think the time has come to reform the Charter?

Secretary-General: When it comes to reform, we have two issues, two broad

issues. One is institutional reform and change management. Institutional
reforms are largely in the hands of the Member States. Recently, with the 70th
anniversary of the United Nations, we have been hearing lot of voices from Member
States that we should really accelerate these institutional reforms, including the
Security Council. In fact, ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) has made good
reforms already. Then strengthening or revitalizing the General Assembly. On
these two issues, I think Member States have made some progress at this time. In
terms of revitalizing the General Assembly, recently, they have adopted a
resolution, particularly in making General Assemblys role in selecting and
appointing the Secretary-General process in a more transparent and more
representative way. And on Security Council reform, I think I have always favoured
expanding the Security Council in order to make it more broadly representative and
democratic and transparent. The world has changed and considering such huge,
dramatic changes in the international community, the Security Council should also
be able to adapt to this changing situation. I have taken note that the General
Assembly has adopted the resolution based on the recommendation of the
facilitator on this. I think this kind of process, even though it has been taking long
and very slow process, is, I think, the right direction.

When it comes to change management, you will see, again, on the occasion of
70th anniversary, we are now going to launch the Umoja, as of November 1. That
will be a phenomenal, again, transformation, when it comes to our working in a...
system-wide working. And mobility has already been agreed, supported by the
General Assembly, and it will be put into practice from next year. So we are making
a lot of changes in terms of efficiencies and accountability, transparencies of change
management of the United Nations.

Spokesman: Go, Go.

Question: Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General. There have been some criticisms to
your visit...

Spokesman: A little louder, please.

Question: There have been some criticisms to your visit to Beijing, especially for
attending the military parade there, that this could be against the UN neutrality or
impartiality. How do you respond to that?

Secretary-General: I have seen some reports coming from Japan. Now, you know
my position. Therefore, I do not see the need to further comment on what I
consider inappropriate statements.

Spokesman: Thank you. I'm sorry. We'll get more opportunities later during the
GA.

Secretary-General: Thank you.

 Information

Its no use being able to process information if you dont have it. The Secretary-General, like anyone else in high
office, is bombarded daily with a barrage of what passes for information: press reports, advisers reports and briefs,
panel reports, governments blandishments, lobbyists appeals. But it is not always the information he or she most
needs, and for all the quality of the people in the Departments of Political Affairs (DPA) and Peacekeeping Operations
(DPKO) and elsewhere within the present Secretariat, the Secretary-General is notoriously under-resourced in-house
for the kind of really detailed analysis of situations and possible strategies that is a crucial element in effective conflict
prevention and resolution. Although there has been some catch-up, and there may be some more with the creation of
the Peacebuilding Support Unit, we are all familiar with the sad history of the Brahimi Panels recommendation for the
creation of an Information and Strategic Analysis Secretariat (EISAS).
An effective Secretary-General has to escape from time to time from the comfortable insulation of the United
Nations and reach out for the kind of information he or she really needs. To combine my point with some shameless
self-advertisement: a Secretary-General who shall remain nameless told me once that one of the things he liked
about International Crisis Group reports is that he knew he was hearing in them, among other things, the real voices
of his own people on the ground, giving the unvarnished reality about troubled situations, and the performance of the
United Nations and others in responding to them not the very often bowdlerized, gutted, and filleted version of that
reality that makes its way up the system after everything that might cause offence to host governments, member
states, and officials higher up the organizational food chain have been edited out.

Thinking Time

Having information, and the practical intelligence to process it, are not much help if a Secretary-General never has
time to properly think the issues through. This is an occupational problem for everyone in high office, but it is
particularly acute for someone who has 191 heads of state and foreign ministers, just for a start, who feel they have
an absolute right to waste his or her time whenever they feel like it.
One solution, much easier to say than apply given the number of people who want to kiss the secular-
papal ring for extended periods at any given time is to limit appointments to a few hours a day and relentlessly
apply the 15 minute rule to all of them. In my own long experience of these meetings there is never much more than
one or two substantive things that need to be said on either side, and the rest is padding and politesse. No doubt a
good deal of time could also be saved in not spending hours listening to set piece speeches, in the Security Council
and elsewhere, that could much more quickly be read if they are worth absorbing at all.
But of course to follow any of these prescriptions too enthusiastically would be to quickly acquire a Boutros-
Ghali-like reputation for aloofness or arrogance, or for machine-like inhumanity. Gossip and schmoozing, and time-
wasting in formal public sessions and events, is what makes the political world go round: the Secretary-General is
part of that world whether he or she like it or not, and ignores the conventions at his or her peril. So the problem of
thinking time will continue. More time at home in the bath may be the only answer.

Moral Courage

Where personal support becomes most important is when one goes right out on a limb, saying or doing what is
absolutely the right thing, because its the right thing, but knowing that you will generate a firestorm in the process.
The really first-rate Secretaries-General are those who have been prepared to put themselves and their reputations
absolutely on the line in this respect: moral authority doesnt come from preaching bland nostrums that will offend no
one, but from taking real risks.
The most recent Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, gave some outstanding examples of just this kind of moral
courage. Im thinking in particular of his General Assembly speech in 1999 challenging not only the whole
international community to confront the challenge of genocide, atrocity crimes, and humanitarian intervention, but the
developing countries in particular to recognize that their sovereignty was not absolute in this respect; and then later-
on, to spread the outrage even-handedly, his clear-eyed statement (albeit first uttered somewhat accidentally) that the
US invasion of Iraq in 2003 was illegal as a matter of international law, and his determination to open up the issue of
Security Council permanent membership, knowing the chances of change were slight, and that this was absolutely no
way to win the affection of any member of the permanent members.
Thats moral courage on the high-ground issues, but there is plenty of scope for courage on more common
peace and security issues. Despite Thomas Francks encouragement in his chapter, there may not be all that much
hope for a Secretary-General saying an outright no when member states seem determined to follow some
unpalatable or undeliverable course, but there is certainly scope for push-back, rather than timid reflex acquiescence;
the best Secretaries-General have always been willing and able to do that.