Chirac chides US unilateralism

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Chirac chides US unilateralism

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French President Jacques Chirac lashed out Tuesday at the unilateral policies pursued by the Bush administration and called for quick reforms of the United Nations to enhance its role in maintaining peace and security.

"The United Nations has just weathered one of the gravest trials in its history," Chirac said in a speech at the general debate of the General Assembly. "The war (on Iraq), embarked on without Security Council approval, has undermined the multilateralsystem."

Chirac took the floor shortly after US President George W. Bush made an address to world leaders, in which he defended the war against Iraq and asked for international help in rebuilding Iraq.

"In an open world, no one can live in isolation, no one can act alone in the name of all, and no one can accept the anarchy of a society without rules," he said.

"There is no alternative to the United Nations. But in the face of today's challenges, this fundamental choices, as expressed in the Charter, calls for a far-reaching reform of our organization."

Chirac stressed the importance of pursuing multilateralism in coping with such challenges as conflicts, global terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and sustainable development.

"Multilateralism is a concept for our time: for it alone allows us to apprehend contemporary problems globally and in all their complexity," he noted.

Chirac called on world leaders to put an end to the stalemate over reforms of the United Nations to make the world body more democratic, authoritative and efficient.

"It is now up to the member states to take matters forward without delay, and to put an end to the damage caused by the stalemate over reforms," he said.

He urged to strengthen the General Assembly, and expand the Security Council to reflect the state of the world.

"The United Nations suffers from the current weakness of the General Assembly. Yet that is where debate on solutions to the world's great problems should take place and consensus be forged," he said.

The French leader also proposed enlarging the Security Council to include more permanent members and elected members.

The council is currently composed of five veto-wielding permanent members and 10 members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.

On candidates for permanent seats, Chirac said, "France is thinking, naturally, of Germany and Japan, but also of some leading countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America."

"This reform should be accompanied by a strengthening of the council's authority," he stressed. "It is the role of the council to set the bounds to the use of force. No one is entitled to arrogate to himself the right to utilize it unilaterally and preventively."

"Conversely, in the face of mounting threats, states must have an assurance that the council has appropriate means of evaluation and collective action at its disposal, and that it has the will to act," he went on to say.

As to the reconstruction of Iraq, Chirac said that it is "up to the United Nations to assist with the gradual transfer of administrative and economic responsibilities to the present Iraqi institutions according to a realistic timetable and to help the Iraqis draft a constitution and hold elections."

Against a backdrop of the US-led war on Iraq and the breakdown of the world trade meeting in Mexico, the general debate would inevitably focus on Iraq, the UN role and reform, and sustainable development. Other topics include international terrorism and regional hot spots, such as the Mideast conflict and the nuclear tension on the Korean Peninsula.

Delegates from 190 UN member states, including 88 heads of state and government, will address the two-week annual gathering.

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