UN must reform to fulfill role in 21st century, General Assembly President stresses

The main bodies of the United Nations such as the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) must be reformed if the Organization is to play its rightful role in achieving more effective global governance in the in the 21st century, General Assembly President Joseph Deiss has warned.

Speaking at the end of an official visit to Chile yesterday, Mr. Deiss underlined the UN's essential role as the unique umbrella for the whole system of global governance due to its universality, unique legitimacy and its value-based nature.

During his visit, he spoke at the opening and final sessions of a regional seminar on 'The United Nations in Global Governance' which was organized by the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Mr. Deiss discussed global governance and Security Council reform with Chilean Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno and spoke at a ceremony to launch the Foreign Ministry's “carbon zero” programme.

He also discussed the economic situation and regional integration in Latin America ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena and met with UN Resident Coordinator Gary Stahl.