18 March 2008
“The process for renovating the United Nations building has begun. Like the building which is showing signs of its years, the mentality and working methods of the UN are also dated, and it is our task to modernize the UN not only on the outside, but also on the inside, with new technology, new ideas, and the capacity to adapt to the needs of the future. As tomorrow’s diplomats and international civil servants – this task will be yours to complete.”

“…the beginning of the Capital Master Plan to renovate the UN building should signal that it is time to renovate our mindset as well…Security Council reform also remains high on the agenda. There is widespread recognition that the status quo is not acceptable…System-wide Coherence is another process which demands attention. The UN has grown in size and scope, and often the UN will have many different agencies and programmes in one country…”
Kerim’s statement at the National Model UN – UN Headquarters, New York

7 February 2008
“The report of the High-level Panel on the System-wide Coherence of the United Nations operational activities contains recommendations on a number of important policy areas.”

“In the months to come, we have an opportunity to reassert the role of the General Assembly in strengthening the United Nations system for the benefit of all.”
Kerim’s statement at the Informal Meeting of the Plenary on System-wide Coherence

31 January 2008
“The 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly has been marked by a more responsive, cooperative and substantive approach to the five priority issues on our agenda: accelerating achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, reviewing implementation of Financing for Development, addressing Climate Change, counter-terrorism and advancing United Nations reform.”

“United Nations reform is our fifth priority. By making timely and concrete progress we can also enhance the role of the General Assembly in strengthening the UN system as the fundamental framework of international cooperation. Reform is never easy. It requires sacrifice, foresight and leadership.”

“May I take this opportunity to thank the Member States of the African Union for demonstrating these qualities to enable progress on management reform and coherence across the UN system. In particular, we look to your leadership for a way forward on the pressing need to make progress on Security Council reform, including intergovernmental negotiations.” Kerim’s message to the 10th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union

11 January 2008
“On this occasion, I would also like to acknowledge the Group of 77 for their flexibility, prudence and good judgement during the budget negotiations; for working closely with other delegations to renew the three year policy framework for the United Nation’s development activities; and, for your cooperative and proactive proposals on Mandate Review.”

“This is the best way to promote more effective multilateralism, as you mentioned in your statement, deepen our cooperation and demonstrate our leadership on complex issues, including, the ongoing reform of this august organisation.”

“May I take this opportunity to call for the Groups active participation at the Thematic Debates on: …Management Reform on the 8th and 9th of April, where in an informal setting Member States will have the opportunity to reach a clearer common understanding of the key concepts and priorities for strengthening the management of the organisation.” Kerim’s statement at the handover ceremony of the Chairmanship of the Group of 77

21 December 2007
“We will continue to work together closely in the best interests of this organization on other priority issues during this session, in particular on Management Reform and counter-terrorism.”

“We should therefore replace the agenda item “GA revitalization” with the notion of the Assembly’s role in ‘strengthening the United Nations system.”

“…in our efforts to renew the management, effectiveness and coherence of this organisation we will press ahead with the Mandate Review process to streamline our work; hold a plenary meeting on the 8th of April to consider proposals on the way forward on Management reform; and, begin consultations on System-wide Coherence to assess progress already achieved at the country level with a view to achieve greater effectiveness and coherence...”

“On Security Council reform you have agreed to move forward on the basis of a principled framework, and working with the Task Force have begun to identify elements that can form thebasis of intergovernmental negotiations.”
Kerim’s statement at the Closing of the Main Part of the 62nd Session of the General Assembly

14 December 2007
“…Member States should have primary ownership and responsibility for the process of Security Council reform.”

“Allow me please at this point to recount the agreements that have been reached so far on Security Council reform: GA resolution 48/26 established the OEWG to consider all issues related to Security Council reform; GA resolution 53/50 determined that any resolution or decision related to Security Council reform be adopted by two-third majority…”

“…we must bear in mind that Security Council Reform is an integral part of strengthening the UN. It must therefore go hand in hand with the transformation of the wider United Nations system… further steps must contain components and notions that will allow the Membership to reach a general agreement on all aspects of Security Council reform…”

“…the reform of the Security Council must accommodate the interests and concerns of all sides, especially those who are currently underrepresented…”

“May I ask all Member States to extend your full cooperation and support to all the members of the Task Force on Security Council reform.”
Kerim’s statement at the First Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and other Matters Related to the Security Council.

13 December 2007
“Thanks to a package of reforms adopted by the General Assembly in 2005, our capacity to provide emergency relief to victims of disasters, natural or conflict-related, has improved greatly."
Kerim’s statement at the High Level Conference on Central Emergency Response Fund

26 November 2007
“…we will consider a subject of great importance to us all – the agenda item on ‘Revitalization of the General Assembly’.”

“Our leaders have called for a stronger United Nations. Could we not instead call this exercise ‘the role of the General Assembly in strengthening the United Nations system’?”

“I would like to call on all Member States to continue to work together in this manner - enthusiastically and in cooperation – as we have also done on mandate Review, so that we can make progress on other important issues such as climate change, the MDGs, Security Council and Management reform. This means that on System-wide Coherence for example, the practical success of the ‘pilot’ countries at the country level should sway the opinion of the Assembly in New York, rather than the other way around.”
Kerim on Revitalization of the General Assembly

14 November 2007
“This is why we have to pursue a course of revitalizing the General Assembly and reforming the Security Council simultaneously!”

“I am particularly pleased to be able to state that we have had a very profound, above all comprehensive and fruitful discussion on the Security Council reform under agenda item 122. t was a frank and effective dialogue, which provided valuable inputs for further deliberations of the General Assembly on this very important aspect of the United Nations overall reform agenda. It fully endorsed the notion that the reform of the United Nations system is one of the priority issues for the 62nd session of the General Assembly.”

“May I also dare to say, that the debate demonstrated the clear commitment of Member States to embark upon a new stage that offers the prospect of achieving the ultimate goal of comprehensive reform of the Security Council… First, we must bear in mind that Security Council Reform is an integral part of strengthening the UN. It must therefore go hand in hand with the transformation of the wider United Nations system;”

“…Sixth, the reform of the Security Council must accommodate the interests and concerns of all sides, especially those who are currently underrepresented…”
Kerim’s Concluding remarks at the Joint Debate on Agenda Item 9 and 122

12 November 2007
“In the fourteen years since this matter has been under discussion in the Open-ended Working Group we have realized the complexity, sensitivity and growing relevance of the Security Council reform.”

“At the 2005 Summit, world leaders recognized the importance of making progress on Security Council reform as an essential element of our overall efforts to reform the United Nations. They committed to support early reform of the Council in order to make it more representative, efficient and transparent, and to further enhance its effectiveness and the legitimacy of its decisions.”

“In her speech to the General Assembly on December 11 2006, President Al-Khalifa urged the membership to take a fresh and open minded approach to the issue of Security Council reform… Through these efforts Member States have reached a new stage that offers the prospect of achieving the goal of comprehensive reform of the Security Council… We must bear in mind that Security Council reform is an integral part of strengthening the United Nations.”
Kerim’s statement at the Joint Debate on Agenda Item 9 and 122

9 November 2007
“…in spring 2008, I plan to hold a thematic debate on Management Reform, to assess what we have accomplished so far and what remains to be done.”

“During the 62nd Session, we should ensure that existing General Assembly reform processes are advancing on the right track and that outstanding reform commitments are moving forward. We should bear in mind that our common goal is to strengthen the United Nations so that it can better deliver its programmes and mandates for the benefit of all. In this regard, I have encouraged Member States to build on the discussions and progress achieved during the 61st Session, in the area of System-wide Coherence, including Gender Architecture, Security Council Reform, International Environmental Governance and Mandate Review.”Kerim’s statement at an Informal Briefing for NGOs on the work of the General Assembly

25 October 2007
“At the opening for the 62nd session of the General Assembly this year, I called on the member states to focus on five priority global issues that I had identified in consultation with them: …the United Nations reform agenda.”

“As President of the General Assembly I recognize that reform is essential to the credibility of the organization: that the General Assembly – as the forum of all Member States -- must take the initiative and strengthen its central position in the multilateral system, and, that the management, effectiveness and coherence of the UN system must be improved, including reforming the Security Council.”
Kerim’ statement at the Harvard Business School

19 October 2007
“I intend to work in an inclusive and transparent manner to address these issues. I very much look forward to your active support, assistance and advice in advancing these issues, as well as other issues on the agenda of the General Assembly including UN reform.
Kerim’s statement at the meeting of LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS

3 October, 2007
“We all agreed that we have common but differentiated responsibilities. And rightly, there was broad consensus that the United Nations must remain at the centre of the process to reach a global agreement – including, to strengthen International Environmental Governance.”

“On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights many of you reaffirmed the importance of the promotion and protection of human rights for all. While some addressed the shortcomings of the Human Rights Council, others also called for its strengthening in order to live up to its full potential.”

“There is overall agreement that we could make faster progress on all these issues, if our multilateral institutions better reflected contemporary realities: underlining the need for better progress on United Nations reform…There was wide-ranging support for concrete results on Security Council reform, including through intergovernmental negotiations.”
Kerim’s remarks at the closing of the 62nd General debate

28 September 2007
“Finally, I have also made Institutional Reform a priority for this session. With respect to Management Reform, I believe that a modernised and more transparent United Nations would serve its Member States better, and more importantly, enable us achieve more expeditiously the other priorities I have outlined…With respect to Security Council reform, I hope that during this Session we can work together towards making the progress that so many Member States desire.”
Kerim’ statement at the opening of the Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting.

25 September 2007
“As I set out in more detail at the opening of this session, in consultation with you, I identified five priority topics that we need to address during this session?…renewing the management, effectiveness and coherence of this organization, including Security Council reform…Modernizing our management and implementing greater coherence across the system will enable this organization to deliver better results on all the priorities I have outlined.”

“To revitalize this House is also to renew our faith in each other, and this organization’s cherished values.”
Kerim’s statement at the opening of the 62nd General Debate

18 September 2007
“More than ever before, global challenges demand multilateral solution. The United Nations is the appropriate multilateral forum to take action. This is why the revitalization of this General Assembly deserves our highest attention. To revitalize this House is also to renew our faith in each other, our common values and destiny. True revitalization will only happen if together we address, amongst others, the five priority issues that, in consultation with you, I have identified: climate change; financing for development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals; countering terrorism; and the reform agenda – to renewing the management, effectiveness and coherence of this organisation.”

“… We also need the courage to move to a new stage leading to concrete results on Security Council reform”
Kerim’s statement at the opening of the 62nd session of the General Assembly

24 August 2007
“Clearly, in order to be able to address them the UN has to adapt, and continue its management reforms and the reform of its institutions to better reflect the composition and needs of today's world. That is why UN reform is also going to be a major focus of my attention during my term as the president of the UN GA.”

“The revitalization of the General Assembly has been an on-going process since 1991. The aim of the process is to enhance its role and authority as well as effectiveness and efficiency. Some of the revitalization issues are also related to further improving its working methods and procedures, streamlining its agenda and strengthening its technical support. Further, the repeated demands for an enhancement of the General Assembly’s role has to do with a growing sentiment among its membership of an “encroachment” of its responsibilities by the Security Council.”

“The reform of the Security Council is an essential but also extremely complex area of reform. While there is no consensus on the various formulas that have been put forward as to how to change the present composition, there is an agreement that reform of the Security Council is essential for making its decisions more legitimate and representative of the geopolitical realities of today’s world.”

“Management reform is in the best interest of all.”
Kerim’s address at the United Nations University in Tokyo

24 May 2007
“Allow me to commend the President of the General Assembly, Ms. Al Khalifa, for her leadership and accomplishments. She has built on the 2005 World Summit, in particular bolstering the United Nations role in peace and security, strengthening the Economic and Social Council and elaborating possible building blocks for negotiations on Security Council reform.”

“A credible reform plan must not be the plan of a past generation: international governance of the environment should follow the pattern of the democratic spirit that underlies the mission of the General Assembly.”

“If the United Nations is going to make its full contribution and better serve the needs of developing countries, greater system-wide coordination and coherence will be necessary… and defining further concrete steps towards a reformed Security Council—a vital aspect of the overall United Nations reform agenda.”
Kerim’s acceptance speech upon his election as President of the 62nd session of the General Assembly