De Marco speaks of need for second generation UN

Peace in the Middle East required not just American interest and intervention, but also the strong participation of the European Union and Russia within the parameters of United Nations resolutions, President Guido de Marco said

However, he said, it was regretful to note that resolutions were being cited more for breaches than compliance.

Prof. de Marco was speaking on Thursday at the graduation ceremony of the Maastricht School of Management, where he delivered the keynote address on 'The kindred spirit in politics and management'.

He lamented the lack of a UN policy backed by the major powers to achieve the end of the occupation of Palestine, the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own and the right of Israel to exist within sure and guaranteed frontiers.

"As President of the United Nations General Assembly (in the early 90s), I had a vantage point at seeing this organisation at work. I realised that for the United Nations to perform, and to deliver, as an instrument for peace and freedom in the 21st century, a second generation United Nations has to be brought about.

"For the United Nations, which saw the change from a bi-polar world to a mono-polar world, struggling to move towards a multi-polar system, to have the right impact in world affairs, important reforms have to take place."

Prof. de Marco added that these reforms should not be cosmetic, but should have the political will to make of the United Nations the instrument that guarantees international peace and security.

"We may otherwise be assisting in the marginalisation of the UN, substituting thereto, the action of one or more states acting in concert in what 'they' consider to be the maintenance of peace and security," he said.

The United Nations organisation required not only organisational management skills but the political commitment necessary to ensure the fulfilling of the obligations of the charter of the United Nations.

Yesterday, Prof. de Marco visited the Maltese embassy at The Hague.