Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kassymzhomart Tokayev at the 61st session of the UN General Assembly (New York, September 22, 2006)

The UN reform has been dragging on far too long and must be accelerated through constructive talks.

Last year's global summit confirmed the United Nations' role as an irreplaceable forum producing vitally important decisions on pressing international issues, which can be seen from the current reform, - the most radical in the organization's history.

On the one hand, essential decisions have been made on ways to create new elected agencies in the UN system, including the Peacekeeping Committee and the Human Rights Council, whose activities result from a concerted effort by all delegations, but on the other, no progress is seen in the reform of the General Assembly and the Security Council, which is seriously slowing the organization's institutional reform.

The Security Council reform has been dragging on far too long, while the current status quo brings no benefits to the UN member-states. A final solution can only be found in a constructive dialogue. As before, the question of increasing the role and status of the General Assembly remains open.

Kazakhstan wants the UN reform to enhance the role of all states in tackling the main international problems.