INTERVIEW DE M. JAN ELIASSON

A few weeks before becoming Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jan Eliasson, President of the sixtieth session of the United Nations General Assembly, gave The World of Parliaments and the IPU E-Bulletin his views on different topics, among them the cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU.

Q: You have made several efforts to implement the decisions of the World Summit Outcome. Which do you feel have been the most important achievements?
M. Jan Eliasson: In December last year, the United Nations General Assembly decided to establish the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which will ensure a more predictable and timely United Nations response to humanitarian emergencies. More than US$ 250 million have already been pledged to this Fund, which was launched on 9 March 2006. Another important decision was to set up the Peacebuilding Commission. Through this mechanism, the United Nations will be better equipped to support countries emerging from conflict in their transition to peace. On 15 March this year, the General Assembly created a new human rights mechanism, the Human Rights Council. This was a historical decision. The Council signals a new beginning for the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. Candidates are to document their own human rights records and face the risk of expulsion if they violate their pledges while serving on the Council.

Q.: You often say that it is important for the United Nations to bring the realities of our world into the meeting rooms. What is your view of how this can be achieved?
J.E. : We need to keep in mind that the United Nations was created to serve the peoples of the world – the first three words of the Charter of the United Nations are "We the peoples…". All of us working at the United Nations thus have to remember that our task is to deal with the real problems in the field and to make a difference for the peoples of the world. There are different ways in which we can bring in the realities to the meeting rooms of the United Nations. One way would be to have more interactive debates on themes of global relevance with participants who can contribute their expert knowledge from the field. Another way would be to strengthen our relationships with relevant external partners – parliaments and civil society, including nongovernmental organizations. As parliamentarians, we can deliver the messages of our constituents. Similarly, we can play an important role in raising public awareness about the work of the United Nations.

Q.: How would you describe the main challenges ahead for the United Nations?
J.E. : First and foremost is the task of restoring and strengthening belief in the multilateral system. In today's world, there has never been a stronger need for a multilateral system to provide global solutions to global problems such as poverty, communicable diseases, environmental threats, acts of terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction and organized crime. Much is at stake – the alternatives to multilateralism are unilateralism or separate groups of countries facing each other. It is therefore essential to make the United Nations a stronger and more effective actor on the world scene.

Q: At the United Nations World Summit last year, heads of State and government called for enhanced cooperation between the UN and the IPU in the implementation of the Millennium Declaration and in effective UN reform. What are your thoughts on how this political commitment can be put into practice?
J.E. : It is necessary to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and national and regional parliaments, including through the IPU, within the existing structures. The United Nations stands to gain from a more active role of parliamentarians in the implementation of United Nations decisions in general. We need to find better ways to enhance the exchange of information between the United Nations and parliamentary bodies, such as the IPU. Parliamentarians can contribute to the United Nations reform efforts in many different ways. Apart from exercising their legislative responsibilities, they can tell their constituents back home what difference the United Nations makes in their daily lives and why multilateralism matters. They can also make contributions on the operational level. One important area where parliamentarians can play a significant role is in peacebuilding. Countries emerging from conflict need help to build capacity and institutions in many areas, including in democratic governance. Their experience will be invaluable in the international effort to rebuild wartorn societies.