Page 10 - DIVA_4_2009

Interview with Ambassador

Jan Eliasson,

former Swedish Minister of Foreign

Affairs, and former President of the UN

General Assembly

Jan Eliasson - the name stake and that other
sounds organizations, such as
familiar.. .He
has such a long list of NATO, are trying to take
accomplishments, and over the void left by the
hardly anybody either UN. Do you share this
in the United Nations or point of view?
in the political field in
general has more inter- I understand the concern.
experience
national The world is facing truly glo-
than him. We met him in bal problems. To deal with
Geneva recently when, them effectively we need
despite his busy strong and competent global
schedule, he granted us organisations which are
an interview in between representative and conside-
his meetings. So now red legitimate. In this regard,
leaving the floor to Jan the UN is in a class of its
Eliasson... own. But it is still a challen-
ge for Member States to live
0: Mr Eliasson, we do up to the principles of the
not hear much about UN Charter. Here the
you these days. Have Security Council has a spe-
you retired from public do you see the evolution Q: You are currently on cial, and serious responsibili-
life? of the UN since then? the International Red ty to maintain international
Cross Board of peace and security. If the
Not at all. As former The UN is being challenged International Advisors. Security Council falls in this
Minister for Foreign Affairs, by new multipolar groups, What exactly do you do regard there is a risk that
I take part in the debate in primarily the G 20. It is in this capacity? other organisations - or even
Sweden, not least, on inter- important to build bridges Member States - will fill the
national developments. We between these exclusive We meet twice a year for a void. The Security Council,
have an important election groups and the wider interna- couple of days with the lea- therefore, needs to be
in Sweden in September tional community, i.e. organi- dership and staff of the reformed both in terms of
2010. sations with clearer mandates ICRC in Geneva to analyse representativity and methods
I also keep contact with my and responsibilities, most and discuss trends and deve- of work. It should be more of
friends in the UN system importantly the UN, inclu- lopments both in conflict a negotiation body and the
and in the humanitarian ding the Brettons Woods sys- areas and in different areas veto should be avoided. I
community on a number of tem. of international humanita- would like to see a veto-free
issues. I continue to feel pas- But the UN and the Bretton rian law. It is a very good culture emerge in the
sion and compassion. And Woods institutions must be group and our discussions Security Council.
mediation as well as huma- reformed. From personal are lively and stimulating. I
nitarian diplomacy is addic- experience, I know that am proud to contribute to 0: In Sweden you have
tive. Like a drug in my reform is a slow-moving pro- the respectable and impres- recently established an
veins! cess. The member states sive work of the ICRC NGO for water. Why did
must soon come to the under the leadership of you involve yourself in
Q: You were the conclusion that good interna- Jacob Kellenberger. such a challenging task,
president of the sixtieth tional solutions are in their and what are the main
of
the
General Assembly. How national interest. 0: We often hear that tasks
multilateralism is at organization?
8 4 2009 Diva

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