Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs written question – answered at on 13 December 2004.
Mr Llew Smith
Labour, Blaenau Gwent
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the report of the United Nations Secretary-General's high level panel on threats, challenge and change, published on 2 December.
Bill Rammell
Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Foreign & Commonwealth Office
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has welcomed the report.
We support the Panel's broad approach of acting earlier to tackle conflict and to build consensus in acting more decisively against the broad range of threats.
The Report includes an important recommendation for a new Peacebuilding Commission to provide more focused management of individual post-conflict situations; it recognises that the UN must organise itself better to prevent conflict; it includes innovative proposals on improving the international communities response to threats of proliferation and terrorism; and it proposes a collective international 'Responsibility to Protect', that is to act against genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian law, among other important recommendations.
Reform of the United Nations is a priority for the Government and we will work closely with the Secretary-General and other countries to ensure full discussion of the proposals and implementation of the report's key findings that find consensus.
Yes2 people think so
No1 person thinks not
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