В КАКОЙ РЕФОРМЕ НУЖДАЕТСЯ СОВЕТ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ ООН?

Abstract

The article addresses key aspects of the UN Security Council (UNSC) adaptation to the 21st century realities. The author argues that the scale and diversity of major challenges to the world strategic stability in the foreseeable future are such that nations can cope with them successfully only by acting together and taking full advantage of the UNSC facilities to manage global processes. The survival and sustainable development of a polycentric world require maintaining and upgrading the UNSC proficiency, expanding collaboration between the major powers in this format, on the basis of international law. The need is stressed to do away with the under-representation of the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America in the UN Security Council and meet their reasonable demands for membership in the UNSC on a permanent basis. At the same time, the author emphasizes that in its existing format, the UNSC is a viable UN body, its potential is far from being exhausted. It is a unique security resource, although undervalued and underutilized by the international community. The Council possesses sufficient legal authority to enforce peace, as well as essential experience and an extensive international security agenda. Its mechanisms are quite capable of withstanding a heavier load if the unity of the leading world powers prevails. They should reaffirm their commitment to the UN Charter and agree to operate in conformity with international law. Appropriate resources and effective UNSC operational enforcement facilities are required to withstand growing security challenges, particularly those emanating from international terrorism, religious fanaticism, violent extremism, xenophobia as well as the WMD proliferation. A number of measures are suggested to strengthen the central coordinating role of the UN Security Council in managing international risks and improve the functioning of its mechanisms. The author concludes that by taking full advantage of the UNSC enforcement potential the international community can соре with existing and impending threats to the world order and make breakthroughs in a number of critical security areas (countering global terrorism, strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime, peace-making, enhancing the UN enforcement potential).