Rodrigues-Birkett sees need for greater collaboration with Permanent Members of UN Security Council

Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Candidate for the position of UN Secretary, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, is promising greater collaboration in working with the five permanent members on the UN Security Council, should she be given the job.

The five Permanent Members of the Security Council—China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have veto powers and can ultimately determine who becomes the next Secretary General.

Appearing on a Bloomberg TV podcast, Ambassador Rodrigues about her plans to navigate and work with the five Permanent Members of the Security Council, given that some may hold different views to hers.

She said it is important that there be close collaborations at the UN.

“As you know I have served on the Security Council over the last two years and I have worked very closely with the P5 and so in some respects they know me and they know how I operate, I held the position of leading Guyana’s delegation, so my country held the Presidency twice, but I had to navigate some of those difficult moments during that time and they have seen that as well,” Ambassador Rodrigues- Birkett said.

Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett tied for the second spot in the most recent straw poll conducted by the UN Security Councl. The candidate from Costa Rica has been widening her lead.

Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett said at the end of the day, it is up to the Security Council to recommend its choice for Secretary General to the General Assembly. She said she will continue to outline her vision.

“At the end of the day, I think you need a Secretary General that apart from competence that will be able to build bridges, that would be able to bring people together but that would also have the energy, versatility and discernment that you will need in these Chief administrative officer, because that is description in the charter of the Secretary General, “Ambassador Rodrigues noted.

Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett said while there have been many criticisms of the UN, the body can be a force for good. She said she is not looking for thanks or building an ego, but she wants to serve and address some of pressing issues facing the world.

“The Secretary General has certain tools at her disposal—Good Offices process, mediation and I would want to offer those tools to parties in conflict right now. We have the highest number of conflicts since World War II, and so we need to make a dent in ending and preventing conflict and I intend to work very closely with all including the security council to see how we could move the needle on that,” she said.

The United States reportedly plans to use its veto power to block the nomination of Rodrigues-Birkett, according to the New York Times.

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