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Canada and the Security Council: Options and Opportunities

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Introduction

The United Nations Association of Canada, in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, organized the seminar on Canada and the Security Council: Options and Opportunities held in Ottawa, January 22, 1999.

In October 1998, Canada was elected to the United Nations Security Council for the term 1999-2000. In its successful campaign for the support of UN members, Canada outlined its broad priorities that it intended to pursue in the Security Council, if elected. These included: the promotion of Canada's human security agenda in the context of the changing nature of threats in the post-Cold War era; the reassertion of the Security Council's leadership and credibility; and, increasing transparency and openness in the Council's work.

This seminar represented one of several initiatives by the Government of Canada to prepare itself to pursue successfully its stated priorities during its Security Council term. The seminar's primary objective was to seek input from informed Canadians and other experts on how to advance Canada's priorities in the Council. In this regard, the seminar served to complement internal governmental consultations on policy directions during the Canada's term. Participants included a broad range of non-governmental experts and stake-holders who provided diverse perspectives and brought extensive relevant experience. Among them were New York-based officials of countries that have recently served on the Council, academics, NGO officials and media representatives. Senior government officials involved in Security Council related matters also participated. They included representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian International Development Agency.

A secondary objective of the seminar was to inform non-governmental participants of the responsibilities that Canada had assumed in beginning its Security Council term and to share with them the government's priorities and concerns.