Joint statement with Prime Minister Persson on UN reform/Peacebuilding Commission

8 December 2005

Tony Blair and Goran Persson held talks on the United Nation reform and Peacebuilding Commission.

Read the statement in full

We share a strong and personal commitment to the United Nations reform process. At the World Summit in September, we and other world leaders agreed on a set of reforms to make the UN a more effective and credible world organization for the future.

It is imperative that these reforms be carried out in accordance with the timetable set. We believe that there is now a sense of urgency.

We strongly support the establishment of the Human Rights Council, and stress the need for early progress on management reform.

It is of great importance for the reform process as a whole that the Peacebuilding Commission can be established before the end of the year, as decided at the Summit. We are convinced that the Peacebuilding Commission could make a real difference on the ground in some of the poorest countries, not least in Africa.

The proposals under discussion in the UN's General Assembly are a good basis on which to agree to launch the Commission. The European Union has offered its broad support. We urge other parties to do the same.

All parties must now be ready to agree. Our overriding interest is an effective Peacebuilding Commission that can start its much-needed work as soon as possible. We will work together through the Leaders' Network for UN reform to rally support for that cause.