RFE/RL: What will be the main priorities of your work?
Sheikha Haya: We will work according to three principles. The first one is we will build on what has been done before us. That means we will build on the procedure which has been taken and on the reform issues related to the Security Council reform, to the revitalization of the General Assembly, and all the issues related to the reform. The second thing -- we will reinforce the establishment of the Human Rights Council, Peace Building Commission, and also we will continue to work according to the counterterrorism strategy. So we will continue and we will build on what has already been established. Also we will focus on development. We put the thematic debate for the 61st session toward the implementation of the development goals.
RFE/RL: How will you use your experience as a diplomat and lawyer to balance so many different interests at the General Assembly?
Haya: With the member states I have started the new negotiations about all the issues which are on the agenda. Each member state wants to see their ideas reflected in the decisions or the resolutions of the United Nations. And in fact I have to discuss, and to convince, and to bring them together to reach the minimum-order consensus on the issues. We have also to be realistic. The target for us and for all the member states is to reinforce this organization and to make it a strong and efficient institution through the decisions and resolutions which will be taken.
RFE/RL: Which issue do you see as the most difficult to achieve consensus on?
Haya: I cannot tell you that there is some item that is easy. There are member states who are for and there are member states who are against. The challenge for me as a president is to bring [them together], to make them compromise, to convince them, and to reach an agreement. For instance, we have now the terrorism convention. It is very important. I have noticed that many of the member states have mentioned before the General Assembly that we need to work toward this issue -- the terrorism convention. But how can we approach this? There are very important [significant] obstacles, very big obstacles. So we have to convince both of the parties -- those who are supportive and those who are against -- to reach a mutual agreement because it is for the benefit to everybody.
RFE/RL: So far, have you gotten frustrated in your new job?
Haya: I have a legal background so I see the things according to the rules and through the charter. Sometimes it is not like that [and] I have to be realistic with the facts and the politics.
RFE/RL: Which aspects of your legal background you see as beneficial in your current position?
Haya: Being a member of an arbitration center in Paris gave me the opportunity to have different points of view on the same legal aspect or legal question [issue]. This helped me to understand different positions and to see it from different areas. That means, what is good for somebody, may not be good for another party. The challenge is how can we reach a compromise as I worked as a mediator, sometimes, and as an arbitrator. This gave me the opportunity to see from where you can approach the matter, and if there are difficult areas -- how can you approach it.
RFE/RL: In your new job so far, which experience you have you had to draw upon more often -- that of an arbitrator or a mediator?
Haya: Mediator means that all the member states, as I told you, according to the UN charter they are equal. And I have to take care of the interests of every member state and to try to bring them together and to make their point of view understandable to the other parties in order to reach a solution. We will face very big issues, such as terrorism, I know it is a very sensitive issue. Also maybe the [UN] reform. These are very sensitive issues. It’s better to see how do you approach the matter with different member states and they definitely have a different mentality or different approach to the matter.
RFE/RL: What do you see as problematic issues for the creation of a common UN policy against terrorism?
Haya: I think the problematic areas of this [antiterrorism] convention is maybe 10 percent of the agenda. Member states have agreement over approximately 90 percent of the agenda. The definition [of terrorism] is a matter [that] if you consider it a matter of the local policy of each country, [then] you can understand that there may be differences among member states on this issue, on the definition. So each member state wants to put their own prospect and their own interpretation of terrorism. On this we are facing maybe 192 interpretations. If we say that maybe half of the member states they may have similar definition. But also there will be member states who will say no. I think that it is a technical matter.”
RFE/RL: In your acceptance speech you said that there is a need to enhance the relation between the General Assembly and the Security Council. How exactly do you see it?
Haya: The existing relation between the General Assembly and the Security Council is transparent and we have direct and regular meetings and consultations with the president of the Security Council. I circulate to the member states all the information which I have from the president of the Security Council. I have [been] approached by many member states; they have their own ideas how they see the reform of the Security Council. We are dealing with the matter how we develop this relation. Especially, when you see the charter it only provides that we have to have consultations. It’s not specifically [outlined] in the [UN] Charter how far the relationship [between the General Assembly and the Security Council should go], and the transparency. But, in fact, I meet the president of the Security Council and have regular discussions with him.