1999 E-mail Exchange with Sir Brian Urquhart: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

E-mail Exchange with Sir Brian Urquhart and students from Marin Academy High School, UC Berkeley's Model UN Program, and Boalt School of Law: March 1999 with Harry Kreisler

UN Composition

Concerning differences between democratic and non-democratic countries, are there any issues on which they tend to disagree?

Ian M., Marin Academy High School

Obviously democratic and non-democratic countries are likely to disagree on a wide range of issues, human rights for example.

When the UN meets, how do representatives that speak different languages communicate with each other? Does this affect the way meeting are run?

Marcus C., Marin Academy High School

UN meetings have simultaneous interpretation into six languages so the language difference is reduced to a minimum.

How do you believe that the United Nations has benefited from the increased number of independent countries?

Naomi G., Marin Academy High School

I think it is important to see the United Nations clearly for what it is. It is a tool for governments and an instrumentality through which they can get together to solve major problems. If they choose not to use it, it doesn't work. Obviously the organization is far more representative of the peoples of the world than it was in 1945 when it only had fifty members. On the other hand, the addition of 140 states with widely differing interests and problems certainly makes the organization a far more complex one.

Do you think an increase in the number of permanent members on the Security Council might prove beneficial to the UN?

Model UN Program, Marin Academy High School

Such an increase might make the council more representative but also possibly less efficient. At the moment there is no prospect of such an agreement.