GENEVA, November 30. /TASS/. The reform of the United Nations is in the hands of its member countries, so a consensus is needed to make a decision on this issue, UN Deputy Secretary General Tatyana Valovaya, who is director general of the UN’s Geneva office, said.

"When we talk about reform, we mean ways of improving the organization of work and adapting to new conditions and challenges," Valovaya said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman. "Whenever the issue of UN reform is in focus, the general public thinks that most likely it is about reforming the administrative bodies. It should be borne in mind that the reform of the organization is in the hands of all member states. In order to make decisions on the reform of the governing bodies, on the Security Council, a consensus of all member states is needed," Valovaya stressed, adding that "the voice of each state in making such important decisions should be heard."

She explained that "the discussion of UN reform is a very complex task." Such discussions are taking place among various countries with the involvement of the UN Secretariat. "Everyone understands that the world has changed significantly since 1945," Valovaya stated.

As for managerial and administrative reforms, they are carried out within the UN Secretariat and organizations within the UN system. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has launched several management reforms "in a bid to make the organization more efficient, to speed up decision-making, and to eliminate the barriers that often exist between structural units," Valovaya continued. "A great deal has already been done along these lines, such as the introduction of UN Resident Coordinator posts in countries. This is a very important and landmark result of the reforms."

The UN’s Geneva office is actively involved, in particular, in a process aimed at making better use of advanced decision-making methods and new technologies, including digital ones. Geneva is taking the lead in hosting virtual and hybrid conferences. Many events "benefit from the participants’ ability to connect remotely," Valovaya said. When more events began to take place online amid the coronavirus pandemic, "inclusivity increased," she said. Many countries that were unable - financially or logistically - to send delegations to Geneva had a chance to participate remotely. "This is a big advantage. We are actively discussing how to use digital technologies and artificial intelligence and improving the quality of translation," Valovaya concluded.