UNITED NATIONS, Dec 9: Pakistan on Wednesday called on the UN General Assembly to evolve a "new consensus" in its deliberations to reform the world body, as proposed by the high level panel last week.

"We are being called upon to evolve a 'new consensus.' We must achieve this 'new consensus' by consensus," Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations Munir Akram stressed at a meeting of UNGA held following the statement of Secretary General Kofi Annan introducing the Report of the High-Level Panel on "Threats, Challenges and Change. "

Mr Akram characterized the United Nations as an "indispensable instrument" for the promotion of the shared goals and objectives of Member States, as enshrined in the UN Charter.

He enunciated Pakistan's belief that "cooperative multilateralism" - pursued through the United Nations and based on the UN Charter principles - represented the best paradigm for the future.

Mr Akram said that the collective security was in essence cooperative, not coercive. He expressed the hope that the concept of collective security will be advanced on the basis of principles, not power. He urged consideration of the Panel report in this perspective.

He underscored that along with "new" threats like terrorism, WMD proliferation and failing states, equal attention needed to be paid to the "old" threats such as inter-state conflicts, foreign occupation, and the suppression of the right of self-determination.

He commended the Panel's Chairman - former Prime Minister of Thailand Anand Panyarachun - for acknowledging the need to redouble efforts to resolve long-standing issues like Palestine, Kashmir and the Korean Peninsula.

Pakistan's chief delegate applauded the Members of the High Level Panel and Research Director Stephen Stedman for their work. The Report, he noted, was wide-ranging in its analysis and recommendations.

It covered a broad spectrum of issues of peace, security and development. It spoke of a "shared responsibility" to find collective solutions to common problems. The Report thus constituted an important input into the Assembly's deliberations in preparation for High-Level Event of 2005.

With regard to the process for UN reform, Mr Akram expressed the hope that, as suggested by Secretary General Kofi Annan, the General Assembly would address all the inter-linked issues in a comprehensive manner, with a view to evolving an integrated package of decisions at the 2005 Event.

The UN Secretary General has transmitted the report to all 191 member states and would collate their opinions in March of next year. The UN General Assembly is expected to debate the report In Sept 2005.