June 11, 2006

A moment of truth for the United Nations (Kofi Annan’s Op-Ed in The Financial Times), The Financial Times

Kofi Annan

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/8a401878-f96a-11da-8ced-0000779e2340.html

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Secretary-General Kofi Annan is right about one thing - it is a moment of truth at the UN. They couldn't fix their human rights body but could only create another with Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia back on the inside and the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the driver's seat. They couldn't define terrorism or adopt a comprehensive convention to combat it. They couldn't get a robust UN troop force on the ground and stop genocide in Sudan. They couldn't adopt a single resolution at the Security Council finding Iran to be a threat to international peace and security, let alone sanction it. And the list goes on. Instead the Group of 77 countries (numbering 132 out of a 191-total UN membership) is in control; Only a few weeks ago they defeated Annan's proposals for management reform. Their solution? More seats for themselves on the Security Council and a continuing rubber-stamp of the UN budget when the money runs out this month in the absence of reform. We know the Secretary-General's approach to the G-77 only too well - roll-over. Will Secretary Rice agree or say no to another blank check for the UN?