Posted on 04/29/2006 6:43:10 PM PDT by blam
Third World veto leaves UN in budget crisis
By Philip Sherwell in New York
(Filed: 30/04/2006)
Third world nations have blocked a sweeping United Nations reform package that is backed by the West, in an acrimonious showdown that has left the troubled organisation heading for a budget crisis in June.
Britain and the United States condemned the vote, late on Friday night, that scuttled proposals by the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to overhaul the world body in the wake of the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal.
Kofi Annan's reform plans have been scuttled
Supported by America, the European Union and Japan, which provide 80 per cent of the UN budget, Mr Annan wanted to transfer key spending and management decisions from the unwieldy 191-member General Assembly to a strengthened professional secretariat.
But in a row that has exposed the rift between wealthy and developing nations, the Third World grouping has used its voting power to derail the proposals, which it fears will reduce its influence.
The vote will bolster the argument by critics of the UN that the organisation is incapable of reform. It is certain to spark renewed efforts within the US Congress, which controls America's budget, to withhold payments to the UN.
Adam Thomson, Britain's deputy head of mission, expressed dismay at what he called the "destructive move" by the so-called Group of 77 - which represents 133 poorer nations - after it forced the vote in a UN budget committee that traditionally works by consensus. France's UN ambassador, Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, said: "This was a victory for the radicals."
Western diplomats fear that the ambush has sabotaged the best chance for reforming the organisation after its authority was left in tatters by disclosures of corruption and incompetence in the oil-for-food programme.
The UN also faces an immediate funding crisis following the 108-50 vote, since, at US insistence, the assembly agreed in December to delay setting a two-year budget until there was progress on reforms. Instead it set a temporary budget that will run out at the end of June.
Last night, John Bolton, the US ambassador to the UN, said of the vote: "Proponents of the resolution will realise they won a Pyrrhic victory."
Although he said America did not intend to cripple the organisation financially, the implication that there would be a financial cost was clear. The US provides 22 per cent of the UN budget, followed by Japan, which pays 19.5 per cent and was also angered by the vote.
But prominent developing nations are furious at what they see as financial blackmail by the developed world, and say wealthy states are obliged under the UN charter to pay their full share of the dues. Pakistan's ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, said: "Fulfilling your obligation under the charter does not entitle you to greater privileges."
Last month Mr Annan put forward detailed reform plans. He sought more financial oversight, simplified hiring and firing procedures, career planning, staff buyouts, a modern information system and flexibility in assigning staff.
He was urged to come up with wide-ranging reforms at last September's world summit, which marked the 60th anniversary of the organisation's creation.
The main sticking point in last week's negotiations was a proposal by Mr Annan to establish several small, representative groups of UN members to make financial decisions.
Western countries made no attempt to hide their disappointment that the plans had been thwarted.
"The United Kingdom strongly supports this vision of a United Nations better able to respond quickly to global developments and emergencies, and to serve better the hundreds of millions of people around the world that it was established to represent," said Mr Thomson.
"We, therefore, see today's events as a setback for the reform efforts and a setback imposed on us by the actions of another group," he added.
Mr Bolton said that without "top-to-bottom management reform, the United Nations will continue to be ill-equipped to meet the current demands that we as member states place upon the organisation".
Let's see.....We presented a proposal to the Third-World cleptocracies that would reduce the opportunities for corruption....Did we expect them to like it???
"The vote will bolster the argument by critics of the UN that the organisation is incapable of reform. It is certain to spark renewed efforts within the US Congress, which controls America's budget, to withhold payments to the UN."
And that's a good thing.
It's time to get rid of this relic of WWII - get on to the next thing - if it's an American hegemony so be it.
There are lots of great paying jobs at the UN and the jobs are in civilized cities such as New York, Geneva and others. These are great jobs for 3rd worlders who dominate the UN staff. Muslims also dominate the UN staff. They love things the way they are. They are against any reform that impacts their job.
The UN is a vast hiring hall for 3rd worlders who are connected enough to live a nice life in the West. The last they want is to be out of a job and back in Sierra Leone or Haiti
With the fox still allowed to watch the hen house, those buffoons still wouldn't go along with his reforms.
Revoke diplomatic status and boot those losers out of the U.S.
Withdraw funding and let the U.N. die on the vine.
Can't reform it? They won't like it? Let's just close that sucker.
Time to pull the plunger and flush this turd.
Abolish the UN and FEMA.
Wasteful bureacracies that prolong disasters.
The UN needs to be treated like the World's Fair, let every country have a shot at the "privilege".
Well, that explains a lot.
How much does China contribute to fund the UN?
Last night, John Bolton, the US ambassador to the UN, said of the vote: "Proponents of the resolution will realise they won a Pyrrhic victory."
Pyrrhic - adj. 3: of or relating to or resembling Pyrrhus or his exploits (especially his sustaining staggering losses in order to defeat the Romans); "a Pyrrhic victory".
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