Free Republic

Six months after a U.S. foreign policy advocacy group urged a United Nations agency to stop cooperating with the Iranian regime, the agency’s members have appointed Tehran to head a body overseeing its budget and work program for the year ahead. Meeting in Vienna, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) last week named Iran to succeed Austria as chairman of its Program and Budget Committee. The step was taken “by acclamation,” meaning no member state objected or called for a vote. The post will be held by Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s representative to international organizations based in Vienna. Those organizations...

Executive Summary The United Nations is celebrating its 40th anniversary amid much hoopla and endless expressions of goodwill. Last month dozens of heads of state descended on New York for the opening of the 40th session of the General Assembly; scores more are expected for the official commemorative festivities the week of October 21. Despite widespread and withering criticism of the institution in recent years--in September Singapore's foreign minister, Suppiah Dhanabalan, told the General Assembly that the UN's prestige "is at an all time low"[1]--hope burns eternal. Austrian ambassador Thomas Klestil recently reaffirmed his nation's support for the international body:...