[Peace-discuss] Fwd: The US vs The UN

[Al Kagan]

Forwarded for Belden.

>
>
>
>
>> http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article308269.ece
>>
>> The Independent (UK)
>> August 26, 2005
>>
>> The US vs The UN
>>
>> American ambassador seeks to scupper UN's global
>> strategy with 750 amendments after just three
>> weeks in the job
>>
>> By David Usborne in New York
>>
>> America's controversial new ambassador to the United
>> Nations is seeking to shred an agreement on
>> strengthening the world body and fighting poverty
>> intended to be the highlight of a 60th anniversary
>> summit next month. In the extraordinary intervention,
>> John Bolton has sought to roll back proposed UN
>> commitments on aid to developing countries, combating
>> global warming and nuclear disarmament.
>>
>> Mr Bolton has demanded no fewer than 750 amendments to
>> the blueprint restating the ideals of the international
>> body, which was originally drafted by the UN secretary
>> general, Kofi Annan.
>>
>> The amendments are spelt out in a 32-page US version,
>> first reported by the Washington Post and acquired
>> yesterday by The Independent. The document is littered
>> with deletions and exclusions. Most strikingly, the
>> changes eliminate all specific reference to the so-
>> called Millennium Development Goals, accepted by all
>> countries at the last major UN summit in 2000,
>> including the United States.
>>
>> The Americans are also seeking virtually to remove all
>> references to the Kyoto treaty and the battle against
>> global warming. They are striking out mention of the
>> disputed International Criminal Court and drawing a red
>> line through any suggestion that the nuclear powers
>> should dismantle their arsenals. Instead, the US is
>> seeking to add emphasis to passages on fighting
>> terrorism and spreading democracy.
>>
>> Very quickly, Mr Bolton has given the answer to anyone
>> still wondering whether his long and difficult journey
>> to New York - President George Bush confirmed him to
>> the post after the US Senate was unable to - would
>> render him coy or cautious. Far from that, he seems
>> intent on taking the UN by the collar and plainly
>> saying to its face what America expects - and does not
>> expect - from it.
>>
>> To the dismay of many other delegations, the US has
>> even scored out pledges that would have asked nations
>> to "achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross
>> national product for official development assistance by
>> no later than 2015". All references to the date or the
>> percentage level are gone in the Bolton version.
>>
>> Passages that look forward to a larger role for the
>> General Assembly are gone. Rejected also is a promise
>> to create a standing military capacity for UN
>> peacekeeping.
>>
>> This show of contempt from Washington and its new envoy
>> comes at a time when Mr Annan has been severely
>> weakened by allegations of widespread corruption, fraud
>> and nepotism. The White House is aware, for example,
>> that Mr Annan himself could be further undermined when
>> investigators into corruption in the oil-for-food
>> programme in Iraq issue their final report, probably
>> just days before the summit itself, due to be held from
>> 14 to 16 September.
>>
>> The move by MrBolton has thrown preparations for the
>> summit into turmoil, prompting some to question whether
>> there will be anything for the leaders to put their
>> pens to in New York. "We can't be entirely sure there
>> will be an agreement," one senior United Nations aide
>> admitted last night. Failure to reach an agreement
>> could embarrass Tony Blair, who is believed to have
>> given broad backing to Mr Annan's original draft.
>>
>> "It is not great news," said one Western diplomat of
>> the American paper, which had been distributed only to
>> a select group of UN ambassadors by yesterday. "What
>> they are proposing is quite radical. If we start
>> negotiating now the way the Americans want, it is going
>> to make for a very difficult process."
>>
>> Some UN insiders concede that at 29 pages the proposed
>> text was probably far too long for many of the world's
>> presidents and prime ministers to accept. They all also
>> see that in its present form it would ask the US to
>> promise to uphold treaties and conventions it has
>> already rejected, including the Kyoto pact.
>>
>> The president of the General Assembly, Jean Ping of
>> Gambia, must now try to save the summit from disaster.
>> He will bring together a core group of 20 to 30
>> countries in the days ahead, with Britain and the US
>> included, to see what, if anything, can be found to
>> overcome so many American objections. There is no doubt
>> in the corridors of New York that something must be
>> stitched together before the summit, even if it ends up
>> being very short.
>>
>> "The purpose of the summit," said Shashi Tharoor, a
>> senior aide to Mr Annan, "is to rekindle the idealism
>> with which the UN was created 60 years ago and to use
>> the birthday to renew the organisation for the purposes
>> of the 21st century. The rest is process and details."
>>
>> The problem is that the summit is less than three weeks
>> away. "Time is short," Mr Bolton warned in a letter to
>> other UN envoys earlier this week. "In order to
>> maximise our chances of success, I suggest we begin the
>> negotiations immediately." Guide to the differences in
>> approach
>>
>> Millennium goals
>>
>> What the UN wants
>>
>> Specific references to the UN Millennium Development
>> Goals which set targets to be achieved by 2015 on
>> issues such as poverty, education, disease, trade and
>> aid
>>
>> What the US wants
>>
>> References to the Millennium Development Goals
>> systematically removed and replaced by vague references
>> to the reduction of poverty, and a promise to reinforce
>> the trend
>>
>> The likely outcome
>>
>> Unlikely to reach agreement. Developing countries will
>> fight hard to keep references to Millennium Development
>> Goals which were agreed by all UN members in 2000
>>
>> Foreign aid
>>
>> What the UN wants
>>
>> To re-state development goals calling for wealthy
>> countries, including the US, to contribute 0.7 per cent
>> of their gross national product to aid
>>
>> What the US wants
>>
>> Deletion of all references to 0.7 per cent figure.
>> Wants to link further increases to good housekeeping -
>> and further liberalisation of markets
>>
>> The likely outcome
>>
>> Hard to see how there can be a compromise
>>
>> Climate change
>>
>> What the UN wants
>>
>> Concerted global action to address climate change.
>> Further negotiations to look beyond 2012 by broadening
>> Kyoto agreement to include greater participation by
>> developing and developed nations
>>
>> What the US wants
>>
>> Stresses energy efficiency and development of new
>> technologies, and rejects global action plan. Rejects
>> assertion that climate change is a long-term challenge
>> that could potentially affect every part of the world
>>
>> The likely outcome
>>
>> Could be compromise, as US is prepared to recommit to
>> the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
>>
>> Nuclear disarmament
>>
>> What the UN wants
>>
>> An appeal to the five nuclear powers - Britain, US,
>> France, China and Russia - to take concrete steps
>> towards nuclear disarmament
>>
>> What the US wants
>>
>> To shift focus to halting the spread of the world's
>> deadliest weapons. Will not specifically recommit to
>> working towards nuclear disarmament, although will
>> recommit to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
>>
>> The likely outcome
>>
>> Difficult to envisage agreement after negotiations on a
>> five-year review of the NPT broke up in May without a
>> result
>>
>> International Criminal Court
>>
>> What the UN wants
>>
>> Commitment to end impunity for the most serious
>> violations of international humanitarian law, including
>> genocide, by co-operating with the International
>> Criminal Court
>>
>> What the US wants
>>
>> No reference to International Criminal Court, whose
>> statutes the Bush administration controversially
>> withdrew from in 2002
>>
>> The likely outcome
>>
>> No agreement. America is out in the cold on this one,
>> although the commitment of a number of other states to
>> the court has been wavering under US pressure
>>
>> Trade
>>
>> What the UN wants
>>
>> Help for developing countries to join the World Trade
>> Organisation
>>
>> What the US wants
>>
>> Insistence that countries seeking to join the WTO must
>> be willing and able to undertake WTO commitments.
>> Baulks at "facilitating" entry of developing countries
>>
>> The likely outcome
>>
>> Big fight, with developing countries clamouring for
>> access to markets. Probably no agreement
>>
>> America's controversial new ambassador to the United
>> Nations is seeking to shred an agreement on
>> strengthening the world body and fighting poverty
>> intended to be the highlight of a 60th anniversary
>> summit next month. In the extraordinary intervention,
>> John Bolton has sought to roll back proposed UN
>> commitments on aid to developing countries, combating
>> global warming and nuclear disarmament.
>>
>> Mr Bolton has demanded no fewer than 750 amendments to
>> the blueprint restating the ideals of the international
>> body, which was originally drafted by the UN secretary
>> general, Kofi Annan.
>>
>> The amendments are spelt out in a 32-page US version,
>> first reported by the Washington Post and acquired
>> yesterday by The Independent. The document is littered
>> with deletions and exclusions. Most strikingly, the
>> changes eliminate all specific reference to the so-
>> called Millennium Development Goals, accepted by all
>> countries at the last major UN summit in 2000,
>> including the United States.
>>
>> The Americans are also seeking virtually to remove all
>> references to the Kyoto treaty and the battle against
>> global warming. They are striking out mention of the
>> disputed International Criminal Court and drawing a red
>> line through any suggestion that the nuclear powers
>> should dismantle their arsenals. Instead, the US is
>> seeking to add emphasis to passages on fighting
>> terrorism and spreading democracy.
>>
>> Very quickly, Mr Bolton has given the answer to anyone
>> still wondering whether his long and difficult journey
>> to New York - President George Bush confirmed him to
>> the post after the US Senate was unable to - would
>> render him coy or cautious. Far from that, he seems
>> intent on taking the UN by the collar and plainly
>> saying to its face what America expects - and does not
>> expect - from it.
>>
>> To the dismay of many other delegations, the US has
>> even scored out pledges that would have asked nations
>> to "achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross
>> national product for official development assistance by
>> no later than 2015". All references to the date or the
>> percentage level are gone in the Bolton version.
>>
>> Passages that look forward to a larger role for the
>> General Assembly are gone. Rejected also is a promise
>> to create a standing military capacity for UN
>> peacekeeping.
>>
>> This show of contempt from Washington and its new envoy
>> comes at a time when Mr Annan has been severely
>> weakened by allegations of widespread corruption, fraud
>> and nepotism. The White House is aware, for example,
>> that Mr Annan himself could be further undermined when
>> investigators into corruption in the oil-for-food
>> programme in Iraq issue their final report, probably
>> just days before the summit itself, due to be held from
>> 14 to 16 September.
>>
>> The move by MrBolton has thrown preparations for the
>> summit into turmoil, prompting some to question whether
>> there will be anything for the leaders to put their
>> pens to in New York. "We can't be entirely sure there
>> will be an agreement," one senior United Nations aide
>> admitted last night. Failure to reach an agreement
>> could embarrass Tony Blair, who is believed to have
>> given broad backing to Mr Annan's original draft.
>>
>> "It is not great news," said one Western diplomat of
>> the American paper, which had been distributed only to
>> a select group of UN ambassadors by yesterday. "What
>> they are proposing is quite radical. If we start
>> negotiating now the way the Americans want, it is going
>> to make for a very difficult process."
>>
>> Some UN insiders concede that at 29 pages the proposed
>> text was probably far too long for many of the world's
>> presidents and prime ministers to accept. They all also
>> see that in its present form it would ask the US to
>> promise to uphold treaties and conventions it has
>> already rejected, including the Kyoto pact.
>>
>> The president of the General Assembly, Jean Ping of
>> Gambia, must now try to save the summit from disaster.
>> He will bring together a core group of 20 to 30
>> countries in the days ahead, with Britain and the US
>> included, to see what, if anything, can be found to
>> overcome so many American objections. There is no doubt
>> in the corridors of New York that something must be
>> stitched together before the summit, even if it ends up
>> being very short.
>>
>> "The purpose of the summit," said Shashi Tharoor, a
>> senior aide to Mr Annan, "is to rekindle the idealism
>> with which the UN was created 60 years ago and to use
>> the birthday to renew the organisation for the purposes
>> of the 21st century. The rest is process and details."
>>
>> The problem is that the summit is less than three weeks
>> away. "Time is short," Mr Bolton warned in a letter to
>> other UN envoys earlier this week. "In order to
>> maximise our chances of success, I suggest we begin the
>> negotiations immediately." Guide to the differences in
>> approach
>>
>> Millennium goals
>>
>> What the UN wants
>>
>> Specific references to the UN Millennium Development
>> Goals which set targets to be achieved by 2015 on
>> issues such as poverty, education, disease, trade and
>> aid
>>
>> What the US wants
>>
>> References to the Millennium Development Goals
>> systematically removed and replaced by vague references
>> to the reduction of poverty, and a promise to reinforce
>> the trend
>>
>> The likely outcome
>>
>> Unlikely to reach agreement. Developing countries will
>> fight hard to keep references to Millennium Development
>> Goals which were agreed by all UN members in 2000
>>
>> Foreign aid
>>
>> What the UN wants
>>
>> To re-state development goals calling for wealthy
>> countries, including the US, to contribute 0.7 per cent
>> of their gross national product to aid
>>
>> What the US wants
>>
>> Deletion of all references to 0.7 per cent figure.
>> Wants to link further increases to good housekeeping -
>> and further liberalisation of markets
>>
>> The likely outcome
>>
>> Hard to see how there can be a compromise
>>
>> Climate change
>>
>> What the UN wants
>>
>> Concerted global action to address climate change.
>> Further negotiations to look beyond 2012 by broadening
>> Kyoto agreement to include greater participation by
>> developing and developed nations
>>
>> What the US wants
>>
>> Stresses energy efficiency and development of new
>> technologies, and rejects global action plan. Rejects
>> assertion that climate change is a long-term challenge
>> that could potentially affect every part of the world
>>
>> The likely outcome
>>
>> Could be compromise, as US is prepared to recommit to
>> the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
>>
>> Nuclear disarmament
>>
>> What the UN wants
>>
>> An appeal to the five nuclear powers - Britain, US,
>> France, China and Russia - to take concrete steps
>> towards nuclear disarmament
>>
>> What the US wants
>>
>> To shift focus to halting the spread of the world's
>> deadliest weapons. Will not specifically recommit to
>> working towards nuclear disarmament, although will
>> recommit to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
>>
>> The likely outcome
>>
>> Difficult to envisage agreement after negotiations on a
>> five-year review of the NPT broke up in May without a
>> result
>>
>> International Criminal Court
>>
>> What the UN wants
>>
>> Commitment to end impunity for the most serious
>> violations of international humanitarian law, including
>> genocide, by co-operating with the International
>> Criminal Court
>>
>> What the US wants
>>
>> No reference to International Criminal Court, whose
>> statutes the Bush administration controversially
>> withdrew from in 2002
>>
>> The likely outcome
>>
>> No agreement. America is out in the cold on this one,
>> although the commitment of a number of other states to
>> the court has been wavering under US pressure
>>
>> Trade
>>
>> What the UN wants
>>
>> Help for developing countries to join the World Trade
>> Organisation
>>
>> What the US wants
>>
>> Insistence that countries seeking to join the WTO must
>> be willing and able to undertake WTO commitments.
>> Baulks at "facilitating" entry of developing countries
>>
>> The likely outcome
>>
>> Big fight, with developing countries clamouring for
>> access to markets. Probably no agreement
>>
>> _______________________________________________________
>>
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>

Al Kagan
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61820
USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax 217-333-2214
akagan at uiuc.edu
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