Suspicion of US stalls UN summit

Who the hell cares, Georgie

got what he wanted and that

is all that counts


David Nason, New York
September 14, 2005
THE biggest gathering of world leaders for years will begin a three-day summit in New York today with barely a flicker of hope remaining for a global consensus to revive the UN and make it relevant for the 21st century.

More than 170 heads of government are arriving in New York amid unprecedented security, but the ambitious reform program started by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan six months ago has stalled in the face of regional tensions, self-interest, suspicion and a perception among developing countries that the US is intent on dominating the agenda.

The summit looks unlikely to produce any meaningful reform plan, a result that will raise further questions about the future of the world body.

The UN was damaged earlier this year when the 30th anniversary conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty failed to produce an accord.

Mr Annan's bold proposals included expansion of the Security Council and initiatives to deal with poverty, Third World development, terrorism, human rights and nuclear disarmament, as well as an overhaul of the UN's creaky and corruption-prone bureaucracy and the establishment of a peace-building commission.

But negotiations on these measures have collapsed one by one, the latest disappointment coming over plans to replace the UN Human Rights Commission with a new body that would prevent repressive states gaining positions of control.

The US, a major driver of the reform plan, said it had been "gutted" by nations who wanted election to the new human rights council by majority vote of the UN general assembly, rather than the proposed two-thirds majority.

"If the Human Rights Commission is going to remain exactly the same, with the violators in control, we have a problem," US delegation spokesman Rick Grenell said.

"Right now the full (summit) document is in jeopardy."

While some salvation may come from a British compromise for the summit to accept the principle of a new human rights council but leave it to the General Assembly to work out the details, the summit agenda has been so emasculated that attention has turned to bilateral and regional meetings on the sidelines.

On the Middle East, leaders of the so-called Quartet group comprising the UN, the US, the EU and Russia will discuss problems with the Palestinian economy, Israel's departure from Gaza and ways to proceed with plans for a long-term peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue.

The EU is scheduled to hold talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over Tehran's nuclear activities, an issue of mounting concern that could soon see Iran brought before the Security Council to face possible economic sanctions.

Among US President George W. Bush's bilateral meetings will be talks with President Pervez Musharraf on Pakistan's role in the war on terrorism and its place as a leader of the G-77 group of non-aligned nations.

Mr Musharraf will also talk on terrorism with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the future of Kashmir.

A spokesman for Pakistan's UN mission said the summit sidelines would provide Islamabad with opportunities to "build closer ties with its frontline allies in the war on terror".

Mr Bush had planned to speak directly with Bashar al-Assad about the number of insurgents crossing the Syrian border into Iraq, but the Syrian President is unlikely to attend.

Terrorism will also be on the mind of John Howard when he meets Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday.

Mr Howard's other meetings will include talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has led a push for greater co-operation among developing countries.

One of the most sought-after figures at the summit will be Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, a frontrunner to succeed Mr Annan as UN secretary-general next year.

At a UN press briefing yesterday, a spokesman for Mr Annan said progress was being made in the talks on development issues, combating terrorism and reform of the UN management.

Link Here