[afro-nets] Mr Bolton in the UN 3 weeks

[Claudio Schuftan <claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn>]

Mr Bolton in the UN 3 weeks
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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, The Independent, New York
Published: 26 August 2005

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 an-
niversary 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 nu-
clear disarmament.

Mr Bolton has demanded no fewer than 750 amendments to the blue-
print 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 re-
ported by the Washington Post and acquired yesterday by The In-
dependent. The document is littered with deletions and exclu-
sions. Most strikingly, the changes eliminate all specific ref-
erence 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 refer-
ences 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. In-
stead, the US is seeking to add emphasis to passages on fighting
terrorism and spreading democracy.

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 develop-
ment 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 As-
sembly are gone. Rejected also is a promise to create a standing
military capacity for UN peacekeeping.

The move by Mr Bolton 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. Fail-
ure to reach an agreement could embarrass Tony Blair, who is be-
lieved to have given broad backing to Mr Annan's original draft.

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 Brit-
ain and the US included, to see what, if anything, can be found
to overcome so many American objections.

Guide to the differences in approach

Millennium goals
What the UN wants Specific references to the UN Millennium De-
velopment Goals which set targets to be achieved by 2015 on is-
sues 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, in-
cluding the US, to contribute 0.7 per cent of their gross na-
tional 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 liberalisa-
tion 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 nego-
tiations to look beyond 2012 by broadening Kyoto agreement to
include greater participation by developing and developed na-
tions

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 disar-
mament

What the US wants
To shift focus to halting the spread of the world's deadliest
weapons. Will not specifically recommit to working towards nu-
clear 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 Organisa-
tion

What the US wants
Insistence that countries seeking to join the WTO must be will-
ing and able to undertake WTO commitments. Baulks at "facilitat-
ing" entry of developing countries

The likely outcome
Big fight, with developing countries clamouring for access to
markets. Probably no agreement