As Ghali opens perhaps his last General Assembly, the UN finds itself battered, bruised and broke
SOME media cynics called it the death knell, others the ringing in of an era of Big Boy muscle power, bankruptcy and ever-shrinking hope. In either case, there seemed little to look forward to on that grey, windy day in New York this fortnight, when a visibly ageing United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali struck the gong that announced the commencement of the 51st session of the UN General Assembly.
Even by most optimistic standards, the above indicators predict a bleak future for the UN. The organisation라이브 바카라 coffers are sadly depleted, its corridors filled with quarrelling diplomats and its very raison d’etre has a big question mark against it.
Yet, one thing seems curiously certain: the slumbering giant is stretching its sinews and preparing to recondition and flex its rather formidable potential. Jobs have been cut by 30 per cent, the wearisome procedure of recruitment snipped short from one year to 10 weeks, and the UN is relying on cyberspace like never before, in an effort to cut down its notorious inclination to waste paper, money on travel and other considerable expenses.
바카라 웹사이트"We’ve achieved a remarkable lot in a very short time," Under Secretary-General Connor told a European television company, quoting the downsizing of the budget and the reduction of staff as examples. "Over four years, we will take 700 million dollars out of cost structures and will have reduced our staff to 85,000. Just 10 years ago, it was 120,000. That can beat the record of any national government and, frankly, I don’t mind telling them that," he added.
Indeed, the efforts made by the UN so far have not gone totally unnoticed by Washington. "We have had an outstanding report two days ago from the UnderSecretary-General on the advances made and the attempts at staff reduction. We applaud those efforts," US Representative Albright told members of the international press corps.
But though Connor was Washington라이브 바카라 own favoured candidate for the post, he, himself, makes no bones about what remains the organisation라이브 바카라 greatest setback: a total lack of funds and insurmountable debts. "I am really worried about the financial situation. No capital, no reserve funds...if we were operating on a credit card, we would have been cancelled a long time ago," he said.바카라 웹사이트
Washington has faced a barrage of criticism, even from its own allies, for its failure to pay up and for the thin distinction it maintains between domestic politics and its policies within the UN. Predictably, it continues to deny any connection between the two. Canada, Latin America and western Europe are annoyed by the several moves the US has made unilaterally—such as the Helms-Burton act, which gives Washington the liberty of penalising foreign companies that trade with Cuba.바카라 웹사이트
Washington may also find itself isolated over the issue of re-electing Ghali, whom it ostensibly refuses to support for a second term on account of his failure to spearhead reforms. However, Ghali enjoys strong support from China, Russia and France—three other permanent members of the Security Council—and from the bulk of the Third World. Even Germany, traditionally in awe of the World War victor and aspiring to be part of the elite group, is now said to be working on a compromise formula that will allow the Egyptian statesman to continue for another two years with a further extension definitely ruled out.
In the face of such support, observers point out that the US administration may well relent to save face, but only after the presidential elections scheduled for November 5 are over. And even though Malaysia, like the US, opposes Ghali라이브 바카라 reelection because of his inept handling of the Bosnian crisis, Washington may well have to reckon with formidable opposition over other issues from the new President of the General Assembly, Ismail Razali of Malaysia.
The 57-year-old Razali has a reputation of speaking his mind on every issue: precisely the qualities that made the current Secretary-General so unacceptable to the superpower. Razali opposed the Gulf War, has been a consistent critic of superpower domination and is in favour of a sharper focus on developmental issues.
Recently, Malaysia voted in favour of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), put up for consensus within the General Assembly by Australia in an unprecedented move, but not before Razali made clear what he really felt about the issue. "There is a clear impression that the club of nuclear countries is manipulating the entire nuclear disarmament processes to serve their own agenda," he said. Under Razali라이브 바카라 stewardship, the UN session is expected to take up the Iraq crisis, among other volatile issues. And after US President Bill Clinton started the week off on an upbeat note by signing the CTBT, other visiting foreign dignitaries in the coming weeks are expected to touch upon the repercussions of Iraq라이브 바카라 action and the US response.
Also examined will be the deadline for withdrawing NATo-led peacekeeping operations in Bosnia at the end of the year, as will the stalemate in the seemingly jinxed Middle East peace process.
The sudden flurry of activity in the organisation can be attributed largely to Washington라이브 바카라 stubbornness to pay up its debts and its obstinate stand over reelecting a Secretary-General who is not afraid of crossing swords with Washington. But if that is what it takes to revitalise an international league of nations designed to protect and represent the global span of humankind, then superpower arrogance in a post-Cold War world with few or no alignments can only be welcomed.