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Contributions from
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USA undermining generic pharma production
Germa-Russian President’s Programme extended
KfW Bank Group promotes good governance
Oil: World Bank and Chad reach agreement
Dispute over World Bank malaria programme
United Nations: Stalled reforms
International peacebuilding efforts inadequate
Liberia: UN negotiates timber embargo
Aid for more trade
06/2006
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[ United Nations ]
Stalled reforms
Efforts of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to fundamentally reform management of the world body before December, when his term will end, have suffered a major setback. In early May, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution with the majority of developing countries, which questions fundamental points of Annan’s plan. Furthermore, the resolution gives the Secretary-General until autumn to explain in what sense the reforms he wants would improve the work of the UN. After the vote, representatives of the G77 – a formation involving 132 developing countries – stated they were not trying to sabotage UN reform. Rather, they wanted to prevent the General Assembly from being stripped of fundamental authorities. Rich countries expressed their disappointment.
A few days before the plenary meeting, the same resolution had already been adopted by the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly. This body is in charge of budget matters. For the first time in 19 years, its vote was divisive. Traditionally, the Fifth Committee decides on financial issues on a consensual basis. The resolution emphasises the decision-making powers of the General Assembly in budget matters. By doing so, it virtually rejects Annan’s plan to pass financial decisions over to smaller, representative country groups. Moreover, developing countries expressed reservations about Annan’s wish to strengthen the position of the deputy Secretary-General.
Dumisani S. Kumalo, South Africa’s ambassador to the UN and current Chairman of the G77, said that the resolution did not “in any way delay or prevent the reform of the United Nations.” He pointed to mere differences of opinion regarding the authority of the General Assembly. Maged A. Abdelaziz, Egypt’s ambassador, said after the vote: “We should always remember that we are all equal partners in this organisation, regardless of our level of development and regardless of how much we contribute to the budget of the organisation.”
In contrast, Adam Thomson, Britain’s deputy UN ambassador, described the majority’s move in the Administrative and Budgetary Committee as “destructive”, because it was likely to harm reform efforts. On behalf of the European Union, Austria’s ambassador Gerhard Pfanzelter explained that reform proposals should neither be restricted by – or overloaded with – conditions at this early stage. US ambassador John Bolton expressed annoyance, but also showed some respect for developing countries’ persistence, according to a Washington Post report.
The General Assembly’s decision will rekindle the conflict over the UN budget. At the end of 2005, the member states did not agree on a budget for 2006/2007. Under pressure from the USA, funds were only released for the first half of this year. These funds are now used up. At that time, the Budgetary Committee had made further payments dependent on reform progress. (ell)
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