From the Washington Post: “[State Department spokesman Adam] Ereli said, the United States appreciates Annan’s effort to change the institution and to tackle a range of politically sensitive development and security issues. He said Annan also provided a “positive emphasis on the importance of promoting freedom and respect for human rights.”
Delegates from the developing world voiced concern that Annan’s proposals — particularly his call for an anti-terrorism convention before the end of next year — go too far in accommodating the interests of the United States and other powerful countries.
Annan will travel Monday night to Algiers to try to generate support for his ideas at an Arab League summit. But Arab leaders are expected to object to his proposal that the treaty define terrorism as any act that is “intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or noncombatants” to intimidate a community, government or international organization.”