"Presenting the 2005 Alan Cranston Peace Award on behalf of the Global Security Institute (GSI) was former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, in his first public appearance at the UN since his historic "glasnost" address to the General Assembly in 1988. The award honours leaders who, through their actions, demonstrate commitment to global security and nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament." More...
Financial Times: "The nomination of John Bolton for US ambassador to the United Nations appeared in jeopardy yesterday after a Senate committee unexpectedly decided to postpone a vote to allow more time to investigate allegations that he slanted intelligence and abused analysts who disagreed with his conclusions.
The Senate foreign relations committee postponed the vote after George Voinovich, an Ohio Republican, stunned his Republican colleagues by expressing reservations about the appointment of Mr Bolton, the outgoing undersecretary of state for arms control.
"I've heard enough today that I don't feel comfortable about voting for Mr Bolton," said Mr Voinovich."
On C-SPAN. Streaming video.
UPDATE: Protestors temporarily disrupt hearings.
UPDATE 2: Here's the Washington Post on the ongoing hearings.
"Ben Gaddis doesn't want a degree from Lincoln Land Community College. He has taken only a couple of political science classes, basically to practice for graduate school this fall.
Slight as it may be, Gaddis' affiliation with LLCC brought an extra $1,000 to the 28-year-old stay-at-home father. So if nothing else, those two classes have been a financial success.
Gaddis recently was awarded the 2005 Michael Steven Shower Memorial Scholarship at the Midwest Model United Nations meeting in St. Louis, for a research paper he wrote about U.N. responses to human rights violations." Full Story....
"UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today said he was "deeply saddened" by the death of Pope John Paul II and called him "a tireless advocate of peace."
"I was deeply saddened by the death of Pope John Paul II," he said. "Quite apart from his role as a spiritual guide to more than a billion men, women and children, he was a tireless advocate of peace, a true pioneer in interfaith dialogue and a strong force for critical self-evaluation by the Church itself." Full Story
Statement by Senator Timothy E. Wirth, President of the UN Foundation, On Paul H. Wolfowitz's Approval As World Bank President
Following the unanimous vote selecting Paul Wolfowitz as the tenth president of the World Bank, Senator Timothy E. Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation, issued the following statement:
"We look forward to working with Paul H. Wolfowitz in his new role as president of the World Bank in alleviating global poverty -- an equal priority for the United Nations and the United Nations Foundation. Paul is distinguished by his intellect, energy, and untiring commitment to public service.
He assumes the presidency at a moment when the need for the World Bank's leadership could not be greater and the challenges any less daunting. Alleviating poverty - addressing the basic needs of providing food, health care, potable water, sanitary conditions, and clean energy technologies - is key in the ability of our global community to make our world better for future generations. The World Bank, the United Nations, and the United Nations Foundation have worked closely together to bring innovative thinking, expertise, and capital to addressing the plights we know must end.
"The United Nations hailed the convening of the new Iraqi Transitional National Assembly as a seminal moment with unlimited opportunities for the future of the war-torn country, pledging the world body's help in the tasks and challenges that lie ahead." Read more...
REMARKS BY SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AT DINNER HOSTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. MOSHE KATSAV, PRESIDENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL
Jerusalem, 15 March 2005
President Katsav,
Mr. Speaker [of the Knesset, Mr. Ruben Rivlin]
Distinguished Heads of State and Government,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to be here, and I would like to express my gratitude to the Government and people of Israel for the warm welcome they have extended to all of us.
I would especially like to thank them for understanding how important it was for the United Nations to be represented at today's important moving event at Yad Vashem.
"UN Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland complained Monday of lack of speed and generosity in most traditional donors' giving to humanitarian efforts worldwide.
Egeland said he would meet with United Nations donor countries throughout Monday afternoon "to express the deep frustration of the humanitarian community" in the face of the limited resources being made available to them.
Worst hit by the funding crisis is Africa. "We have received no money so far this year in most of our African humanitarian emergencies," said Egeland.
"Even in high profile and highly risky, vulnerable situations like Sudan, we have too little funding to undertake our relief operation." More...