United Nations Foundation President Senator Timothy E. Wirth issued the following statement regarding the House of Representatives' passage of the United Nations Reform Act of 2005 by a vote of 221 to 184:
"I am disappointed by today's vote in the House of Representatives in favor of the so-called United Nations Reform Act. Although this bill does contain reform measures that will help make the UN more effective and accountable, many of which the UN has already initiated, it also includes counterproductive provisions that would automatically withhold U.S. payment of dues to the UN and undermine meaningful reform. The U.S. has gone down this flawed path before, incurring more than a billion dollars in arrears to the UN, impairing the ability of the UN to do its job and making other countries less willing to work with the U.S. We should not make this mistake again."
FULL STATEMENT
State Dept. On-The-Record Briefing on UN Reform
R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary For Political Affairs
UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: "The United Nations is engaged in one of the most important debates, one of the most critical debates in the history, the 60-year history of the organization because what is at stake is the need for this institution to undertake fundamental reforms and to strengthen itself. And this debate lies at the heart of the future of the UN. Secretary General Kofi Annan has been leading it. And now the United States is prepared to help lead the effort to strengthen the UN, so that it can meet the challenges that are at the core of our 21st century world." [Read full transcript]
Eight former UN Ambassadors have written a letter to Congressional Leaders urging them not to withhold UN dues. A copy of the letter appears in newspapers around the country.Key Points to Remember about UN Reform Act of 2005:
- Would automatically stop payment of our annual dues to the United Nations
- At the inception of the United Nations, the U.S. made a legally binding promise to pay our share of UN dues.
- The U.S. is the biggest financial contributor to the United Nations, paying about 22 percent of the annual $2 billion general budget. Withholding dues would be a major roadblock to important UN reform programs.
- Bush Administration officials have voiced opposition to this legislation (see below)
- Break our promise to other nations of the world and to the UN.
- Limit the ability of our diplomats to achieve changes within the UN because it would undercut U.S. credibility.
- Lead to a huge debt to the UN and inhibit our ability to lead within the institution.
- Reinstating a 25 percent cap on U.S. contributions to UN peacekeeping missions despite the fact that Congress has voted since 2001 to pay our currently assessed share, which is now at 27.1 percent.
- Instituting a shortfall in funds needed to sustain troops on the ground
- Jeopardizing the newly authorized peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Sudan.
"Eight former U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations sent a letter on Tuesday urging congressional leaders to reject a bill that would link reform of the world body to payment of American dues, warning that the legislation could actually strengthen opponents of reform." More...
The Brookings Institution, June 14, 2005
Ann Florini, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies
"The extraordinary energy Congress has put into the fight over whether John Bolton should become the US ambassador to the United Nations may be wasted if a bill now before the House becomes law. The UN Reform Act of 2005, drafted by House International Relations Committee chair Henry Hyde, could ensure that neither Bolton nor any other US ambassador could do much to make the UN an effective instrument for US interests." Read the Editorial
From the UN Foundation website: "United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation) President and former U.S. Senator Timothy E. Wirth testified before the House International Relations Committee at a hearing today on UN reform. Senator Wirth outlined five key points which will be essential to a constructive reform process that achieves meaningful and lasting results. He also urged Congress to support UN reform without the threat of withholding UN dues, an action which most often is cost-ineffective and counterproductive."
"Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette unveiled a series of reforms undertaken by the United Nations in response to criticisms of UN management from entities appointed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan and from the world body's own staff.
"Unprecedented challenges" faced by the UN have shown that the world body must immediately reform those areas that are in the Secretariat's purview and are not dependent on approval from Member States, said detailed background information distributed prior to a press briefing by Ms. Frechette." Full Story