Charles J. Swindells: US supports UN’s vital role in global problem-solving

Charles J. Swindells

Opinion

The United Nations is not a counterweight to the United States or any other UN member state. It is a political body. As Kim Holmes, US Assistant Secretary of State for International Organisation Affairs, said recently, "The United Nations is not an end in and of itself. It is a means to an end."

That end is something we support: advancing peace and security, human rights, and freedom for all the people of the world. When the UN fails to act or acts too slowly in these important areas, it is always appropriate for nations to speak out.

Despite perceptions to the contrary, the US prefers to solve international problems multilaterally. We participate in regional alliances such as Nato to deal with problems in the Balkans. We work with the African Union on Darfur.

We seek to resolve issues ranging from the Middle East to economic development through the G8. And, of course, we work on a long list of issues in the United Nations. America's global partnership is multifaceted and a vital part of its foreign policy.

The Bush Administration believes the UN is not just one organisation among many, but a vital and central one.

That's why we work closely with the UN on humanitarian and refugee relief, peacekeeping in Africa, HIV/Aids prevention, bringing democracy to Afghanistan and Iraq, countering terrorism and proliferation, improving human rights, promoting sustainable development, and much more.

The United States gives generously to support this work. On top of our voluntary contributions to UN agencies such as the World Food Programme, we pay 22 per cent of the UN's regular budget and about 27 per cent of its peacekeeping costs.

The Herald's suggestion that Washington's approval of the United Nations seems to be predicated on the world body's willingness to endorse US foreign policy has a ring of truth, of course, since you could substitute any country and make the same assertion when it comes to peace and security.

Much of the UN's work is done by consensus, and it is always difficult to get nations to agree to something that is not obviously in their own interest. That is precisely why we saw a weak resolution on Sudan in the Commission on Human Rights this past spring.

UN reform is hardly a new issue. But last year, Secretary-General Kofi Annan decided that it was time to look at its structure and operations to see how it could better respond to today's challenges, particularly the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. The just-released High-Level Panel Report on Threats, Challenges, and Change is an attempt to deal with these and other issues.

We welcome the serious effort the report represents in bringing together diverse international viewpoints and identifying ways the UN can adapt to meet new challenges. And as with every large organisation facing new challenges, the UN must figure out how to adapt to this new global environment.

Are there problems with its mission, leadership, structure, resources, or product? What are its best practices; most cumbersome ones? Is it sticking to core purposes, or taking on too much?

Has its work become too politicised? Does it need to innovate, partner, expand, or shed projects to be more effective? Does it need more accountability to its investors, more transparency, oversight, due diligence? Does its leadership have the will to act?

These are all good questions every nation would do well to ask. It's time for all member states, not just the United States, to study the panel's more than 100 proposals carefully. Effectiveness will be the chief benchmark by which we evaluate the proposals for institutional and structural changes.

Reforming the UN may not come easily, but it is something the whole world wants - not just Washington. It is also true that broad consensus - within the UN as a whole and in its regional groups - will be needed to implement reform. Success will rise or fall on the commitment of the UN bureaucracy and all of its member states.

As President Bush affirmed in Canada recently, the United States helped to create the United Nations, and we remain committed to it. We will continue to strive to make the entire UN system as effective as possible to help to meet the threats and challenges of our time. 

* Charles J. Swindells is US ambassador to New Zealand