UN needs reforming<\/p>\n
Among the hundreds of world leaders currently attending the
\nUnited Nations' ongoing golden jubilee at the world body's
\nheadquarters in New York is President Soeharto of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, along with 15 other heads of state and government
\nrepresenting both industrialized and developing nations, called
\non the UN yesterday to increase its role and capability in both
\npreventing armed conflicts and strengthening economic cooperation
\nworldwide.<\/p>\n
\"The UN must be able to anticipate and prevent crisis, respond
\nmore rapidly to outbreaks of violence and efficiently manage and
\nresolve crises when they occur. ...This is essential to the
\nachievement of greater economic growth and integration,
\nsustainable development, the eradication of poverty and the
\nreduction of inequality,\" thus appealed the 16 leaders in a
\njoint-statement issued yesterday.<\/p>\n
We are of the opinion that the joint appeal made by Australia,
\nBrazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Indonesia,
\nIreland, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands,
\nSouth Africa, and South Korea is prudent and a true reflection of
\nthe shortcomings and inefficiencies that the UN has demonstrated
\nin coping with many international issues.<\/p>\n
For years, many developing nations have criticized the UN for
\nits inability to solve problems that would protect or favor
\nThird World interests. To cite but two examples: The UN did
\nnothing when Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan, and it turned a
\nblind eye to the Israeli government's repeated violations of the
\nUN charter in dealing with the Middle East simply because the
\nJewish state is backed by Western powers, particularly the United
\nStates.<\/p>\n
All this -- not to mention other tragedies in South Africa,
\nBosnia, Rwanda and Somalia, which many believed would not have
\nhappened if the UN had been more responsive and efficient in
\ncarrying out its duty -- has incited many developing nations to
\ndemand that the world body restructure its charter. Adopted 50
\nyears ago, the UN Charter needs to be reviewed and, when
\nnecessary, amended to address the events that could affect
\ninternational peace and stability as well as global economic
\ncooperation.<\/p>\n
A restructuring of the UN should begin with the Security
\nCouncil, whose five permanent members -- the United States,
\nBritain, France, Russia and China -- no longer represent global
\nand economic realities. Economic giants Japan and Germany should
\nbe given permanent member status, along with India, whose
\npopulation ranks second in the world. Enlarging the group would
\nalso reassure the UN's other 180 members that the Council is by
\nno means an institution for the strong to dictate their will over
\nthe weak.<\/p>\n
The UN can boast of numerous achievements since its
\nestablishment in 1945. Yet despite its critical role in solving a
\nnumber of crises such as the Korean War, the Gulf War of 1991,
\nand Namibian independence, it is ironic that the greatest
\npolitical events of the last decade -- the downfall of the Soviet
\nUnion, the end of the Cold War, and the unification of Germany --
\ndid not involve UN participation.<\/p>\n
Such milestones are further evidence of why the UN's function
\nmust be reviewed and its organization restructured.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/un-needs-reforming-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}