UN urged to improve performance<\/p>\n
By Rikza Abdullah<\/p>\n
NEW YORK (JP): Indonesia and fifteen other countries urged the
\nUnited Nations yesterday to work harder at preventing conflicts,
\nstrengthening multilateral economic systems and fostering
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
"The world is reminded daily of human misery deriving from new
\nthreats to security and from growing economic, demographic,
\nenvironmental and social imbalance. Global cooperation is
\ncritical to the survival of humankind," said 16 heads of state
\nand government in a joint statement after a one-hour meeting at
\nthe UN headquarters here.<\/p>\n
At the same time the UN General Assembly was holding a
\nSpecial Commemorative Meeting for the World Body's 50th
\nanniversary.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto, who attended the meeting of the 16
\ncountries, said that Indonesia supports the statement in light of
\nshifting global challenges.<\/p>\n
The meeting, led by Swedish Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson,
\nwas attended by the state\/government heads of Australia, Brazil,
\nCanada, the Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Ireland,
\nIvory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, South
\nAfrica and South Korea.<\/p>\n
The statement said the capacity of the UN to prevent conflicts
\nand bring security must be increased. "The UN must be able to
\nanticipate and prevent crisis, respond more rapidly to outbreaks
\nof violence and efficiently manage and resolve crises when they
\noccur."<\/p>\n
The multilateral economic system must be reformed and the
\npartnership of the UN with other relevant institutions
\nstrengthened to facilitate beneficial participation by all
\ncountries in the global economy, it said.<\/p>\n
"This is essential to the achievement of greater economic
\ngrowth and integration, sustainable development, the eradication
\nof poverty and the reduction of inequality," the statement said.<\/p>\n
It also said the UN should work for a democratic world, where
\npeople can determine their future and where human rights and
\nfundamental freedoms are respected.<\/p>\n
It went on to say that the UN must become a more efficient,
\neffective and representative organization. "Adequate financial
\nresources should be made available. All countries must pay their
\nassessed contributions in full and on time."<\/p>\n
According to the UN Secretariat, the overdue budget
\nassessments of member countries reached US$3.2 billion as of Oct.
\n9, most of which was owed by the United States.<\/p>\n
The UN system needs total operating expenses of $18.2 billion
\na year, for which the United states is expected to contribute 15
\npercent, Japan 13.9 percent, Germany 8.9 percent, France 6.3
\npercent, Russia 5.7 percent and Britain 5.3 percent. The UN
\npeace-keeping operations last year alone required $3.2 billion.<\/p>\n
Soeharto<\/p>\n
Soeharto said the proposed measures have been formulated on
\nthe basis of studies, observations and evaluations by various
\nparties, including governments and non-governmental
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
The statement, presented to UN Secretary-General Boutros
\nBoutros-Ghali afterwards, said that the participating leaders
\nrepresent small and large countries from all continents, with
\ndifferent faiths, cultural heritage, traditions and economic
\nlevels.<\/p>\n
"We will lend our political weight to achieve early, concrete
\nresults in the effort to adapt and strengthen the United Nations
\nsystem," the statement said.<\/p>\n
Boutros-Ghali and most of the speakers on the first day of the
\nGeneral Assembly's Special Commemorative Meeting on Sunday
\naffirmed the need for the UN to carry out reform and strengthen
\nits financial condition.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general said the UN cannot play its role if the
\npresent shortage of funds continues.<\/p>\n
"The problems of globalization and fragmentation have caused
\nvast responsibilities to be given to the United Nations," he
\nsaid. "But the United Nations has not been given the resources
\nrequired to accomplish the tasks imposed."<\/p>\n
U.S. President Bill Clinton said the United States, the
\nlargest contributor to the UN, will continue its contribution if
\nthe UN improves efficiency.<\/p>\n
The heads of state\/government of 54 countries delivered their
\nfive-minute speeches at the commemorative meeting on Sunday and
\n54 other leaders are scheduled to address it on Monday, including
\nPresident Soeharto, who is to deliver his address in the
\nafternoon (Tuesday morning Jakarta time).<\/p>\n
After delivering his speech, Soeharto will lead a summit of
\nthe Non-Aligned Movement Caucus at the General Assembly, which
\nwill be attended by his counterparts from Botswana, Honduras,
\nNigeria, Oman and Rwanda. Colombian President Ernesto Samper
\nPizano, the Movement's new chairman, has also been invited to
\nattend the meeting.<\/p>\n
The caucus, whose leadership is rotated every six months, is
\nnow chaired by Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>\n
Discord -- Page 12<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/un-urged-to-improve-performance-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }