Be good on promises, Annan says

Adianto P. Simamora and Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Visiting United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan repeated again the song which developing countries love to hear: An appeal to the industrialized countries to be more generous to developing countries and a call for the reform of the UN.

In a press conference here on Saturday, the secretary-general said that most of the rich countries were still far from complying with the Millenium Development Goals, which set a target under which the rich countries are expected to provide at least 0.7 percent of their gross national income to help poor countries through official development assistance (ODA) by 2005.

Annan said that only five countries -- Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden -- had reached the 0.7 percent target.

"Other governments have come up with timetables for achieving the target, like France, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom," he told reporters on the sidelines of the second day of the Asian-African Summit in Jakarta.

Referring to a pledge by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to increase ODA, Annan pointed out that Japan had also promised to prepare a road map to achieve the 0.7 percent goal, although it had still failed to set a definite date for realizing its promise.

In his speech on Friday, Koizumi, who wants to see Japan get a seat on the United Nations Security Council, promised to provide more money for developing countries, especially the African nations.

Japan was the world's largest donor until 2003 when the United States replaced it. However, to date Japan's ODA is still only 0.2 percent of its GDP.

"Each developed country that has not already done so should establish a timetable to achieve the 0.7 percent target of gross national income for official development assistance no later than 2015, starting with significant increases no later than 2006, and reaching 0.5 percent by 2009," he said

The UN launched the Millennium Development Goals in 2000.

Annan was in Jakarta to attend the summit, where heads of state/governments of the Asian and African countries are gathered to establish a new strategic partnership.

During his visit, Annan also briefed the ministers of the two continents on a report on the much-debated UN reform, including the enlargement of the Security Council.

World leaders will gather in New York in September for a special summit to decide on how reform should be carried out.

Annan said that the Security Council should become more broadly representative of the world today.

"Member states should agree to take a decision on this important issue before the summit in September," Annan said.

He was referring to the two options, "Model A" and "Model B", proposed by a high-level panel to the UN secretary-general to help with the planned enlargement of the Council's membership.

Both Model A and B contain formulae for the distribution of permanent seats among four major regions; Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and America.

Meanwhile, Model B provides for no new permanent seats but creates 2 four-year renewable seats and three two-year non- renewable seats for the Asia Pacific region.

Presently, the Council comprises five permanent members, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ten other nations are elected as non-permanent members for two- year terms. Non-permanent members have no veto power.

A number of countries, such as India, Japan, Germany and Brazil, have openly expressed their desire to become UNSC permanent members.

Meanwhile, Annan indicated his personal preference for an Asian candidate to replace him next year.