UN urged to improve performance

By Rikza Abdullah

NEW YORK (JP): Indonesia and fifteen other countries urged the United Nations yesterday to work harder at preventing conflicts, strengthening multilateral economic systems and fostering democracy.

"The world is reminded daily of human misery deriving from new threats to security and from growing economic, demographic, environmental and social imbalance. Global cooperation is critical to the survival of humankind," said 16 heads of state and government in a joint statement after a one-hour meeting at the UN headquarters here.

At the same time the UN General Assembly was holding a Special Commemorative Meeting for the World Body's 50th anniversary.

President Soeharto, who attended the meeting of the 16 countries, said that Indonesia supports the statement in light of shifting global challenges.

The meeting, led by Swedish Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson, was attended by the state/government heads of Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa and South Korea.

The statement said the capacity of the UN to prevent conflicts and bring security must be increased. "The UN must be able to anticipate and prevent crisis, respond more rapidly to outbreaks of violence and efficiently manage and resolve crises when they occur."

The multilateral economic system must be reformed and the partnership of the UN with other relevant institutions strengthened to facilitate beneficial participation by all countries in the global economy, it said.

"This is essential to the achievement of greater economic growth and integration, sustainable development, the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequality," the statement said.

It also said the UN should work for a democratic world, where people can determine their future and where human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected.

It went on to say that the UN must become a more efficient, effective and representative organization. "Adequate financial resources should be made available. All countries must pay their assessed contributions in full and on time."

According to the UN Secretariat, the overdue budget assessments of member countries reached US$3.2 billion as of Oct. 9, most of which was owed by the United States.

The UN system needs total operating expenses of $18.2 billion a year, for which the United states is expected to contribute 15 percent, Japan 13.9 percent, Germany 8.9 percent, France 6.3 percent, Russia 5.7 percent and Britain 5.3 percent. The UN peace-keeping operations last year alone required $3.2 billion.

Soeharto

Soeharto said the proposed measures have been formulated on the basis of studies, observations and evaluations by various parties, including governments and non-governmental organizations.

The statement, presented to UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali afterwards, said that the participating leaders represent small and large countries from all continents, with different faiths, cultural heritage, traditions and economic levels.

"We will lend our political weight to achieve early, concrete results in the effort to adapt and strengthen the United Nations system," the statement said.

Boutros-Ghali and most of the speakers on the first day of the General Assembly's Special Commemorative Meeting on Sunday affirmed the need for the UN to carry out reform and strengthen its financial condition.

The secretary-general said the UN cannot play its role if the present shortage of funds continues.

"The problems of globalization and fragmentation have caused vast responsibilities to be given to the United Nations," he said. "But the United Nations has not been given the resources required to accomplish the tasks imposed."

U.S. President Bill Clinton said the United States, the largest contributor to the UN, will continue its contribution if the UN improves efficiency.

The heads of state/government of 54 countries delivered their five-minute speeches at the commemorative meeting on Sunday and 54 other leaders are scheduled to address it on Monday, including President Soeharto, who is to deliver his address in the afternoon (Tuesday morning Jakarta time).

After delivering his speech, Soeharto will lead a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement Caucus at the General Assembly, which will be attended by his counterparts from Botswana, Honduras, Nigeria, Oman and Rwanda. Colombian President Ernesto Samper Pizano, the Movement's new chairman, has also been invited to attend the meeting.

The caucus, whose leadership is rotated every six months, is now chaired by Indonesia.

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