U.S. gains support for UN reforms

U.S. gains support for UN reforms

MANILA (AFP): The United States has secured Philippine support for its initiatives for "serious reforms" to the United Nations (UN), its chief delegate to the world body, Madeleine Albright, said yesterday.

"In order to serve its (UN) goals properly it needs to have some very serious reforms," in streamlining bureaucracy and expanding the UN Security Council, Albright told reporters after meeting President Fidel Ramos.

She said the U.S. hoped to eliminate UN functions that were being duplicated, although she did not elaborate. The UN, now composed of 181 member states, will hold a 50th anniversary General Assembly in October.

Earlier, she said the U.S. would support the inclusion of Japan and Germany as permanent members in the Security Council. Albright visited Manila following a trip to Beijing for the UN Fourth World Conference on Women. She has also visited Rangoon and Jakarta.