PHA-Exchange> Mr Bolton in the UN 3 weeks

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The US vs The UN
American ambassador seeks to scupper UN's global strategy with 750
amendments after just three weeks in the job By David Usborne, The
Independent, New York, Published: 26 August 2005

America's controversial new ambassador to the United Nations is seeking to
shred an agreement on strengthening the world body and fighting poverty
intended to be the highlight of a 60th anniversary summit next month. In the
extraordinary intervention, John Bolton has sought to roll back proposed UN
commitments on aid to developing countries, combating global warming and
nuclear disarmament.

Mr Bolton has demanded no fewer than 750 amendments to the blueprint
restating the ideals of the international body, which was originally drafted
by the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan.

The amendments are spelt out in a 32-page US version, first reported by the
Washington Post and acquired yesterday by The Independent. The document is
littered with deletions and exclusions. Most strikingly, the changes
eliminate all specific reference to the so-called Millennium Development
Goals, accepted by all countries at the last major UN summit in 2000,
including the United States.

The Americans are also seeking virtually to remove all references to the
Kyoto treaty and the battle against global warming. They are striking out
mention of the disputed International Criminal Court and drawing a red line
through any suggestion that the nuclear powers should dismantle their
arsenals. Instead, the US is seeking to add emphasis to passages on fighting
terrorism and spreading democracy.

To the dismay of many other delegations, the US has even scored out pledges
that would have asked nations to "achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of
gross national product for official development assistance by no later than
2015". All references to the date or the percentage level are gone in the
Bolton version.

Passages that look forward to a larger role for the General Assembly are
gone. Rejected also is a promise to create a standing military capacity for
UN peacekeeping.

The move by MrBolton has thrown preparations for the summit into turmoil,
prompting some to question whether there will be anything for the leaders to
put their pens to in New York. Failure to reach an agreement could embarrass
Tony Blair, who is believed to have given broad backing to Mr Annan's
original draft.

The president of the General Assembly, Jean Ping of Gambia, must now try to
save the summit from disaster. He will bring together a core group of 20 to
30 countries in the days ahead, with Britain and the US included, to see
what, if anything, can be found to overcome so many American objections.

Guide to the differences in approach

Millennium goals
What the UN wants
Specific references to the UN Millennium Development Goals which set targets
to be achieved by 2015 on issues such as poverty, education, disease, trade
and aid

What the US wants
References to the Millennium Development Goals systematically removed and
replaced by vague references to the reduction of poverty, and a promise to
reinforce the trend

The likely outcome
Unlikely to reach agreement. Developing countries will fight hard to keep
references to Millennium Development Goals which were agreed by all UN
members in 2000

Foreign aid
What the UN wants
To re-state development goals calling for wealthy countries, including the
US, to contribute 0.7 per cent of their gross national product to aid

What the US wants
Deletion of all references to 0.7 per cent figure. Wants to link further
increases to good housekeeping - and further liberalisation of markets

The likely outcome
Hard to see how there can be a compromise

Climate change
What the UN wants
Concerted global action to address climate change. Further negotiations to
look beyond 2012 by broadening Kyoto agreement to include greater
participation by developing and developed nations

What the US wants
Stresses energy efficiency and development of new technologies, and rejects
global action plan. Rejects assertion that climate change is a long-term
challenge that could potentially affect every part of the world

The likely outcome
Could be compromise, as US is prepared to recommit to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change

Nuclear disarmament
What the UN wants
An appeal to the five nuclear powers - Britain, US, France, China and
Russia - to take concrete steps towards nuclear disarmament

What the US wants
To shift focus to halting the spread of the world's deadliest weapons. Will
not specifically recommit to working towards nuclear disarmament, although
will recommit to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

The likely outcome
Difficult to envisage agreement after negotiations on a five-year review of
the NPT broke up in May without a result

International Criminal Court
What the UN wants
Commitment to end impunity for the most serious violations of international
humanitarian law, including genocide, by co-operating with the International
Criminal Court

What the US wants
No reference to International Criminal Court, whose statutes the Bush
administration controversially withdrew from in 2002

The likely outcome
No agreement. America is out in the cold on this one, although the
commitment of a number of other states to the court has been wavering under
US pressure

Trade
What the UN wants
Help for developing countries to join the World Trade Organisation

What the US wants
Insistence that countries seeking to join the WTO must be willing and able
to undertake WTO commitments. Baulks at "facilitating" entry of developing
countries

The likely outcome
Big fight, with developing countries clamouring for access to markets.
Probably no agreement