WORLD SUMMIT: As one of the largest-ever gatherings of world leaders opened in New York yesterday, UN secretary general Kofi Annan appealed to more than 150 heads of state and government to join together to restore confidence in the world body in its 60th anniversary year, writes Deaglán de Bréadún at the UN
There has been widespread and severe criticism of the draft declaration negotiated for the three-day World Summit, but Mr Annan said it was "a good start" whilst admitting it was not "the sweeping and fundamental reform" he had originally proposed.
A significant number of issues in UN reform remain unresolved and Mr Annan called for urgent action on these: "Because one thing has emerged clearly from this process on which we embarked two years ago: whatever our differences, in our interdependent world, we stand or fall together. Whether our challenge is peacemaking, nation-building, democratisation or responding to natural or man-made disasters, we have seen that even the strongest among us cannot succeed alone," he said, in an apparent reference to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in the US.
President Bush also alluded to the Gulf Coast disaster, noting that "many of the nations represented in this chamber" had responded with aid for the victims. "All together, more than 115 countries and nearly a dozen international organisations have stepped forward with offers of assistance." He added: "Your response, like the response to last year's tsunami, has shown once again that the world is more compassionate and hopeful when we act together." The president also advanced the US perspective on UN reform, stressing the issue of corruption. He told the high-level plenary meeting: "The United Nations must be strong and efficient, free of corruption, and accountable to the people it serves. The United Nations must stand for integrity, and live by the high standards it sets for others." On human rights, he said: "When this great institution's member-states choose notorious abusers of human rights to sit on the UN Human Rights Commission, they discredit a noble effort, and undermine the credibility of the whole organisation. If member countries want the United Nations to be respected - respected and effective - they should begin by making sure it is worthy of respect."
In a reference to the need for a definition of terrorism, which was dropped from the final document for the summit, Mr Bush said: "We must complete the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that will put every nation on record: the targeting and deliberate killing by terrorists of civilians and non-combatants cannot be justified or legitimised by any cause or grievance."
Mr Bush also sought to correct the impression that the US was opposed to the goals for the elimination of poverty and disease agreed at the Millennium Summit five years ago. "We are committed to the Millennium Development Goals. This is an ambitious agenda that includes cutting poverty and hunger in half, ensuring that every boy and girl in the world has access to primary education, and halting the spread of Aids - all by 2015."
On the controversial issue of trade subsidies, the president issued a challenge: " The United States is ready to eliminate all tariffs, subsidies and other barriers to free flow of goods and services as other nations do the same. This is key to overcoming poverty in the world's poorest nations. It's essential we promote prosperity and opportunity for all nations."
Referring to the situation in Iraq, Mr Bush said: "The United Nations and its member-states must continue to stand by the Iraqi people as they complete the journey to a fully constitutional government. And when Iraqis complete their journey, their success will inspire others to claim their freedom, the Middle East will grow in peace and hope and liberty, and all of us will live in a safer world."
Opening the summit, Swedish prime minister Goran Persson urged common action against genocide and to protect human rights. Millions of lives would be lost unless steps were taken to combat global poverty. "We the heads of state and government owe this to coming generations," he said.
"We cannot afford to fail. We need to find collective solutions based on the rule of law and for this we need a stronger United Nations."
At an organisational level, unlike the G8 Summit in Scotland, Non-Governmental Organisations have not been allowed to take part in the deliberations at the UN. The facilities at the world body's headquarters are seriously strained as things stand by the attendance of world leaders and their delegations.
As a result, a press conference scheduled by the Global Coalition Against Poverty for yesterday afternoon at the UN and featuring former president Mary Robinson and Bono did not take place.