In a widely expected vote, the UN General Assembly Monday approved a recommendation from its main budget committee to block reform proposals that would have given Secretary-General Kofi Annan more budget power, reports the World Bank press review Tuesday.
A powerful bloc of developing nations – known as the Group of 77 – and China said Monday the reforms would rob them of powers over the UN budget. Because of their overwhelming numbers, they were able to get their way over rich nations that pay more than 85 percent of UN finances and had supported Annans proposals.
“The vote in the General Assembly – 121 to 50 with 2 abstentions – could set up a showdown over the UN budget in June. The UN is now operating under a six-month budget cap that can only be lifted if member states conclude enough progress has been made on reform.
The Group of 77 and China includes more than 130 countries. The group had orchestrated a vote in the chief UN budget committee late last month, sinking the two ideas. …
UN General Assembly President Jan Eliasson suggested that it was only natural that some of Annans proposals, part of a sweeping reform package unveiled in March, would divide the member states.
– I think it goes back to the fact that we had a higher degree of ambition than we normally have in the UN, Eliasson said, adding: – If the Secretary-General had proposed a less ambitious program you would have perhaps achieved that consensus.
South Africas UN-ambassador, Dumisani Kumalo, said that not much had changed in UN reform aims because of the vote. Kumalo, head of a 132-member bloc of developing nations, noted that several other reports, including one on procurement and another on a new information system, were due shortly and could move the reform process along.
US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton said that there was “virtually no progress” on management reform.
The General Assemblys budget committee had taken a similar vote last month. Mondays vote, which was expected, could well spur Washington to insist a budget cap stay in place and withhold the 950 million US dollar needed to pay UN salaries after June 30.
The showdown marked a power struggle for control of the United Nations between developing nations, who form a majority of UN members and are home to much of the worlds population, and wealthy countries who pay the bills.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
