West gets trounced on latest step of UN reform

UNITED NATIONS, May 9: Developing nations has blocked the centerpiece of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's reform program, a move western nations say could lead to a drastic cutoff of UN funding this summer.

The vote in the 191-member General Assembly was 120-to-50 with three abstentions in favor of a resolution that delayed or rejected key parts of Annan's plan, such as allowing him to move staff and programs without the approval of the budget committee, which also has 191 members. Annan had proposed a smaller group to help him make decisions.

South Africa's ambassador, Dumisani Kumalo, told reporters yesterday 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.

But US Ambassador John Bolton told reporters there was ''virtually no progress'' on management reform. The General Assembly's budget committee had taken a similar vote last month.

At the insistence of the United States, the assembly in December tied progress on UN management reforms to approval of the budget for the second half of 2006.

Bolton said the expenditure cap was meant as ''a form of intellectual discipline'' and ''this vote shows it hasn't taken hold yet.'' ''I think the position they (developing nations) have taken is very nearly tanking the secretary-general's principle recommendations,'' he said.

Yesterday's vote, which was expected, could well spur Washington to insist a budget cap stay in place and withhold the 950 million dollars 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 world's population, and wealthy countries who pay the bills.

The rich countries back a bid by Annan to have more control over UN bureaucracy.

Annan in March introduced a 33-page blueprint on overhauling the U.N. secretariat, in part an outcome of scandals in the now-defunct Iraqi oil-for-food program.

He sought greater financial oversight, simplified hiring and firing procedures, career planning, staff buyouts, a modern information system and flexibility in assigning staff.

General Assembly President Jan Eliasson ignored the negative aspects of Monday's vote, saying the assembly could be proud of its achievements -- such as decisions on a new peace-building commission, a revamped human rights council and other issues.

He encouraged members ''to reach out to your colleagues and start a constructive and forward-looking discussion of what we must do to make this organization -- our United Nations -- work better for the benefit of our peoples.''

Reuters