UN chief urges world leaders to approve changes
Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged world leaders today to implement the boldest changes to the United Nations in its 60 year history by expanding the size of the Security Council, writing a new definition of terrorism and strengthening protections for human rights.
In a speech to the 191 member General Assembly in New York, Annan called for adopting his entire reform package at a summit of world leaders in September, and he warned countries against treating the list of proposals “as an a la carte menu, and select only those that you especially fancy".
But getting leaders to agree on the package will not be easy because many countries have opposing views on issues ranging from reform of the powerful Security Council to creation of a new Human Rights Council to increasing development assistance to poor countries.
The timing of Annan’s appeal also raised some questions, coming just before former US Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker releases the results of an investigation into the activities of Annan and his son, Kojo, in relation to the scandal-ridden UN oil-for-food programme in Iraq.
Kojo Annan worked in Africa for a company that had an oil-for-food contract.
Asked at a news conference how he believed the United States would respond to the report, Annan said he hoped all countries would find its suggestions in their interests.
“I think there are many things in the report that should please many states including the United States,” he said. “You have to understand that we have 191 member states and I was dealing with the problems of all regions."
