Fw: What's Next for UN-U.S. Relations? - FCNL

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Guthrie" <kathyguthrie@fcnl.org>
To: "Miriam Vieni" <miriamvieni@optonline.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 12:12 PM
Subject: What's Next for UN-U.S. Relations? - FCNL

Heads of state from more than 150 countries meeting at the United
Nations in New York last week agreed to a package of proposals to
improve the international system and better address global issues of
peace and security, development, human rights, and the management of
the UN itself. The final summit declaration from the world leaders
included both successes, such as the agreement to create a
Peacebuilding Commission to help countries transition from war to
peace, and failures, such as the lack of any agreement at all on
disarmament and nonproliferation goals.

But the greatest success of the meeting might be that the international
community now has before it a broad agenda for strengthening the UN and
addressing global problems that must be implemented in the coming
months and years.

The U.S. played an instrumental role in shaping the outcome of that
agenda and will be a major player in determining whether and how it is
advanced. The new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton,
was largely responsible for throwing what had been months of delicate
negotiations into disarray when, in the final weeks before the summit,
he proposed more than 700 changes to what many other countries thought
was a near-final agreement. Other countries soon followed suit in
pressing their own agendas and backtracking on agreements already
negotiated. In the end a number of important advances were lost, and
the U.S. must take responsibility for acting as one of the spoilers.
Despite these disruptions, the leaders gathered for the summit were
successful in reaching substantive agreement on a wide range of issues.
Important commitments included

* an agreement to increase annual global development assistance by $50
billion by 2010;
* strengthening the peacebuilding and human rights capacities of the UN; and
* affirming a collective "responsibility to protect" populations
threatened by genocide and other crimes against humanity when national
governments fail to do so, with a focus on prevention and action
through the Security Council.
For details on these and other Summit outcomes see
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/ILZXFBEBCS/GMXTFBEDGS/

Most importantly, an international consensus is now in place for
advancing these and other steps toward improving the UN system to
better address global issues.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE UN AND U.S-UN RELATIONS?

President Bush addressed the General Assembly on the opening day of the
2005 Global Summit, and the U.S. joined other world leaders in
reaffirming Athe vital importance of an effective multilateral system,
in accordance with international law." Thanks to the important
organizing and advocacy efforts of many who care about the UN and
international cooperation, the U.S. was forced to pull back some of its
most extreme proposals and demonstrate renewed commitment to
international cooperation.

Unfortunately, many who oppose strong U.S. UN relations are already
organizing in Congress to use the outcomes of the Summit to further
undermine UN effectiveness and U.S. UN relations.

In June, the House passed UN reform legislation (H.R. 2745) that would
mandate cuts to the U.S. contribution to the world body and prevent
U.S. contributions to new peacekeeping missions if UN does not agree to
a list of specific reforms dictated from Washington. This legislation
focuses on micro managing the institution rather than working to
achieve substantive government commitments that would strengthen the
ability of the UN system to prevent war and promote development and
human rights.

Similar legislation has recently been introduced in the Senate (S. 1394
and S. 1383). Reports from the Hill suggest proponents of these bills
will work "on all fronts" to advance them this fall. The Senate bills
may be brought up for a vote as amendments to other legislation or
pushed to the floor in last minute moves that leave little time for
organizing against them.

Meanwhile, the Bush administration has apparently decided to reward
Ambassador John Bolton for his role in the Summit by resubmitting to
the Senate for confirmation Bolton's nomination as U.S. ambassador to
the UN. (The Senate this summer had refused to confirm Bolton's
appointment as U.S. Ambassador. The president then chose to use his
executive powers to appoint Bolton to his current position in a recess
appointment which will expire at the end of this Congress unless the
Senate confirms him in the post.) Ambassador Bolton is expected to
appear before congressional hearings next week to discuss the Summit
outcomes and next steps on UN reform.

ACTION: Urge your senators to oppose efforts to undermine the important
advances made at the Global Summit. Cutting U.S. dues to the UN is the
surest way to thwart the international consensus that has now been
developed to address critical global issues. Urge your senators to
oppose proposals to cut UN dues and to vote against S. 1394 and S. 1383
should they be brought to a vote . Your advocacy work around the
country can make a difference in providing clear, concise information
on the United Nations and encouraging others to contact their elected
officials.

To see a sample letter and send a message to your senators, see our web
site at http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/ILZXFBEBCS/MBXKFBEDGT/ You will
need to enter your zip code to see the message.

Are you having trouble following links or reading this message? See the
web version at
www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1538&issue_id=113

-------

Stop New Nuclear Weapons! Find out how,
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/ILZXFBEBCS/MGWNFBEDGU/
The Next Step for Iraq: Join FCNL's Iraq Campaign,
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/ILZXFBEBCS/EUXFFBEDGV/

Contact Congress and the Administration:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/ILZXFBEBCS/LOXLFBEDGW/
Order FCNL publications and "War is Not the Answer" campaign
bumper stickers and yard signs:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/ILZXFBEBCS/DSYKFBEDGX/
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/ILZXFBEBCS/BRSHFBEDGY/

Contribute to FCNL:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/ILZXFBEBCS/NRCOFBEDGZ/

Subscribe or update your information to this list:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/ILZXFBEBCS/ODEUFBEDHA/ To unsubscribe
from this list, please see the end of this message.

Subscribe to other FCNL legislative, policy, and action alert lists:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/ILZXFBEBCS/HXAQFBEDHB/
type=ls.
________________________________________

Friends Committee on National Legislation
245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
fcnl@fcnl.org * www.fcnl.org
phone: (202)547-6000 * toll-free: (800)630-1330

We seek a world free of war and the threat of war
We seek a society with equity and justice for all
We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled
We seek an earth restored.

---
If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please visit
http://capwiz.com/fconl/lmx/u/?jobid=59934906.