Malaysia and others criticise Annan's blueprint for UN change

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Secretary-General Kofi Annan's blueprint for the most sweeping changes to the United Nations in its 60-year history came under sharp criticism Wednesday from developing countries who represent the majority of the 191 U.N. member states.

China and Russia - key veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council - also raised serious concerns and opposed Annan's "artificial'' deadlines of having world leaders adopt a reform package at a summit in September and agree before that on the divisive issue of Security Council expansion.

China's U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya said U.N. reforms must accommodate the concerns of developing countries and "effectively reverse the trend of giving priority to security over development that has characterized U.N. activities for a long time.''

By contrast, the 25-member European Union expressed support for Annan's plan, which calls for a realignment of the United Nations to give additional weight to key development, security and human rights issues.

Malaysia's U.N. Ambassador Rastam Mohd Isa, speaking on behalf of the Nonaligned Movement of 116 mostly developing nations, told the General Assembly that its demands for development and social advancement remain "the centerpiece'' of U.N. deliberations are not adequately reflected in the the secretary-general's proposals.

Annan expressed hope that the proposals will be adopted as a package -- without cherry-picking - but Isa said the movement wants every recommendation assessed acording to its merits.

The Nonaligned Movement, which represents almost two-thirds of the U.N.'s membership, also believes that reforms should be adopted by consensus - a point strongly endorsed by China, he said.

"We must recognize that reform of the U.N. is an ongoing process and U.N. member states are the major stakeholders in this endeavor,'' Isa said.

"While we should aim for our leaders to being able to collectively make major decisions in September, we have to expect the process of transforming the U.N. into an organization able to meet the threats and challenges of the 21st century ...''

Jamaica's U.N. Ambassador Stafford Neil, speaking on behalf of the other major coalition of developing countries, the so-called Group of 77, told the General Assembly that bolder and more far-reaching decisions need to be taken in key areas related to development.

The real question is not how to get new commitments, but how to implement past commitments by rich countries to increase international aid, to reduce and eradicate debts for poor countries, and to improve the transfer of resources, he said.

Neil also called for trade, finance and technology policies that promote development and bolder action to strengthen U.N. institutions dealing with these key economic issues.

In separate speeches, many key developing countries were even more criticial of Annan's proposals.

The United Nations "is sick'' and requires a treatment that is adopted for its ills, said Algeria's U.N. Ambassador Abdallah Baali, "but the secretary-general's report is, by any standard of evidence, neither the treatment that is needed nor the panacea one expected.''

He said the proposed reforms pay only superficial attention to debt reduction, freer trade, technology transfer, and reform of the global financial architecture - and ignore health and education.

He objected to Annan's proposed definition of terrorism, saying it does not deal with the question of state terrorism or a legitimate struggle against foreign occupation.

Baali also strongly opposed Annan's suggestion that the General Assembly vote on expansion of the Security Council before the September summit if members can't agree on a plan by consensus.

"Taking precipitous action could expose the entire reform process and even the organization's future to heavy risks,'' he said.

Pakistan's U.N. Ambassador Munir Akram warned that the September summit will be a failure unless leader make trade and international finance more development-oriented and address the problems of commodities and employment.

He criticized Annan's proposals to enhance peace and security, saying they concentrate authority in the Security Council which Pakistan strongly opposes.

He also warned that proposed criteria for authorizing the use of force could be misused "mostly by the powerful against the weaker states.''

Pakistan backs a "balanced consensus'' on all major issues, Akram said. "We do not like cherry-picking. But we can only harvest the fruit which is ripe and ready. Early harvests are, often, bitter harvests.''

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Andrey Denisov called Annan's reform a "good basis'' for the September summit but was skeptical about "artificial deadlines'' and expressed ambivalence about several key Annan proposals.

He questioned whether there was widespread support for Annan's notion of a "responsibility to protect'' citizens in danger and cast doubt on his proposed definition of terrorism. - AP

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