Annan defends United Nations as 'vital to humanity'
23 February 2005
NEW YORK: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan defended the United Nations, which is beset by scandals from the Iraqi oil programme to sexual abuse by peacekeepers, as "vital to humanity" in the Wall Street Journal yesterday.
"I have served the UN all my life. I have done, and am still doing, everything I can to correct its imperfections, and to improve and strengthen it," he wrote in an opinion piece. "And I believe profoundly in the importance of that task, because a strong UN is of vital importance to humanity."
Annan addressed charges of mismanagement and corruption in the UN's now-defunct Iraqi oil-for-food programme, admitting there were failings while accusing some critics of hyperbole.
US lawmakers and an independent inquiry by former US Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker have uncovered lax management, a shortage of auditors and procurement irregularities but no crimes.
"The interim report of Paul Volcker's independent inquiry has helped put the Oil For Food programme in perspective. Some of the more hyperbolic assertions about it have been proven untrue," Annan wrote in the Journal.
"Yet I am the first to admit that real and troubling failures - ethical lapses and lax management - have been brought to light. I am determined, with the help of member states, to carry through the management reforms which are clearly called for by Mr Volcker's findings," he said.
Annan also addressed the UN probes of allegations against peacekeeping soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo of sexual exploitation of women and girls.
"Both the UN Secretariat and the member states have been too slow to realize the extent of this problem, take effective measures to end it, and punish the culprits. But we are now doing so, and I am determined to see it through."
Annan said the UN had demonstrated its importance both in helping with the Asian tsunami disaster relief effort and the war in Iraq.
"The war in Iraq two years ago caused many people on all sides to lose faith in the UN," he wrote.
But he added: "Precisely because the United Nations did not agree on some earlier actions in Iraq, yesterday it has much needed credibility with, and access to, Iraqi groups who must agree to join in the new political process if peace is to prevail.
"The UN can be useful because it is seen as independent and impartial. If it ever came to be seen as a mere instrument or prolongation of US foreign policy, it would be worthless to everyone."
23 February 2005
NEW YORK: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan defended the United Nations, which is beset by scandals from the Iraqi oil programme to sexual abuse by peacekeepers, as "vital to humanity" in the Wall Street Journal yesterday.
"I have served the UN all my life. I have done, and am still doing, everything I can to correct its imperfections, and to improve and strengthen it," he wrote in an opinion piece. "And I believe profoundly in the importance of that task, because a strong UN is of vital importance to humanity."
Annan addressed charges of mismanagement and corruption in the UN's now-defunct Iraqi oil-for-food programme, admitting there were failings while accusing some critics of hyperbole.
US lawmakers and an independent inquiry by former US Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker have uncovered lax management, a shortage of auditors and procurement irregularities but no crimes.
"The interim report of Paul Volcker's independent inquiry has helped put the Oil For Food programme in perspective. Some of the more hyperbolic assertions about it have been proven untrue," Annan wrote in the Journal.
"Yet I am the first to admit that real and troubling failures - ethical lapses and lax management - have been brought to light. I am determined, with the help of member states, to carry through the management reforms which are clearly called for by Mr Volcker's findings," he said.
Annan also addressed the UN probes of allegations against peacekeeping soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo of sexual exploitation of women and girls.
"Both the UN Secretariat and the member states have been too slow to realize the extent of this problem, take effective measures to end it, and punish the culprits. But we are now doing so, and I am determined to see it through."
Annan said the UN had demonstrated its importance both in helping with the Asian tsunami disaster relief effort and the war in Iraq.
"The war in Iraq two years ago caused many people on all sides to lose faith in the UN," he wrote.
But he added: "Precisely because the United Nations did not agree on some earlier actions in Iraq, yesterday it has much needed credibility with, and access to, Iraqi groups who must agree to join in the new political process if peace is to prevail.
"The UN can be useful because it is seen as independent and impartial. If it ever came to be seen as a mere instrument or prolongation of US foreign policy, it would be worthless to everyone."
