Title: Mbeki defends his biting critique of the UN Post by: Tyehimba on September 26, 2004, 08:06:29 PM Mbeki defends his biting critique of the UN
September 23 2004 at 03:11PM By Angela Quintal President Thabo Mbeki blasted the United Nations for becoming an instrument of the rich and powerful and said its development agenda was very much on the backburner. Asked on Wednesday about his biting critique of the world body, he said: "I think the truth needs to be told. That's the reality." Mbeki was speaking ahead of his departure from New York, where he addressed the UN General Assembly earlier on Wednesday, and held several bilateral meetings with world leaders. 'I think the truth needs to be told' Mbeki said the UN was unrepresentative and questioned why the concerns of powerful and developed states, such as terrorism, were taking precedence over humanity's more serious challenges, those of poverty and under-development. In an interview, Mbeki said that the UN was an instrument to address the concerns of the rich and powerful, while the development agenda - which preoccupied those who were poor - "was very much on the backburner". "So I think that matter must be confronted. Let's have an honest discussion about it and if it is decided that the UN is really only a peace and security institution, then so be it. "Then let's not pretend that we have development programmes, that it's about a better life, and so on," Mbeki said. Mbeki said that the UN was failing in achieving the goals it set, including those in the Millennium Declaration. 'I think that matter must be confronted' "Perhaps the mistake we made was to assume that the contemporary distribution of power in human society would make it possible for the concerns of the poor to take precedence on the global agenda and global programme of action." He said world leaders had comforted, or perhaps deluded, themselves into thinking that the UN was "the most universal and most representative organisation in the world". Implying that the UN General Assembly was tantamount to an annual talkshop, he said every year many leaders made an annual pilgrimage "to this great and vibrant city to plead the cause of the poor of the world, hopeful that this time our voices will be heard". "Every year, after a few days we pick up our bags to return to the reality of our societies, whose squalor stands out in sharp contrast to the splendour of New York and the majestic precinct that constitutes the headquarters of the United Nations organisation." Mbeki was particularly critical of UN Security Council resolutions obliging states to act to thwart the deadly plans of murderous terrorist gangs, as opposed to resolutions that merely appealed to the "mighty and lowly alike to respond voluntarily to the cries of the wretched of the earth". The president mooted whether it was not perhaps time that "we the poor and powerless abandon our wheelchairs and begin to walk unaided". Perhaps this will help build the social order "in which right would make might and not might, right", he said. On Zimbabwe he said that South Africa is willing to step up contact with President Robert Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, even daily if necessary. Mbeki confirmed that the MDC had asked him at the weekend to appoint an envoy to help spur dialogue between the two sides. The MDC also briefed Mbeki on its decision to boycott next year's parliamentary election until the ruling Zanu-PF abided by a regional election protocol. Mbeki on Monday met Mugabe on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, two days after his meeting with the MDC. On whether he would appoint a special envoy, Mbeki said the MDC had raised the matter that South Africa should act as a facilitator a long time ago. "Our own view was that it was not really necessary." This was because South Africa was in regular contact with both sides. On whether Mugabe had agreed, Mbeki said: "He has no problem. There has never been any problem." Earlier in the day, Mugabe was applauded in the General Assembly, when he again attacked the United States and Britain and said they had no moral authority to lecture anyone, let alone be the torch-bearers of human rights. He charged that the world was being coerced to accept and believe a new political-cum-religious doctrine, namely: "That there is but one political god, namely George W Bush, and Tony Blair is his prophet." http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20040923133236310C759434 Title: Re: Mbeki defends his biting critique of the UN Post by: ptaured7 on October 16, 2004, 03:33:32 PM It's about time a prominent African or other developing nation leader exposed the UN and its various talk show circuits masquerading as "conferences on sustainable development" etc.
The UN is filled with academics looking for jobs from the western and eastern industrial powers and the net result of ther work is "conceptual" dogma and sloganeering. P.7 has had some personal experience with this and has this to say to UN diletantes: Get off your ass, drop your lap tops and pick up a pick and shovel, or else move over and let people who actually know what they are doing in on the game to move it along. There are some good people who labor for the UN who probably want this. |