NEW YORK -- Under intense pressure from the United States, U.N. members agreed Friday that the world body would receive half of its budget for 2006 until it could show that its management had become more accountable and streamlined.
If U.N. members show progress on key reforms by June, the $950-million cap will be removed, and the U.N. will receive the rest of its nearly $2 billion in dues from member nations.
In an effort to keep momentum behind lofty pledges of reform made at a September summit, the United States had linked approval of the budget to change. The move was fiercely opposed by developing countries, leading to a marathon negotiation that threatened to scuttle the entire $3.8-billion 2006-08 budget.
Among management reforms that the 191-member General Assembly must approve are new international accounting standards, buyout plans for employees, a review of programs older than 5 years and a strengthened internal watchdog office.
The American ambassador to the UN, John Bolton (whose nomination was bitterly opposed by Democrats in Congress to the point where the President had to make him a recess appointment), was instrumental in bringing this to pass. These reforms are beyond needed, in the wake of the massive oil for food scandal (among other controversies like the rapes ) they are necessary.
Yet had America, through Bolton, not taken a hard stand on tying UN funding into these reforms probably wouldn't be getting the attention they deserve. Rather, the UN bureacracy probably would have marched on always shuffling reform to the back burner in favor of more "pressing projects" while the rampant fraud and scandal continued.
Kind of makes you glad that President Bush didn't listen to those Democrats in Congress and appointed Bolton of their objections. Those Dems were so worried about Bolton's gruff demeanor ruffling too many feathers at the UN, but from where I'm sitting it looks like "feather ruffling" is exactly what the UN needed.