U.N. Summit in Danger of Being a Political Fiasco

[struggle4progress]

Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 9 (IPS) - A continued sharp division of opinion among the 191 member states -- on politically-sensitive issues such as terrorism, war crimes, development aid, climate change and human rights -- is threatening to make a mockery of the upcoming U.N. summit of world leaders in New York Sep. 14-16.

With less than a week to go, several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have expressed concern about the ongoing deadlock over a proposed landmark plan of action, called the "outcome document", which was to spell out concrete commitments on alleviating poverty, eradicating extreme hunger, ensuring universal primary education, and endorsing a complete restructuring of the United Nations.

"Negotiations are teetering on the brink of failure because governments are not reaching agreement on key poverty reduction measures, arms controls and their 'responsibility to protect' civilians," Caroline Green of Oxfam International, told IPS. <snip>

The countries singled out as "spoilers" include the United States, India, Egypt, Algeria, Pakistan, Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Syria, Russia, Myanmar, Turkmenistan, Belarus and Vietnam. <snip>

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=30208

[Der Blaue Engel]

1. Oh what lovely company we are in:

"The countries singled out as "spoilers" include the United States, India, Egypt, Algeria, Pakistan, Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Syria, Russia, Myanmar, Turkmenistan, Belarus and Vietnam."

[applegrove]

2. Bolton is doing the very same "job" on the UN, that Brown does on

FEMA.

Again - cause calamity so Bush's patsies can say - "the UN should go".