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Canada & the UN > Newton Bowles Reports
Born Again? The General Assembly Resumes Yes, the General Assembly did indeed meet in its 53rd annual session, an event that some see as monumentally boring but which I find remarkable and reassuring. In our troubled world, where many (most?) governments are insecure and disoriented, what hope and energy draws them back to the U.N.? Where would we be if they refused to come? How we yearn for a quick-fix. Our scientists are beating their brains for the final unifying principle. With 6 billion people and over 5000 languages world-wide, esperanto has not taken off. Internet offers everyone everywhere a fake way to fall in love. I commend the pragmatic approach of a Finnish believer who is translating Elvis Presley into Sanskrit. Transnationals are not all bad. Fifty-three years means at least two generations; and already the U.N. has its rituals. One Assembly must end before the next begins. The 52nd Assembly closed on Tuesday 8 September 1998; the 53rd began on Wednesday 9 September. Many U.N. concerns endure for years so that in effect the Assembly is in continuous session. Every new beginning facilitates the changing of the guard-- newly elected officers-- while looking afresh at what the Assembly does and how it does it. The retiring President of the 52nd G.A., Ambassador Hennadiy Udovenko of the Ukraine, made a sober and balanced analysis of the past year as he brought the session to a close. Accomplishments included the Convention banning land-mines, Assembly support for a nuke-free zone in Central Asia, the adoption of the Convention to Suppress Terrorist Bombing, agreement on establishing an International Criminal Court, and approval of an international strategy to control narcotic drugs. Disappointing, however, was the Assembly's inability to agree on outstanding "reform" issues, including updating the Security Council and the Agenda for Peace, passing them on to the next Assembly. In place of rigidity and mistrust, he said, we need political will and courage. On a personal note, he said that he had worked very hard at directing and facilitating this Assembly-- "extremely gratifying" and anything but "ceremonial". After nearly 40 years of involvement, he regrets that he will be leaving the international scene. A serious and dignified farewell. The 52nd session closed with a minute of "silent prayer or meditation". Overnight, the clock turned 53. It was the turn of The Americas to lead the Assembly. Their candidate, Foreign Minister Didier Opertti of Uruguay, was installed as President. Mr. Opertti is a lawyer and has served on the U.N. International Law Commission. In a discursive review of issues before the Assembly, he observed that things have changed, that conflicts no longer are "territorial" but rather are attacks on persons and institutions. He would try to promote a collegial spirit in this Assembly. Early that same morning, at the beautiful romanesque St. Bartholemew's Church on Park Avenue, Mr. Opertti and Secretary-General Kofi Annan attended an inter-faith service, uniting international religious leaders from the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jain, Jewish, Shinto, Sikh and other faiths in their support for the Secretary-General and the United Nations. (Later on, in December, attending a children's Nativity Pageant in the same church, I was told of an exchange between Boy #1, Joseph, and Boy #2, Innkeeper. Boy #1: Any room at the inn? Boy #2: You're lucky. There's just been a cancellation. -- Religion lives.) Back at the U.N., and following G.A. President Opertti, the Secretary-General spoke briefly about some outstanding issues. He touched on the implications of the globalizing economy, illustrated by the Asian downturn, that are not just economic, but just as much social and political. "All parts of the international system need to come together to find global solutions..." A healthy economy rests on good governance. Urgent problems are terrorism and the increasing attacks on U.N. personnel in the field. Africa continues to be in crisis. Civil society has shown its strength in promoting the Ottawa Convention banning land-mines and the International Criminal Court. Waiting in the wings was a constellation of political leaders, including: Bill Clinton (USA), Tony Blair (U.K.), Janet Jagan (Guyana), President Khatami (Iran), Nelson Mandela (South Africa), General Abubakar (Nigeria), Jerry Rawlings (Ghana), Prime Minister Vajpayee (India), Prime Minister Sharif (Pakistan), Prime Minister Obuchi (Japan), Prime Minister Netanyahu (Israel) and Yasir Arafat (Palestinian Authority). |
