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| Sunday, 27 April 2003 |
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Asia must push hard for top UN post Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando in an interview with New Straits Times has urged Asian countries to push for the secretary-general's position in the United Nations since the largest continent has a major stake in global affairs and much needs to be done through the UN body to improve the living standards of people in Asia and elsewhere. Fernando said Asia missed its chance to the position in 2001, which is historically rotated among candidates of the different continents, when there was no suitable candidate but should work towards getting an Asian in the seat? When present Secretary-General Kofi Annan's tenure comes to an end at the end of December 2006. Speaking to the New Straits Times in a telephone interview from Colombo, he said there was a need for the UN to play a more forward and positive role in world affairs instead of taking a back seat and allowing the leading role to be hijacked by others. Fernando an Oxford educated barrister who has been an elected MP for 25 years is one of the candidates for the Secretary General's post. Among those who have indicated that they would throw their hat into the ring for the post are Surin Pitsuwan of Thailand, Al Alat-as of Indonesia and several Asian heads of UN agencies. The last and only Asian Secretary-General, was U. Thant of Myanmar who served from 1961 to 1971. Asked to comment on his candidature for the position, Fernando said: "Let the best man win as long as he is from Asia." He said with the on-going peace process and Sri Lanka gaining momentum in economic and political stature, it is ready to play a bigger international role in world affairs. Expressing dismay at the current situation where the UN seems to have little say in the US led war against Iraq, he said the world body should have played its part of ascertaining whether Iraq had weapons to mass destruction which would have allowed world leaders the opportunity to discuss and ascertain the type of action to be taken against the Baghdad regime. "Perhaps the UN Security Council should be expanded to include countries with large populations and economic might such as Germany, Japan, India and Nigeria, to name a few so that decisions are not hijacked by the veto-wielding nations," he said. Asked about the US role in the UN, he said: A UN without the US is like playing Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. "The US needs the UN as much as the Un needs the US. But there is a need to work out a system where decision-making will involve most countries." He said financially the UN is still in a lot of trouble and there is a need to reduce costs, trim the huge staff and offer better services to poorer countries and ensure that the billions of Dollars of dues owed by nations is paid to allow the smooth running of the world body. He said the UN, apart from its political responsibilities should also focus on food production and better health facilities and also work out programmes to improve the living standards of under-developed countries. |
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