July 26, 2004
FREUDIAN SLIP?
Germany plays Iraq card in bid for UN veto role (The Straits Times, July 26th, 2004)
Germany hopes to cash in on its outspoken opposition to the Iraq war to win a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, but regional rivalries and resistance in Washington could stymie the bid.Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer wrapped up a 10-day tour last Friday that was aimed at wooing Asia's powerhouses to back a veto-wielding seat for Germany as part of a major United Nations reform drive.
Mr Fischer, who is also Germany's Vice-Chancellor, did win a firm commitment from India - in exchange for supporting New Delhi's own bid for a permanent berth in New York.
But China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - unofficial spokesman for the world's poorest nations - were all non-committal during Mr Fischer's whistle-stop tour, citing complex power politics in their own backyards.
Mr Fischer argued that last year's diplomatic nightmare, in which the world was painfully split over Washington's decision to topple Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, was a key reason to pursue 'efficient multilateralism' at the UN.
At the same time, Berlin believes its leadership of the anti-war front alongside France and Russia - both among the five permanent members of the Security Council - dramatically boosted its profile on the world stage.
Why would a country with a discredited past, an anaemic military and a population steadfastly opposed to foreign adventures covet a leading role in global collective security? Perhaps the answer lies in the title of this article. The progressive world and the dangerous regimes it supports have come to see the UN as a protector of the status quo and a brake on the spread of democracy and constitutional liberalism. That makes Germany the perfect candidate.
Posted by Peter Burnet at July 26, 2004 6:13 AMThere's already one powerless country on the Security Council, why add another? On the other hand, why not? The UN is a farce, anyway.
Posted by: Bob at July 26, 2004 7:21 AMWhy don't we just give them our seat?
In both the SC and the General Assembly.
If they'll take France's seat on the council and give it to Germany, I can live with that.
Posted by: John at July 26, 2004 8:12 AMEurope is already overrepresented in the SC as it is. If anything this whole matter should be completely dismissed until such time the issue of the EU constitution is sorted out. If the UK adopts it then their's and France's seats should be consolidated into a single EU seat. If the UK votes to stay out then France's seat can be allocated to the EU.
Posted by: MB at July 26, 2004 10:02 AMThe only reason to oppose giving any country a veto on the Security Council is a fear of hindering UN efficiency. I say hand 'em out like popcorn.
Posted by: David Cohen at July 26, 2004 10:13 AMThe UN exists to preserve the status quo of the victors in WWII. Attempts to update the Security Council would open up a whole mess of worms.
There's a long line of countries drooling over a permanent seat: India, Japan, Brazil. If Germany gets one, why not them? And then the Muslims would complain there is no majority Muslim nation on the Council.
Such a formula simply guarantees nothing gets done. There's basically two choices in any reform of the UN.
1) You want nothing to get done. In which case, there's practically no reason to change it anyway.
2) You want an effective UN that stops aggressors and tyrants. In which case you deny entry in the Security Council of any on-democratic nation, and only allow permanent seats to countries willing and able to police their region of the world. In Europe's case, with UK, France, and even Russia on board, there's no reason for Germany.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at July 26, 2004 12:06 PMI say we give our seat on the SC to Germany. Then we indict the entire professional staff of the UN (Koffi Annan on down) for grand theft and accessory to murder one and throw them in the slam. Declare all the "diplomats" PNG and escort them to the 12 mile limit. Tear the building down (its about to fall apart anyway) and use the land to build condos. Denounce the charter and all other treaties associated with it.
The Germans and the Froggies can build their new UN anywhere they bloddy well please except in the US and it won't be with my taxpayer dollars.
My bet. They have a couple of meetings, denounce the US, demand that we pay for a new UN and adopt a bunch of resolutions condeming the death penalty and cheeseburgers. Nothing ever comes of it.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at July 26, 2004 1:48 PM