January 16, 2005

AND THEN THEY HAVE TO SAY TWENTY HAIL KOFIS

U.N. set to offer Tokyo, Berlin seats-for-aid deal (The Japan Times, January 15th, 2005)

A United Nations panel will urge Japan and Germany to expand their foreign aid as a condition for gaining permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council, according to U.N. sources.

The report in question will state that any developed nation aiming for permanent UNSC membership should be prepared to contribute foreign aid equal to 0.7 percent of its gross national product by 2015 as a responsible leading nation, the sources said Wednesday.

The report was drafted by an advisory panel to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan on the U.N. Millennium Development Goals. It will be submitted to him Monday.

Although it will name no specific country, it is apparent that Japan and Germany are among the main targets, the sources said.[...]

The panel had said in an interim report released in September that the United States, Japan and Germany should expand their foreign aid to 0.7 percent of their GNP by 2015.

The United States has been removed from the list in the final draft, with the issue now tied to UNSC bids. This was reportedly done in order to avoid a backlash from Washington, the sources said.

The move reflects the will of the U.N. to improve relations with the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush that have deteriorated over the Iraq war and a scandal involving high-ranking U.N. officials, the sources said.

On the other hand, the U.N. wants to secure more funds from Japan and Germany, they said.

We’ve known for some time that UN-led transnationalism is a secular faith, but we really never thought we would live to see them selling indulgences.

Posted by Peter Burnet at January 16, 2005 10:34 AM
Comments

So, Kofi's trying to get back what Japan cut from it's general operations contribution?

Germany doesn't have the money.

So they have to pay the UN off...how tacky.

Posted by: Sandy P at January 16, 2005 11:58 AM

If I were India or some of the other nations in the U.N., I'd be wondering why four of the seven seats on the expanded Security Council would still be going to European nations in the 21st Century.

Posted by: John at January 16, 2005 12:18 PM

...To say nothing about France belonging to anything with "Security" in its title.

Posted by: John Barrett Jr. at January 16, 2005 12:51 PM

Actually, at that point the better question would be how we ever managed to get a seat, 'cause you could play "one of these things is not like the others" with the permanent members of the Security Council.

Posted by: David Cohen at January 16, 2005 4:43 PM

Hold the meetings at Tranquility base, those that can't attend don't rate.

Posted by: Ripper at January 16, 2005 6:38 PM

It's payola.

Posted by: Chris Durnell at January 17, 2005 12:04 PM
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