USUN PRESS RELEASE # 155
October 7, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thank you, Mr. President.

Today’s discussion reflects streamlining in action. We will address both the Secretary-General’s Report on the Work of the Organization and Follow-Up to the Outcome of the Millennium Summit (A/58/323).  The two are closely linked:  in these reports the Secretary-General Annan addresses how, in his own words,  “the UN is to regain the confidence of states and of world public opinion…by demonstrating its ability to deal effectively with the most difficult issues.”  

The United States Delegation, along with the others here, listened attentively to the Secretary General’s address -- his “report to shareholders”  -- delivered on September 23.  Subsequently, President George W. Bush stated in this hall that the United States, “as an original signer of the United Nations Charter…is committed to the United Nations.  And we show that commitment by working to fulfill the UN’s stated purpose and give meaning to its ideals.” 

That commitment is manifested in our work with the Secretariat and other member states to increase the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of the United Nations.  The United States has been among the leading advocates of UN management reform, including working to implement results-based budgeting and phasing down or “sunsetting” redundant or obsolete programs.   Only in this way can the UN fulfill membership priorities and mandates.  The Secretary’s report and indeed the performance of the organization positively reflect many of these reforms.  Member states should be encouraged by these changes in the organization.    

The United States supports making the United Nations even more effective, efficient and accountable.  We are working with our colleagues to rethink and reinvigorate the role of the UN, particularly in economic and social matters.  One way is through thoughtful implementation of the UNGA resolution 57/270 on Integrated and Coordinated Implementation of and Follow-up to the Outcomes of Major UN Conferences and Summits.  The credibility of the UN's policy making bodies is undermined if the outcomes of these Conferences and Summits are not fully integrated into the work of the UN. 

The Secretary-General’s report highlights the UN’s efforts to address extreme poverty at the global, regional and national levels and reports “good progress” by the UN system, including the Specialized Agencies, in achieving greater coherence in policies and programs and in improving the efficiency and impact of support provided at the country level.  We welcome, in particular, the Secretary- General’s creation of the Commission on the Private Sector and Development, which is to develop strategic recommendations on how to promote a strong, indigenous private sector in developing countries.  The newly established Financing for Development Office in the Secretariat will have an important role to play in promoting activities that will accelerate the process of implementation of the Monterrey Consensus and integrating the outcome of that groundbreaking conference into the work of the UN.  This year the United States has contributed $500,000 to the office for activities in support of the Monterrey Consensus. 

The United States applauds the Secretary-General for his support and energy in reorienting the organization’s work on sustainable development toward implementation and action.  Last year’s World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) opened a new chapter in our common endeavor to transform words and commitments into concrete action that make a difference.  To that end, we welcome the Secretary-General’s update that the organization is finalizing its own inter-agency mechanisms for system-wide follow up to the WSSD across the full range of issues.  Ensuring that all relevant UN bodies are working in harmony and focusing their complementary skills and expertise on implementation is critical. 

The United States strongly supports the Secretary-General’s determination to increase the effectiveness and productivity of the UN’s activities to support Africa’s development as outlined in the Secretary-General’s update on activities undertaken by UN agencies and programs in support of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).  The United States fully supports NEPAD, which is a by-Africa, for- Africa initiative guided by the principle of good governance, open markets, and respect for fundamental freedoms.

The NEPAD approach is consistent with the Monterrey Consensus, the Millennium Declaration and the World Summit on Sustainable Development.  It is an approach that depends on concrete actions at the country and sub-regional levels.   U.S. initiatives to support peace, democracy and prosperity in Africa, including the U.S. Millennium Challenge Account, the Emergency plan for HIV/AIDS relief, the Africa Education initiative and the African Growth and Opportunity Act are geared toward helping African nations who are helping themselves. 

We concur with the Secretary-General on the importance of food assistance to Africa, and we are taking significant action to meet the need.  The United States continues to work with the World Food Program and others to provide significant emergency assistance to Africa to address food crises.  In 2003, we will provide $1.4 billion in global emergency food aid.  The Famine Fund -- a new Presidential initiative -- will make available $200 million for rapid response to food crises.

The Millennium Declaration represents the collective will of the international community to address the urgent need to fight poverty.  The internationally agreed Development Goals in the Millennium Declaration represent clear, time-bound development targets.   Success in achieving these goals depends on a partnership in which developing and developed countries focus on positive outcomes.  The framework for this partnership was agreed by our leaders in Monterrey, Mexico last year at the Conference on Financing for Development.  

The Monterrey Consensus gives us a practical framework to pursue effective development and to meet the ambitious agenda laid out in the Millennium Declaration.   It shares the same underpinnings as the Millennium Declaration: political and economic freedom, sound governance and institutions, increasing human capacity through improved health and education; and encouraging growth through free trade and private enterprise.  In his report on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, the Secretary General stressed the importance of follow through and political will.  We concur with the Secretary General.  As President Bush stated on September 23, “Our good intentions will be credited only if we achieve good outcomes.”  The United States is following through on our commitments and taking action.  We are deepening partnerships with countries who are committed to good governance, investing in their people, and free markets:  The $5 billion Millennium Challenge Account, based on the principles of accountability and reward, and emphasizing that responsibility for development lies with developing countries themselves, will increase core development assistance by 50 percent over the next three years, resulting in a more than $5 billion annual increase over current levels by FY 2006.

On HIV/AIDS, President Bush’s $15 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS relief is intended for fourteen of the most affected countries in Africa and the Caribbean.  Water is another area where the U.S. has taken the lead to produce good outcomes:  in the U.S. Water for the Poor initiative, the U.S. has proposed total funding commitments for 2003-2005 of $510 million for water supply, sanitation and health services and nearly $400 million to promote improved watershed management. 

We strongly support the Secretary-General’s focus on women in political decision-making.  As he noted, “women in many parts of the world continue to be excluded from decision making at all levels of government or are given only token representation.”  In an effort to address this grievous exclusion, the U.S. will introduce a resolution on women and political participation in this year's General Assembly. 

President Bush’s statement to the General Assembly last week underscored the commitment of the United States to ending the scourge of trafficking in persons and our strong interest in working with other countries and the UN system to this end.  Our own efforts include the annual Trafficking in Persons report as well as numerous programs to assist other countries in the fight to end this tragic modern manifestation of slavery.    Our efforts are aimed at prosecuting traffickers, protecting victims, preventing crimes at home, and assisting other countries who are committed to doing the same.  We will look for opportunities to advance our shared goals in this body.

Secretary-General Annan has set the stage for the Plenary’s further discussion on UN reform and revitalization.  He has rightly emphasized the need for the UN and its bodies to better achieve their original and intended purposes.  For example, he reminds us – and we strongly concur – that, in the human rights arena, Member states should appreciate that membership on the Human Rights Commission “implies responsibilities as well as privileges.” 

The Secretary-General has also raised a number of important and challenging questions that need to be seriously addressed by Member Countries in the year ahead.  Mr. Chairman, our comments on this topic are part of a broader discussion and call to action, which will continue later in this month, when we look at UN reform proposals in detail and during the work of the General Assembly’s Main Committees.