Yard Ape
05-29-2004, 11:57 PM
EU, Latin American nations seek stronger U.N. role
POSTED AT 9:56 PM EDT Friday, May 28, 2004
Globe & Mail (http://globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040528.weula28/BNStory/International/)
Associated Press
Guadalajara, Mexico — European and Latin leaders declared Friday that the United Nations should remain the world's chief conflict solver, indirectly urging the United States not to act alone.
Although it didn't specifically mention the United States, it was clear the summit's final statement was critical of Washington's foreign policy and of allegations of abuse of prisoners in Iraq.
The statement by leaders from 60 European, Latin American and Caribbean nations also called for a makeover of the United Nations, and expressed support for the International Criminal Court.
Ninety countries have ratified their adherence to the court, but not the United States, which fears politically motivated war crimes prosecutions of American soldiers.
U.N. reforms, leaders said, must make the organization more effective, while helping it to avoid the embarrassment of being sidelined, as happened last year when the United States went to war in Iraq without U.N. backing.
"We all recall that 2003 was a difficult year," said Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, speaking on behalf of the 25-nation European Union.
He said the U.S. decision to invade Iraq showed the United Nations to be "unable to deal with hard questions of peace and security and unable, therefore, to command confidence."
Mr. Ahern, whose country holds the EU presidency, said no country can act alone, and summit host, Mexican President Vicente Fox, added that unilateralism "could become a real threat."
Mr. Fox called for a new international order by making far-reaching reforms in the way the United Nations runs its affairs.
"I am convinced Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union should have an important role in forming a new international order in which multilateralism and social cohesion translate into a more secure, equal, prosperous and fair world," Mr. Fox said.
Several hundred anti-globalization protesters briefly clashed with police in the rain-slicked streets of downtown Guadalajara as the meeting came to a close, but no major problems were reported.
The plea for reforms is part and parcel of a drive for more "multilateralism" — a catchall phrase for more international cooperation, not only in issues of war and peace, but also terrorism, trade disputes, poverty and the fight against AIDS and other crippling epidemics.
"Security problems that raise the issue of the use of force are now global ones which must be addressed in a multilateral framework in order to be dealt with legitimately," French President Jacques Chirac said.
He backed U.N. reform ideas that would tone down the overwhelming influence now wielded by the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia, the five permanent Security Council.
The Iraq war loomed large over the summit, with the final declaration condemning "all forms of abuse, torture and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of persons."
"We express abhorrence at recent evidence of the mistreatment of prisoners in Iraqi prisons," the final documents says. "Such abuse is contrary to international law, including the Geneva Conventions. We welcome the commitment by the relevant governments to bring to justice any individuals responsible for such acts."
Mr. Chirac told reporters he discussed a U.S.-British U.N. resolution on Iraq's transition to democracy with several leaders.
"We think it is important Iraqis really feel something is changing for them," he said.
France seeks better guarantees of local sovereignty after June 30, he said.
Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez-Roque said Cuba would withhold its approval of the declaration because it failed to mention the United States specifically.
He also blamed the European Union for blocking efforts to condemn U.S. sanctions against the communist-run island. The Cuban goverment issued a statement likening the EU to a "flock of sheep, subordinate to Washington" for watering down the statement.
European Commission President Romano Prodi fired back at Cuba during a later news conference, criticizing the nation for what he called "the wave of repression, jailing more than 70 dissidents under appalling conditions."
"The dissidents are in jail for exercising their right to freedom of expression," he said.
POSTED AT 9:56 PM EDT Friday, May 28, 2004
Globe & Mail (http://globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040528.weula28/BNStory/International/)
Associated Press
Guadalajara, Mexico — European and Latin leaders declared Friday that the United Nations should remain the world's chief conflict solver, indirectly urging the United States not to act alone.
Although it didn't specifically mention the United States, it was clear the summit's final statement was critical of Washington's foreign policy and of allegations of abuse of prisoners in Iraq.
The statement by leaders from 60 European, Latin American and Caribbean nations also called for a makeover of the United Nations, and expressed support for the International Criminal Court.
Ninety countries have ratified their adherence to the court, but not the United States, which fears politically motivated war crimes prosecutions of American soldiers.
U.N. reforms, leaders said, must make the organization more effective, while helping it to avoid the embarrassment of being sidelined, as happened last year when the United States went to war in Iraq without U.N. backing.
"We all recall that 2003 was a difficult year," said Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, speaking on behalf of the 25-nation European Union.
He said the U.S. decision to invade Iraq showed the United Nations to be "unable to deal with hard questions of peace and security and unable, therefore, to command confidence."
Mr. Ahern, whose country holds the EU presidency, said no country can act alone, and summit host, Mexican President Vicente Fox, added that unilateralism "could become a real threat."
Mr. Fox called for a new international order by making far-reaching reforms in the way the United Nations runs its affairs.
"I am convinced Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union should have an important role in forming a new international order in which multilateralism and social cohesion translate into a more secure, equal, prosperous and fair world," Mr. Fox said.
Several hundred anti-globalization protesters briefly clashed with police in the rain-slicked streets of downtown Guadalajara as the meeting came to a close, but no major problems were reported.
The plea for reforms is part and parcel of a drive for more "multilateralism" — a catchall phrase for more international cooperation, not only in issues of war and peace, but also terrorism, trade disputes, poverty and the fight against AIDS and other crippling epidemics.
"Security problems that raise the issue of the use of force are now global ones which must be addressed in a multilateral framework in order to be dealt with legitimately," French President Jacques Chirac said.
He backed U.N. reform ideas that would tone down the overwhelming influence now wielded by the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia, the five permanent Security Council.
The Iraq war loomed large over the summit, with the final declaration condemning "all forms of abuse, torture and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of persons."
"We express abhorrence at recent evidence of the mistreatment of prisoners in Iraqi prisons," the final documents says. "Such abuse is contrary to international law, including the Geneva Conventions. We welcome the commitment by the relevant governments to bring to justice any individuals responsible for such acts."
Mr. Chirac told reporters he discussed a U.S.-British U.N. resolution on Iraq's transition to democracy with several leaders.
"We think it is important Iraqis really feel something is changing for them," he said.
France seeks better guarantees of local sovereignty after June 30, he said.
Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez-Roque said Cuba would withhold its approval of the declaration because it failed to mention the United States specifically.
He also blamed the European Union for blocking efforts to condemn U.S. sanctions against the communist-run island. The Cuban goverment issued a statement likening the EU to a "flock of sheep, subordinate to Washington" for watering down the statement.
European Commission President Romano Prodi fired back at Cuba during a later news conference, criticizing the nation for what he called "the wave of repression, jailing more than 70 dissidents under appalling conditions."
"The dissidents are in jail for exercising their right to freedom of expression," he said.