Posted on 01/13/2005 6:40:37 PM PST by NormsRevenge
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - U.S. Ambassador John Danforth said Thursday that criticism of the United Nations shouldn't detract from the organization's importance to the United States and to the world.
In a moving farewell speech to the Security Council, Danforth said that during his six month stint as U.S. envoy he came to believe that the United Nations is "even more important than I thought it was when I came here."
The 68-year-old former Republican senator from Missouri announced in early December that he would resign on Jan. 20 at the end of President Bush's first term. He said he wanted to return to his home in St. Louis and spend time with his wife, Sally, who is still recovering from a serious fall about 1 1/2 years ago.
Looking back on his decision to accept the ambassadorial post, Danforth said that when Bush asked if he would represent the United States, "I asked the president whether he believed this was an important job, and whether he thought the United Nations was important."
"He assured me that in his view it was, and on that representation I agreed to take this job. And the experience that I've had serving here has proved to me that the United Nations is indeed very, very important," he said.
"I think it's important to the world and I think it's important to the United States," Danforth said.
His short tenure at the United Nations has coincided with perhaps the strongest attacks against the world body in its nearly 60 year history - allegations of corruption in the U.N. oil-for-food humanitarian program for Iraq, widespread sexual abuse by U.N. peacekeepers especially in Congo, and a vote of no confidence by U.N. staff in senior management to name a few.
"A lot of people have criticized the United Nations, especially recently, and there's a lot to criticize in the United Nations - the oil-for-food issue, the problem of abuses by peacekeepers, especially in the Congo, and there will be always be things to criticize," Danforth said.
"But those points of criticism should not detract, and do not detract, from the essential value of the United Nations," he said.
Danforth pointed to the various peacekeeping efforts that the Security Council initiated and the massive relief effort it is coordinating for victims of the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami that swept from southeast Asia to Africa.
His primary focus was on one goal - bringing peace to Sudan, a goal he also pursued as U.S. envoy to the African nation before taking the U.N. job.
In November, when he presided over the Security Council as its president, Danforth organized a council meeting in Nairobi, Kenya - only the fourth outside the United States - and got a signed commitment from southern rebels and the Sudanese government to end their 21-year civil war by Dec. 31.
That agreement was signed in Nairobi on Jan. 9 and Danforth has expressed hope that it will lead to peace in the western Darfur region which has been engulfed in conflict for nearly two years.
Argentina's Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa, whose country holds the Security Council presidency this month, said Danforth "will likely best be remembered" for taking the council to Nairobi where its presence and the U.S. ambassador's leadership were critical in getting the parties to sign the agreement.
"With respect to Sudan, the Security Council did play an instrumental role," Danforth responded. "The parties recognize that."
Danforth does not speak for me. The UN is no longer welcomed. Any involvement with the UN is detremental to the US.
Odd, I would think that what the U.S.A. Armed Forces and private charities are doing for the Tsunami victims is much more helpful than the U.N.'s continual waste of money.
Important to the World. If it is so damn important why do the rest of the countries use it to line their pockets with our taxpayer dollars that we sweated out. Or is that why it's so damn important. While Europe is sinking under the same Socialism that they are forcing on us.
BS, They are Gangsters, Murders and Thieves. They are the reasons our Sons and Daughters are dying in Iraq. If it was not for their greed, the sanctions on Saddam would have worked! Lies, Lies and more Lies, that's all we get.
Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US!!
I say "W" sends Rummy to replace Danforth!
He doesn't speak for me either -- I find his comments offensive especially the part about the United States should listen even if the UN is against us. I heard that on the news and now believe that is one reason that he is OUT!
Looks like Bush is starting to clean out some more DEADWOOD.
I thought Bush nominated Danforth.
I hope that President Bush sends someone really, really tough to be our ambassador. Hopefully, someone with a strong CEO/CFO background. A tough negotiator, good eye for the numbers, someone with keen instincts.
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