By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 23 1997 (IPS)

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is seeking the blessings of the 185-member General Assembly for a proposed package of reforms aimed at revitalizing the over-staffed and under-funded world body.

“I ask all of you to move expeditiously to consider the package of reforms that is before you, with the aim of reaching political consensus and providing budgetary authority before this session ends (in December),” he told delegates this week. “Reform may be gradual, but it should not be piecemeal.”

Annan was responding to those member states who wanted to dilute his package by selectively picking some proposals while rejecting others. The package, introduced in July, included proposals for the creation of a U.N. Development Group, a new Office of Development Financing, a new Department for Disarmament and Arms Regulation, a system of multi-year pledges for developm ent cooperation, and a U.N. Revolving Fund to be financed by administrative sav ings.

Reforms also provided for the rationalisation and streamlining of U.N. operations both at headquarters and in the field, and the creation of new management structures that would enhance accountability in the U.N. system.

The reform of the United Nations would be the topmost priority at the current session of the General Assembly, Annan said. “Indeed, let this be known as the ‘Reform Assembly’,” he stressed.

Briefing reporters Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said U.N. members should accept Annan’s package “as a package” because ‘if they start to pick apart what they don’t like, the whole package could fall apart.”

Just after the package was introduced, the United States expressed reservations over two of his proposals: the creation of a U.N. Revolving Fund and the new Department for Disarmament and Arms Regulation. At a time when the United Nations is being asked to downsize and reduce staff, the U.S. argued, it would be difficult to justify before the U.S. Congress the creation of new departments.

Annan himself admitted in July that U.N. bodies under his overall command had initially expressed reservations over some of his proposals to restructure the United Nations. “I am glad they spoke out. It is the healthy and right thing to do,” he said.

“Once I made the decision to go ahead, they have all come on board,” Annan said after presenting his package of extensive reforms. “They are proposals that are bold but not suicidal,” he added.

Annan’s proposal to bring all development operations under a single authority evoked reservations from at least three U.N. bodies: the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Food Programme (WFP). Annan said he is not a “confrontational person” and believes that “conflicts are healthy.” But admitted he would rather see these U.N. bodies disagree with him now rather than “undermine” him later.

Under the proposed restructuring, Annan plans to appoint his own designated representative in each country: a Resident Coordinator and Leader of the U.N. Country Team. At present, UNICEF, UNFPA and WFP and UNDP have their own field representatives, and on occasions their offices are located in four different buildings in the same city.

“All too often, the separate U.N. entities involved in these (development) activities pursue their activities separate, without regard to or benefiting fr om one another’s presence,” Annan said.

As part of an integrated whole, he wants all U.N. field offices to share common premises, common services and come under a single U.N. Resident Coordinator to be appointed by him. The move is expected not only to eliminate waste and duplication but also save scarce resources for a financially-ailing United Nations.

Ambassador Razali Ismail of Malaysia, the outgoing President of the General Assembly, said last week that while it is evident in the governmental and secretariat contexts that major countries place a high premium on the fact that reform should not in any manner affect their rights, prerogatives and status, developing countries on the other hand lack capacity and are often disunited.

“The United Nations will not be strengthened if reform only concentrates on cost-effectiveness, efficiency and better coordination,”he told reporters. “If the United Nations is to survive, it has to transform itself from an organisation serving only the interests of states to one serving the interests of people living in an interdependent and global society.”

Hennadiy Udovenko, Foreign Minister of Ukraine and the newly- elected preside nt of the General Assembly, said he would personally prefer the proposals being considered as a single package.

“If we try to divide these proposals, and if we assign them for considerati on to the various (U.N.) organs, then it will cause a great delay in their cons ideration. Therefore we should avoid any fragmentation in the consideration of the Secretary- General’s (reform) proposals,” he added.

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