The United Nations: Conflict and Negotiation In the Global Community Essay Example

are two councils in the United Nations (UN) that have distinct responsibilities. The Economic and Social Council is responsible for organizing the UN's economic and social activities, consisting of 54 members whose terms last up to three years. Meanwhile, the Trusteeship Council was established to administer 11 trust territories. However, after the final territory achieved self-governance in 1994, its procedures were altered.

The current council, made up of the five permanent members of the Security Council, convenes as necessary. The World Court - also known as the International Court of Justice - handles conflicts between nations provided that all participating nations agree. The court is composed of 15 judges elected by both the General Assembly and Security Council; their decisions are legally binding for all parties involved. It is located in The Hague and differs from other UN organizations because it's not headquartered in New York.

The UN system comprises of 14 autonomous organizations including the International Monetary Fund and World Health Organization, as well as the Secretariat. Moreover, six divisions, departments, initiatives, and funds are also affiliated with this system. The administrative tasks of the Secretariat are overseen by an elected Secretary-General. The fundamental objectives of the UN system encompass advancing human rights, preserving the environment, combating diseases, fostering economic development and diminishing poverty levels while guaranteeing worldwide peace and security. Its significance as a global influencer cannot be overemphasized.

Although there is no assurance that international discussions regarding global conflicts and peacekeeping will stop conflict or simplify peacekeeping, the United Nations was able to establish a group of countries in the 1990s to oppose Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The Security Council provided guidance as thirty-four nations

collaborated to create "Operation Desert Storm," which triumphantly expelled Saddam Hussein's soldiers from Kuwait. This comprehensive endeavor demonstrated that involvement in conflict can be successful with backing from numerous nations.

While President George H.W. Bush anticipated a "New World Order," it never materialized, and peacekeeping operations have posed dangers with varying durations from short periods to decades. Since the establishment of the United Nations, 1,841 peacekeepers lost their lives up to October 2003; one year alone saw 252 fatalities in incidents. As of October 2003, thirteen ongoing peacekeeping missions existed across the globe: two in Asia, three in the Middle East, three in Europe and five in Africa.

Although there are two long-standing peacekeeping operations at the India-Pakistan border since 1949 and in Cyprus since 1964, achieving lasting peace remains challenging. The Security Council is responsible for ensuring international peace and security; however, conflicts also affect it. Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the Security Council rapidly issued a resolution urging member countries to bring terrorists to justice. Nevertheless, disagreements among Security Council members related to how to handle Iraq after September 11 were widely publicized and remain unresolved.

Although some members of the UN argued for diplomatic solutions, the US and its allies decided to take unauthorized actions against Saddam Hussein. The impact of these actions on future UN relations and power is uncertain. Nevertheless, resolutions have been passed by the UN Security Council to assist in Iraq's post-war stabilization. Nonetheless, disagreements persist within the UN concerning issues such as Security Council structure, financing, and goals.

The UN offers a platform that transcends borders, promoting international collaboration for global issues.However, smaller countries resist dominance from

larger nations, particularly concerning the permanent Security Council membership. In response to pressure from various nations, including the US, the UN initiated a reform movement in the late 1990s. Discussions on financing, operations, and Security Council composition persist but often aggravate smaller countries. The General Assembly debate on UN reform from September 22 to October 7, 1997 was marked by quotes capturing these smaller states' frustrations.

The frustration with the power of the Security Council, lack of transparency in its actions, and use of veto is highlighted by various quotes. HE Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi, Malaysia's Foreign Affairs Minister believes that to achieve true comprehensive reform consistent with current realities, we must restrict or remove the use of veto power. He states that democracy at UN is meaningless if dominant few render majority voice insignificant. HE Mr. Fabian Alarcon Rivera, President of Ecuador aims to limit veto power and impose restrictions on it for prompt conflict prevention measures upon request from any State Member while emphasizing on transparent, effective decision-making machinery processes for real Security Council reform.

The Chair of the delegation of Antigua and Barbuda, HE Mr. Patrick Albert Lewis, emphasizes that the focus of restructuring and reform in the United Nations should be on economic growth and development. He also calls for the General Assembly's role to be restored, and stresses on Security Council's accountability to the General Assembly. Mr. Lewis asserts that the General Assembly should be more active in maintaining international peace and security. He asserts that it is normal to insist on the same values and principles in the UN that unite our countries, in this era of

democracy, transparency, and proper management.

(HE Mr. Ahmed Attaf), the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Algeria, stated that Belgium and other countries with a similar concern for bolstering the Security Council's authority endorse raising both permanent and non-permanent member numbers, improving regional representation, increasing Council efficiency, and restricting veto power.

HE Mr. Erik Derycke, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, advocates against the use of the veto, as it is not in line with the general interest. He suggests modifying the decision-making mechanism to prevent reliance on this outdated tool. Additionally, Belgium urges for enhanced transparency and cooperation between the Security Council and countries participating in peacekeeping operations. In another instance, the United States opposed the UN's focus on goals that are not primarily related to maintaining peace and security, resulting in their withholding of dues in protest against UN policies and allegations of inefficiencies in its programs.

The debate about the UN's funding and priorities is highlighted in quotes from a debate where member countries, including the United States, have been abstaining from paying their dues. Such quotes also refer to the UN's financial crisis that has caused a significant drop in funding for its social sector. These quotes were taken from the same debate. The paragraph is presented in an HTML `

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In today's world, with over 1.3 billion people living on less than one dollar per day and the fact that 57,000 African children can be fed for a year with just the cost of one combat plane, it is vital that any United Nations reform focuses on enhancing the institutions and programs working towards social issues. This message was delivered by the President

of Colombia and Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, HE Mr. Ernesto Samper Pisano.

The international community should focus its coordinated efforts on eradicating poverty worldwide as the top priority in the coming years. This means that globalization cannot solely rely on using low-cost labor in developing countries, making profitable investments, and taking advantage of specific markets.

President of the Republic of Ecuador, HE Mr. Fabian Alarcon Rivera, believes that globalization has only brought poverty and frustration to immense populations that need coordinated and systematic assistance. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, HE Mr., emphasizes that while undergoing reform, the fundamental goals of enhancing the Organization's ability to foster development and address the root causes of poverty and conflict should not be forgotten. The reform process should not be an excuse for budget slashing or for certain Member States to renege on their financial obligations to the Organization.

Ali Alatas expressed Jamaica's support for efforts to enhance efficiency and streamline the system, while emphasizing that reform should not be equated with cutting costs. Instead, it is about improving performance. The Prime Minister of Jamaica, The Right Honourable Percival James Patterson, stated that the current financial situation is unrelated to the assessment system and can be addressed by timely and complete payments of assessments assigned by the General Assembly to Member States.

Despite the financial crisis faced by the Organization, we must not make decisions that deviate from our shared reform objectives.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico expresses that if taken to an extreme, the logic presented would suggest making Ted Turner a permanent member of the Security Council and granting him veto power. The minister also expresses appreciation

for Mr. Turner's generosity.

Angel Gurria stated that it is unjustifiable for certain countries to pay less than their legally agreed upon share, or to not pay at all. Non-payment is unacceptable, and those who always fulfill their obligations should not be expected to continue funding those who do not. Meanwhile, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway, HE Mr. Bjorn Tore Godal, believes that if the United Nations wishes to be reformed and successful, adequate financing must be a top priority.

The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Uganda, HE The Honourable Iriya Kategaya, urges all Member States to fulfill their financial obligations to the organization without conditions or delay. Likewise, HE Mr. Ali Alatas, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, emphasizes that restructuring should not be used as an excuse by some Member States to evade their financial responsibilities to the UN. Despite concerns regarding funding, organization, and function, it is widely acknowledged that the UN remains the best global platform for communication and conflict resolution among nations. The success of the organization can be seen in areas such as promoting democracy, improving world health standards, disarmament efforts and resolving conflicts within and between nations.

The Millennium Declaration of 2000 established the UN's objectives in peace, security, disarmament, economic development and poverty eradication, environmental protection, and human rights. Despite ongoing discussions concerning its effectiveness, there is still a strong dedication to using the UN as the best platform for global cooperation. The General Assembly embodies international democracy by providing universal representation regardless of size or power. This was mentioned in the same discussion as previous quotes.

According to HE Mr. Alvaro Ramos,

the formulation of decisions of this body must be improved and made more timely due to their significant moral and political impact. Meanwhile, HE Mr. Luiz Felipe Lampreia emphasizes the irreplaceable role of the United Nations in a world where integrative and cooperative forces coexist with disintegrative and aggressive ones. Dealing with global issues such as environmental degradation, violations of human rights, poverty, and new security threats of uncivil society is only possible at the United Nations. While unilateral, bilateral, or regional efforts may be good, they are not enough as these issues require a collective approach.

HE Ms. Tarja Kaarina Halonen, current President of Finland and former Minister for Foreign Affairs, declared that the United Nations is the only organization with a global mandate and legitimacy. The question at hand is whether UN members will unite and support this unique and universal instrument for global action as Kofi Annan urged, or allow it to meet the same fate as the League of Nations.