Poor states block key UN reform in divisive vote [View All]

[Eugene]

Poor states block key UN reform in divisive vote

By Evelyn Leopold
Reuters
Friday, April 28, 2006; 9:35 PM

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Developing nations on Friday blocked the centerpiece
of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's management reform plan, a move that could lead
to a cut off of U.N. funds this summer.

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At the insistence of the United States, the assembly in December tied progress
on U.N. management reforms to approval of refinancing the U.N. budget on June 30.

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The showdown marked a power struggle for control of the United Nations between
developing nations, who form a majority of U.N. members and are home to much of the
world's population, and wealthy countries who pay the bills.

The rich countries back a bid by Annan to have more autonomy over U.N. bureaucracy.
But South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, head of a group of 132 developing nations,
fears some of the reform plans mask a power grab by wealthy nations for additional key jobs
in the bureaucracy.

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Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/28/AR2006042801984.html