Secretary-General Welcomes US Report on UN Reform
New York, Jun 15 2005 2:00PM
Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed the release of the final report of the United States Institute for Peace
(USIP) task force on UN Reform and its conclusion that the United States has much to gain from a strong and effective
United Nations.
"He supports many of the recommendations and believes that the task-force's strong commitment to working with other
Member States and the UN staff is the best basis on which to pursue and achieve lasting reform," UN spokesman Fred
Eckhard told reporters.
Mr. Eckhard said that the Secretary-General particularly appreciates the fact that the report recognizes the ongoing
hard work within the Secretariat to tackle internal management reform and is encouraged that it supports and endorses
many of his own key initiatives and proposals for wider institutional reform, including the creation of a Peace-building
Commission, strengthening the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and other accountability mechanisms, and
revitalizing the UN's human rights machinery .
"The Secretary-General also welcomes the report's focus on addressing the crisis in Darfur as a crucial test for both
Member States and the United Nations," Mr. Eckhard said, referring to the troubled region in western Sudan, where for
the past two years, rebels have been waging a war against the Government and its allied militias, resulting in tens of
thousands of deaths and forcing some 2 million people from their homes.
ENDS