Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi plans to propose a reform of the United Nations at the summit of Group of Eight major powers in Cologne, Germany, which starts Friday, government officials said Tuesday. The move is based on the judgement that reform is necessary as many countries, including Germany, have increased pressure for changes in view of the failure by the UN Security Council to resolve the dispute in Kosovo, the officials said. The prime minister is expected to call on the United Nations to step up its efforts to prevent disputes, according to the officials.
Obuchi is also likely to suggest that the United Nations build up cooperation with regional organizations, such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, so that those organizations can be primarily responsible for solving disputes, the officials said. A review of UN actions, which are taken only in the event of invasions, to enable them to intervene in cases of large-scale human rights abuse will also be proposed, the officials said. The prime minister will also propose that the United Nations review the principle of not interfering in a country's domestic affairs so that it can intervene to prevent domestic disputes such as ethnic conflicts, according to the officials.
In meetings with US President Bill Clinton and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder prior to the summit, Obuchi will also appeal for a reform of the United Nations, the officials said. One reason he wants to make the proposals is that the UN Security Council was unable to play a key role in resolving the disputes in Kosovo because China insisted that it was a domestic problem for Yugoslavia, the officials said. Another reason is that since the United Nations cannot intervene in domestic disputes caused by religious or ethnic conflicts, the prime minister considers it a good opportunity to bring up the problems created by the disputes in Kosovo at the summit.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
