Ambassador John Bolton resigns UN post

UNITED NATIONS – When US Ambassador John Bolton took over the presidency of the UN Security Council in February, he started meetings promptly at 10 am even if some seats were empty and kept a list of latecomers – not the usual diplomatic behaviour.

For Bolton, the fine points of diplomacy took a back seat to his aggressive pursuit of President George W Bush’s global agenda, which ranged from pressing for sanctions against North Korea and Iran to installing UN peacekeepers in conflict-wracked Darfur, and to overhauling the 61-year-old United Nations to meet 21st century challenges. He arrived at the United Nations in August 2005, a controversial figure appointed by Bush during a Congressional recess because he twice failed to be confirmed by the US Senate.He resigned Monday, a still controversial figure admired for trying to promote US foreign policy, for being a skilled negotiator which he learned as a lawyer, and for making the 15-member council more punctual – but not for his style.Tanzania’s UN Ambassador Augustine Mahiga called Bolton’s approach “sometimes abrasive” and “too rigid” which provoked “unnecessary controversies” and made compromise and consensus difficult.UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose strained relations with Bolton were no secret, reacted coolly to his resignation, saying he “did the job he was expected to do.”Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown, the target of stinging criticism from Bolton, made his delight clear telling reporters seeking reaction: “No comment – and you can say he said it with a smile.”In June, Bolton accused Malloch Brown of making “a very, very grave mistake” by criticising the United States for its policy of “stealth diplomacy” – relying on the UN for many things but refusing to defend the organisation to Americans.In September, Bolton charged that Malloch Brown had brought “great discredit” to the UN for criticising US and British diplomacy over Darfur.Mahiga said Bolton “raised red flags” soon after his arrival when he proposed over 40 amendments to the draft text of a declaration to be issued by world leaders at the September 2005 UN summit, “almost overlooking entirely the millennium development goals.”The goals, which are a top priority for the developing world, include cutting extreme poverty by half and ensuring universal primary education by 2015.Fortunately, Mahiga said, Bush reaffirmed the US commitment to the goals in his speech to the summit “but that took a lot of time, and that set the tone of future relations between the members of the United Nations and Mr Bolton.”Nampa-APHe arrived at the United Nations in August 2005, a controversial figure appointed by Bush during a Congressional recess because he twice failed to be confirmed by the US Senate.He resigned Monday, a still controversial figure admired for trying to promote US foreign policy, for being a skilled negotiator which he learned as a lawyer, and for making the 15-member council more punctual – but not for his style.Tanzania’s UN Ambassador Augustine Mahiga called Bolton’s approach “sometimes abrasive” and “too rigid” which provoked “unnecessary controversies” and made compromise and consensus difficult.UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose strained relations with Bolton were no secret, reacted coolly to his resignation, saying he “did the job he was expected to do.”Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown, the target of stinging criticism from Bolton, made his delight clear telling reporters seeking reaction: “No comment – and you can say he said it with a smile.”In June, Bolton accused Malloch Brown of making “a very, very grave mistake” by criticising the United States for its policy of “stealth diplomacy” – relying on the UN for many things but refusing to defend the organisation to Americans.In September, Bolton charged that Malloch Brown had brought “great discredit” to the UN for criticising US and British diplomacy over Darfur.Mahiga said Bolton “raised red flags” soon after his arrival when he proposed over 40 amendments to the draft text of a declaration to be issued by world leaders at the September 2005 UN summit, “almost overlooking entirely the millennium development goals.”The goals, which are a top priority for the developing world, include cutting extreme poverty by half and ensuring universal primary education by 2015.Fortunately, Mahiga said, Bush reaffirmed the US commitment to the goals in his speech to the summit “but that took a lot of time, and that set the tone of future relations between the members of the United Nations and Mr Bolton.”Nampa-AP