TALKING POINTS: programs/intl_instit/UN21/index.html"> NEXT STEPS FOR A STRONG AND EFFECTIVE U.N.

Ambassador Bolton's May 25 appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee called attention to the window of opportunity to revitalize the United Nations this year. The hearing underscored the great progress that has been made as well as the obstacles to further reform. "What is going to be our strategy?" asked Senator Chuck Hagel. "Is it going to be different, better?" To make the most of this moment, America needs to answer Senator Hagel's critically important questions.  

Use these talking points in speeches, meetings, articles, and other communications to stress the importance of a strong and effective United Nations.

• The threats haven't worked - it's time to try something else.  Imposing a spending cap on the U.N. and threatening a shutdown has only alienated the G-77 countries that we're trying to win over to our side.

• If we're holding up the U.N. budget, we've got to name our terms. To this point, the Bush Administration has not made clear exactly which reforms the U.S. requires in order to remove the U.N. spending cap. Now, some countries won't play ball because they suspect that the U.S. is moving the goalposts on U.N. reform.

• It's time to ramp up the urgency. To capitalize on this opportunity, everyone from the President and the Secretary of State to our ambassadors in capitals around the world should be engaging in the U.N. reform debate. Building a strong and effective U.N. needs to be at the top of our priority list.

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un_minute/minute_050906_hrc_elections.html"> THE LAST MINUTE - HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ELECTIONS:

• The worst abusers were scared off even before elections began

• The elections worked

• Time to roll up our sleeves

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KUDOS TO:

The Better World Campaign for its "Don't Shut Down the United Nations" web site.

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