Bolton Backs Voluntary Donations to Run U.N.
Envoy says such funding would force efficiency. But he is against the U.S. withholding its dues.

By Paul Richter and Maggie Farley
September 29, 2005
Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-bolton29sep29,1,1734134.story?coll=la-headlines-world


WASHINGTON — United Nations Ambassador John Bolton told Congress on Wednesday that U.N. member countries should consider making donations to some of the world body's agencies voluntary — rather than mandatory — to prod the organization into improving its efficiency. 

Although Bolton said the U.N. must show it deserves the money it gets, he told the House International Relations Committee that the U.S. government should not withhold its dues to the U.N. to ensure reforms.

In his first appearance on Capitol Hill since his controversial appointment by President Bush, Bolton acknowledged that the administration did not get everything it wanted in a compromise reform plan adopted by the world body this month. Nevertheless, he said, the plan was an important first step.

Bolton is expected to offer new resolutions at the U.N. to advance management reform, but it is unclear how they will be received by other diplomats.

Arguing for replacement of mandatory funding of U.N. agencies with voluntary support, Bolton noted that many U.N. programs — such as UNICEF, the World Food Program and the U.N. Population Fund — already rely on donations to fund their work.

He quoted a former official of the World Food Program who said that the voluntary funding arrangement ensured that officials at her agency worked hard to be efficient, accountable, transparent and results oriented. 

The comment, from former program executive director Cathy Bertini, was one of the most insightful that I've ever seen, Bolton said. 

Some U.N. officials and advocates for the organization, though, have argued that increasing voluntary funding arrangements would weaken the world body. 

Bolton pledged to press ahead to bring more results-based budgeting and accountability in the U.N. system. However, he said the Bush administration opposed a bill sponsored by Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.), chairman of the International Relations Committee, which would set a timetable for U.N. reform and tie U.S. payment of dues to how much progress is made. 

Bolton said the administration would favor a bill offered by Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Burlingame), the committee's ranking minority member, that would leave withholding of dues to the discretion of the Secretary of State.

Mark Malloch Brown, chief of staff to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, appeared with Bolton at the hearing. He said a committee in the next few weeks would begin work on the reforms called for in the U.N. document adopted this month, starting with a long-overdue housecleaning — culling outdated committees, budget rules and regulations.

Annan's office supports the reform effort, Malloch Brown told the committee, but opposes Hyde's bill. 

The U.S. adopted a similar measure in the mid-1990s and for years withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in U.N. dues.

I fear that this would produce a backlash among other member states, whose effect would be not to advance but to set back the priorities that you and we share, Malloch Brown said. 

Such a step would shatter the pro-reform coalition among U.N. members, he said.

Bolton, a longtime critic of the U.N., has made management reform a top priority since arriving in New York last month. 

Senate Democrats had blocked his appointment to the job, but Bush used a rare recess appointment to install him in the job Aug. 1.

Richter reported from Washington and Farley from the United Nations.