Cuban Amb. Calls for Urgent Restructuring of UN for More Fair Representation

Well, its about damn time -- thanks Cuba!

Cuban Ambassador Tasks UN
by Emmanuel Y. Kwache
23 January 2008
AllAfrica

http://allafrica.com/westafrica/

Abuja, Jan 23, 2008 (Leadership/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) - Cuban
Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Elio Savon, has called for urgent restructuring
of the United Nations (UN) so as to have a more fair representation that
could also guarantee an equal voice for the world community.

The ambassador, who spoke exclusively to Leadership insisted that the UN,
particularly, its powerful organ, such as the Security Council, must be
urgently reformed.

He said this would be in line with the current reality of a world that
strongly believes in democracy as the only and best system of governance, as
anything on the contrary would defeat the essence of the body.

He noted that current developments in the world do not in any way support
the present structure of the UN, as such; it must be reorganized to have a
fair representation of the different parts of the world community.

Mr. Savon further noted that democracy must be brought into the UN system,
especially now that the West is at the forefront of promoting democracy
across the world.

"The principles of democracy must be allowed to apply at the UN, especially
at the Security Council" he noted.

He wondered how only five out of 192 members of the UN can override the rest
who are in majority in a world that sees democracy as the only most ideal
system of governance in the world today.

The ambassador then called for a reversal of the present situation where
more powers are vested in the Security Council instead of the General
Assembly that has all member nations with equal voice and voting right.

He then advocated a situation where the General Assembly would be vested
with more powers and a final say on very important issues that affect the
whole world.

"If the General Assembly where you have all members, is given more powers to
do what the Security Council do now, it would be better".

He maintained that the present system has concentrated too much power in few
member states thereby encouraging unilateral actions against fellow
sovereign nations.

He cited the continuous economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed
against Cuba by the US, despite disapproval by majority of members of the
UN, and the invasion of Iraq as few examples of the defect in the current
system.

Since 1992, the UN member states have voted against the US blockade of Cuba,
yet the sanction has remained in force.

At the last summit of the world body, 184 countries out of the 192 of the
entire membership voted against US continuous blockade of Cuba's economic
and commercial interests, yet the blockade has remained in force.

Ambassador Savon however noted that despite the shortcomings, the UN remains
the best in the world presently as such must be supported.

He noted that the UN's various interventions in conflict areas makes the
organisation relevant to the world, and most commendable.

The Cuban diplomat also told Leadership that his country would support
Africa's quest to have a representation on the Security Council, but
declined comment on which of the continent's nation is most qualified to
represent the region.

with right-wing Presidential operatives and loons from the C.A.N.F. wheedling, disinforming, threatening, and arm-twisting any country vulnerable to U.S. pressure.

So glad to see Cuba doesn't grovel. Absolutely admirable.