11 February 2002
Fighting Terror Must Be Key Focus for U.S., U.N., Negroponte Says
(Ambassador cites united world view on the issue) (910)
By Ralph Dannheisser
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- The United States and the United Nations may have a host
of other challenges to deal with, but the fight against terrorism must
rank first, the U.S. representative to the world organization says.
The objective must be to have history record that "global terrorism
had its back broken in the early years of the 21st Century. That is
our priority, and I'm confident that we'll get it done," Ambassador
John Negroponte said February 11 in a speech at the Heritage
Foundation.
"If we don't defeat global terrorism, we cannot prevail in promoting
free trade, economic growth, human rights and democracy worldwide," to
told his noontime audience.
Negroponte's talk to the conservative research and educational
institution was his first in Washington since taking over the post of
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations last September,
just days after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon.
The ambassador stressed that U.N. support in the wake of those attacks
was swift and deep. "This was no instance where the United States had
to lobby for votes.... Humanity was appalled, solidarity was
complete," he said.
Among the reasons, he said, was worldwide esteem for what New York
represents. "The world loves New York... It loved New York before
September 11 and it loves New York even more afterward," he said. "I
make this point because I don't think we should be on the defensive
about worldwide anti-Americanism, and New York is one big reason why
not."
Now that their nation has been freed from the grip of al-Qaida and the
Taliban, Negroponte said, the United States and the international
community have "an enormous obligation not to leave the people of
Afghanistan in the lurch -- to not walk away, as has been done in the
past."
Continuing efforts must include provision of emergency humanitarian
aid, and support for full restoration of a legitimate government. "We
do not wish to determine who rules Afghanistan in peace. That is for
the Afghans to decide," he said.
Negroponte added that the problem of providing long-term security for
Afghanistan "is a serious one," and noted that President Bush has
committed the United States to help with training for the Afghan army.
And he cited the need for continuing financial assistance, noting
favorably the work of a fundraising conference just held in Tokyo at
which some $4,500 million in aid was pledged -- including $297 million
in the current year by the United States.
Negroponte rejected the frequently heard argument that terrorism is
bred in poverty, "that poverty is its root cause and conveyor belt."
While there are many good and compelling reasons to work to improve
the lot of the developing world -- and while the United States is, in
fact, doing so -- the linkage with terrorist activity is faulty, he
contended.
"The fact is that the man who led al Qaida was fabulously wealthy,"
and indeed "terrorism as we have known it over the last 40 years has
not been a poor man's game," he declared. Nor do people "suddenly lose
their moral compass because they are poor," he added.
Negroponte called for continuing, concerted efforts to cut off the
terrorists' money supply, because, he said, "without money global
terrorism possesses neither wings nor weapons."
In a wide-ranging question-and-answer session, Negroponte was asked
how the United States should deal with Syria -- listed by this country
as a state sponsor of terrorism, but now also a new member of the U.N.
Security Council.
"The short answer to that question would be, 'Carefully'," he said.
"We will be watching their behavior on the council very carefully,"
Negroponte added. "We certainly plan to engage them constructively
where we can," he said, while acknowledging he is "under no illusions
that we won't encounter some challenges and some bumps in the road
ahead."
Asked about prospects for the global terrorism convention in
development, Negroponte reported slow progress. He said the United
States will stick to its firm position on two issues: that military
personnel should not be covered by the convention but rather continue
to operate under the rules of war, and that so-called liberation
movements must not be exempted.
He linked the outcome to "significant progress in the Middle East
peace process," and concluded, "I am not optimistic that we are going
to come to closure any time soon on this convention."
As for a perception of waning influence by the United States in the
United Nations structure, Negroponte said he is "not sure that press
stories ... are correct" in projecting the impending loss of the
directorship of the World Food Program. The United States is actively
putting forth a candidate, and "we hope and expect that his candidacy
will receive every consideration," he said.
And, Negroponte said, the United States hopes to regain a seat on the
U.N. Commission on Human Rights -- where it lost its spot last year --
next time positions are filled. Toward this end, he said, the strategy
will be to avoid an election by trying to assure that there are only
as many candidates as there are open seats.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
