GOP supports Bolton threat

Congressional Republicans said they support Ambassador John R. Bolton’s threat to block the U.N. budget unless it adopts reforms, and they are ready to back him up if changes aren’t made.

“Whatever it takes,” said Rep. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican. “We desperately need to reform that body.”

U.N. budgets are usually adopted by consensus, and Mr. Bolton has said he will not agree to a budget unless the United Nations overhauls its operations by creating an ethics office and increasing oversight of U.N. activities. Still, there is nothing in the U.N. Charter that would prevent a General Assembly vote, and Mr. Bolton would be hard-pressed to win majority support.

Should Mr. Bolton be foiled, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Republican, will see what Congress can do to give Mr. Bolton extra tools to force reform, said Frist spokeswoman Amy Call.

“As Frist understands it, Bolton is not trying to shut the U.N. down, but simply spur it into action so that it can be a more effective institution,” she said. “If the U.N. doesn’t take action, we anticipate the Congress will increasingly involve itself in this issue as well.”

In June, the House passed a bill that would withhold half of the United States’ annual dues unless the United Nations takes 46 specific steps. The administration would have to certify that the United Nations met those demands by 2008 or half the U.S. dues, which make up 22 percent of the United Nations’ operating budget, would be withheld.

The House vote was 221-184, with even opponents saying they wanted reform but didn’t want to tie the administration’s hands.

Yesterday, Rep. Tom Lantos of California, the top Democrat on the International Relations Committee, said reforms are critical but Mr. Bolton might be going about it the wrong way.

“I continue to believe that the only way that this reform can be achieved is with the support of other reform-minded countries at the U.N. If Ambassador Bolton’s approach is dividing that critical coalition, he should consider changing course,” Mr. Lantos said.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, agreed.

“We are all in favor of reforming the U.N., but bullying from Bolton isn’t going to get the job done. We need a steady diplomatic campaign and a lot of high-level help from the president and the secretary of state, not bluster and threats,” said spokeswoman Rebecca Kirszner.

But Republican support for Mr. Bolton was broad.

“We need to take a pretty hard line with the U.N. on these reforms, and I’m in agreement with that,” said Rep. Jim Kolbe, Arizona Republican and chairman of the House Appropriations foreign operations, export financing and related programs subcommittee. He said the United Nations has moved on some reforms, but it hasn’t been enough.

Sen. Norm Coleman, Minnesota Republican and the man who has led the Senate’s investigation into the U.N. oil-for-food program, said the United Nations needs a nudge after failing to agree on reforms during the September World Summit and the fall General Assembly session.

“I strongly support Ambassador Bolton’s position that the U.N. should not adopt a two-year budget before reforms are made,” he said.

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