Essay/Term paper: United nations reform

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Social Issues

United Nations Reform

Many of the UN's functions and responsibilities have come under weighty
circumstances. For example, the delegation of revenue to it's ramifications and
the standard of which "who" will "maintain" a seat on the security counsil are
two of the main topics. First off, financing the United Nations 15 specialized
agencies, the UN itself, and roughly 9,000 staff members (of which 40% are of
professional grade) with the "Regular Budget" is a problem that continues to be
a major threat to the continuation of the UN for two reasons: Some of the
larger industrial countries, such as the United States and Russia, have been
with-holding a portion of their assessed contribution due to their
dissatisfaction with certain aspects of UN administration. The concern also
exists that since all members must pay in U.S. dollars which are earned strictly
through trade, the United States indirectly causes many developing nations to
fall behind on payments. Secondly, the struggle just to maintain one of the two
year seats on the SC has been a major concern. A yearning for a permanent seat
on the SC has been expressed by many more countries.

The European Union (EU)stated on April 9, 1996 that it feels strongly that the
United States should not collect anything off of the UN because it is not
contributing what it is supposed to. Many third world nations, such as Indonesia
and Chile, are frightened by the attempts at cutting the UN's budget.

Most countries feel Japan deserves a permanent seat on the Security Council.

The UN proposed an elimination of 70 worldwide UN information centers on May
13,1996, With the supporting argument that with our current information
superhighways these centers are becoming antiquated. Nations such as Indonesia
and Chile argue that such cuts are unjust to those who have not been given the "
Technological Gift."

The nation of Japan is going against what would normally be expected of us. We
are not following along in the trail left by the United States in the ongoing
struggle for the United Nations financial reform. Instead we hold ground in that
everyone should pay their assessment. Japan also feels it is imperative for
Japan to recieve a permanent seat on the SC, because it is the second largest
donor dealing with pecuniary items.

Factors that affect Japans present position are the long-standing focus on
economic development, the policy of unilateral pacifism, the large assessment
due to the UN, and sharp splits in public opinion.

The nation of Japan supports with-holding full UN privileges to those nations
which refuse to pay their assessment and/or their pending debts in full. Also,
the nation of Japan feels thatpermanent seating on the Security Council should
be based on assesed contributions as well as former violations of the founding
and framework principles by which the Security Council abides.