UN: Exploiting present global cooperation
The annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) is probably the organization’s finest hour; a rare occasion when the UN Secretary General stands behind his desk on a higher pedestal and every leaders of every nation walks up to him and shake his hand, looking up – a ritual that even […]
The annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) is probably the organization’s finest hour; a rare occasion when the UN Secretary General stands behind his desk on a higher pedestal and every leaders of every nation walks up to him and shake his hand, looking up – a ritual that even a US president must observe. Yet they keep coming every year, and they had always been coming right from the inception of the organization after the Second World War in 1945. Why do they always come? All leaders gather under the same roof. All cameras and microphones from around the world turn in that direction. All eyes listen to glean twists and turns in national policies from statements made by heads of states and government from UN podium. All leaders air their views to nations that ordinarily won’t pay attention. Most leaders find time to hold private meetings away from the halls of the UN in order and strengthen partnership and reach agreements.
And the past years had seen changes to how the UNGA podium is used. Once upon a time, US delegates would stand to speak and their USSR counterparts would take the opportunity to doze off or stage a walk-out. Fiery speeches from either side often had East-West colouration. The likes of Cuba’s former leader, Fidel Castor, would chant anti-American slogans. In turn, the Americans and their allies would shout ‘down to communists.’ African leaders perpetually spoke against colonialism. They chanted anti-imperialist and anti-apartheid songs. Things have changed since the early 1990s, even leadership has recently changed hands in America – one good reason leaders that came to the 2009 UNGA meeting are extending air of friendship in all directions.
More than one hundred leaders attended the September meeting. More than two dozen leaders climbed the podium. One of the things the UNGA meeting focused on is climate change and the need for leaders to cooperate ahead of the Copenhagen 2009 meeting where agreements on how to cut global emissions have to be signed – a needed replacement to the Kyoto Accord that will expire in 2012. US President Barack Obama has said America is now ready to fully cooperate. Almost all other leaders agree to come along on the climate change issue including the Chinese leader, the Australian prime minister as well as the Russians.
Tunji Ajibade,lives in Abuja