Statement by UN Foundation President Timothy
E. Wirth on the Appointment of John Bolton
as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
WASHINGTON--“The President’s
recent trip to Europe, and Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice’s statements
about the importance of international
cooperation and diplomacy, set the table
for a new U.S. Ambassador to the United
Nations.
“The UN assignment
is a most significant diplomatic challenge
– in fact one of the most important
jobs in the world. And, this important
job has been carried out with high honors
by such skilled and patient diplomats
as John Negroponte, Thomas Pickering,
Madeleine K. Albright, Sen. Jack Danforth,
Richard Holbrooke, and Jeanne Kirkpatrick.
“John Bolton has now
been asked to take on this important diplomatic
assignment. One of the most important
aspects of the job is to help to fashion
the reforms necessary to truly strengthen
the UN, and to garner support from around
the world for these needed reforms.
“In the past, Mr.
Bolton has been tough on the UN; we hope
that if he is confirmed by the Senate,
he will be an advocate for improving the
vital U.S.-UN relationship, and for helping
the UN to achieve its many complex missions,
ranging from global health to advancing
democracy, strengthening human rights
and forging stronger global environmental
standards, caring for refugees and feeding
millions of disaster-stricken people.
“The UN needs the
support of the U.S. both to sustain its
mission, and to reform itself for the
demands of the 21st century.”
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