SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES UNITED STATES TASK FORCE REPORT ON UN REFORM;

ENCOURAGED BY ENDORSEMENT OF MANY KEY INITIATIVES ALREADY PROPOSED

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the release of the final report of the United States Institute for Peace task force on United Nations Reform and its conclusion that the United States has much to gain from a strong and effective United Nations.

He supports many of the recommendations and believes that the task force’s call for a United States commitment to work with other MemberStates and the United Nations staff is the best basis on which to pursue and achieve lasting reform.

The Secretary-General particularly appreciates the fact that the report recognizes the ongoing hard work within the Secretariat to tackle internal management reform and is encouraged that it supports and endorses many of his own key initiatives and proposals for wider institutional reform, including the creation of a Peacebuilding Commission, strengthening the Office of Internal Oversight Services and other accountability mechanisms, and revitalizing the United Nations’ human rights machinery, including the creation of a new Human Rights Council.  The Secretary-General also welcomes the report’s focus on addressing the crisis in Darfur as a crucial test for both MemberStates and the United Nations.

* *** *