U.S. policies towards the United Nations and the development of international law over the next two years

Résumé du document

Two years before the presidential elections of 2008, the context of the relations between the United States (U.S.) and the United Nations (U.N) is at a turning point. The new Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, will enter into office on January 1, 2007, and it is likely that he will bring a new dynamic to the organization. The domestic political situation has also changed, as both houses of Congress are now controlled by the Democrats. With the resignation of the U.S. ambassador John Bolton, the Administration has a window of opportunity to recast its policies in alignment with the world body and international law for the remainder of the presidential mandate. In view of this situation, this memo will assesses the direction in which U.S. policies are heading in this time frame, discuss major policy issues that will be significant in this regard, and analyze the policy options of the German Presidency.

Extraits

[...] policies towards the United Nations and the development of international Law over the next two years Two years before the presidential elections of 2008, the context of the relations between the United States (U.S.) and the United Nations (U.N) is at a turning point. The new Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, will enter into office on January and it is likely that he will bring a new dynamic to the organization. The domestic political situation has also changed, now that both houses of Congress are controlled by the Democrats. [...]

[...] It is in the E.U.'s best interest to involve itself much more in the United Nations and to take a unified stance in doing so. The risk however is to dilute the strength of the European voice[1] but it is one of the compromises that need to be made in order to provide a more credible position on international affairs. Indicative bibliography - Codification and Progressive Development of International Water Law: The Work of the International Law Commission of the United Nations par Patricia Wouters (Relié - 31 juillet 1998) - Anglo-Saxonism in U.S. [...]

[...] reforms, among which the reform of the Security Council that the U.S. considers as the most useful tool in multilateral foreign policy and the promotion of the values that it holds dear. The outcome of this reform process will determine the nature of the U.S. involvement in the U.N. in the future: with a world body that it considers more efficient and more accountable, the U.S. will probably increase its participation in the world body. Policy options Maintain and develop stronger transatlantic partnerships In the next two years, the U.S. [...]

[...] The United States has repeatedly resorted to the United Nations Security Council to address all the recent Lebanese crises, including the war with Israel this summer. For years, the United States used unilateral economic sanctions in order to pressure rogue regimes in the Middle East, especially in Syria. This strategy has not paid off and the U.S. is now reconsidering its plans so as to include diplomatic pressure as well. In the next two years, the U.S. will likely increase the pressure on such regimes within the U.N. [...]

[...] presidential candidates in advance of the 2008 elections in order to build a common understanding of the future of the United Nations and affirm the role of the E.U. as a key partner of the U.S. In this process, the European Union cannot afford to be divided and the upcoming meetings Council of the European Union should be an occasion for member states to discuss the unified stance of the E.U. on these issues. Promote a greater involvement of the European Union in the world body The European Union is also at a turning point in its history. [...]