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American Morning

United States Loses Seat on Another U.N. Commission

Aired May 08, 2001 - 10:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Still on the topic of diplomacy and deal-making, the U.S. has suffered another blow to its world standing, losing a seat on a second key body at the United Nations. CNN's senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth joins us with what this means in both substance and symbolism -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Leon, the U.S. flag came up the flagpoles this morning outside the U.N. The United States is still a member of the United Nations. To some Americans, perhaps there is some concern about that because for the second time, the U.S. was voted off a key U.N. organ. This time, a secret vote, which occurred on the same day the U.S. was eliminated from consideration for a post on the U.N. Human Rights Commission, the United States did not win reelection to the United Nation International Drug Control Board.

The state department says there's something going on there, but they don't want to with able to say right now what's happening. They think there's something happening. Thus, more disappointment for the U.S. State Department.

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RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: Our candidate was Herbert S. Okun, former ambassador, very well-known in U.N. circles. But he was not reelected to the board. That we find very regrettable. We intend to continue our engagement on the international narcotics issues. We will continue cooperation with and strong support for the U.N. international drug control program as well as with the International Narcotics Control Board.

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ROTH: Now, the United States lost in the first round of voting for the drug control board seat. Twenty-five countries, this time, were competing for five seats. Some diplomats said, same problem as the human rights vote: too many European countries vying for too few seats. Others complaining that the United States does not do enough to do backroom deals and negotiating.

The U.S. currently has no ambassador in place. Ambassador Negroponti, designate by the Bush administration, his nomination has not even been sent up to Capitol Hill. The U.S., yes a loss of prestige. Many countries using the secret ballot to definitely send a message in opposition to an array of policies -- Leon.

HARRIS: The message is still being interpreted, no doubt, Richard, but can you give us a better idea of what is at foot here? Is this Happening all of a sudden? Is it some sort of anti- Americanism that is building there? Is it something about the administration dropping the ball? What's going on there?

ROTH: Well, each country has a great chance, with the secret ballot, to make a case. There is the global warming treaty, which the Bush administration has backed away from. There's the United States, to some countries, lecturing them on human rights while at the same time still being one of the few countries in the world advocating the death penalty.

There's just a large range of issues: landmine treaties, the failure of the United States to pay back dues and dragging the organization through that. Though as one official said, the U.S. doesn't really need the U.N. as much as the U.N. needs the U.S. The message has been sent. The U.N. officials here are saying don't blame us. These are fellow countries, and in some cases, European countries nominally allies of the United States.

HARRIS: That was the other question I was going to ask you. What of the allies here? As I recall, I think Secretary Powell was saying last week that they had thought they had enough hands in -- votes in hand, if you will, going into that human rights commission vote and including the allies, their allies, amongst those votes in hand, and they just seemed to evaporate.

ROTH: Well, they call the faithless 14 the State Department, but there were more European countries on the human rights votes up for seats. There were four, and you had to pick three. Normally, a deal is done behind the scenes ahead of time, and thus, a country such as Sudan or Libya, whoever wants to vote, just has three Western European, including the U.S., countries to vote on. So, they don't have a chance to vote on the U.S.

This time, there were four on the human rights question: France; Sweden; Austria, which some say has its own human rights political party questions, and the U.S. So, the U.S. didn't have a chance there. Herb Okun was the vice president of the drug control board and had two five-year terms. He's been the public spokesman for the drug control board, and he did not win a third election here.

HARRIS: All right, thanks much. Richard Roth at the U.N. this morning. We'll continue to follow this story. Thanks much.

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