Disagreement on genocide and disarmament hinders mandate for 21st century

[struggle4progress]

By David Charter and Greg Hurst

A BATTLE is raging for the soul of the United Nations as key nations call into question its role in curbing the spread of weapons and preventing genocide, according to a leaked document obtained by The Times. <snip>

But there are deep divisions over a 35-page declaration of the UN’s aims and principles, the latest draft of which has been seen by The Times. The document shows that frantic behind-the-scenes talks centre on three fundamental areas: <snip>

Arms control. Almost the entire section of Mr Annan’s proposed statement on tackling weapons is under dispute, the document shows, from chemical and nuclear to small arms <snip>

But one section of Mr Annan’s proposed statement that is also still in brackets, signifying that it is under dispute, is the paragraph that “invites” members of the Security Council to give up their veto “in cases of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity”. <snip>

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1770406,00.html

[applegrove]

1. Exactly. We have been fed "fear" of the wrong things.