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'I don't want to step on the President's turf'
Perky Katie Couric recently interviewed Kofi Annan for this morning's "Today" show.First Question - [Ms. Couric] began by asking him if he could convince an American audience that the U.N. is still a relevant and critically important institution. Kofi Annan: Let me say, the U.N., like all organizations has some problems. Difficulties that we need to work out. But when you look at the U.N. as a whole, it is an organization of immense importance to every member state in the world. And recently, you've seen situations where the U.N. has had to step in and help work with the international community to get things done. I think the most the vivid example is in the question of the tsunami. The U.N. had to lead the humanitarian response. We responded quickly. We organized elections in Iraq, in Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories. These are things only the U.N. can do. Second Question - Katie Couric : Are you angry that the United States has not been more supportive of the U.N.? Annan : Not angry but disappointed in the sense that there's a lot that we do together. The U.S. gains a lot by working with other nations through the United Nations. We are not beyond criticism. We welcome constructive criticism. But some of them really have gone beyond the zone of all reasonableness. Finally, Kaite comments: Couric : You literally have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Annan : I do. But not everybody understands that. Lessee - The UN has problems; Couric pokes and prods Annan for some anti-Bolton-Bush-bashing heat; Kofi is misunderstood. That's a wrap Posted by: mrp 2005-06-07 |
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