Thursday, August 25, 2005

Bolton's red pen

For Bolton's editing of the UN reform draft see the background information below.

Here's the original draft (.pdf file).

Here, allegedly, are Bolton's modification comments on the draft.

See Steve Clemons' guest posts at Talking Points Memo.

Huffington Post has some samples of Bolton editing here:

p.1: CUT: "respect for nature"

p. 2: CHANGE: "We understand the critical important role played by major United Nations conferences and summits..."

p. 3: CUT: "corporate responsibility and accountability"

p. 3: CUT: "and urge all states that have not done so to sign, ratify and implement the United Nations Convention Against Corruption"

p. 8: CUT: "Undertake concerted global action to address climate change through meeting all commitments and obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, the UNFCCC and other relevant international agreements, increase energy efficiency, technological innovations, and to initiate negotiations to develop a more inclusive international framework for climate change beyond 2012, with broader participation by both developing and developed countries, taking into account the principle of common but differentiated responsibility."

p.11: CHANGE: "promoting equal opportunity for participation and representation of men and women to participate in government decision making bodies..."

p.23: CUT: "We emphasize the responsibilities of all states, in conformity with the charter to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinctions of any kind, such as to race, colour, sex, language, or religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status."

p. 28: CUT: "We support reform of the Security Council to make it more efficient, transparent and effective."

From the Washington Post today:

U.S. and U.N. diplomats say that Bolton has indicated in face-to-face meetings with foreign delegates that he is prepared to pursue other negotiating options if the current process proves cumbersome.

For example, he has suggested that the entire document could be scrapped and replaced with a brief statement. He also has indicated that the document could be split up by themes, and that nations could choose the ones to support, the diplomats said.

In meetings with foreign delegates, Bolton has expressed concern about a provision of the agreement that urges wealthy countries, including the United States, to contribute 0.7 percent of their gross national product in assistance to poor countries. He has also objected to language that urges nations to observe a moratorium on nuclear testing and to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which the Bush administration opposes.

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