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Coleman says he'll be part of U.N. delegation
By FREDERIC J. FROMMER
Duluth News Tribune, MN
Sept 7 2006
WASHINGTON - Sen. Norm Coleman, a fierce critic of the United Nations,
said Thursday that the White House has appointed him to serve as a
congressional delegate to the world body.
The White House declined to comment, saying it hasn't officially made
the appointments yet. Amy Call, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority
Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., confirmed that Frist recommended Coleman
to the White House.
Coleman said that he and a Democratic lawmaker he declined to
identify will represent Congress as part of the U.S. delegation,
starting later this month.
In congressional investigations, Coleman found abuses in the U.N.'s
oil-for-food program, which was aimed at allowing the Iraqi government
under Saddam Hussein to sell oil for humanitarian goods.
Coleman has called on U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to resign
over the program.
But Coleman said he might meet with Annan as a U.S. representative.
"It's not personal," he said. "... My concerns are not personal
concerns. They are concerns about the ability of the U.N. to be
effective in dealing with the situation in Lebanon, with Iran, in
Darfur, with North Korea."
Coleman argued that his criticism of the U.N. makes him the right
person to serve as a delegate.
"Everything I've done with the United Nations has not been to bring it
down, but to strengthen it," he said. "I would hope that the passion I
have for an effective United Nations puts me in position to be a voice
for reform. That's what I've articulated, that's what I've pushed. In
doing so, sometimes you have to call things as you see them."
Coleman said that he would focus on U.N. policy in Lebanon, Iran
and Darfur. Sudan recently launched a new military offensive against
rebels in Darfur, stoking fears of a humanitarian crisis. Some 200,000
people have died there and several million displaced since 2003.
Last week, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution that would
give the United Nations authority over peacekeepers in Darfur as soon
as Sudan's government gives its consent - which it has so far refused
to do.
"We're pushing for an international presence to deal with the situation
in Darfur," Coleman said. "One of the problems we've had there is
the Chinese. I anticipate meeting with the Chinese officials when
I'm there to reiterate the call for a greater China cooperation in
dealing with the situation in Darfur."
Brenden Varma, a spokesman Annan, said it was up the United States
to choose who would serves in its delegation.
"We look forward to working with all of the delegations," Varma said,
adding, "We're always open to criticism of the U.N."
Also Thursday, Coleman voted against the nomination of career
diplomat Richard Hoagland to be ambassador to Armenia, citing the
Bush administration's refusal to classify the deaths of 1.5 million
Armenians in 1915 as "genocide."
Coleman was the only Republican to vote against the nomination in
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which approved Hoagland's
selection on a 13-5 vote. The nomination now goes to the full Senate
for a final vote.
At his June 28 confirmation hearing, Hoagland declined to use the
word genocide to describe the 1915 killings, which occurred during
the waning days of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey strongly objects to any such characterization. U.S.
policy-makers are wary of antagonizing Turkey, an important NATO ally.
"While I do not doubt Mr. Hoagland's abilities, the State Department's
continued refusal to acknowledge the mass killings of Armenians in
1915 as genocide gave me no choice but to vote against this nominee,"
Coleman said. "...History must be remembered for it was, not for what
we would like it to be."
(AP)
By FREDERIC J. FROMMER
Duluth News Tribune, MN
Sept 7 2006
WASHINGTON - Sen. Norm Coleman, a fierce critic of the United Nations,
said Thursday that the White House has appointed him to serve as a
congressional delegate to the world body.
The White House declined to comment, saying it hasn't officially made
the appointments yet. Amy Call, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority
Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., confirmed that Frist recommended Coleman
to the White House.
Coleman said that he and a Democratic lawmaker he declined to
identify will represent Congress as part of the U.S. delegation,
starting later this month.
In congressional investigations, Coleman found abuses in the U.N.'s
oil-for-food program, which was aimed at allowing the Iraqi government
under Saddam Hussein to sell oil for humanitarian goods.
Coleman has called on U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to resign
over the program.
But Coleman said he might meet with Annan as a U.S. representative.
"It's not personal," he said. "... My concerns are not personal
concerns. They are concerns about the ability of the U.N. to be
effective in dealing with the situation in Lebanon, with Iran, in
Darfur, with North Korea."
Coleman argued that his criticism of the U.N. makes him the right
person to serve as a delegate.
"Everything I've done with the United Nations has not been to bring it
down, but to strengthen it," he said. "I would hope that the passion I
have for an effective United Nations puts me in position to be a voice
for reform. That's what I've articulated, that's what I've pushed. In
doing so, sometimes you have to call things as you see them."
Coleman said that he would focus on U.N. policy in Lebanon, Iran
and Darfur. Sudan recently launched a new military offensive against
rebels in Darfur, stoking fears of a humanitarian crisis. Some 200,000
people have died there and several million displaced since 2003.
Last week, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution that would
give the United Nations authority over peacekeepers in Darfur as soon
as Sudan's government gives its consent - which it has so far refused
to do.
"We're pushing for an international presence to deal with the situation
in Darfur," Coleman said. "One of the problems we've had there is
the Chinese. I anticipate meeting with the Chinese officials when
I'm there to reiterate the call for a greater China cooperation in
dealing with the situation in Darfur."
Brenden Varma, a spokesman Annan, said it was up the United States
to choose who would serves in its delegation.
"We look forward to working with all of the delegations," Varma said,
adding, "We're always open to criticism of the U.N."
Also Thursday, Coleman voted against the nomination of career
diplomat Richard Hoagland to be ambassador to Armenia, citing the
Bush administration's refusal to classify the deaths of 1.5 million
Armenians in 1915 as "genocide."
Coleman was the only Republican to vote against the nomination in
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which approved Hoagland's
selection on a 13-5 vote. The nomination now goes to the full Senate
for a final vote.
At his June 28 confirmation hearing, Hoagland declined to use the
word genocide to describe the 1915 killings, which occurred during
the waning days of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey strongly objects to any such characterization. U.S.
policy-makers are wary of antagonizing Turkey, an important NATO ally.
"While I do not doubt Mr. Hoagland's abilities, the State Department's
continued refusal to acknowledge the mass killings of Armenians in
1915 as genocide gave me no choice but to vote against this nominee,"
Coleman said. "...History must be remembered for it was, not for what
we would like it to be."
(AP)