ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 18, 1996 TAG: 9612190004
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: UNITED NATIONS
SOURCE: Associated Press
The General Assembly appointed Kofi Annan its new chief Tuesday, and the Ghanaian pledged to work for a leaner United Nations while urging members not to allow it to perish from ``indifference, inattention or financial starvation.''
The 185-member General Assembly formally approved the 58-year-old U.N. veteran to succeed Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who was vetoed for a second term by the United States. Washington claimed the Egyptian diplomat was sluggish in pressing for U.N. reform.
Annan, who was chosen Friday by the 15-member Security Council, took his oath of office Tuesday, although his five-year term does not begin until Jan. 1.
During a 90-minute ceremony, the General Assembly also thanked Boutros-Ghali, who received a standing ovation after a farewell speech in which he blamed members, including the United States, for creating a financial crisis that has slowed reform.
Mindful of Washington's demand for reform, Annan urged the United Nations to ``make change our ally, not our enemy to recognize it as a necessity, not an imposition.''
``If all of us in this hall together can make this organization leaner, more efficient and more effective, more responsive to the wishes and needs of its members and more realistic in its goals and commitments, then and only then will we serve both this organization's high purpose and the planet's best interests,'' Annan said.
``But above all, do not let this indispensable, irreplaceable institution wither, languish or perish as a result of member state indifference, inattention or financial starvation.''
Annan, head of U.N. peacekeeping and a veteran U.N. insider, was chosen Friday after France pulled its opposition. France had strongly supported Boutros-Ghali for a second term, then endorsed Foreign Minister Amara Essy of the Ivory Coast in hopes of appointing a secretary-general from French-speaking Africa.
During his speech, Annan, a descendant of African tribal chiefs, also pledged to heal the friction caused by the United States' unilateral campaign against Boutros-Ghali, which began in July.
The Clinton Administration said the Republican-controlled Congress was unlikely to pay the $1.4 billion the United States owes in back dues without a change in U.N. leadership.
In Washington, Princeton Lyman, acting assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs, told reporters Tuesday the Clinton administration is preparing a plan to pay the back dues. But the initial reaction from Capitol Hill suggested there may be some resistance.
Boutros-Ghali offered the following advice to Annan and future secretaries-general: protect your independence.
``The holder of this office must never be seen as acting out of fear of, or in an attempt to curry favor with, one state or group of states,'' he said. ``Should that happen, all prospects for the United Nations would be lost.''
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Annanby CNB