[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 111 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S8928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A MISSTEP BY THE UNITED STATES

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, the United States unfortunately has 
openly opposed a second term for United Nations Secretary-General 
Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
  I have written about this hard-working, effective leader in a column 
that is sent to newspapers in Illinois, and I submit it here to call to 
the attention of my colleagues this policy that has not made us any 
friends.
  The column follows:

                     A Misstep by the United States

                        (By Senator Paul Simon)

       Suppose a local Rotary Club had the community's most 
     wealthy and powerful citizen, Sam Smith, as a member. Imagine 
     that the Rotarians had a dues system that reflected the 
     ability to pay, so that wealthy Sam Smith paid more in dues 
     than any other Rotarian.
       To complicate the story, Sam Smith is far back in the 
     payment of his dues, so far back that the money he owes 
     amounts to almost the total budget of the club for a year.
       The president of the Rotary Club is up for reelection, and 
     most of the members want him reelected, but Mr. Big, Sam 
     Smith, says no.
       How popular do you think Sam Smith would be with the other 
     Rotarians? Would his influence rise or fall? And what will 
     the other Rotarians do in their election of a president?
       The story is true.
       Only the ``club'' is called the United Nations.The wealthy 
     deadbeat member is called Sam, Uncle Sam. Most of the UN 
     members believe that Secretary General Boutros-Ghali is doing 
     a good job, despite being hampered by approximately $1.4 
     billion that the United States owes but has not paid.
       But the United States has made clear that we want to veto 
     his reelection as Secretary-General.
       The other nations, already too often unimpressed by our 
     uncertain leadership in foreign policy, are not pleased with 
     what we are doing, believing it is dictated by domestic 
     political considerations.
       In 1978, President Jimmy Carter designated me as one of the 
     delegates to a two-month session of the Untied Nations, and I 
     have followed the UN and its work with more than casual 
     interest.
       My impression is that overall the United Nations performs a 
     vital service and a good job, not perfect, and that Boutros-
     Ghali has been a hard-working, effective leader--hampered in 
     part by the United States talking to a great game, but not 
     paying our dues.
       Egypt is the home of the Secretary-General, and as an 
     Egyptian he is also an African. Africa sometimes is called 
     ``the dark continent.'' It is more accurately described as 
     the ignored continent.
       One little-known fact is the gradual spread of democracy in 
     Africa, some of them fledgling democracies that deserve more 
     encouragement from the United States and other nations.
       African countries take pride in having Boutros-Ghali as the 
     Secretary-General.
       Our opposition to him is coupled with other realities that 
     they see: President Clinton has never visited Africa. 
     Secretary of State Warren Christopher has not visited any 
     sub-Saharan country since he has been Secretary, compared to 
     24 visits to Syria.
       Our inattention, coupled with our unfortunate open 
     opposition to the reelection of the Secretary-General, has 
     not made us any friends.

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