UN reform plan to be adopted at future summit

Despite deep political differences, the 193 member states of the UN are going to adopt a reform plan in New York on Sunday in the presence of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. According to the plan, the agreement is to be adopted unanimously by the 193 states of the United Nations without a vote.

Ahead of a two-day summit called the United Nations starting at 2:30 pm (8:30 am local time), Russia is causing disruption after months of talks. UN member states were preparing for an attempt by Moscow to force a vote on the so-called future agreement on Sunday, diplomats reported to the German Press Agency.

An empty threat from Russia?

At first it was not clear if it was just an empty threat from Russia. Moscow is notorious at the United Nations for procedural moves that leave states in the dark about its intentions. Despite threats of sanctions, diplomats expected the country to support the painstakingly negotiated compromise. According to diplomats, if Russia asks for a vote, it could be defeated with the necessary majority of votes from the United Nations General Assembly.

The future agreement was negotiated under the leadership of Germany and Namibia. The Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, had called for ambitious reforms of the United Nations and international organizations to make the international community more capable of facing many crises and wars and to make the world fairer.

Scholz will give a speech at the start of the event, as will Secretary General Guterres and Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba. In advance, the classical singer and five-time American Grammy winner Renée Fleming will provide a celebratory setting for the event in the great hall of the UN General Assembly on the East River in Manhattan.

A difficult compromise with a few bright spots

The agreement, which has been painstakingly negotiated since the beginning of the year, includes, among other things, declarations of intent to reform the UN Security Council and requests to change the international financial system to benefit the so-called Global South. . This is also intended to establish a preliminary basis for global regulation of artificial intelligence. The text is also against the arms race in space.

Despite some clear spots, according to diplomats, the current final text falls short of Guterres’ expectations. This can also be seen in the fact that, according to previous plans, the influential veto powers of the US, Russia, China, Great Britain and France simply send their foreign ministers or even their deputies. By the end of the event on Monday night, more than 120 heads of state and government are said to have spoken.

Russia with disturbing trends

When they were working on the contract for the future, diplomats saw Russia in particular as an obstacle. In a move shortly before the planned adoption, Moscow requested an additional paragraph in a move that indirectly reflected parts of the United Nations and the current agreement itself. as useless. Diplomats believe Moscow is unlikely to comply.

Chancellor between the worlds in New York

Chancellor Scholz had already arrived in Manhattan on Saturday and met for the first time that evening for a private dinner with UN chief Guterres at the headquarters of the United Nations.

During his stay in New York, scheduled for Monday evening local time, the SPD politician will meet with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Selenskyj, the head of state of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the head of state of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This is Scholz’s third trip as chancellor to the US East Coast metropolis.

In addition to the appointments at the United Nations, the Chancellor is also expected to visit the Jewish Museum of Manhattan in Manhattan and an exhibition of a German artist at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

Above all, it is eagerly awaited how Scholz behaves during the journey to the results of the state elections in Brandenburg, where a lot is at stake for the chancellor due to the electoral victory of the AfD on the SPD. Scholz wants to give his speech at the future summit a few hours before the first projections.

The UN general debate without a chancellor – but with a foreign minister

Scholz will no longer be in town for the world’s biggest diplomatic meeting, which begins on Tuesday: the annual general debate at the UN General Assembly will continue with speeches by US President Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Zelensky sit almost a week. – Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) will speak for Germany.