Originally issued as a CGS press release on March 16, 2005.
Citizens for Global Solutions Members Come together to Champion UN Reform
Citizens for Global Solutions has launched the stopbolton.org website to support constructive U.S. engagement at the United Nations. Members of Citizens for Global Solutions across the country responded overwhelmingly to the need for a campaign to promote a positive U.S.-UN relationship, call for UN reform and argue that John Bolton is not the right person to carry forward the administration’s UN reform agenda.
“While the United Nations needs to be better equipped so that it can meet the challenges of the 21st century, John Bolton is not the right person to spearhead this critical reform effort,” said Don Kraus, Vice-President of Citizens for Global Solutions. “Bolton has proven himself to be a divisive diplomat, with a track record of breaking bonds rather than creating coalitions. He has long argued that ‘there is no such thing as the United Nations… [but merely] an international community that occasionally can be led by… the United States when it suits our interest.’ He is the poster child for much of what our friends and allies feel is wrong with U.S. foreign policy.” (See stopbolton.org for video clip of his speech from February 1994, Global Structures Convocation).
With America currently engaged in spreading democracy throughout Afghanistan and Iraq, conducting tsunami relief in Southeast Asia, and combating terrorism globally, the need for a productive U.S.-UN relationship has never been greater. Bolton’s negative opinions of the UN could prove disastrous for American national security interests and become a barrier to achieving vital reform at the UN.
“Unfortunately, John Bolton’s position on the UN is all too clear. He would rather retire the UN than reform it. His presence at the United Nations would exacerbate America’s isolation at a critical time when our national security interests are closely linked to those of our allies and friends,” said Charles J. Brown, President and CEO of Citizens for Global Solutions.
To join the campaign for true UN reform, please visit stopbolton.com.
