Lack of Democracy in the UN?

The United Nations is currently facing the consequences of an on going power struggle between the more politically and economically powerful countries in the North against those weak in both political and economic terms from the developing South, which have prompted many officials in the international forum to wonder if the institution is actually facing a lack of democratic principles.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who continues to support deputy Mark Malloch Brown for his critical views as far as the United States and the Western political powers are concerned, was interviewed yesterday by a plethora of reporters, in relation to this issue.

He agreed that a lack of democracy trend is sweeping through the institution he chairs, which starts from its inner core, the principle on which the Security Council works, with only five countries to decide everything or oppose everything, using their veto powers:
"I myself have had the chance to say that the U.N., in terms of power structure, is too narrowly based, where most member states believe that five countries call the shots. And some adjustments will have to be made. In fact, in the past, I've even referred to a democracy deficit in the way we govern the United Nations."

Another difficulty is represented by the budget issue, where the US, Japan, Canada and all the 25 EU member states, which pay over 82 percent of the total 3.8 billion dollars 2006-2007 budget, have already imposed a six month spending limit that will end on June 30th. If the budget issue is not resolved by then and no budget is approved, then the UN faces the risk of being closed.

With regard to this issue, the G77 (the largest coalition of developing countries) chairman, Ambassador Dumisani Shadrack Kumalo of South Africa, stated last month: "We thank them for paying 82 percent of the budget, but we are saying that doing so does not entitle them to have a larger voice and to then decide for the rest of the membership, because that goes against the Charter (which lays down the principle of one country, one vote)".