USA: U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan says the world needs U.S. leadership, argues Iran and Syria need to play a role in Iraq solution

Kofi Annan, nearing the end of his tenure as U.N. secretary-general, urged the United States on Monday (December 11) to shun its go-it-alone-stance and take a leadership role in the international community. In an address to be delivered at Harry Truman's presidential library in Independence, Missouri, Annan praised the 33rd U.S. president, in office from 1945 to 1953, as a model for American action in today's world. "None of our global institutions can accomplish much when the U.S. remains aloof. But when it is fully engaged, the sky's the limit." During his two five-year terms as U.N. leader, Annan has tangled often with President George W. Bush's administration, particularly over the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, launched without a green light from the U.N. Security Council. Bush administration officials have argued Washington should use the United Nations only to serve its national interests. "More than ever today Americans, like the rest of humanity, need a functioning global system through which the world's peoples can face global challenges together," Annan said. "And in order to function, the system still cries out for far-sighted American leadership, in the Truman tradition." The speech was released to the media ahead of the speech and many believed Annan was using the speech to strike back at the Bush Administration. Annan said nothing could be further from the truth. "I think anyone who listen to me or reads this speech simply honestly and sincerely cannot draw that conclusion." "We need U.S. leadership, the U.S. has provided that leadership in the past and our world is in a sorer state. We have lots of problems around the world and we require the natural leadership role the U.S. has played in the past and can play today. And so to appeal for cooperation and leadership should never be seen as an attack," he added. As Washington reviews its policies in Iraq, Annan has pushed for greater involvement by Syria and Iran. "It is important to talk to everyone who is in a position to influence a solution, including Iran an Syria. We should make them part of the solution and we should make them responsible by pulling them in to work with the international community and tell them what the international community expects of them. I don't think either country wants to remain isolated forever and to make them responsible and to pull them in to work with you I think it would be in everyone's interest. We should also not forget that getting Iraq right is not only in the interest of the U.S. and the broader international community but even more so for the country in the region," he said. Annan steps down at the end of the month, to be succeeded by Ban Ki-Moon of South Korea. SPEECHES

ITN Source | December 12, 2006

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