John Bolton's Work at the UN
SANCTIONS
Ambassador Bolton worked closely with Security Council colleagues to create a new partnership with Interpol to strengthen sanctions against al-Qaida.
Ambassador Bolton led the adoption of sanctions by the Security Council against individuals contributing to the genocide in Darfur.
Ambassador Bolton has helped President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf promote democracy in Liberia by revising and lifting sanctions imposed during the brutal reign of Charles Taylor.
SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION
Burma
Ambassador Bolton raised the issue of Burma in the UN Security Council and negotiated for the Council to receive briefings by UN Under Secretary General Gambari on the deteriorating political and social situation in the region.
Burundi
Ambassador Bolton led Security Council efforts to draw down the peacekeeping operation in Burundi after a successful transition (ONUB is scheduled to close at the end of 2006).
Congo
Ambassador Bolton and the Security Council provided the peacekeeping mission in the Congo, MONUC, with resources and temporary police and troop increases to support Congo's first democratic elections in 40 years.
Ethiopia/Eritrea
Ambassador Bolton and the Security Council condemned restrictions placed on the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) by the Government of Eritrea as well as the Ethiopian refusal to demarcate the border. Ambassador Bolton led the Security Council in an authorization to downsize the UNMEE peacekeeping force from approximately 3,300 troops to 2,300 troops in response to the situation on the ground in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Iran
Ambassador Bolton worked with colleagues to negotiate a formal Security Council statement calling on Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment activities and to request follow up reports from the IAEA on Iranian compliance.
Liberia
Ambassador Bolton led the Security Council in the adoption of resolutions to establish a mandate to arrest Charles Taylor should he return to Liberia, to facilitate his transfer to the Special Court for Sierra Leone for prosecution, and to ensure peaceful presidential elections in Liberia.
North Korea
Ambassador Bolton, in partnership with the Japanese, led Security Council efforts to take a firm and clear stand against North Korean missile launches with the adoption of resolution 1695. This resolution is the strongest statement of condemnation the Security Council has made against North Korea in over 10 years and received unanimous support,
even from China and Russia.
Sudan
Ambassador Bolton led the Security Council in authorizing the Secretary General to begin contingency planning for the transition of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to a UN operation. Ambassador Bolton negotiated with Security Council members to permit the entry of a
joint African Union-UN assessment team to Darfur through a Chapter VII Security Council resolution.
Syria and Lebanon
Ambassador Bolton worked to adopt Chapter VII measures such as travel restrictions and the freezing of assets that would sanction individuals designated by the UN International Independent Commission (UNIIIC) as suspected of involvement in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Subsequently, the Security Council established a tribunal of an international character to try those involved in the terrorist bombing.
MANAGEMENT REFORM
Ambassador Bolton achieved consensus agreement on the World Summit Outcome Document, which was adopted by Heads of State in the General Assembly and included commitments to reform management of the UN through improving oversight, updating the United Nations program of work, and reforming human resources management.
Ambassador Bolton worked to reach consensus agreement to limit UN regular budget spending to $950 million for the biennium 2006 - 2007 (approximately six months) to provide an impetus for further discussions on UN reform.
Ambassador Bolton created a 50-member coalition of Member States in support of management reform (that in total fund 87 percent of the UN regular budget) during negotiations on a draft resolution tabled by the Group of 77 and China. The resolution was ultimately put to an unprecedented vote in the Fifth Committee and the coalition remained united in voting against the resolution.
Ambassador Bolton negotiated consensus resolutions on management reform that were adopted by the General Assembly:
- to create an Ethics Office;
- to strengthen internal oversight through the provision of additional resources;
- to adopt International Public Sector Accounting Standards;
- to decide to replace the current, outdated information technology system;
- to establish a Chief Information Technology Officer;
- to provide greater discretion for the Secretary-General in implementing the budget.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Ambassador Bolton supported the efforts of the Democracy Fund, launched at the UN by President Bush in September 2005. The U.S. has pledged $17.9 million to the fund, which promotes democracy via projects to strengthen institutions and facilitate democratic governance.
Ambassador Bolton led a successful negotiation to create the Peacebuilding Commission, designed to advise on next steps to assist post-conflict theatres so as to consolidate measures toward stability and development.
To enhance the UN's humanitarian coordination, Ambassador Bolton worked to increase efficiency and accountability by agreeing to a "cluster approach," designating a lead agency for each sector of humanitarian activity. The approach is currently being piloted in four crisis situations, and it has prompted significant streamlining among UN operational agencies.
Ambassador Bolton participated in a High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS (in a delegation led by First Lady Laura Bush), which adopted a strong political declaration and suggested measures for more medical testing in heavily inflicted societies.
