From the UN website: http://www.un.org/News/

Senator Helms address to Security Council prompts vigorous debate.

20 January -- In a first for a United States Senator, Chairman of the US

Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senator Jesse Helms, addressed

members of the UN Security Council this morning sparking off a vigorous

discussion with Council members on the role of the UN and the United

States relations with the world body.

Kofi Annan, Senator Jesse Helms

& Amb. Richard Holbrooke in

Security Council chambers

Speaking in the Council's chamber at UN Headquarters in New York, Senator Helms stressed that the

American people, who last year had contributed over $1.4 billion to the UN system in assessments and

voluntary contributions, expected a reformed organization that worked more efficiently and respected the

sovereignty of the United States.

Senator Helms took issue with those who described the US as a "deadbeat" nation for non-payment of

its UN dues, emphasizing that the United States was the single largest investor in the United Nations and

that the US Congress, as representatives of the American people, had not only the right but the

responsibility, to insist on specific reforms in exchange for their investment.

"To the extent that the UN is effective the American people will support it. To the extent that it becomes

ineffective -- or worse, a burden -- the American people will cast it aside," he said.

Ambassador Holbrooke of the United States, who moderated the discussion in his capacity as the

President of the Council for the month of January, underscored the importance of the meeting as an

historic occasion which provided a venue for a direct exchange of views between a key representative of

the US Congress and delegates from UN Member States.

All members of the Council spoke in response to Senator Helms' address. Many welcomed the

opportunity to engage in a dialogue with the US legislator but at the same time voiced their disagreements

with a number of the points he made in his speech. For example, Senator Helms had called on the UN

not to seek to move beyond its "core tasks," arguing that the American people would not countenance

any attempt by the UN to establish itself as the central authority of a new international order or global

governance. He was reminded that the Security Council was playing a central role in international peace

and security in accordance with the UN Charter, a treaty ratified by the United States.

The Senator was also challenged in his assertion that the US was more effective than the UN in

promoting freedom or that the newly established International Criminal Court claimed sovereignty over

American citizens without their consent. While agreeing with the Senator that the Organization needed to

be reformed to be more effective, some speakers stressed the need for Member States to honour their

obligations by paying their dues without preconditions.

Speakers also welcomed Senator Helms' invitation to Council members to reciprocate his visit and

continue the dialogue in Washington. ____________________________________________

I have sent an email to Sen. Helms office requesting a copy of his entire speech. At the time of this post, I have not heard from his office.

Gray