by Nicasio Angelo Agustin
I received reactions from two individuals on my previous article “UN: Unfair Negotiators”. The comments highlighted a lot of important insights on the nature and dynamics of the UN as a collegial body and the significant role any country plays to ensure the success of any global or international treaty or agreement. The first reaction came from a colleague and a friend who is now based in Kampala, Uganda as a programme specialist of the UNDP. The other note came from my former student at the UP Mindanao. Let me share their notes in full:
“The disappointment with regards to the lack of a common agreement pervades in all sectors of societies. As you rightly pointed out, the UN is a conglomeration of nations and coming to an agreement on a course of action can only be achieved in a number of ways some of which are indicated in the fourth paragraph of your note. While principles of cooperation and complementation working towards the achievement of peace, harmony, and unity is very much valued, the reality is that individual country interests prevail and geo-politics and maintenance of alliances is more of the norm rather than the exception.
“One should differentiate the UN Secretariat from the UN body that is comprised of member states. I believe the UN Secretariat did a wonderful thing of bringing all the member states together to debate on an issue of critical importance to us all. That is its task and it has done so successfully in allowing all quarters to be heard. The disappointment with regards to the absence of a consensus on a binding document can only be levied on the member states.
“Going beyond the blame game, so what if there is no binding document? If countries are committed towards ensuring that its children inherit a world that would allow them to provide for their needs and that of future generations, we should start now. We do not need the US or any superpower for that matter to spur us into action on what is right and good for us and our children. We should be challenged to act and not to continue the finger pointing on who did (or did not do) what. We should cease thinking on what should be and waiting for others to act before we act ourselves. It is on this aspect that the UN Secretariat and its specialized agencies are doing its utmost – to spur people and countries to act irregardless of the outcome of the COP 15 because it is the right thing to do.
“There is still a need and the ideal for a United Nations – and its role could not be more important at this point of our history. Like a family, a sibling can only mediate on the quarrel between his/her two other siblings. One can only try to convince and persuade one or the other to concur with the position of what is perceived to be an agreeable position but one cannot coerce.
“The UN is us. It is what we make it.”
As for the second reaction, it says: “I believe we should always set the bar high, for the UN and more importantly, for ourselves. The world isn’t changed for the better by negotiators and compromisers. It’s changed by visionaries who make things happen.”
Feel free to send your comments to nic_agustin@yahoo.com.
