Revitalizing the UN

(MENAFN- Arab News) The United Nations is all set to mark its 70th anniversary. Keeping in view the current situation of the world the UN needs to revisit its policies and properly assess its role in global affairs. I started reading the article 'Time to strengthen UN' (Aug. 22) by Jeffry D. Sachs hoping that the writer might suggest measures to revitalize the role of the UN by highlighting its weaknesses and flawed approach. Unfortunately the article proved to be a huge disappointment. I do understand that everybody is entitled to his/her opinion but an analyst does not have the luxury of ignoring concrete facts. The writer is all praises for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The writer should try to visit Third World countries to assess the UN's success in this regard. The primary goal of the UN should be to ensure peace in the world. It is no secret that the global organization has miserably failed in this regard. It has become a tool in the hands of a select group of nations which uses it for their vested interests.

The invasions of Iraq Afghanistan the Palestinian issue the Kashmir conflict the Libyan crisis and the Syrian conundrum indicate the UN's failure in successfully fulfilling its responsibilities. However I do agree with the writer that we need to take measures to strengthen the UN. We also need to restructure this global organization so as to liberate it from the clutches of a few countries that are members of the Security Council.

The manner in which the UN has so far acted in the recent conflicts has only raised fears that it might eventually end up like its predecessor the League of Nations. Yasir Ahmed Jubail