US Ambassador Bolton leaves UN with Congressional recess

By JT Nguyen Dec 9, 2006, 13:25 GMT

New York - John Bolton, the White House's pugnacious emissary to the United Nations, stepped out of UN headquarters Friday following a last meeting with the UN Security Council.

Bolton's term as US ambassador to the world organization began when US Congress recessed a year ago and ended the same way - without fanfare or glory for the high-profile position as the voice of the US to the assembled nations of the world.

US President George W Bush appointed Bolton when Congress recessed in 2005 because of strong opposition from Democrats, and failed to renew the nomination a year later after Democrats took control of the Senate, killing all prospects that Bolton could received a formal appointment.

Bolton was never deterred by the fact that he had no mandate from Congress. Instead, he became one of the most effective US envoys to push for the US agenda at the UN, particularly in efforts to reform the body, established in 1945 to end the scourge of world wars.

He officially announced his resignation Monday after realizing that he had no chance for a second year at the UN.

'They chose to obstruct his confirmation, even though their tactics will disrupt our diplomatic work at a sensitive and important time,' Bush said at the White House after Bolton handed in his letter of resignation. 'This stubborn obstructionism ill serve our country, and discourages men and women of talent from serving their nation.'

Bolton strongly defended Bush's policies - from the war in Iraq to efforts to gain respect for human rights in dark places such as war- torn Darfur and military-ruled Myanmar.

Bolton was liked by some diplomats. But he irritated many by his strong-armed approach to diplomacy.

'As a US representative, he has pressed ahead with the instructions that he had been given and tried to work as effectively as he could with the other ambassadors,' UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said on learning of Bolton's departure.

Annan said he would not single out Bolton or other envoys for the failures to reform the UN.

'I have always maintained that ambassadors have to work together and understand that they have to make concessions, and they need to work with each other for the organization to move ahead,' Annan said.

Annan, who is stepping down from the UN leadership on December 31, said that he and Bolton will exit the UN headquarters 'together.'

Bolton led the campaign to prevent the establishment of a UN Human Rights Council, voting against it after overwhelming UN General Assembly approval in March. He had wanted a stronger, more accountable Human Rights Council to replace the discredited UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, but turned against the Human Rights Council when his efforts failed.

Lately he criticized the Human Rights Council for performance even below the levels of the previous commission in Geneva.

Bolton cast vetoes that blocked two resolutions backed by Arab countries and the Palestinian Authority to demand an end of Israeli bloody incursions into Palestinian-held territories. He said those resolutions were one-sided.

In the UN Security Council, Bolton clashed with Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya and Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin on the nuclear issues in Iran and North Korea. Russia and China oppose sanctions, which were pushed by Bolton to force Tehran and Pyongyang to comply with international demands to abandon their nuclear weapons programmes.

Bolton, who loves to banter with reporters covering the UN, never missed UN cameras set up at the entrance to the UN Security Council chamber and was once scorned by Wang.

'John, you talk too much,' Wang told his counterpart once, as Bolton was entertaining reporters with endless statements.

But Wang was first to express sadness to see Bolton leave.

'I regret that he's resigning. He works very hard and has his own style,' Wang said. 'He works hard on issues, and I enjoy working with him.'

Diplomats said that Wang and Bolton often clashed during closed- door sessions of the 15-nation Security Council, particularly on human rights.

When Bolton wanted the Security Council to take up the situation in Myanmar, Wang was opposed. But Bolton forced the a public vote to adopt his idea, while Wang voted no. It was a procedural vote usually taken behind closed doors.

Wang said that Bolton carried the US agenda at the UN and 'succeeded in some way.'