World Chronicle 885: UN General Assembly -- Still Relevant After All These Years?

Michael Littlejohns interviews Jan Kavan, President of the 57th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, for World Chronicle program 885.

• Categories: News & Features / Features / World Chronicle
• Video Length: 00:28:01
• Production Date: 13 December 2002
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: EROL AVDOVIC; JAN KAVAN; MICHAEL LITTLEJOHNS; TONY JENKINS
• Corporate Name: GENERAL ASSEMBLY; UNITED NATIONS
• Subject Topical: GENERAL ASSEMBLY; GENERAL DEBATE; SECURITY COUNCIL; SECURITY COUNCIL WORK
• MAMS Id: 2111937
• Parent Id: 824923

Description

“The UN General Assembly: Still Relevant After All These Years?”

The General Assembly of the United Nations has no legally binding authority over governments, but its decisions are meant to carry the weight of world opinion and, in theory at least, the moral authority of the international community. Increasingly overshadowed by the work of the fifteen members of the Security Council, its five permanent members, and the world’s sole super-power, the United States, the General Assembly is, however, regarded by some critics as having lost its relevance – except as a forum for prolonged debate. In this edition of World Chronicle, the President of the 57th session of General Assembly, Jan Kavan, formerly Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, defends the continued importance and relevance of this universal body as a forum for multilateral negotiation, while acknowledge the limitations that are placed on its powers.

• Scripts: File; 885.pdf (42.33 KB)