U.S. Opposes U.N. Leader’s Bid for Second Term

Boutros Boutros-Ghali put forward his candidacy for a second term as secretary-general of the United Nations on Wednesday, but his chances were apparently demolished by the Clinton administration’s decision to stop him--by veto, if necessary.

“The United States is not supporting him,” a senior administration official said. Asked if that meant a veto, the official replied, “Yes, if necessary.

“The U.N. needs a leader who can make it more efficient and more cost-effective,” he said.

Although U.S. officials and the 73-year-old former Egyptian diplomat and professor have feuded publicly for months, the administration had never before said it would veto his candidacy for a second five-year term. A year ago, however, U.S. officials did privately urge Czech President Vaclav Havel to seek the job, but he declined to do so.

When Boutros-Ghali was elected, he told diplomats that he intended to serve just one term. But he changed his stance a few years later, telling reporters he might seek a second term if his health did not weaken. His current term ends at the close of this year.

Spokesman Ahmad Fawzi announced Boutros-Ghali’s candidacy at a news conference in New York.

“Dr. Boutros-Ghali has taken this decision in view of the strong encouragement that he has received from member states,” Fawzi said. “There is a lot of work that has been accomplished, and there is a lot of work that remains to be done in this organization.”

Although Boutros-Ghali--perhaps the most stubbornly independent secretary-general in the 50-year history of the U.N.--may have the backing of some member states, the election of secretary-general is not an international popularity contest.

The decision is made by the 15-member Security Council. The winning candidate must receive at least nine votes with no vote cast against him by any of the five permanent members--the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China. Even if Boutros-Ghali wins 14 votes, a negative vote by the United States would defeat him.

The Clinton administration clearly hopes that Boutros-Ghali will withdraw before the United States is forced to exercise its veto. But Boutros-Ghali, a self-confident man who would not be afraid to face down the United States, may want to force a vote.

The senior administration official belittled Boutros-Ghali’s efforts at U.N. reform and administration, but the Americans have complained about the secretary-general in many other areas, particularly peacekeeping.

Boutros-Ghali and Ambassador Madeleine Albright began feuding soon after the Clinton administration blamed the U.N. for the 1993 debacle in Somalia, even though the 18 American servicemen who died in a Mogadishu firefight were not under U.N. command at the time.

Boutros-Ghali resented being made a scapegoat for the failed mission, and the Clinton administration resented his continual nagging at the U.S. for pulling out its troops.

Such complaints continued during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. U.S. officials constantly berated Boutros-Ghali and his chief in the Balkans, Yasushi Akashi of Japan, for failing to authorize the bombing of Bosnian Serbs.

On top of this, Boutros-Ghali, while greatly admired for his intellect and grasp of knotty issues, is a difficult man to work with: He refuses to delegate authority and keeps most decisions to himself. He also is a poor communicator in the English language, and this problem may contribute to incidents where he has offended listeners.

The senior administration official said the United States did not yet have a candidate to put in his place.

Many candidates have been mentioned in the past few months, including Irish President Mary Robinson, former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Sadaka Ogata of Japan, Undersecretary-General Kofi Annan of Ghana, and, of course, Havel.