In exit memo, U.S. envoy warns U.N.
retreat would be harmful
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[January 05, 2017]
By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - United States
interests, including national security, would be harmed if the country
retreats from a leading role at the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador
Samantha Power warned on Thursday amid a backlash among Washington
lawmakers against the world body.
President-elect Donald Trump also disparaged the United Nations after
the Security Council adopted a Dec. 23 resolution demanding an end to
settlement building by U.S. ally Israel. Trump questioned the value of
the organization, while some Republican lawmakers threatened to cut
crucial U.S. funding.
In an exit memo on Thursday, Power - a member of President Barack
Obama's cabinet - wrote: "Other nations will follow us if we continue to
lead; without our leadership the vacuum on the global stage will prove
very harmful to U.S. interests."
Among the reasons for continued strong U.S. engagement at the 193-member
United Nations, Power listed North Korea's nuclear ambitions, conflicts
in Syria, Libya and South Sudan, climate change, the global refugee
crisis and Russia.
"As Russia continues to menace our allies and attempt to interfere in
political systems in Europe and beyond, we will need to show broad
condemnation of these actions in U.N. fora," Power wrote in the 13-page
memo.
U.S. intelligence agencies say Russia was behind cyber attacks before
the U.S. election in November that aimed to help Trump defeat Democrat
Hillary Clinton. Moscow denies this.
Power also promoted the importance of the United Nations in ensuring the
success of the a deal between Iran and key world powers to curb Tehran's
nuclear ambitions in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. Trump
has vowed to scrap the deal.
"We must continue to fulfill our own commitments and use U.N. Security
Council Resolution 2231 ... to ensure that Iran's nuclear program will
remain exclusively peaceful," Power said.
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United States Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power
addresses media following a United Nations Security Council vote,
aimed at ensuring that U.N. officials can monitor evacuations from
besieged parts of the Syrian city of Aleppo, at the United Nations
in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Andrew
Kelly
Trump plans to replace Power with South Carolina Governor Nikki
Haley once she is confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
"Working with the U.N. to address these challenges will not be a
litmus test of whether one is committed to international norms and
institutions or not – it will simply be a strategic necessity," said
Power, who has been ambassador since 2013.
Trump last week described the world body as "just a club for people
to get together, talk and have a good time."
New U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke with Trump on
Wednesday and the two had "a very positive discussion on U.S./U.N.
relations," a U.N. spokesman said.
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Michael Perry)
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