John R Bolton: 'The UN must play a critical role to save generations from war'

From a statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by the US administration's nominee to be its next ambassador to the United Nations

At this time of great opportunity and great promise, the charge to the international community is clear: we who are on the right side of freedom's divide have an obligation to help those who are unlucky enough to be born on the wrong side of that divide.

At this time of great opportunity and great promise, the charge to the international community is clear: we who are on the right side of freedom's divide have an obligation to help those who are unlucky enough to be born on the wrong side of that divide.

The hard work of freedom is a task of generations. Yet it is also urgent work that cannot be deferred. Now more than ever, the UN must play a critical role as it strives to fulfil the dreams and hopes and aspirations of its original promise: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.

While the UN has had its successes in the human rights field, there have been problems as well, such as the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. For too long, some of the most egregious violators of human rights have undercut UNHRC's principles and its effectiveness.

The consequence, as Secretary General Annan has said, is that the commission's important work has, and I quote, "been increasingly undermined by its declining credibility and professionalism".

We must work with our friends and allies to keep those who would usurp the moral authority of this commission off it, and to send clear and strong signals that we will not shy away from naming human rights violators.

We must work to galvanise the General Assembly to focus its attention on issues of true importance.

The key is to implement changes to the UN structure and management, including budget, personnel and oversight reforms.

Scandals, such as those we have witnessed with the oil- for-food programme, undermine not only America's confidence in the United Nations, but the confidence of the international community as well. They must not recur.

And we must never lose sight of the reality, that ultimately it is member governments that must take responsibility for the UN's actions, whether they be successes or failures.