UNA-USA YPIC

UNA-USA STRONGLY SUPPORTS NOMINATION OF SUSAN E. RICE AS US-UN AMBASSADOR; SHE EXEMPLIFIES QUALITIES NEEDED TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH UN SECRETARIAT AND MEMBER STATES

December 1, 2008.  Ambassador William H. Luers, president of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), issued the following statement today concerning President-elect Barack Obama’s nomination of Susan E. Rice to become United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

UNA-USA strongly supports the nomination of Susan E. Rice to become United States permanent representative to the United Nations. In selecting Dr. Rice for this key foreign-policy position, President-elect Barack Obama is appointing one of his closest advisers to one of the world’s most important and demanding diplomatic posts. The president-elect’s decision to include the incoming ambassador in his cabinet is also important, signaling the key role that the United Nations will play in the incoming administration’s foreign policy.  

Susan Rice exemplifies many of the qualities that UNA-USA believes are critical to achieving successful outcomes in the UN post. She has strong diplomatic experience, a demonstrated willingness to listen to others and an abiding interest in and concern for developments in Africa, where some of the most important UN responsibilities rest. At the same time, Dr. Rice has developed a keen knowledge and understanding of the UN’s operational capabilities during the years that she worked both in and out of government.

The Rice nomination adds further to the anticipation at the United Nations that the incoming Obama administration, including Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton, will be cooperating closely with UN member states to manage and resolve many issues that the United States cannot address on its own. Virtually every major foreign-policy issue facing the United States must be dealt with under the umbrella of  the UN — climate change, nuclear non-proliferation, global pandemics, achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, the prevention of genocide, as well as regional challenges, particularly in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa.  

As the new US Permanent Representative to the UN, Susan Rice will be looked to for cooperation and leadership in strengthening the United Nations. The UN is poised to undertake an energetic renewal effort, including a broader UN Security Council more representative of today’s global distribution of power. A sympathetic US role can help move this core shift in how the UN addresses global security issues. A positive and yet not commanding US role in renewing the United Nations in many aspects is greatly needed to help the UN become far more effective in dealing with its ever-growing responsibilities. We look toward a new era of American cooperation at the United Nations to address the global issues that threaten the future of our planet. 

The leadership and members of UNA-USA throughout the United States look forward to working closely with the incoming administration and its team to support a robust and effective US presence at the United Nations.  

By Sultana F. Ali

From September 19-21, leaders of UNA’s Young Professionals for International Cooperation National Leadership Council will gather in the mountains of Colorado to address the major challenges facing the program and brainstorm ideas for expanding YPIC over the next several years.

The Leadership Council will meet at the Dillon Inn, a few hours west of Denver, for its   retreat. An informal program will allow for discussions on national and grass-roots issues and allow all YPIC leaders to help contribute to the growth of the organization.

The retreat will be split into three sessions. The first will be a “macro session,” which deals with the challenges and opportunities for growth for the national YPIC program, with a particular focus on LC effectiveness. The goals include increasing overall participation in the LC; helping national YPIC committees be as effective as possible; discussing the importance of bylaws for proper nonprofit management and learning how to model bylaws; increasing the cohesiveness and camaraderie of YPICs nationwide by unifying to advocate for the UN with a national event; defining a national development committee for YPIC; and mapping a strategy for the future.

The second session will address grass-roots issues locally. The goal is to help YPIC groups fund-raise, recruit, engage and retain leaders at that level. The final session will describe the tools YPIC can use to make volunteerism more effective. Denver UNA members will help facilitate this session as members devise strategies to encourage intergenerational dialogue and use the national Web site.

The Leadership Council is composed of all the YPIC chairpeople across the country and managed by the executive committee, which consists of the three YPIC representatives to the Council of Chapters and Divisions. The executive committee includes Alexandria Faiz from Connecticut, Fabrice Pierre from Maryland and Sultana F. Ali from Florida.