Holbrooke

December 20, 1999
Web posted at: 10:06 p.m. EST (0306 GMT)

Holbrooke told reporters that "there's a general sense at the U.N. that process is what this place is all about."

He said there is a failure in coordination between U.N. management and specialized U.N. agencies and personnel in the field, and suggested the agency is "overly bureaucratic."

Responding to Holbrooke's comments, U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said the world organization is doing its best and that, overall, it has stressed operations over process.

Eckhard said there has been change in the last 10 years.

"Its no longer a talk shop,' he said, referring to the way the United Nations is often viewed as it hosts lengthy speeches in its general assembly.

The ambassador said he thought the role of the world body's secretary-general should be expanded and praised the Security Council's quick response to recent violence in East Timor.

Holbrooke said the future role of the United Nations may be determined by how it performs in African crisis situations, and he said he planned to make Africa a major focus when he holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council in January.