July 5, 2006“Yesterday’s launching of 6 missiles – including the long range Taepo-dong-2 missile -- by North Korea was a provocative act designed to get the attention of the international community.  This behavior is unacceptable and extremely worrisome.  The six-party talks which were established to find a solution to the North Korean nuclear crisis have remained stalled for too long because of lack of leadership.  Every day that passes without a resolution of the North Korean nuclear threat makes the Korean peninsula less stable and a greater threat to international peace and security.  It is now very clear that the Bush administration must urgently assume a leadership role, within the six-party talks and directly with North Korea as necessary, so that a political solution can be reached to remove the nuclear threat posed by that government.”

June 7, 2006
“Clearly the speech I read is not the one Mr. Bolton read. I believe the remarks by the UN Deputy Secretary General Mark Malloch Brown were constructive and meant to build support for reform. They were not an attack on the United States. Mr. Bolton falls back on bullying and threats rather than constructively engaging other delegates to move reform forward. That isn’t

Mr. Chairman, I would like to commend you for continuing to hold these very important hearings on the issue of reform at the United Nations. This is truly a dynamic issue, with new insight being gained seemingly every month, and it is wise that the Foreign Relations Committee remains focused on it. I would also like to thank our witnesses for being here today. In particular, I would like to congratulate Mr. Volcker for his excellent work in heading the independent committee reviewing the Oil-for-Food program. I look forward to his briefing this committee.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you for holding this very important hearing today. As we all know, it was little over a month ago, on June 15th, that the Task Force on the United Nations – headed up by George Mitchell and Newt Gingrich – issued its very comprehensive report entitled “American Interests and UN Reform.” I would like to thank our distinguished panelists for their hard work on this vital effort. Their presence here today is, I know, appreciated by every member of this body who is interested in real reforms at the UN. I would also like to welcome Under Secretary Burns again to this Committee. I trust that his input on behalf of the administration will add much to today’s discussion.