ETA - If you didn't get the memo (the OTHER memo), Mugabe finally admitted yesterday that his whole country is starving and he needs international food aid, but he hasn't yet admitted that the entire debacle is HIS fault.
www.zimbabweherald.com/index.php?id=43628&pubdate=2005-05-20
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday reaffirmed his support for the reform of the United Nations, although he said there were still some grey areas that needed to be addressed.

This emerged after a meeting between Cde Mugabe and a special envoy of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former Mozambi-can President Joachim Chissano at State House in Harare.

Mr Chissano — who arrived in the country on Wednesday night — was in Zimbabwe to drum up support for Mr Annan’s broad vision of the reforms ahead of the summit of world leaders at the UN headquarters in September, which will mark the UN’s 60th anniversary.

The UN chief has called for an expanded Security Council, fixed rules for when nations could go to war, strengthened human rights and boosted development and trade, as well as the overhaul of the UN bureaucracy.

Briefing journalists after the meeting which lasted for about two hours, Mr Chissano said President Mugabe was fully supportive of the idea to reform the UN.

"Yes, the President was very clear on his support of the of the views of the Secretary-General but of course there are still some matters to be clarified.

"I did not preach to him but I drew his attention to the fact that he has to try and lead the process (of UN reform) in the country and not to wait for September. The President said he is going to study the points of controversy which are emerging."

Mr Chissano said all African leaders had high respect for the UN chief.

A source close to the talks said President Mugabe had expressed sentiments to the effect that the issue of the proposed UN reforms should be addressed under the auspices of the African Union.

The source said some of the grey areas that needed to be addressed included the creation of the Democracy Fund and the issue of the proposed Human Rights Council.

"Zimbabwe has no problem with the Human Rights Council as a body but we are concerned with a council that is created by the Security Council and reports to the Security Council," said the source.

This, he said, was not proper as such a Human Rights Council could be manipulated to serve the interests of certain quarters.

On the issue of the Democracy Fund to assist countries seeking to establish or strengthen their democracy, the source said it was not clear who would provide such funding and on what conditions.

Another contentious issue that needed to be resolved was the responsibility of the UN in protecting nations when the need arose.

The source said this was a challenging issue since the circumstances warranting the intervention of the UN to use force in protecting other nations had to be clearly defined.

The former Mozambican President is among five envoys appointed by Mr Annan to champion consensus on the proposed UN reforms.

Zimbabwe was his first port of call and from here he will be travelling to South Africa before going to Tanzania and Algeria.

From Algeria, Mr Chissano would go to Egypt before winding up his tour in Libya.

President Mugabe is on record calling for the urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council in view of attempts by the United States and Britain to impose themselves as political gods and prophets of the world.

Following mounting pressure from Third World countries to reform and be democratic, the UN intends to increase members of the Security Council and Africa has been offered two seats.

Brazil, Germany, India and Japan have also been offered seats in the Security Council.

The UN has come up with a 15-page document entitled "In larger Freedom" to drum up support for its Millennium Development Goals and the proposed reforms.

Some of the millennium goals include the need for developing countries with extreme poverty to adopt and begin implementing by next year national development strategies.

At least 0,7 percent of the total budget of developed countries should be channelled to assist poor countries while member-states should provide duty-free and quota-free market access for all exports from the least developed countries.

The UN reforms also encompass the signing of a comprehensive convention on terrorism based on a clear and agreed definition as well strategies to reduce the prevalence and risk of war.