United Nations/Washington, Jan 19
United States UN Ambassador nominee Nikki Haley on Wednesday called for reforming the world body and especially the peacekeeping operations.
At the same time she declared she would be a "voice of freedom" and strongly articulate the US position and bring a "firm message" to the UN.
The first Indian American to be nominated to a cabinet-level, Haley appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with her father, Ajit Singh Randhawa, wearing a red turban seated behind her.
Committee Chairman Bob Corker introduced her saying that her's was a "compelling story of a family's pursuit of the American Dream".
Corker and Haley, as well as other senators, noted her family's participation -- her husband, Michael Haley, and her brother, Mitti -- in the military as combat veterans.
Although there were references to the South Carolina Governor's lack of foreign policy experience, her hearing was smooth and an acknowledgment that she could transfer her influence-building skills and developing consensus as a Governor.
She said that she would be able to bring a fresh set of eyes to the UN.
Corker said at the end of the hearing that he was certain the Senate would approve her nomination. She has impressed everyone and they trusted her instincts, he added.
The partisanship during the hearing was focused on President-elect Donald Trump, rather than on her.
Questioned about Trump's world view by Senators during the hearing that is a prelude to a vote by the whole Senate confirming her appointment, Haley acknowledged her differences with him on issues like attitude to Russia.
She said that she would not be a 'yes-person' and would challenge him when necessary, adding that she found him open to differing opinions.
She also said that Trump is likely to change his views on some matters when he interacts with the National Security Council that would present him with a broader picture.
The hearing was dominated by Israel and Russia and at sometimes sounded like a throwback to the 1950s at the height of the cold war, except there was a marked deference to China.
Russia, despite the differences with it on major issues and problems with its role in certain areas, could work with the US on countering the Islamic State, she said.
South Asia did not come up during the hearings.
On UN peacekeeping she wanted more nations to get actively involved, saying: "They should have a skin in the game."
She noted that the US paid 29 per cent of the peacekeeping bill and if other countries contributed more they would take more interest to ensure the efficiency of the operations and reforms would be easier.
Haley said that all the 16 peacekeeping operations should be re-examined and a major criterion for launching such operations should be if they can be viable. The peacekeepers should be able to stabilise a country or a situation and get out, she said.
She appeared to favour a position that the South Sudan operations, where India has more than 2,200 peacekeepers, could be ended because the government there was against the operations and, therefore, could not be effective.
The US has primary responsibility for South Sudan at the Security Council.
The Governor spoke out strongly about the sexual abuse and exploitation carried out by peacekeepers and said that countries that do not take action against the erring soldiers should be thrown out of peacekeeping.
Haley said that she would selectively use the funding power of the US at the UN, while she was against a "slash and burn" policy of cutting of all funding.
For example, she said, the US could withhold funds for the UN Human Rights Council where China, Cuba and other rights violators have a place.
Healey and Corker, Senator Ben Cardin, the ranking Democrat, and other Senators said they expected the new Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to help push reforms.
(Arul Louis can be reached at [email protected])
