![Annan cuts short vacation to keep UN reform talks moving](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] UN Secretary General Kofi Annan [official profile; JURIST news archive] has cut short a vacation and returned to New York in an attempt to break an impasse reached by negotiators discussing an overhaul of the UN and a related series of intrenational initiatives. A 33-member panel has been negotiating a set of reforms [JURIST report] for consideration at a Sept. 14-16 summit [official website], but the group has remained deadlocked over a number of contentious issues, including terrorism, disarmament and development. The September summit is also set to review the Millenium Development Goals [official website], although the US and some others have lobbied against including some goals during the reform negotiations. Annan called for the inclusion [UN news release] of the development goals at the summit. Annan also emphasized the need for UN management reform after the oil-for-food scandal [JURIST news archive] that has embroiled the UN for the past year. A report by the independent panel [IIC official website] investigating the scandal is slated for release only days before the summit gets under way. AFP has more.