![Annan pledges follow-through on UN reform, but warns of challenges ahead](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] A day after leaders attending the 2005 World Summit [official website] endorsed a modest package of UN reforms [JURIST report] and policy initiatives, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Saturday pledged he would follow-though on what had been achieved, but warned of significant challenges ahead. Addressing the opening of the ministerial phase of the UN General Assembly 60th anniversary session, Annan said he would undertake a review of ongoing mandates from the UN's first 55 years, would re-assess its budgetary and human resources rules, and would set up an independent oversight audit committee once a full study of UN oversight and management is completed:
I intend to follow through on every action asked of me, and I ask you, the member states, to tell me immediately, if you think I am not doing so… I will also keep score on progress you make in implementing what has been agreed. And I will speak plainly, if I believe you are falling behind. And I have no doubt that global public opinion will keep a close eye on our progress.But Annan warned of possible problems ahead, and chided some states for being "content to point fingers at each other, rather than work for solutions." In particular, Annan noted that "the consensus underlying the [Nuclear] Non-Proliferation Treaty is badly frayed", as reflected in the failure of two recent sets of negotiations on renewal, the last in May [JURIST report]. He also emphasized that Security Council reform was needed, and that states had yet to translate a broad declaration condemning terrorism into a comprehensive global anti-terror treaty. Read the full text of Annan's address [UN transcript, PDF]. The UN News Center has more.