The US use of "the power of the purse" to force through reforms at the United Nations is lessening the chance of those reforms succeeding, secretary-general Kofi Annan warns in today's Financial Times.
At the same time, however, he calls on all countries, including the developing world, to "turn down their rhetoric" and take a constructive attitude towards this month's UN budget negotiations, which threaten to pit rich against poor in a battle with potentially damaging consequences.
