2005 World Summit

UN headquarters in New York City

The 2005 World Summit (or Millennium+5 Summit), 14–16 September 2005, is a follow-up summit meeting to the United Nations' 2000 Millennium Summit, which led to the Millennium Declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Representatives (including many leaders) of the 191 member states are meeting in New York City for what the United Nations described as "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take bold decisions in the areas of development, security, human rights and reform of the United Nations." [1] (PDF)

The pre-summit negotiations were blown sharply off course by the appearance in early August at the UN of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John R. Bolton, appointed as a recess appointment by U.S. President George W. Bush. The position had been vacant since January, with responsibilities handled by professional U.S. diplomats. Bolton swiftly issued a list of new demands (including dropping the use of the words "Millennium Development Goals"), which days before the summit had still not been settled.

As well as discussing progress on the MDGs, and reiterating the world's commitment to them, the summit was to address the possible reform of the United Nations; this was eventually postponed to a later date.

During the summit, the United Nations Convention against Corruption received its 30th ratification, and as a result will enter into force in December 2005.

External links

• United Nations' 2005 World Summit homepage
• The Guardian, 10 September 2005, "World summit on UN's future heads for chaos: UK leads last minute effort to rein in U.S. objections"
• Draft outcome document, 13 September (PDF)