U.N. Won't Hold World Meeting

By Colum Lynch
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, September 18, 2001; Page A20

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 17 -- The United Nations will postpone its annual meeting of world leaders in New York next week because of concerns that the gathering would strain the resources of local and federal security agencies coping with the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack, according to U.N. diplomats.

President Bush was to deliver his maiden address to the United Nations at next Monday's opening of the General Assembly's general debate. But senior Bush administration officials told the United Nations that the city's law enforcement agencies may not have the capacity to accommodate the dignitaries from more than 150 countries who are expected to attend.

"We've explained the reality of the capabilities that this city and the government can bear in terms of security, which are very, very limited under this circumstance," said James B. Cunningham, the acting U.S. representative at the United Nations.

The world body's five key regional groups agreed today to postpone the event; they will meet on Tuesday to pick a new date, most likely in October or November. The 189-member General Assembly has scheduled a Wednesday meeting to announce the postponement.

The General Assembly decided last week to postpone a global summit on children's rights scheduled for Wednesday through Friday that was expected to draw about 75 heads of state into midtown Manhattan. "Neither the governments nor the U.N. secretariat want to put any additional pressure on the New York City authorities during this time of crisis," U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said.