U.S. Rules Out Compromise Over Boutros-Ghali

WASHINGTON (Reuter) - The United States, scenting that the tide may be turning in its lone fight to oust U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Wednesday ruled out reviving its compromise offer that he serve one more year.

The State Department said it was encouraged by reports that Ethiopia had urged other African states to abandon their support for Boutros-Ghali and come up with alternative candidates from the continent.

Spokesman Nicholas Burns, asked about reports that some European countries favored a limited extension for Boutros-Ghali after his five-year term expires Dec. 31, said: "The United States has taken that offer off the table."

"Boutros-Ghali rejected that offer that Secretary (of State Warren) Christopher made to him in their private discussions last spring. And he has given no indication that he would be willing to entertain such an offer now," he said.

"We will not support any such compromise offer," Burns told a regular news briefing.

Washington has argued that the Egyptian secretary-general has made insufficient progress in reforming the United Nations to warrant a second term, which has been the norm in the past.

Earlier this month it vetoed a proposal to re-appoint him that was supported by all the other 14 members of the Security Council. But in order that Africa should hold the post for a full 10 years, the United States has said it would give priority to other African candidates.

Although none of Boutros-Ghali's backers has publicly abandoned him, reports surfaced Tuesday in Addis Ababa that Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi had suggested to the Organization of African Unity that it consider other figures.

Burns said it was clear from Meles' letter, which he called "very encouraging", that "the African leaders now understand that they have an opportunity here to continue the tradition of African leadership."

"The door has now been opened by Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia. It's time for someone or a group of people to walk through that door," he said, adding that those who did so would "certainly have a willing partner in the United States."

Burns said he expected that a successor to Boutros-Ghali would be found by Dec. 31, obviating the potential problem of a hiatus in the leadership of the world body.