Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: News

Professor Kent Kille from the College of Wooster presents his lecture entitled, "The Role of the United Nations During the Obama Presidency," at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Lumpkin Auditorium. Kille spoke to a full room of mostly students about the reception of Barack Obama's election as president as well as the general structure of the United Nations. (Karolina Strack/The Daily Eastern News)

After finding floor seats, students get settled in and listen to a lecture on "The Role of the United Nations During the Obama Presidency" presented by Professor Kent Kille from the College of Wooster at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Lumpkin Auditorium. (Karolina Strack/The Daily Eastern News)

Political science professor Kent Kille thinks relations between the United States and the United Nations will change when President-elect Barack Obama takes control of the White House.

He said the UN has debated President George W. Bush's unilateral mentality with foreign affairs.

He added many UN officials view the Bush Administration's foreign policies as illegitimate.

"The UN is hopeful," Kille said about Obama making relations with the UN a key priority during his presidency.

Kille lectured to students about how the Obama Administration and the UN will interact Wednesday night in the Lumpkin Hall Auditorium.

Students filled nearly every seat in the auditorium for the lecture.

Kille, who teaches at the College of Wooster in Ohio, said Obama made no mention of the UN on his campaign Web site; however, through statements during the campaign, Obama said the United States should rededicate themselves in restoring UN relations.

Kille showed students a 2008 Presidential Questionnaire by the United Nations Association of the United States.

Obama answered the questionnaire and said the United States must play a leading role with the UN.

"Obama did generally provide supportive comments about the UN when campaigning," Kille said.

He said Obama's campaign slogan of change hinted at multilateral and international support.

Kille even saw an interest in foreigners when traveling the world during the campaigns.

"People around the world had a vested interest in the American election," he said.

He said the Obama Administration could work with the UN on a bevy of issues such as global poverty, nuclear proliferation and global warming.

Kille said the United States could be more involved with the UN's Human Rights Council when Obama takes power.

When Bush appointed John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the UN, Kille said the move reflected Bush's mentality toward the UN.

Bolton served as ambassador from 2005 to 2006.

Kille said, as ambassador, Bolton was abrasive and staunchly defended Bush's unilateral stance.

When Obama announced Susan Rice would be his U.S. ambassador to the UN, the UN greeted the appointment favorably, Kille said.

"It's seen as a strong, positive message to the UN," he said.

Although Rice has to be approved by the U.S. Senate, Kille said Rice would have a cabinet rank in the Obama Administration.

He said she would report directly to Obama.

Rice was a top foreign adviser on Obama's campaign and was the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs under President Bill Clinton.

Kille said the United Nations Association of the United States viewed the appointment as a positive step to improved relations between the United States and the UN.

Kille said current UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon secretly hoped Obama would win the election, according to off the record reports from UN officials. The UN secretary general is the chief administrative officer of the UN.

Moon wants to work with the United States about environmental issues after Obama is inaugurated, Kille said.

He said Moon would face re-election for the secretary general position when Obama faces re-election in 2012.

Moon has to be careful to build relations with the United States, a global leader, during Obama's presidency for job security reasons, Kille said.

Kille said, ultimately, only time would tell if Obama makes the UN a key priority on his agenda as president. He said the UN is optimistic.

"There's overwhelming support and hope," Kille said.

Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.

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