Mar 5th 2013, 1:01:05
http://www.abc.net.au/...s-to-tone-it-down/4552876
Bottoms up!
The United States has called on United Nations diplomats to tone down their drunken behaviour during annual budget negotiations in New York.
Talks on the UN's spending have become increasingly tense over the past few weeks as Western nations call for budget cuts.
US officials say the negotiations often go into the early hours of the morning, and some diplomats become intoxicated and disruptive.
American delegates have called for more discipline to ensure the negotiations conclude before the Easter holidays.
"We make the modest proposal that the negotiating rooms should in future be an inebriation-free zone," Joseph Torsella, deputy US ambassador for management and reform, told the UN General Assembly's budget committee.
The assembly's budget body holds marathon negotiations in December each year on spending and national contributions.
These often last all night for several days in a row so that a vote can be held before the end-of-year holidays.
The United States is not calling for a ban on alcohol, just on drunken behaviour, US officials said.
Some envoys have turned up for talks "falling down drunk," one diplomat said.
"On one occasion the note-taker who was meant to be recording the talks was so intoxicated he had to be replaced," said another.
Both spoke on condition of anonymity.
But the comments have caused some controversy.
"It is absolutely not the case that everyone at the talks is drunk. All the people doing the negotiating are sober," a third diplomat said.
Talks on the UN's spending have become increasingly tense over the past few weeks as Western nations call for budget cuts.
US officials say the negotiations often go into the early hours of the morning, and some diplomats become intoxicated and disruptive.
American delegates have called for more discipline to ensure the negotiations conclude before the Easter holidays.
"We make the modest proposal that the negotiating rooms should in future be an inebriation-free zone," Joseph Torsella, deputy US ambassador for management and reform, told the UN General Assembly's budget committee.
The assembly's budget body holds marathon negotiations in December each year on spending and national contributions.
These often last all night for several days in a row so that a vote can be held before the end-of-year holidays.
The United States is not calling for a ban on alcohol, just on drunken behaviour, US officials said.
Some envoys have turned up for talks "falling down drunk," one diplomat said.
"On one occasion the note-taker who was meant to be recording the talks was so intoxicated he had to be replaced," said another.
Both spoke on condition of anonymity.
But the comments have caused some controversy.
"It is absolutely not the case that everyone at the talks is drunk. All the people doing the negotiating are sober," a third diplomat said.
Bottoms up!
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