At the UN, a new conflict is brewing between US Ambassador John Bolton and the staff of UN Secretary General Koffi Annan. Bolton has threatened consequences due to comments made by U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown. Brown spoke Tuesday at an event for the Century Foundation in New York.

• UN Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown: “I hope you will take it in the spirit in which it is meant: as a sincere and constructive critique of U.S. policy toward the UN by a friend and admirer. Because the fact is that the prevailing practice of seeking to use the UN almost by stealth as a diplomatic tool while failing to stand up for it against its domestic critics is simply not sustainable. You will lose the UN one way or another.”

In response, Ambassador Bolton said the speech was the worst he’s heard in decades and said the UN may face consequences.

• UN Ambassador John Bolton: “Secretary General Kofi Annan, we think, has to personally and publicly repudiate this speech at the earliest possible opportunity. Otherwise, I fear the consequences not just for the reform effort but for the UN as a whole.”

The dispute comes as the UN nears a deadline to enact management reforms by the end of the month. The Bush administration has warned it may reduce UN funding if the deadline is not met. A spokesperson for Koffi Annan said he stood by his deputy’s comments.