NEW YORK, 5 November 2004 — President George W. Bush’s re-election was warmly welcomed on Wednesday by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has not hesitated in the past to brand his decision to launch the war against Iraq “illegal.”

The war launched in March, 2003, without specific UN authorization, has divided the 191-nation world organization, particularly the UN Security Council where a majority of the 15 members have remained opposed to the invasion to this day.

Bush, in his victory address after winning another 4-year term, called for healing division in America, but failed to mention any intention to unite the UN membership behind efforts to win the war in Iraq.

Annan, as recently as last month when he visited British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London, urged governments to send military troops and international aid to assist the Iraqi interim government as it is facing increased violence.

But he also denounced the war as contrary to the UN Charter.

Annan created a firestorm just before Bush appeared in the UN General Assembly on Sept. 21 by again calling the Iraq war “illegal”.

If there was any strong disagreement between Bush and Annan, it will remain the Iraq war.

“It has been a solid and productive relationship between the UN and the US,” said spokesman Fred Eckhard on Wednesday as the world learned of the results of the US presidential election. Eckhard said if there was a “fundamental disagreement” between the UN and the US, it will remain the “Iraq invasion”.

“The secretary-general expects the US to carry on its leadership role in the UN, which is consistent with its economic and political (power),” Eckhard said.

“The secretary-general is committed to continuing to work with President Bush and his administration on the whole range of issues facing the UN and the world,” he said.

The US influence in the world body has remained strong despite the war.

Washington is the largest financial contributor to UN activities, paying more than 20 percent of the administrative budget and peacekeeping operations. The US is one of five permanent members in the UN Security Council whose veto power can block any resolutions.

The US mission to the UN is one of the largest. It has five fully ranked ambassadors, more than any other mission, headed by Ambassador John Danforth, the permanent representative who has a staff of more than 200.

Iraq is not the only issue over which Bush has stirred up division in the UN. He infuriated governments around the world by opposing the International Criminal Court (ICC) and by forcing about 30 of them to sign bilateral agreements not to prosecute American diplomats and peacekeepers serving in their countries. Failure to sign the agreements would result in a cut of US aid.

When it comes to healing, Bush faces the same problems at the United Nations as he does on the home front of his deeply divided country.