***Clinton's election victory was greeted with undisguised pleasure in the corridors of UN headquarters in New York. Much of this optimism is based on the simple fact that Clinton is not George Bush, who had few friends at the UN. Expectations are high that the former Vietnam war protester will usher in a new era of decency in international relations. The most immediate hope is that Clinton will release the millions of dollars the United States owes to the UN.

WHEN, late one night tn November, a Ione television set left on In a corridor of the United Nations building in New York announced the results of the United States presidential election, a Romanian cleaning woman and a Nigerian floor sweeper dropped their dusters and brooms and did a victory dance.

Bill Clinton's inauguration as President on January 20 has been eagerly awaited at the UN. Hopes are running high that it will usher In a new and more egalitarian era in international relations.

Although little is known about the foreign policy Inclinations of the Democrat former Governor of the little southern state-of Arkansas, if anyone at the UN Is missing the heavy-handed regime of Republican George Bush — or that of his predecessor Ronald Reagan — they are not saying so. Such Bush loyalists as may remain have largely gone underground.

The unrestrained joy shown by the cleaners . epitomised much of the UN community's overwhelmingly positive reaction to the American people's democratic choice.

Even a highly-placed former UN under-secretafy general known for his reserve commented : "It's got to be an improvement, don’t you think?"

In the absence of a foreign policy record, the^e high expectations of the new President are based to a considerable degree on the way he conducted his election campaign. The campaign was followed closely at the UN headquarters — a microcosm of the world — where people from 179 member nations work as diplomats, international 61vil servants, or representatives of non-governmental organisations.

A recent informal poll of this diverse group showed that many were Impressed by what Clinton's campaign revealed of his character and interests. They approved of the Governor's focus on the issues of central concern to the American people — mainly the ccitnomy and health care.

These are matters of Importance to most peoples of the world and many found it reassuring that Clinton appeared to understand these concerns — in contrast to Bush who. as one UN delegate put it, "preferred to busy himself by playing power games and war games with the world atlas."

Some respondents singled BjrCllnton s ability to stand, up under the opposition's continuous barrage of personal attacks on him and his wife without resorting to similar mud-slinging.

A European Community delegate commented : "The president-elect obviously has a level head and is a gentleman. These arc assets in any world leader, certainly most desirable attributes in the leader of a superpower."

By focusing on trying to besmirch Clinton’s character and integrity, the Bush campaign's image suffered at the UN — as It had in the domestic polls.

A Nordic representative, speaking Informally and "not on behalf of my government," said : "By stooping to Intemperate and juvenile epithets and permitting a dirty tricks' campaign of deliberate distortions and falsehoods by his handlers'. President Bush — in contrast to Governor Clinton — proved himself lacking In

character and integrity and. to say the least, behaved less than presidentially.

"We look forward to an era of more conflict resolution through diplomacy than has been the case in the recent past under American leadership."

"Amen.' echoed a Latin American delegate who. like many In his region, had been outraged by the Bush administration's invasion of Panama. He added: "Such behaviour implies a lack of respect for the sovereignty of South and Central American states."

The Bush campaign, and Bush himself, loudly condemned Clinton’s youthful Vietnam war protests while he was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University. At the UN this is seen as a definite plus point : "Already, at the age of 22, Clinton exhibited better judgement than his country’s leaders," one Asian delegate said with admiration.

US intervention in Vietnam was always seen as ill-advised at the UN, but among staff members ft was Bush's role in the Gulf War. that left the deepest wounds.

Speaking for numerous others, one mid-level official said : "Many of us came to work for the UN to serve the cause of peace. Regardless of our nationalities, we feel betrayed that our organisation was used to provide legitimacy for a war that was very likely preventable but for Bush’s Insistence, In his own words, that there must be : 'no negotiation, no face saving"',

UN staffers empathised with the highly respected fpjsaae secretary .general Javier Perez de Cuellar’s predicament when he sought to prevent the Gulf War. "My hands are tied." he is said to have disclosed to close colleagues before leaving for Baghdad after having been summoned by Bush to the White House.

Some staffers cited the many violations of the UN Charter and Geneva ^Conventions in the conduct of "the war. One said : "We were appalled by the brutality of the war, the deliberate destruction of water supplies and indiscriminate massive bombing of cities full of civilians, all in the UN's name, while serving the Bush administration's own policy ends in the Gulf.

Many American UN staff and workers In non-governmental organisations are more vocal than other nationalities in condemning the conduct of the Gulf War — even now, as Its third anniversary nears. Echoing several others, one

woman said : "George Bush hijacked the UN and made us ashamed of our country."

Indeed, much of the sense of optimism in UN corridors in anticipation of the Clinton presidency is based simply on his not being George Bush.

A senior Secretariat official expressed his thoughts about the old order and his hopes for the new by saying : "There is a measured sigh of relief at the election results around the , UN. Perhaps the relentless UN-bashing by the Reagan-Bush administration is a thing of the past.

"Even if markedly changed policies arc too much to hope for, we expect a more diplomatic and helpful attitude for belter relations : less arrogance and open contempt to* ward the staff and more corn* passion and human concert! for the poorer nations.

"May It really be a kinder and gentler world," he added, quoting one of President Bush's failed promises from hit 1988 election campaign. "Bui this time in deeds, not onl, words."

All agree that paying the ufc some of the more than S 41) million owed as the US shanC of the organisation s budget -*■ withheld during the year} Washington has used the threat of UN Insolvency to force Its will — would be one excellent way President Clinton could contribute to a better world and garner some International goodwill in the process. — GEMINI NEW?

ELVI ROUTTINEN fa Gemini's correspondent at the United Nations and has coffered the UN and written about international affairs in general for more than 20 years. )