| Submit your comments on this article |
| International-UN-NGOs |
| Kofi Annan's 'Gifts' to U.N. Staff |
| 2005-12-09 |
| Christmas seems to have come early to some employees at the United Nations, claim several veteran staffers. Sources inside the U.N.'s Staff union have privately criticized U.N. chief Kofi Annan's decision to offer a number of "selected" employees "generous" retirement packages. More curious, is the fact, say U.N. sources, that those selected for the "early termination" offers were not based on departmental seniority, a common norm for such decisions. The sources claim that "many" of those "retiring" may be currently or potentially involved in a whole host of internal investigations, ranging from embezzlements to work place harassment. Earlier this week, Carla Pirelli, who directed the U.N.'s oversight of several international elections, was summarily fired by Annan for charges of sexual harassment. Pirelli is challenging the secretary-general's actions to an appeal panel. That move came after Annan was forced to reinstate another staffer who successfully challenged his firing. Joseph Stephanides, who oversaw Security Council interests in the scandal plagued Iraq Oil-for-Food Program, not only saw almost $100,000 in back salary reinstated, but got a U.N. appeals board to criticize Annan's decision to terminate him in the first place. All of this comes as Iraq Oil-for-Food investigator Paul Volcker concludes his year and a half inquiry at the end of the month. The investigation, which cost the world body in excess of $30 mil., has so far recovered leas than $16 mil. While published estimates claim that as much as $20 billion may have been stolen from the U.N. program, Volcker could only track down approximately $2 billion actually missing from the operation itself. The remainder, it is believed, was pilfered in outside activities associated with, but not part of the aid program. Annan however, has made it clear to reporters that he does not foresee any additional measures by the U.N. to recover any of the missing funds. "It is time to move on," he has repeatedly said. It is also unclear whether any U.N. member states may proceed with their own independent investigations. On Captiol Hill, Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) has made it clear that his investigations into U.N. corruption will not be halted. Rick Grenell, a spokesman for U.S.-U.N. ambassador John Bolton, has said Washington will seek to have Coleman's investigators given access to the Volcker files if need be. If that was not enough, Annan, who had planned an Asian tour of China, Japan and Korea through the holiday season, had to cancel his "voyage" at the last minute. "Budget problems," claimed Annan spokesman Stephane Dujarric, kept the Secretary General in New York. "It wouldn't look cool if he (Annan) were seen floating around the Pacific while we are trying to tackle serious budget matters here in NYC ... You don't look too involved in managing the organization from photo ops in Tokyo and Beijing," complained one U.N. staffer. Annan's 10 years as secretary-general ends December 31, 2006. No potential successor has surfaced as yet. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #8 No succesor to Kofi means the jig is up, and the job has lost a lot of its perks! |
| Posted by: BigEd 2005-12-09 18:25 |
| #7 Want to understand Kofi, Google Ashanti, slave trade |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2005-12-09 15:26 |
| #6 The UN should be allowed to continue but I believe the US should pioneer a new alliance a Democratic Alliance that will garantee support of eachother either by military force, money or, other, everyone does their part. Mutual protection and participation. Agree to certian standards of human rights, free enterprice, and free gov, ect.... Benifits would be free trade so instead of our wealth being siphened off by a communist light china it would at least be empowering a fellow ally. Such a alliance would rather quickly be the most powerfull superpower in the world by far and membership was open to all if certian standards were met. The alliance could have a core group who are full compliance with standards then transition members who have less vote but are working their way to core group status with clear cut markers and progress dates. Set it up like the US gov a House & Senate that way all have a fair say. This would keep one or a small group of nations from stoping a process like Nato is suffering from. Also by voting in a block the alliance could have major sway within the UN. I can think of many who would sign up quickly some for protection some economic some both to name a few, Ukraine, Kuwait, Qutar, UAE, Poland, Lituania, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Japan, Australia, Britian, probably some stans and others. |
| Posted by: C-Low 2005-12-09 14:00 |
| #5 What could be more fitting? Golden parachutes for a bunch of 24 karat gold plated thieving @ssholes. Rot in he||, Kofi. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2005-12-09 13:39 |
| #4 Up to $18 billion missing is not pilfering. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2005-12-09 13:03 |
| #3 *unwrapping paper* Oh, it's a barrel of oil. *hug* Kofi, you shouldn't have. I feel bad, I only got you aftershave lotion. Hope you like Brut. |
| Posted by: Dreadnought 2005-12-09 11:52 |
| #2 No potential successor has surfaced as yet. How about John Bolton? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2005-12-09 11:46 |
| #1 It wouldn't look cool if he (Annan) were seen floating around the Pacific while we are trying to tackle serious budget matters here in NYC... Unless it's face down... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-12-09 10:09 |