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| International-UN-NGOs |
| Annan orders probe of U.N. office |
| 2006-12-22 |
| No stone unturned, I'm sure. What better day to sneak all the potential UN scandals under the radar then the Friday before Christmas? NEW YORK -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, reacting to an article in The Washington Times, asked U.N. investigators yesterday to look into claims of fraud, favoritism and intimidation inside the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Ah, Jeezus...leave me alone! I'm outta here in nine days! Go bother the Korean guy! The DESA division, responsible for promoting accountability and good governance in member states, has used contributions from the Italian government to fund duplicative programs and unnecessary consultants, many of which benefit Italy or its nationals, The Times reported. Sounds like it upholds the ideals of the UN to me... The story also said the department had made unusual use of contractors and taken relevant information off its Web site after reporters began asking questions. It said DESA staffers have complained about intimidation. Any youse guys been talkin to dem reporters? Youse guys got any kiddos? "The secretary-general's office has asked [the Office of Internal Oversight Services] to look into allegations raised this morning in the press," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Mr. Annan. He refused to specify which areas Mr. Annan is concerned about. Probably his limo ride to the airport in nine days... On Monday evening, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations transmitted a letter to the U.N.'s chief internal inspector, Inga-Britt Ahlenius, asking OIOS to look into contracting improprieties and reports that staff had been intimidated in an effort to halt leaks. U.S. officials also have received information that officials within DESA's in-house human resources department have been destroying documents related to contracts issued by the department in recent years. "We have become aware of alleged improprieties relating to the award of consulting contracts by the Division for Public Administration and Development Management," wrote U.S. diplomat Mark Wallace, whose letter was copied to Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown. DPADM is a subdivision within DESA. Does that turd go out the door with Kofi too, I hope? "We have also received reports alleging that the DPADM has threatened to retaliate against staff members who have brought this matter to light," said the letter, which urged OIOS to conduct a "comprehensive review. We consider this an important and urgent matter," the letter said. So I assume they want it resolved by the end of this century? A spokesman said Ms. Ahlenius was traveling but expected back in New York next week. Probably out "investigating"... The Italian government, which has voluntarily contributed some $80 million to DESA over the last four years, has not requested an audit of its funds. The Italian Mission to the United Nations did not respond to calls for comments yesterday. Must've got a nice return on it's 80 mil... Sources within the United Nations have described an atmosphere of uncertainty and intimidation inside DPADM, which has been responsible for creating several international programs and centers of dubious value."I have no comment beyond what the spokesman said this morning," said Marie Oveissi, the officer in charge of DESA's Technical Cooperation Management Services section. DPADM Director Guido Bertucci did not respond to calls yesterday. I can't say anything. They made us swear to it when we burned the pictures of the saints in our hands... News of the DPADM use of Italian money prompted anger on Capitol Hill. Retiring Rep. Henry J. Hyde of Illinois, who as chairman of the House International Relations Committee held numerous hearings on the oil-for-food scandal and other U.N. issues, yesterday demanded "transparent investigations that hold violators of the public trust responsible for their misconduct. I am aware of new reports of corruption and cronyism within the United Nations' Department of Economic and Social Affairs," he said. "The U.N. has a history of building scandals on top of its scandals. Mismanagement thrives under poor oversight, which is then often lost under attempted cover-ups." Sounds like Henry's familiar with them... OIOS has already conducted an investigation into a DESA center in Thessaloniki, Greece, after the Greek government demanded to know how its $5 million contribution was being spent. Athens has since shut the center down, saying that its effectiveness was undercut by a duplicative effort based in Naples. They're on to us! Close up! Close up! That report will not be released until at least January, OIOS officials said recently, because DESA officials have not yet responded to an early draft. Some have suggested that the department is deliberately delaying the report's release, at least until Mr. Annan is succeeded by Ban Ki-moon. Don't want to ruin his farewell bash with this ugly scandal talk. "I will leave the interpretation to you, but clearly in any ... investigative process, people have a right to rebut," Mr. Dujarric said yesterday. "That needs to be done within a certain amount of time. The department in question has a right to answer the issues raised. We very much hope it will be completed very soon." Real life "very soon" or UN "very soon"? I think that's comparable to dog years... The spokesman added: "We of course expect that no documents in any department will be destroyed. There are rules and regulations regarding the destruction of documents which are public." Winky-winky... Mr. Dujarric also said that staff members who feel intimidated can avail themselves of the U.N. whistle-blower protections, which include the right to file complaints anonymously. U.N. whistle-blower protections. Yeah, right. I'd feel safe... |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #1 What, no speech declaring he is "deeply disturbed" by this continuing reporting of malfeasence on his watch ? This a-hole is truly the worst thing that ever happened to the UN. He has single-handedly brought the corrupt hovel to its knees. |
| Posted by: SpecOp35 2006-12-22 12:42 |