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| Europe |
| Pressure mounts on Melkert to step down |
| 2007-07-20 |
| John Bolton, former US ambassador to the United Nations, has heavily criticised former Dutch minister Ad Melkert who is currently second in charge of the United Nation’s development aid organisation (UNDP) in New York. In an interview on the tv current affairs programme Nova on Thursday evening, Bolton said he would like Melkert to step down from the UNDP post saying that he had ‘insulted and threatened’ the current US ambassador to the UN, Mark Wallace. He declined, however, to give details. Bolton said another Dutchman should take over the post as the Netherlands is one of the biggest donors to the UN’s development aid fund. Bolton also accused Melkert of a ‘bunker mentality’ in a conflict between the US and the UNDP over aid to North Korea. According to the Americans, Melkert has failed to intervene in the abuse of UN funds in North Korea. They claim UN money intended for the population is being siphoned off by dictator Kim Jong Il. Melkert came under fire from conservative Americans earlier this year because of his former role as chairman of the World Bank ethics committee. The bank president Paul Wolfowitz was forced to step down following a row over preferential treatment for his girlfriend. Bolton did not directly make a direct link with the Wolfotwitz affair during the Nova interview. However, but both he and the former World Bank leader now work at the conservative think-tank, the American Enterprise Institute, together with one-time Dutch MP and anti-Muslim campaigner Ayaan Hirsi Ali. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 I think the UN policy of handing the money directly to Kim's flunkies is more efficient. NK is a communist country after all. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2007-07-20 23:29 |
| #1 They claim UN money intended for the population is being siphoned off by dictator Kim Jong Il. Why I am shocked - shocked I tell you.. Shocked! |
| Posted by: Abu do you love 2007-07-20 17:18 |