Smokers at UN Challenge UN Chief Annan's Ban

Reuters ^ | 10/30/03 | Evelyn Leopold

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Smoking diplomats, especially those from Russia, Mexico and the Czech Republic, balked at a new ban against lighting up in U.N. headquarters and demanded Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) explain himself.

At a meeting of the General Assembly's committee on budget and administration on Wednesday, several delegates questioned the legal basis for Annan to put out such an order without a vote from member states and demanded a legal ruling.

A U.N. official promised one would be forthcoming after an earlier, similar request had been ignored.

"I will make sure, because I am also a smoker, that we will be given our explanations from the secretariat," said Ambassador Hynek Kmonicek of the Czech Republic, who is chairman of the committee.

Mexico's envoy brought up the issue and the Russian delegate insisted that the General Assembly's resolution in 2000 prohibiting smoking in some but not all areas was still valid. Therefore U.N. officials had to give a legal explanation of the total ban.

Annan last summer announced that U.N. headquarters, the last bastion of smoking in New York, would begin following the tough new anti-smoking law of its host city.

He cited health reasons and insurance costs in the high-rise building on Manhattan's East River that does not have a sprinkler system, and urged voluntary cooperation.

One of the chief protesters against the ban is Russia's veteran U.N. ambassador, Sergei Lavrov, a chain smoker.

At the annual U.N. correspondents' association dinner on Oct. 22, Nane Annan, wife of the secretary-general, made a point of teasing Lavrov.

"One of your favorite ambassadors has already told you that the 'secretary-general can by all means tell his underlings what to do, but not members of diplomatic missions.'" she said. "I guess the ambassador must have been fuming at the time."

[JoJo Gunn]

Even tyrants and thugs and dictators and all the other various Leftist golden calves don't like the Smoke Nazis™.

[lady lawyer]

The smoky atmosphere inside that building really is nasty. But it's that way in most parts of the world.

[BARLF]

Coffe rules, why are the underlings complaining?

Oh good! No sprinkler system.

[swarthyguy]

Good, I hope they tell Bloomberg to blow smoke out of his arse.

[Pompah]

Nothing bugs a tyrant like another tyrant.

Smoke'm if you got'm.

[lodwick]

The one thing I can get with the un losers - smok'em guys.

[billorites]

A few years ago the President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, went into the hospital to have a lung removed.

A photograph appeared in the papers showing his surgeon, the night before the operation, sitting on the edge of Havel's bed consulting with him.

Both of them had cigarettes in their mouths.

[Mears]

Puff!!!!!

[JoJo Gunn]

Must've been asbestos did him in....

[nothingnew]

PUFF!

FMCDH

[Mears]

And Vaclav Havel is still alive and kicking and in his mid sixties.

[stylin19a]

Actually, a smoking ban in the UN building would be a good thing. Like gin joints and restraunts, business will be down cause smokers wont go there anymore. Pretty soon, it will have to close down. The U.N. building closed down is a good thing.

[SheLion]

Oh brother.............

[SheLion]

I didn't mean "Oh brother" about the smokers protesting. I said "Oh brother" because of the idiots wanting to instigate this damn ban!

[SheLion]

The smoky atmosphere inside that building really is nasty. But it's that way in most parts of the world.

Oh yea, the huge smoke eaters don't mean nothing!

You ever see the high ceilings in that place?????

[Gabz]

Actually, a smoking ban in the UN building would be a good thing. Like gin joints and restraunts, business will be down cause smokers wont go there anymore. Pretty soon, it will have to close down. The U.N. building closed down is a good thing.

If that could be guaranteed, I would go along with you. But since it won't happen - I'm glad they're standing up to anan and Bloominidiot.

[SheLion]

Good, I hope they tell Bloomberg to blow smoke out of his arse.

[swarthyguy]

Most support for the UN ever expressed on FR!

See what u've done, Bloomputz?

[Elkiejg]

Most support for the UN ever expressed on FR!

DITTO!!!!