Ruud Lubbers
Posted on 02/18/2005 4:31:00 PM PST by mathprof
U.N. refugee chief Ruud Lubbers insisted Friday that allegations of sexual harassment against him were "made up" and "slander," and said U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan did not request his resignation. But Annan's office said the focus of their meeting was Lubbers' future in the United Nations.
At an impromptu news conference after the meeting, Lubbers said he intends to complete his five-year term. "That will mean at the end of this year, January 2006, you will see a new high commissioner," he said.
Rumors that Annan wants Lubbers to step down as U.N. high commissioner for refugees intensified following publication Friday by the British newspaper, The Independent, of details of a previously secret U.N. investigation of allegations that Lubbers sexually harassed a female employee.
Lubbers, who is from the Netherlands, told reporters "the secretary-general didn't ask me to resign."
However, a preliminary U.N. statement on their meeting left no doubt that his future was the primary topic.
"While some other issues were discussed between the secretary-general and High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers today, their main focus was Mr. Lubbers' future in the organization, particularly in light of recent developments — including today's press coverage," the statement said.
"At this stage, the secretary-general does not want to elaborate further," it said.
Annan has come under fire from the U.N. Staff Union for rejecting the investigation by the U.N. watchdog, the Office of Internal Oversight Services known, as OIOS, which concluded that Lubbers did engage in sexual harassment.
The secretary-general concluded that the charge could not be legally sustained, but raised strong concerns about the incident and possible attempts to influence the investigation.
The Independent published a detailed description of the woman's allegations, plus statements from four other women who didn't file official complaints but claimed they were sexually harassed
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...
Must be a typo. How about "Luud Rubbers?"
Isn't this the sequel to Deep Throat?
It is slander! Lubbers will NOT step down!! He has mansions in Paris, New York, Rio, Tokyo, each with a mistress and family, servants and memberships to maintain. He has an array of "special friends" in most of the refugee camps (if you know what I mean). He simply can not afford to step down. His cut from the UN aid supplies held back from refugees and sold on the local black market and the kickbacks from lower specs goods delivered and accepted as meeting specs is necessary to meet his life style and he won't step down. I believe the same is true for most of the senior UN staff who have gotten used to living off the "enhanced revenue opportunities" that their official duties provide.
bwahaha....he was put on double secret probation
Seems like a bunch of folks on the public dole delaying their "stepping down" until 2006 (well, two anyway). First the PBS head, now this UN guy. Conspiracy or coincidence?
Is there anyone in a UN leadership post who isn't a corrupt, pompous, hypocritical scumbag? On second thought, that's probably the primary qualification for the job.
Ruud Lubbers
His rug is on crooked, too.
This has got to be a joke.
thanks for your post. My thoughts ran along the same line. You should have heard Liz VArgas on ABC last night as they ran theis report and how the UN kept the women working for this guy rather than move them to other jobs. Soon Annan will have no friends.
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