U.N. Refugee Chief Resigns Over Scandal

Associated Press | February 20, 2005

[HAL9000]

UNITED NATIONS, (AP) -- U.N. refugee chief Ruud Lubbers told Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Sunday he was resigning because of a lack of confidence in him over sexual harassment charges.

Lubbers' letter of resignation as U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees was sent to Annan on Sunday, a spokesman said.

[deepFR]

U.N. refugee chief Ruud Lubbers told Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Sunday he was resigning because of a lack of confidence in him over sexual harassment charges.

Would that Clinton had done the same.

[MarkT]

Of all things...count your blessings because if Clinton had the integrity of this clown, Al Gore would have been president instead of Bush (his first term) and may very well have won re-election...thank God neither Clinton nor Gore had any integrity.

[SmithL]

No fooling.

[Dutch Boy]

The UN sure is under a bit of pressure these days. I wonder if this is a begining of something bigger. If we get really lucky , the rest of the world might start realizing that the UN is not worth the effort it takes to sustain it.

[maine-iac7]

Ruud Lubbers

something about the name calls out for a smart remark - but I take a smart-holiday on Sundays

[Libloather]

U.N. Refugee Chief Resigns Over Scandal
8 minutes ago

UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. refugee chief told Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Sunday he was resigning because of a lack of confidence in him over sexual harassment allegations.

Ruud Lubbers' letter of resignation as U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees was sent to Annan on Sunday, a spokesman said.

"The complaint of sexual harassment could not be substantiated," Lubbers wrote.

"For more than four years I gave all my energy to UNHCR. Now in the middle of a series of problems and with ongoing media pressure you apparently view this differently."

After allegations first surfaced last year that Lubbers made unwanted sexual advances toward a female employee, Annan said there were insufficient grounds to fire him.

But on Friday, Annan consulted lawyers, clearly angered at the resurgence of sexual harassment allegations following publication by the British newspaper, The Independent, of details of a previously secret U.N. investigation of allegations that Lubbers sexually harassed a female employee. That report included graphic details.

Lubbers maintained his innocence and noted that Annan had closed the case in July after obtaining legal advice.

Indicating the secretary-general had decided it was time for him to go, Lubbers said, "To be frank, and despite all my loyalty, insult has now been added to injury and therefore I resign as high commissioner."

He criticized U.N. investigators of compiling a biased report and of constantly leaking developments to the news media, and he rejected the investigators' allegation that employees feared retaliation if they complained.

"There was no retaliation at all," Lubbers said.

Lubbers told Annan he would continue to be available to UNHCR "until you have found the successor and she or he is confirmed by the General Assembly and ready to take over."

At an impromptu news conference Friday after his meeting with Annan, Lubbers said allegations of sexual harassment against him were "made up" and "slander," and said Annan did not ask for his resignation.

[skinkinthegrass]

Would that Clinton had done the same.

HA!..Lubber And Bubba, were in "It" only for the "perks" (aka Moanica L.), anyways...once the their term(s) was over, the "perks" were gone...why stay around.

[Valin]

http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=75035

U.N. refugee chief resigns:
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 : U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has accepted the resignation of High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers following sexual harassment allegations.

Lubbers had been accused last year of harassing a female staff member in his Geneva office, but an investigation found the charges could not be substantiated. Still, it was understood Lubbers had been cautioned by Annan on his behavior.

A statement was released Sunday at U.N. World Headquarters in New York saying Annan had accepted the resignation.

"He wants to take this opportunity to thank the high commissioner for the devotion and the commitment he has shown to refugees and the office of the high commissioner over the past four years," it said. "However, the secretary-general is convinced that it is in the best interest of UNHCR, its staff and the refugees it serves that the page be

turned and a new chapter be started.

"While the secretary-general had accepted legal advice that the original allegations made against Lubbers could not be substantiated, the continuing controversy has made the high commissioner's position impossible," it said. "He is therefore pleased that Lubbers has made this decision in the wider interest of UNHCR."


Copyright 2005 by United Press International