Posted on 07/15/2004 4:47:15 PM PDT by mcar
Lubbers cleared of UN sex claim
Lubbers denied he had been involved in any improper behaviour One of the UN's most senior figures has been cleared of sexual harassment by Secretary General Kofi Annan. Mr Annan said a complaint against High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers could not be sustained.
But he made clear his "concerns" about the way the former Dutch premier handled the incident.
Mr Lubbers says an American woman on his staff misconstrued a "friendly gesture" he made on leaving a meeting towards the end of 2003.
The 65-year-old Dutchman has been under investigation since early May.
He strongly denied any wrongdoing towards the 51-year-old member of staff.
'Strong concerns'
The New York Times said the claim had been made by an American woman who had worked for the UNHCR for many years.
The paper also reported that Mr Lubbers later wrote to her at home asking her to drop the complaint.
Mr Annan found that the complaint against Mr Lubbers "cannot be sustained by the evidence," UN associate spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
However, Mr Annan said in a letter to staff of the Office of the UN High Commission for Refugees that he had written to Mr Lubbers "conveying in the strongest terms my concerns about the incident which gave rise to the complaint."
The secretary-general said the letter also expressed concern "about subsequent events during the investigation, some of which may have been construed as likely to influence the course of the investigation."
Mr Annan's spokesman said the matter was now "considered closed" and that efforts were being made to "rebuild trust and confidence" among UNHCR staff.
Lubbers? Lou-burrs ? Is he a memeber of the alternative lifestyle choice crowd ? Luber ?
In other words, Kofi told him that he did a bad thing by getting caught and that, next time, give her a convincing enough threat that she won't turn him in. The only thing Kofi cares about here is the bad publicity and additional paperwork.
Ban the pervert from ever stepping foot into this country!
The article doesn't even say what the guy did. You're too quick to judge!
"Move along little ladies. We powerful men have investigated this "incident" and found nothing to be concerned with here. Just a little cultural miscue. No need to call a sexual harassment attorney."
The original complaint, filed on May 5 by a 51-year-old American with 20 years service at the refugee office who is an administrator in its human resources department, alleged, according to associates, that Mr. Lubbers had "grabbed her behind" as she left a staff meeting in his office in December.
She's lucky he didn't seller her to a brothel in Bosnia or somwhere.
too quick to judge?
Nope - they are U.N. - THAT is crime enough!
He's lucky she didn't send him to sing with the Vienna boy's choir.
What is "UN-sex" and why would someone be accused of it? Doesn't sound like very much fun anyway.
Is there an attorney in the house?
Didn't know that. Yep, he was out of line.
Didn't know he grabbed her behind. I would have introduced him to my right knee.
ditto
ping for later
thanks!
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