UN staff lose faith in Kofi Annan

iafrica.com ^ | 19 Nov 2004 | Marc Carnegie

[paudio]

UN employees were readying on Friday to make a historic vote of no confidence in scandal-plagued Secretary General Kofi Annan, sources told AFP.

The UN staff union, in what officials said was the first vote of its kind in the more than 50-year history of the United Nations, was set to approve a resolution withdrawing its support for the embattled Annan and UN management.

Annan has been in the line of fire over a high-profile series of scandals including controversy about a UN aid programme that investigators say allowed deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to embezzle billions of dollars.

[paudio]

I read this in a non-US news, but haven't seen it in any US old media.

[SkyPilot]

They know the oil for food scandal has legs---and there is hard evidence.

They don't want to go down with him and lose their jobs.

[Uncle Vlad]

Why stop there? It's time to hold a vote and blow out the U.N. completely. All those in favor?

[musicman]

Maybe Kofi should have "trickled down" a little of his OFF
"winnings"....

[w1andsodidwe]

The re-election of President Bush continues to reap dividends. This would not be happening if a President Kerry was in our future.

[odoso]

That's nice... But we (U.S.) still need to kick these spies out of our country. Then it's an even nicer story.

[eyespysomething]

I heard a blip on Fox News this a.m.

[Lijahsbubbe]

What an evil man he is. Right on the level of Arafat and Saddam.

[Wiz]

E-mail it to FOX news. They will be happy to report it.

[Republican Red]

It was reported on Fox. I don't think they have made the vote official yet.

The reason for the no confidence vote has nothing to do with the Oil for Food Scandal. Staff are ticked about a whitewash investigation of a sexual harrassment case of a bigwig UN official. Kofi exonerated the guy without investigating.

This reminds me of Al Capone being convicted for tax evasion instead of the violent crimes he committed.

[sure_fine]

"..I read this in a non-US news, but haven't seen it in any US old media."

they have mentioned it several times on FNC this morning

[BluH2o]

Annan runs the U.N. the way most African nations are managed ... either on the verge of anarchy, or in the throes of anarchy.

[txrangerette]

Fox News carried it as "breaking" early this a.m. A Sky News field reporter was speaking from where this key group was about to meet and take this vote. He said it was all about Annan giving a free ride to two high-ranking U.N. officials who have been accused of sexual harassment.

[Wiz]

It's time to clean out the coalition of corruption, the coalition involved in the oil corruption of Iraq, including Russia, China, and France. They should be kicked out of permanent member of the security council and be replaced by pro-Iraq War countries, such as Poland, Japan, and Italy. We should also replace Kofi Anan to some one who supported Iraq War. that will make United Nations a better place.

[Wiz]

Good, I might have missed that too.

[rs79bm]

Annan is a big part of what is wrong with the U.N., but not the only thing. Having an organization that backs the U.S. once in a while would be a help.

[evad]

my my..how things change..

The Secretary-General is appointed to a five year term. UN Secretaries-General normally spend two terms in office; however, sometimes, they will serve only one. The position of UN Secretary-General is supposed to rotate by geographic region, but that rule is often broken; since Mr Boutros-Ghali served only one term, a successor that was also from Africa was chosen, Kofi Annan, and after Mr Annan had finished his first term, the member states were so impressed with Annan's performance that he was appointed for a second term

[OXENinFLA]

Yeah, I'd say this is big.....

google news search.

[roaddog727]

Bump!

[kiwi_hawk]

About time. His son is in it up to his neck as well, how can dad not know. I am waiting with baited breath for Benon Sevon to come tumbling down after his indignant denials on 'BBC's Hardtalk one time.