By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, April 17 – After claims of transparency, the UN not only refuses to disclosure financial information but waited until 6:30 pm on April 13, the day before the Good Friday holiday, to announce one Regional Commission job retained and three jobs given out: in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Why do a news-dump even on this? And why have nothing to say about the fifth Commission, in Latin America? At the next UN noon briefing on April 17, Inner City Press asked - and typically, from the UN's holdover spokesman Stephane Dujarric, got no explanation. From the UN transcript: Inner City Press: On the regional commissions, I guess, I just wanted… I did see that Thursday after-hours announcement, but what I wondered is that there seem to be… there are five commissions, if I’m correct. And you made announcements about three… three have new leaders. One… there was, the person was asked to stay on. What about the ECLAC in Latin America? Why was there no…
Spokesman: Ms Bárcena, as far as I know, is, continues to head it.
Inner City Press: Is there… so the Ban Ki-moon sort of five-year-rule idea is no longer applicable.
[inaudible]
Spokesman: That’s not what I said.
Inner City Press: No, but I’m wondering…
Spokesman: No, that’s not what I said. The Secretary-General will make the changes he feels are necessary in due time. Thank you.
Spokesman: Ms Bárcena, as far as I know, is, continues to head it.
Inner City Press: Is there… so the Ban Ki-moon sort of five-year-rule idea is no longer applicable.
[inaudible]
Spokesman: That’s not what I said.
Inner City Press: No, but I’m wondering…
Spokesman: No, that’s not what I said. The Secretary-General will make the changes he feels are necessary in due time. Thank you.
Thanks for nothing. Here are the three, including Iraq's affable UN Ambassador and an official from Cameroon, on which Guterres' holdover spokesman Stephane Dujarric earlier spun: "For the position of Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission on Africa (ECA), the Secretary-General has selected Vera Songwe of Cameroon... For the position of Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the Secretary-General has selected Olga Algayerova of Slovakia, who since 2012 is Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the International Organisations in Vienna, Austria... For the position of Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the Secretary-General has selected Mohamed Ali Alhakim of Iraq, who since 2013 is the Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Iraq to the United Nations. Mr. Alhakim brings to the position deep knowledge of the governmental landscape in the region, coupled with strong networks across the region."
The UN Secretariat of Guterres and his Deputy Amina J. Mohammed are moving to take over the UN Development Program's "Resident Coordinator" system and the funding that goes with it, multiple sources have told Inner City Press. Inner City Press asked about it again on April 13, below. But Guterres' spokespeople refuse to confirm, deny or explain it, in continued lack of transparency. Whereas for now, until April 19, outgoing UNDP Administrator Helen Clark chairs the UN Development Group, Amina Mohammed would take it over before the new Administrator Achim Steiner is installed. On April 13, Inner City Press asked Guterres' holdover spokesman Stephane Dujarric, video here, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: on the Resident Coordinator proposal, the proposal, as I understand it, for the Resident Coordinator system to be moved from UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] to the Secretariat, I wanted to know, Farhan, I think, in one of your absences said, when it's decided and approved, we'll justify it. It seems like, if it's… there are many even Member States concerned about it, but also, there's people impacted by UNDP that would like to know, what's the rationale for the proposal? And has Achim Steiner, the nominee for UNDP, signed off on this loss of power by UNDP?
Spokesman: First of all, again, I think I will refer you to the last analogy I gave you. There is, as the Secretary-General said he would do, a review of the UN Development System that is ongoing and that is being consulted, being led by the Deputy Secretary-General. Once we have something to announce, we will. But, obviously, everyone who's needed to be consulted is being consulted.
As for who the next head of UNDP will be, that is something that will be announced in due course when all the "Ts" have been crossed and all the "Is" have been dotted.
Inner City Press: If the commitment to gender is, as you said in answer to the question about the stated policy, how would that be consistent with the head of peacekeeping being a male and the head of UNDP being a male? How would that be consistent?
Spokesman: I think one has to look holistically at the system.
Spokesman: First of all, again, I think I will refer you to the last analogy I gave you. There is, as the Secretary-General said he would do, a review of the UN Development System that is ongoing and that is being consulted, being led by the Deputy Secretary-General. Once we have something to announce, we will. But, obviously, everyone who's needed to be consulted is being consulted.
As for who the next head of UNDP will be, that is something that will be announced in due course when all the "Ts" have been crossed and all the "Is" have been dotted.
Inner City Press: If the commitment to gender is, as you said in answer to the question about the stated policy, how would that be consistent with the head of peacekeeping being a male and the head of UNDP being a male? How would that be consistent?
Spokesman: I think one has to look holistically at the system.
Back on March 24, Inner City Press again asked Guterres' holdover deputy spokesman Farhan Haq, UN transcript here:
Inner City Press: two things about UNDP [United Nations Development Programme]. One is Ségolène Royal, the French Minister of Environment, has now said publicly that she is a candidate to head UNDP. So I wanted to know, is there going to be any kind of, like, short list announced? I know, under some previous Administrations, there were for such top jobs. Do you anticipate announcing… given that one candidate has said publicly… there are other names I would like you to confirm. Mr. [Bert] Koenders is running, Mr. [David] Miliband, Ms. [Sigrid] Kaag. Do you anticipate there being a public process so that people know who the candidates are?
Deputy Spokesman: I don't anticipate us providing a short list. That process was discontinued almost a decade ago.
Inner City Press: Okay. Then my other question is this. In terms of candidates knowing what the job entails, because it remains open until 27 March to apply for it, I'd like… I tried to ask you yesterday about the Secretariat trying to get funding for the Resident Coordinator system, but I want to ask you more directly. Is it the intention of the Secretary-General and his Deputy Secretary-General to have Amina Mohammed become the chair of the UN Development Group, a position previously belonging to the administrator of UNDP, and essentially bring the Resident Coordinator system under the Secretariat? And, in part, I think you should disclose it, but certainly, if people are applying, does the UNDP job they're applying for include heading the Resident Coordinator system?
Deputy Spokesman: Any reforms to the way the UN Development Group is organized is something we'll announce if that change is made. Right now, there hasn't been, and there's nothing to announce about the Resident Coordinator system.
Inner City Press: But when a reform is being proposed, usually, like, most… in most systems, the proponent of the reform discusses it publicly, argues for it. Are you saying it's a totally secret process of reform?
Deputy Spokesman: No, no, but if there's any need… there's some things that go to lower levels of discussion that never get to become policy discussions. If there's any real major change of policy that we're planning, of course, we'll announce that. But we don't have… we're not at that stage.
Deputy Spokesman: I don't anticipate us providing a short list. That process was discontinued almost a decade ago.
Inner City Press: Okay. Then my other question is this. In terms of candidates knowing what the job entails, because it remains open until 27 March to apply for it, I'd like… I tried to ask you yesterday about the Secretariat trying to get funding for the Resident Coordinator system, but I want to ask you more directly. Is it the intention of the Secretary-General and his Deputy Secretary-General to have Amina Mohammed become the chair of the UN Development Group, a position previously belonging to the administrator of UNDP, and essentially bring the Resident Coordinator system under the Secretariat? And, in part, I think you should disclose it, but certainly, if people are applying, does the UNDP job they're applying for include heading the Resident Coordinator system?
Deputy Spokesman: Any reforms to the way the UN Development Group is organized is something we'll announce if that change is made. Right now, there hasn't been, and there's nothing to announce about the Resident Coordinator system.
Inner City Press: But when a reform is being proposed, usually, like, most… in most systems, the proponent of the reform discusses it publicly, argues for it. Are you saying it's a totally secret process of reform?
Deputy Spokesman: No, no, but if there's any need… there's some things that go to lower levels of discussion that never get to become policy discussions. If there's any real major change of policy that we're planning, of course, we'll announce that. But we don't have… we're not at that stage.
Inner City Press on March 23 asked or tried to ask Guterres himself, as he left the UN Security Council along with Katrin Hett: "Is the Secretariat tryig to take over the Resident Coordinator system?" Guterres as is his way for now did not answer. Vine video here and here. Ongoing YouTube here. Guterres heads out on a trip from March 24 to April 3. We'll have more on this.
