By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, May 25 -- Earlier in his five year term as UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon announced a policy of mobility under which no official should serve in the same position for more than five years.
On May 25, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky for an update on the policy, specifically with regard to Ban's chief of staff Vijay Nambiar, political chief Lynn Pascoe, top peacekeeper Alain Le Roy, and his (and Kofi Annan's) adviser Robert Orr.
Nesirky answered that the policy is being considered by the General Assembly. While this may be true of wider human resources policy, Ban's implementation of his own stated ideals in his own cabinet does not require outside approval.
While Inner City Press is informed of impending changes with regard to the above-named officials, what is most striking is what sources say about Bob Orr trying to replace Nambiar as Ban's chief of staff, despite his already long service in the Executive Office of the Secretary General.
As noted, Nambiar has refused to take any questions from the press, despite a formal request from the UN correspondents' association.
There's said by UN sources to be another Frenchman in line to eventually replace Le Roy, and another American for Pascoe -- unless the UK gets its wish to “get DPA back” and thereby releases Valerie Amos from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Meanwhile, the spirit of mobility is being violated, in the name of “Change Management.” With Edmond Mulet returning from Haiti to reclaim “his” post as Deputy chief of DPKO, the current holder of this post Atul Khare must leave.
But Khare is not of retirement age, and his native India wants to keep a high post, particularly if Nambiar's to leave.
So what does Ban do? Inner City Press twice asked Ban's spokesman Nesirky without getting an answer. Now multiple sources tell Inner City Press that Ban's solution is to create a new post for Khare, called Assistant Secretary General for Change Management, which will report to Deputy S-G Migiro. As one source said, “this is how you make sure nothing changes.”
From the UN's noon briefing transcript of May 23:
Inner City Press: Just factually, I wanted to know, I think Mr. [Edmond] Mulet is coming back from Haiti, from his time in Haiti at the end of this month. And some had said he is going to become the Deputy in DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations]. Is that true, and what happens to Mr. [Atul] Khare, does he remain with DPKO or does he--
Spokesperson Martin Nesirky: Yeah, you asked that question by e-mail on Friday, and when we have an answer we’ll let you know, okay?
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