By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, July 5 -- On the day France was questioned in the Security Council about arguably violating Council resolutions 1970 and 1973 in Libya, the name of a French diplomat to replace Alain Le Roy as head of UN Peacekeeping was leaked to Inner City Press: Jerome Bonnafont.
Weeks before Le Roy announced he will leave on or before August 23, Inner City Press reported that he would leave. At the time, the favorite to replace him was Eric Chevalier, an aide to Bernard Kouchner in Kosovo.
Some pointed out riffs between Kouchner and President Sarkozy, and Chevalier's lack of military experience. One senior UN official said of Chevalier, “It would be a disaster.” For that reason or not, well placed sources in the UN North Lawn building say the new name is Jerome Bonnafont.
Bonnafont has served most recently as French Ambassador to India, and before that as Spokesman to to President of the French Republic. Like Chevalier, he has no visible military experience.
While in India, he puffed up France's involvement in Afghanistan. He has paraded at Men's Fashion Week in New Delhi on September 11, 2009. The sources describe Bonnafont as an “order taker.” But from where? Watch this site.
