Succession to Ms S.Ogata

[Nicoletta_DENTICO@rome.msf.org (Nicoletta DENTICO)]

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saluti a tutti, e buona estate!

Nicoletta Dentico

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Subject: Succession to Ms S.Ogata
Author:  MSF-International-GVA at MSF-GENEVA
Date:    26/07/00 10.27


     Chers amis,
     
     With the end of the year approaching speculations are flourishing as 
     to who is going to succed Ms Sadako Ogata in the post of UN High 
     Commissioner for Refugees. You may have read the article in the 
     International Herald Tribune in which some NGOs outlined the 
     qualifications that in their views the future HC should have. There 
     has been subsequently a letter to the IHT by Frank Peel, a well known 
     journalist in Geneva, suggesting that the appointment of the HC 
     should be the subject of an open debate, rather than leaving it to 
     unofficial discussions with the Secretary General.
     At present, the French are supporting Bernard Kouchner; rumors are 
     also that Sergio Viera de Mello,Brasilian, presently Special 
     Representative of Kofi Annan in East Timor, has a good position in the 
     run and that the uncle of the present King of Jordan has some views in 
     the post. Soren Jessen Petersen, the Danish Assistant High 
     Commissioner, is also actively campaining and apparently with the 
     support of the Scandinavian countries. For sometimes the name of 
     Atisari, the former president of Finland, was on top of the list, but 
     we understand that he has declined (which is a pity because I believe 
     he would have been a good HC) for health reasons.
     In his letter to the Herald Tribune Frank Peel has mentioned among 
     others also the names of Hilary Clinton and Graça Machel and for the 
     first time the name of the Swiss "Conseiller d'Etat" Guy-Olivier 
     Segond. It should be noted that at the moment there are no Swiss in 
     the top positions of the international organizations and Switzerland 
     has always shown great interest in contributing to humanitarian 
     affairs.
     
     Amitiés
     Robert