Here are some of the latest highlights from UNForum.com, an online publication covering “overheard” news at the UN and produced by Samir Sanbar, who was assistant secretary-general for the UN Department of Public Information from 1994 to 1998 and was a special envoy of the UN secretary-general in 1993. The views represented by UN Forum belong to that site alone.
From The Insider: You can’t misunderstand Gen. Robert Mood, even if you tried. The veteran Norwegian senior officer, who is a veteran of several UN field assignments, has just been designated as Chief of UN Military Observers in Syria. A talented soldier who is similarly a shrewd diplomat, General Mood has served in UNIFIL, Lebanon and … Read more
A serious shortage of funds for the renovation of the substantially gutted Secretariat compound has left the UN scrambling. Over $1.8 billion in overruns have accrued “due to inflation and delays in execution,” according to a statement by officials of the Capital Master Plan. There was no convincing presentation as to where the money really … Read more
Newly appointed Under-Secretary General for Management, Yukio Takasu, has 40 years of wide experience in multilateral work. He was Japan’s Permanent Representative to the U.N.; member and President of the Security Council; Head of U.N. Affairs at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; member of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; Special Advisor of the … Read more
