U.N. Union Asks Ban To Make UNDP Accept Ethics Finding

August 31, 2007
New York Sun
Original Source: http://www.nysun.com/article/61675
UNITED NATIONS — In the latest twist on the U.N. Development Program's North Korea scandal, the largest U.N. staff union yesterday called on Secretary-General Ban to direct the UNDP administrator to comply with the findings of the organization's Ethics Office, which determined that the agency's higher-ups had retaliated against the whistleblower who had exposed the scandal.
The unprecedented resolution of the U.N. Staff Council, passed on Wednesday, presents a setback for the UNDP administrator, Kemal Dervis of Turkey, and his Dutch deputy, Ad Melkert. The development agency is attempting to quash an investigation into the way the employment contract of a former UNDP office manager in North Korea, Artjon Shkurtaj, a 13-year U.N. veteran, was terminated in March.
Earlier this month, the director of the recently created U.N. Ethics Office, Robert Benson, found prima facie evidence that Mr. Shkurtaj's firing was a case of retaliation for his attempt to expose wrongdoing in the UNDP North Korea program. In response, Mr. Dervis argued that the Ethics Office, which was created by the General Assembly, has no jurisdiction over the independently funded development agency and said the UNDP board of directors would instead name its own independent investigator.
In its resolution, the Staff Council, the executive body of the U.N. Staff Union, voted to request the secretary-general to direct the administrator, UNDP, to comply fully with the Ethics Office, rather than launch its own investigation.
Both Mr. Ban and the American ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, have said they would lobby with General Assembly members to give the Ethics Office jurisdiction over all U.N. agencies. However, Mr. Ban had said he would not object to the UNDP's attempt to name an independent investigator.
Mr. Shkurtaj told The New York Sun yesterday that the council resolution presented a victory in his efforts to be rehired.