Dutch UNDP employee received housing subsidy from Netherlands government

January 14, 2008 
The Associated Press
Original Source: http://www.pr-inside.com/dutch-undp-employee-received-housing-subsidy-r385686.htm

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) - A Dutch diplomat who served as a top manager at the U.N. Development Program from 2002-2006 received a US$7,000 (¤4,700) per month housing subsidy from the government at the time, the Dutch government confirmed Monday.
Such a subsidy may violate U.N. rules.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Han Peters confirmed that Eveline Herfkens received the subsidy from November 2002 to January 2006, while she was serving as the Executive Coordinator of the UNDP's Millennium Campaign to eliminate poverty and assist developing nations.

Peters said it was Dutch policy to support citizens of the Netherlands serving in prominent positions in international organizations, and offer them comparable subsidies as a member of the Dutch diplomatic service would receive. «It's on a case-by-case basis,» he said.

He said the government was now examining whether the subsidy in Herfkens' case was improper.
«We need some time for that,» he said.

In an interview with daily newspaper NRC Handelsblad published Monday, Herfkens acknowledged receiving the subsidy and was quoted as saying she was unaware that such arrangements may violate U.N. rules.

She said she had requested the subsidy via the Dutch U.N. Embassy, which told her it was their policy to offer it.

«I wanted three rooms, 100 square meters and a balcony, otherwise you get claustrophobic in New York,» the paper quoted her saying.
«I would have been crazy not to take it _ otherwise I would have had a wall for a view,» she said.

The respected Dutch daily said it had interviewed Herfkens by phone from Colorado. She could not immediately be reached to confirm the remarks.

In a statement published on its web site on Jan. 9, the UNDP wrote it was «not aware of any rules Ms. Herfkens has knowingly broken to further her own interests.

In an undated later amendment, it wrote: «subsequent to issuing this statement, the UNDP spokesperson became aware of the details of the housing subsidy received by Mrs. Herfkens. UNDP is looking into this issue, including whether receipt of the subsidy violated the applicable UNDP staff rules, and whether (she) was aware of the rules.

The UNDP said it was also working to determine whether Herfkens broke any rules by applying for a U.S. green card in 2006.