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How GA President Kerim Spends Money Questioned as Part of Reform by France and Indonesia

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: 2nd in a series - 1st

UNITED NATIONS, March 19 -- The day after the President of the General Assembly Srgjan Kerim acknowledged to Inner City Press that his rent and salary is paid by the Government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and called for a reform in which this would be prohibited and funds provided by the UN itself, two Ambassadors on the Security Council raised questions about Kerim's proposal. France's Deputy Permanent Representative Jean-Pierre Lacroix said "there is already an envelope" of funds given to Kerim's office, "it's more a question of how is it used, frankly." The General Assembly has voted $280,000 a year for the Office of the President of the General Assembly, which Kerim's spokesman has told Inner City Press is devoted only to "travel and representation as well as transportation, communication and security related costs."

            "I didn't know that was the arrangement," Indonesia's Permanent Representative Marty Natalegawa told Inner City Press. He said that before any hasty decision is reached to give the President of the General Assembly more money, a broader context must be considered, the possible precedent it would set for such posts as the "chairs of various committees, forums and processes."

  While Ban Ki-moon has spoken of the need for transparency and reform to try to bring about greater public confidence in the UN system, when Inner City Press on Wednesday asked his spokesperson Michele Montas if he believes the President of the General Assembly should be funded by the UN, or by outside parties, she replied that "we don't have to comment on this... this does not have anything to do with the reform program."

 Told of Kerim's position that currently no rules apply to whom he takes money from, Amb. Natalegawa asked rhetorically, "So all options are open, then."

            Sources told Inner City Press that its story about Kerim's acceptance of rent in Essex House and a salary have summoned an inevitable comparison to what is paid to legislators and the president in FYROM, and its UN Ambassador in New York. Talk has begun that FYROM sought recoupment from Kerim's employer, the WAZ media group -- if so, Amb. Natalegawa would be right, all options have been open.     Questions have arisen regarding whether the proper authorizations were obtained before these payments to Mr. Kerim began.

Messrs. Kerim, Bush and Ban: outside funding not a reform issue?

  From the Balkans, it can be viewed that Kerim masterfully deflected an inquiry into what funding he has been and is taking into a broader called for reform, delivered to Inner City Press by Kerim's spokesman:

   "President Kerim has always maintained that all costs related to the post and functioning of the General Assembly President should be covered through the regular UN budget... rather than the makeshift arrangements that currently exist.

   "This would ensure each elected President has an equal opportunity to deliver results -- whether from a developed or developing country, no matter how large or small. An entirely UN funded budget would enhance the independence of the President, and increase transparency and accountability to Member States."

            Lost in this proposal, seen from the Balkans, are the specifics of what has been received. Developing.

Footnote: from the transcript of Wednesday's UN noon briefing:

Inner City Press: yesterday, the President of the General Assembly, Srgjan Kerim, acknowledged that, while serving as President of the General Assembly, he has been receiving both rent and salaries from the Government of The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.  He said that he believes that this either presents a conflict, or unbearable pressure to do favors for those who provide the funding, and called for the position to be funded by the UN itself, given that he is the UN's top elected official.  The UK said that they support that.  Does Ban Ki-moon believe that the President of the General Assembly should be funded by the UN, or by outside parties?

Spokesperson:  We don't have to comment on this.  This is a matter for the General Assembly.  Whatever is budgeted for the President of the General Assembly is done by the General Assembly.  So I don't think the Secretary-General has anything to say about this.

Inner City Press: You don't see it as a UN reform issue, the top elected official being funded by an outside party?

Spokesperson: No, this does not have anything to do with the reform program.  Of course, you know, I am sure there are reform issues that are being introduced by the General Assembly, and Member States can introduce such reforms, particularly in General Assembly affairs.  But, this is not a matter for the Secretary-General himself.

  We'll see. Watch this site.

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These reports are usually also available through Google News and on Lexis-Nexis.

Click here for a Reuters AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click here for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund.  Video Analysis here

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