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Under Ban, UNDP
Short List Not Public, Of Pirated Computers in Albania
Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of
Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
UNITED
NATIONS, January 30 --
With candidates for the top post at the UN Development Program circling
like
sharks, Inner City Press on January 30 asked Ban Ki-moon's Deputy
Spokesperson Marie
Okabe to confirm that the Dutch government has thrown Ad Melkert's name
into
contention, to state if there are other names and if the short list
will be public.
Ms. Okabe pulled out a piece of paper and read a statement about it
being a
"transparent" process. Inner City Press asked, does that mean the
short list will be public? "No it will not," Okabe said. Video here,
from Minute 1:04:12.
Ban Ki-moon came into the UN saying he would
increase transparency. Last
time the top spot at UNDP was open, when Mark Malloch Brown left the
post, Kofi
Annan make public the short list. Ad Melkert came in second, behind the
now-departing Kemal Dervis. Now Ban
won't even live up to the modest transparency standard set by Kofi
Annan. And
no explanation is provided.
Kofi Annan with Stephane Dujarric,
short list and Albania procurement not shown
In other UNDP news, Inner City Press on January 29
asked the following,
to which UNDP's Spokesman Stephane Dujarric -- formerly Kofi Annan's
spokesman
-- responded at deadline in capital letters:
Italian
media
http://rinascitabalcanica.com/?read=17891
as well as Albanian Television
www.top-channel.tv/new/artikull.php?id=141665
have reported that Italian custom
authorities of Taranto Port in Italy have blocked a shipment of
"pirated
computers"
- Does UNDP Albania has a project called e-schooling program of Albania
(2005-2009) ?
UNDP ALBANIA SUPPORTS THE BROADER GOVERNMENT OF ALBANIA E-SCHOOLS
INITIATIVE
WITH A PROJECT CALLED “E-SCHOOLS PROGRAMME”. THE UNDP PROJECT HAS BEEN
RUNNING
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2006, AND IS EXPECTED TO COMPLETE ACTIVITIES MID
2009.
- Was the above shipment part of this program ?
NO. THE SHIPMENT YOU MENTION IS NOT RELATED TO THE PROGRAMME.
- What has been achieved so far from UNDP Albania in relation to this
program ?
UNDP ALBANIA’S ROLE ON THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN MAINLY FOCUSED ON THE
PROVISION OF
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND POLICY GUIDANCE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF ICT IN
PRIMARY
AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THIS INCLUDES ICT
LEARNING
METHODOLOGIES AND CURRICULA AS WELL AS TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TRAINING
TO
ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS IN ALL SUBJECTS USING ICT. THUS
THE
BUDGET OF THE UNDP PROJECT OF E-SCHOOLS DOES NOT COVERE EQUIPMENT
PURCHASE.
PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT IS COVERED BY THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT BUDGET AND
OTHER
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS.
ALL PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN ALBANIA ARE NOW EQUIPPED WITH
MODERN
COMPUTER LABS. A NEW MODERN ICT CURRICULUM IS BEING DEVELOPED AND
IMPLEMENTED FOR
ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS. TRAINING OF TEACHERS AND TRAINERS ON ICT
BASICS,
USE OF COMPUTERS AND BASIC INTERNET TECHNIQUES AS WELL AS COMPUTER AND
NETWORK
TROUBLESHOOTING HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.
- Did UNDP Albania use UN and other International foras to advertise
procurement
of the equipment for this project?
AS STATED ABOVE, UNDP WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE PROCUREMENT OF THE SAID
EQUIPMENT. UNDER OTHER PROJECTS THAT INVOLVE PROCUREMENT ACTIVITIES,
UNDP
ALBANIA USES INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL AND UN FORA TO ADVERTISE ACCORDING
TO UN
PROCUREMENT GUIDELINES.
- Who won the Contract for provision of equipments for e-schooling
program ?
WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT.
- Did UNDP issued the Purchase order for the above equipment ?
WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT.
- What is the Program Execution modality for this program?
THE UNDP E-SCHOOLS PROGRAMME IS EXECUTED BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
AND
SCIENCE UNDER THE UNDP NATIONAL EXECUTION (NEX) MODALITY.
We'll
see...
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Press Nov. 7 debate on the war in Congo
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and this October 17 debate, on
Security Council and Obama and the UN.
* * *
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undefined trust fund. Video
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