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Resignation of Top U.N. Relief Official Sets Up Clash Resignation of Top U.N. Relief Official Sets Up Clash
(25 minutes later)
Valerie Amos, the top relief official at the United Nations, is resigning, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday, paving the way for a potential political showdown over her successor.Valerie Amos, the top relief official at the United Nations, is resigning, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday, paving the way for a potential political showdown over her successor.
The announcement followed speculation at the United Nations that Ms. Amos, 60, a Briton with a long career in humanitarian work, might soon step down after four years. But the timing was a surprise.The announcement followed speculation at the United Nations that Ms. Amos, 60, a Briton with a long career in humanitarian work, might soon step down after four years. But the timing was a surprise.
The resignation, which will be effective March 31, did not appear to be related to her performance — she was widely respected — but rather to political maneuvering in Britain, which has become accustomed to its citizens’ holding the post, the under secretary for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.The resignation, which will be effective March 31, did not appear to be related to her performance — she was widely respected — but rather to political maneuvering in Britain, which has become accustomed to its citizens’ holding the post, the under secretary for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.
Britain’s prime minister, David Cameron, has asked Mr. Ban to pick one of his political loyalists, Andrew Lansley, for the job. Mr. Ban’s office has pressed Britain for other candidates, two senior United Nations diplomats said. Britain’s prime minister, David Cameron, has asked Mr. Ban to pick one of his political loyalists, Andrew Lansley, for the job. Mr. Ban’s office has pressed Britain for other candidates, two senior United Nations diplomats said. Nominating only one person is unusual, but not unprecedented.
“For positions of this nature, the secretary general should have a choice and be given more than one name,” one of them said.“For positions of this nature, the secretary general should have a choice and be given more than one name,” one of them said.
Another expressed concern about political patronage and said the secretary general should have the authority to choose the right person for the job, without being pressured by a powerful member state. Mr. Ban, the diplomats said, could always open the position up to candidates from other countries. Another expressed concern about political patronage and said the secretary general should have the authority to choose the right person for the job, without pressure from a powerful member state. Mr. Ban, the diplomats said, could always invite candidates from other countries.
The issue goes to the heart of simmering complaints that what were once seen as international Civil Service posts have been “colonized,” as one Western diplomat put it, by specific countries.The issue goes to the heart of simmering complaints that what were once seen as international Civil Service posts have been “colonized,” as one Western diplomat put it, by specific countries.
It has become customary for these posts to be distributed among the biggest world powers, which are still more influential because they are permanent members of the Security Council.It has become customary for these posts to be distributed among the biggest world powers, which are still more influential because they are permanent members of the Security Council.
France has held the job of peacekeeping chief since 1997, and an American has run the World Food Program since 1992. Britain, like France and the United States, is a permanent member of the Security Council. China, another permanent member, has a citizen, Dr. Margaret Chan, running the World Health Organization, while a Russian diplomat, Yury Fedotov, heads the United Nations office in Vienna.France has held the job of peacekeeping chief since 1997, and an American has run the World Food Program since 1992. Britain, like France and the United States, is a permanent member of the Security Council. China, another permanent member, has a citizen, Dr. Margaret Chan, running the World Health Organization, while a Russian diplomat, Yury Fedotov, heads the United Nations office in Vienna.
A Briton has held the job of under secretary general for humanitarian affairs since 2007.A Briton has held the job of under secretary general for humanitarian affairs since 2007.
Mark Malloch Brown, a former United Nations deputy secretary general and a veteran British diplomat, criticized Britain’s pressure on Mr. Ban. “While other permanent members have pulled the same stunt in recent years, it degrades the authority of the S.G. and diminishes the secretariat,” he said in an email, using initials for the secretary general. “Britain should know better.”Mark Malloch Brown, a former United Nations deputy secretary general and a veteran British diplomat, criticized Britain’s pressure on Mr. Ban. “While other permanent members have pulled the same stunt in recent years, it degrades the authority of the S.G. and diminishes the secretariat,” he said in an email, using initials for the secretary general. “Britain should know better.”
While Ms. Amos was a political appointee, she came with a formidable background in aid issues. She had been Britain’s secretary of state for development.While Ms. Amos was a political appointee, she came with a formidable background in aid issues. She had been Britain’s secretary of state for development.
In a brief statement, Mr. Ban did not say why Ms. Amos was leaving or who might replace her.In a brief statement, Mr. Ban did not say why Ms. Amos was leaving or who might replace her.
“Ms. Amos has tirelessly advocated for people around the world affected by disaster and conflict,” Mr. Ban said in his statement.“Ms. Amos has tirelessly advocated for people around the world affected by disaster and conflict,” Mr. Ban said in his statement.
Ms. Amos has most notably been the face of United Nations relief efforts in the Syrian civil war, now nearly four years old.Ms. Amos has most notably been the face of United Nations relief efforts in the Syrian civil war, now nearly four years old.
She has repeatedly urged the Syrian government, with mixed results, to allow relief convoys into rebel-held areas. She pushed for a Security Council resolution, approved in July, that authorized for the first time the delivery of aid across Syria’s borders without the government’s permission.She has repeatedly urged the Syrian government, with mixed results, to allow relief convoys into rebel-held areas. She pushed for a Security Council resolution, approved in July, that authorized for the first time the delivery of aid across Syria’s borders without the government’s permission.
Ms. Amos took the United Nations position in August 2010, less than a year before the Syrian war began. Her tenure has coincided with a surge of humanitarian crises, including the 2013 typhoon disaster in the Philippines and sectarian conflicts in Central African Republic and South Sudan.Ms. Amos took the United Nations position in August 2010, less than a year before the Syrian war began. Her tenure has coincided with a surge of humanitarian crises, including the 2013 typhoon disaster in the Philippines and sectarian conflicts in Central African Republic and South Sudan.
Ms. Amos informed her staff of her resignation plans in a letter posted Wednesday on her agency’s website. She did not say what she intended to do next. She noted that she was the longest-serving person in the job and said she was “extremely proud of the way we have worked together to make the humanitarian response system more effective.” Ms. Amos told her staff of her plans in a letter posted Wednesday on her agency’s website. She did not say what she would do next. She said she was the longest-serving person in the job and “extremely proud of the way we have worked together to make the humanitarian response system more effective.”
Mr. Cameron proposed Mr. Lansley for the position when he met with Mr. Ban at the Group of 20 summit meeting in Brisbane, Australia, last week, according to diplomats. Mr. Lansley is a Conservative who led the House of Commons until earlier this year. Before that he was the health secretary, and faced criticism for his handling of health care changes.Mr. Cameron proposed Mr. Lansley for the position when he met with Mr. Ban at the Group of 20 summit meeting in Brisbane, Australia, last week, according to diplomats. Mr. Lansley is a Conservative who led the House of Commons until earlier this year. Before that he was the health secretary, and faced criticism for his handling of health care changes.