Ban Ki-moon makes appointments to top UN jobs

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed a Mexican environmentalist who was chief of staff to former Secretary-General Kofi Annan to spearhead UN reform efforts and a British diplomat who served as a top adviser to two prime ministers as the UN’s new humanitarian chief.

Alicia Barcena Ibarra will replace American Christopher Burnham as under secretary general for management and John Holmes will replace Norway’s Jan Egeland as under secretary general for political affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator.

Burnham and Egeland, both highly respected, resigned last month as Annan’s 10-year stint as UN chief was ending.

At a press conference where the appointments were announced, UN spokeswoman Michele Montas was peppered with questions about Barcena’s management expertise and ability to carry out extensive management reforms – which Ban has said are critical to enable the organisation to meet the challenges of the 21st century. She was also quizzed about why Holmes was chosen even though he has no direct experience in humanitarian affairs.

Montas stressed that the appointments were just two among many to be made by Ban, and he should be judged at the end – not the beginning.

Barcena came to the United Nations in December 2005 as Annan’s deputy chief of staff and had a meteoric rise to acting chief of staff in March 2006 when her boss, Mark Malloch Brown, was named deputy secretary-general, and chief of staff in June 2006.

A biologist by training, she previously served as deputy executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and Mexico’s vice-minister of environment.

“Ms Barcena has wide experience at the United Nations,” Montas said. “Mr Ban highly values her leadership and managerial skills and has confidence that she shares his vision and philosophy to strengthen and revitalise this organisation.”

Mexico’s Foreign Department said in a news release it was ”deeply pleased” by the decision to appoint Barcena, saying it showed Mexico’s commitment to the United Nations.

“For Mexico’s Foreign Department, the appointment does not only recognise the eminent abilities and career of Barcena but also the active role Mexico has played in the highest world forum,” it said in the release.

Former President Vicente Fox, who stepped down on December 1, pushed for Mexico to play a more active role in world affairs, negotiating the nation a seat on the N Security Council from 2002 to 2003.

At the news conference, Montas was asked why Ban chose someone associated with the old management. She was also asked about Staff Union President Stephen Kisambira’s statement at a staff meeting with Ban on Tuesday that “a fundamental change in the mindset of senior management is required, from a relationship based on dominance, disregard and fear, to a real partnership”.

Has Barcena committed herself to that fundamental change in mindset?

“I think she has,” Montas replied.

Holmes, who has been Britain’s ambassador to France since 2001, also served in Moscow, India and Portugal and was private secretary to former prime minister John Major in the mid-1990s and Tony Blair from 1997 to 1999.

“Throughout his diplomatic career, Mr. Holmes has offered a proven record of strategic vision, crisis management, multilateral negotiation, dedication and hard work,” Montas said. “The secretary-general is confident that the international community will benefit both from his leadership and expertise.”

Holmes said he looked forward to seeing for himself what the job “involves on the ground” and would build on Egeland’s advances to improve the international response to humanitarian crises and work with governments and relief organisations “to help those facing suffering wherever the needs are greatest”.

Foreign secretary Margaret Beckett called Holmes ”one of our most outstanding public servants and diplomats” and noted that Britain is a leading humanitarian donor.

Britain is also one of the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council – along with the United States, Russia, China and France – who traditionally get top posts in the UN Secretariat.

A British reporter asked about Holmes’ qualifications in humanitarian affairs, noting that he was much better suited to be under-secretary-general for political affairs.

That job, held for years by a Briton, is currently held by Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria.

The under-secretary-generals all have contracts until February, and some have made it known that they would like to stay on under Ban, but Montas stressed that Ban was reviewing all top jobs.

Ban’s next priority will be to hold consultations with member states on the deputy secretary-general, who will be a woman from the Third World, Montas said Tuesday.

In the shuffle, the US, Russia, China and France are certain to come out with top posts.