This was too striking to ignore.
From Foreign Affairs, Winter 1987/88
Robert G. Mugabe is Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and currently chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement.
“As a nation with long-term interests in southern Africa and a fundamental commitment to the promotion of justice and democratic values, the United States cannot stand aside as a [...]
A fun read from The Age
Not diplomatic: Did Ramos Horta botch his bid for UN job?
IT WAS Jose Ramos Horta’s Hamlet moment, and he played it for more than it was worth. He agonised for a month over what he called his great dilemma: to be, or to not be, the United Nations High Commissioner [...]
Not a name widely discussed, but this campaign from UN Watch raises the possible candidacy of the Swiss Foreign Minister. I have heard no independent confirmation of it yet… seems questionable whether the post would go to a European.
………………..
Tell the UN: Ask Tough Questions of Top Human Rights Contenders
Who will replace outgoing UN human rights [...]
This from Reuters and this from the IHT confirms it.
What a curious saga indeed. Did Mr Ramos Horta get ahead of himself, only to be slapped down by SG Ban yesterday? Was he even in the running to begin with? Some insiders had suggested that by this stage he was not a top contender.
Either way, [...]
From today’s press encounter:
“It may take a few more days before I will be able to submit the final candidate to the General Assembly for confirmation. At this time, I would like to make it quite clear that I have never spoken to anybody to offer my nomination.”
Q: Jose Ramos Horta, the President of [...]
This from ABC News; many others including BBC, AP and Reuters are also reporting it. What is encouraging is that he is going public with his interest in the job; a move that is likely to spark public debate about his suitability. Which said, it would hardly be possible not to, given his current position. [...]
This from the IHT:
Lawmakers: East Timor President Ramos-Horta accepts top UN human rights job
The Associated Press
DILI, East Timor: President Jose Ramos-Horta, who narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by rebel soldiers earlier this year, has accepted the top U.N. human rights job, members of East Timor’s parliament said Thursday.
U.N. officials were not immediately available to [...]
Well, Ramos Horta theorising aside, the latest word is that the contenders for Mr Ban’s favour have narrowed to two women: Judge Pillay (who has been widely discussed), and Hina Jilani, a Pakistani human rights activist, whose name had been in the frame earlier – but was less discussed.
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