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, one fears what this saga will do for others’ willingness to talk about their potential candidacies, and the UN’s readiness to embrace a high level figure for this post. The trouble with senior world-renowned people is they have a tendency to speak without consulting first.
East Timor President says no to U.N. job
Fri 27 Jun 2008, 7:12 GMT
By Tito Belo
DILI (Reuters) – East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta said on Friday he would not pursue the job of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, confirming earlier media reports.
“An early departure from my current responsibility would result in early elections and this would be an unfair burden on a people who went to the polls three times in 2007,” he told a news conference in Dili.
“I have reflected on the challenges, complexity and honour of serving the international community … I have consulted with my East Timor colleagues and friends. I have heard the voices of many humble East Timorese. I have also consulted many friends whose opinion I cherish,” he said.
