SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES TO UN STAFF NOT PERMITTED UNDER REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Press Release
SG/SM/6494
SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES TO UN STAFF NOT PERMITTED UNDER REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
19980318 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:In answer to recent press reports relating to a payment that had been made to Klaus Topfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, by the Government of Germany, the Secretary-General wishes to stress that this payment was made to Mr. Topfer, a former German Cabinet Minister, before he joined the service of the United Nations and that, as such, it is a purely internal German matter that does not directly concern the United Nations. However, he notes that Mr. Topfer returned the payment to his Government in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
This issue, however, points to the larger question of alleged payments by governments of subsidies to United Nations staff. The Secretary-General would like to recall that any such payments or subsidies are not permitted under staff regulations adopted by the General Assembly, with which all staff are expected to comply. This principle is also reflected in the draft code of conduct submitted to the General Assembly, under which Under-Secretaries- General and Assistant Secretaries-General will be required to file financial disclosure statements on appointment and at intervals prescribed by the Secretary-General.
At the same time, we must recognize that the problem is not new; indeed, it has been raised by many of the Secretary-General's predecessors and been addressed in the General Assembly in the past. The United Nations is a public service institution; no staff member is here in order to make a fortune. However, the Secretary-General is concerned that the Secretariat must retain the ability to draw upon highly qualified and experienced staff from all regions of the world.
The Secretary-General is therefore asking the Under-Secretary-General for Management to review all aspects of this question. He intends to pursue this issue with the Member States both in the context of the forthcoming discussion in the General Assembly on the code of conduct, as well as during its ongoing consideration of conditions of service for United Nations staff.
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