Eveline Herfkens: The corrupt socialist dutch politician who stole money and run away with it - now UN Tribunal finds UNDP's actions on letting Herfkens go away unscathed -- as unlawful !

		UNJustice
		@UNJusticeOrg
#UNDT: Eveline Herfkens collected double allowances from her Government and the UN = no disciplinary action bit.ly/R8E2XO @undpwatch

21. The decision to dismiss the Applicant without termination indemnity or payment in lieu of notice was discriminatory, and therefore unlawful. The Respondent referred to a few cases in which UNDP allegedly dismissed staff members in situations similar to that of the Applicant. The Respondent failed, however, to provide full details of these cases so the Applicant is not in a position to compare these cases to the instant case. Even if in these cases the Respondent took a harsh line, this still fails to clarify why such a markedly different approach was taken in the case of Eveline Herfkens. 

22. In a letter dated 23 May 2008, Kemal Dervis wrote that during the period Eveline Herfkens was employed as a staff member by UNDP, the Government of the Netherlands provided her with financial benefits in the form of rent of a three room apartment in Manhattan, relocation from the Netherlands to New York in November 2002 and from New York to Maryland in January 2006, and a continuation of her enrolment with the Netherlands national pension scheme. 

23. Kemal Dervis further noted that UNDP had provided Eveline Herfkens with a copy of the applicable UN Staff Regulations and Rules relating to her appointment and that she had signed an acknowledgement of having received them. Despite this, UNDP found that:

Ms. Herfkens appear[ed] to have unknowingly breached the Staff Regulations, in good faith and without mal-intent. 

and that

Ms. Herfkens [would] remain an advocate in the global effort to achieve the MDGs, and [that UNDP would] count on her continued support in this effort. 

24. The Applicant submits that in contrast to Eveline Herfkens, she was a low level general service staff member, and that unlike Eveline Herfkens, she obtained no personal gain. In light of this, to excuse Eveline Herfkens, while dismissing the Applicant without termination indemnity or payment in lieu of notice, is discriminatory and unlawful. 

25. The Respondent cannot rely on the Applicant’s failure to comply with her obligations during the investigation when the Respondent failed first to comply with his. From the outset of the investigation, she was considered a possible wrongdoer and the Organization was obliged to advise her that she had the right to secure the assistance of counsel. This omission amounted to a violation of her right to due process. 

43. The Respondent did not apply double-standards. According to the letter dated 23 May 2008, sent by the then Administrator, UNDP, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the UNDP OAI finalized an investigation concerning Ms. Eveline Herfkens on 20 May 2008 who reportedly accepted financial benefits from her government while being a staff member with UNDP. In this connection, the Applicant claimed that Ms. Herfkens was found to be in a conflict of interest, but that no disciplinary action was taken against her. According to the Applicant, this demonstrated that the Respondent applied double-standards. 

44. The Respondent submits that the Applicant’s reference to the letter is of limited relevance in the context of her case. Ms. Herfkens’ appointment expired on 31 October 2007 and was not subsequently renewed. Ms. Herfkens was no longer a staff member when the investigation report of 20 May 2008 was purportedly issued. Thus, in light of the foregoing, UNDP could not possibly have initiated disciplinary proceedings against Ms. Herfkens as she was no longer a staff member.

Click here to read the UN Tribunal decision... bit.ly/R8E2XO

 

 

A Dutch in Belarus uses beautiful tits to make a valid point

How does UNDP's Resident Representative in Belarus, Mr. Antonius Bernardus BROEK (a Dutch) makes a point when it comes to Breast Cancer ?

BEAUTIFUL BELARUS BREAST

We are told that Helen Clark has ordered a copy for each leader that will be attending G20 later this month.

After Herfkens Exposed Taking Dutch & UN Money, On Bachelet & ILO Panel

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 27 -- For an Organization that preaches accountability, the UN system displays little of it. Three years after Eveline Herfkens of The Netherlands was exposed for violating UN system rules by accepting a substantial UN salary as well as $7,000 a month from her government -- allegedly as an entertainment budget -- and she was forced to step down, she had reappeared on the UN Advisory Group on social protection chaired by Michele Bachelet, convened by the International Labor Organization.

At a UN press conference Thursday, Inner City Press asked if Ms. Herfkens' past had been ignored in giving her this new UN system post. Ms. Herfkens was in attendance, in the front row, but did not answer. The ILO's Juan Somavia said yes, there was a "controversy," but Herfkens' "experience" was deemed to trump it.

So high officials in the UN can violate the rules but be quietly recycled back into UN system "advisory" jobs based on their experience.

Herfkens on UNTV in 2005, before the fall (c) UN Photo

This is only one example. After the deadly bombing of the UN compound in the Canal Hotel in Baghdad in 2003, then Secretary General Kofi Annan's spokesman said that Ramiro Lopes da Silva would be required to resign but could "return to his 'D-2' (Director) post in World Food Programme," emphasizing that "his future assignments will not include any responsibilities for security matters."

Two weeks ago, WFP staff contacted Inner City Press to complain that despite this history, Ramiro Lopes da Silva had been put in charge of WFP security by chief Josette Sheeran. On October 17 Inner City Press sought an explanation from four WFP official, including spokesman Greg Barrow and Ms. Sheeran herself:

"please respond to criticism of having put Ramiro Lopes da Silva in charge of security for WFP, given his role in Iraq in connection with the Canal Hotel bombing."

Only after a week had passed, and Inner City Press has published a first story, did WFP respond, through its spokesman Greg Barrow:

In response to your questions: DED Ramiro Lopes da Silva is one of WFP's most experienced senior managers, and we have the utmost confidence in him.

This did not in anyway respond to Ramiro Lopes da Silva's role in Iraq in connection with the Canal Hotel bombing, much less Kofi Annan's spokesman Fred Eckhard's statement that Ramiro Lopes da Silva's "future assignments will not include any responsibilities for security matters."

Inner City Press wrote back to Barrow, and wrote directly to Ramiro Lopes da Silva

"I have asked WFP without much substantive response the question below, now having found your contact information in fairness and hoping for a response I ask you: please respond to criticism of having put Ramiro Lopes da Silva in charge of security for WFP, given his role in Iraq in connection with the Canal Hotel bombing. Please respond - on deadline."

Ramiro Lopes da Silva not having responded, Inner City Press asked the spokesman of Ban Ki-moon, who has inissted that UN system staff security is important to him, whether he gave Ramiro Lopes da Silva a waiver from the action of Kofi Annan after the Canal Hotel bombing, or if there was simply no UN system follow through. Spokesman Martin Nesirky said on October 25 that he would answer. But two days later he has not. Watch this site.

Footnote: Herfkens' fall was in early 2008, before the global financial blow out later that year. On Thursday Inner City Press asked Michelle Bachelet about the place of privatization and, in essence, Wall Street in social protection plans. She said that the Report is for "all countries," but did not squarely address the privatization question. To be continued.

Dutch Parliament asks Minister of Foreign Affairs (Verhagen) to file a lawsuit against Eveline Herfkens of UNDP and demand return of funds

Dat blijkt uit documenten die De Telegraaf in bezit heeft.

Evenals andere VN-beambten kreeg Herfkens in november 2002 een stafbulletin waarin staat dat extraatjes van andere overheden of andere bronnen verboden zijn.

Terugbetalen
Waarschijnlijk zal de oud-PvdA-minister voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking de kwart miljoen dollar huurvergoeding die zij voor een appartement in New York ontving daarom alsnog moeten terugbetalen.

Het kabinet heeft tot nu toe steeds gezegd dat het onduidelijk is of Herfkens had moeten weten dat zij geen vergoedingen van het het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken mocht aannemen.

Rechtszaak
Een rechtszaak om het geld terug te vorderen zou daarom vrijwel kanslooszijn, zei minister Maxime Verhagen (Buitenlandse Zaken) vorige week nog.

Tweede-Kamerlid Arend Jan Boekestijn (VVD) vindt dat het Herfkens aan 'moreel besef ontbreekt'. Verhagen zou alsnog naar de rechter moeten om het geld terug te vorderen.

UNDP Scandal: 'Herfkens moet huurvergoeding terugbetalen'

De Verenigde Naties (VN) hebben oud-minister Eveline Herfkens tot drie keer toe officieel laten weten dat ze geen aanvullende betalingen mocht aannemen.

Herfkens wist wel degelijk dat zij geen huurvergoeding mocht aannemen

Dat blijkt uit documenten die De Telegraaf in bezit heeft.

Evenals andere VN-beambten kreeg Herfkens in november 2002 een stafbulletin waarin staat dat extraatjes van andere overheden of andere bronnen verboden zijn.

Terugbetalen
Waarschijnlijk zal de oud-PvdA-minister voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking de kwart miljoen dollar huurvergoeding die zij voor een appartement in New York ontving daarom alsnog moeten terugbetalen.

Het kabinet heeft tot nu toe steeds gezegd dat het onduidelijk is of Herfkens had moeten weten dat zij geen vergoedingen van het het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken mocht aannemen.

Rechtszaak
Een rechtszaak om het geld terug te vorderen zou daarom vrijwel kansloos zijn, zei minister Maxime Verhagen (Buitenlandse Zaken) vorige week nog.

Tweede-Kamerlid Arend Jan Boekestijn (VVD) vindt dat het Herfkens aan 'moreel besef ontbreekt'. Verhagen zou alsnog naar de rechter moeten om het geld terug te vorderen.

Bekijk ook: Wynia's Week/ Zaak Herfkens stinkt nog meer dan gedacht

Door Brenda Peeters

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Aanbevelingsbrief

Sweder van Wijnbergen, oud-collega van Herfkens bij de Wereldbank, vindt het onzin dat Herfkens niet had hoeven weten van het verbod. 'Wanneer is voor het laatst een bankrover vrijgesproken omdat hij het wetboek van strafrecht niet kende?'

'Ze had toen ook al een obsessie voor luxe appartementen. Ze is bezig geweest om een appartement in het prestigieuze Watergate-complex te krijgen en heeft zelfs de premier gevraagd om een aanbevelingsbrief voor de huurdersvereniging te schrijven'.

Until this day Eveline Herfkens (boss of Garry Conille @UNDP) has not given back the $280,000 she stole from the Dutch population

Until this day she has not given back the $280,000 she stole from the Dutch population(click here)

Engelse wiki Eveline Herfkens opvallend kritiekloos

CLICK HERE FOR STORY ON GEENSTIJL.NL

En dan pakken we de handschoen weer op qua het publicitair begeleiden van Eveline Herfkens, onze favoriete graaiPvdA'ster en tevens nog altijd hoge pief bij de Verenigde Naties. Weet u het nog? Herfkens werd begin 2008ontmaskerd als ordinaire huursubsidiefraudeur, schoffeerdevervolgens vanuit Amerika iedereen die daar iets van durfde te zeggen en kwam er uiteindelijk met een onbeduidende fop-tegenprestatiebelachelijk goed mee weg. Van de 280 duizend dollar taxpoet die Herfkens onterecht opsoupeerde betaalde ze nooit een cent terug. Feitelijk lacht Eveline samen met haar gigolo Costas Michalopoulos nog dagelijks Nederland uit vanaf de veranda van haar huis in Maryland. De toekomst van La Herfkens ligt duidelijk aan de overkant van de oceaan. Vandaar natuurlijk dat haar Engelse wiki zo consciëntieus wordt gezuiverd van onregelmatigheden. Check de wijzigingen in de revision history dan! Zag het er eerst ZO uit, inmiddels moeten Angelsaksische fans van Herfkens het HIER mee doen. Weg zijn alle verwijzingen naar 280.000 dollar gate. De kwestie moet binnen de Nederlandse taalgrenzen blijven. Wie voorziet onze Engelstalige vrienden even van de juiste info?

UN to recycle the Dutch Dirty Garbage of UNDP

VN te recycleren de Nederlandse Dirty Garbage van het UNDP

Dutch Ambassador at the UN, confirmed today that Holland does not want Melkert back and would pay any price that this corrupt Dutch politician be recycled within the UN and never make it to his home country in order not to disturb anymore dutch politics and current governing party.

During today's press conference he expressed that Ban Ki Moon is "looking for ways to keep Ad Melkert within the UN system". Click here for the video.

DPR de Klerk, polite but vague answers on Melkert

Nederlandse ambassadeur bij de VN, vandaag bevestigd dat Nederland niet wil Melkert en terug zou betalen elke prijs dat dit corrupte Nederlandse politicus worden gerecycleerd binnen de VN en nooit naar zijn eigen land om niet te verstoren meer Nederlandse politiek en de huidige regeringspartij .

Tijdens de huidige persconferentie sprak hij dat Ban Ki Moon is "op zoek naar manieren om Ad Melkert binnen de VN-systeem".

BNR NIEUWSRADIO: HERFKENS

 

De radio van vrijdag

Herfkens
De oppositie in de Tweede Kamer wil alsnog geld zien van Eveline Herfkens. Haar aanbod een jaar lang gratis te werken voor VN-vluchtelingenorganisatie UNDP is "not good enough" voor SP, VVD en de Partij voor de Vrijheid. Herfkens ontving ten onrechte bijna drie ton aan huursubsidie van Nederland voor haar appartement in New York.Luister naar BNR-politiek verslaggever Hugo Reitsma.

EVELINE HERFKENS: UN's Solution of Dutch Politician at $1 a Year Could Cost $100,000 in "Subsistence Allowance," Tudor Hotel Games

By Matthew Lee - InnerCityPress.Com

UNITED NATIONS, September 2 -- Eveline Herfkens, who wrongfully took $280,000 from the Dutch government for luxury housing while ostensibly working for the UN's anti-poverty Millennium Campaign, announced last Friday that rather than return any of the money, she will work for the UN for one dollar for a year. While to many her refusal to return the money is scandalous, particularly when compared to the UN's decision to prosecute a lower-income mother in Brooklyn who erroneously received money from the UN, even her penance is not what it appears. Tuesday at the UN, Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe about Ms. Herfkens "dollar a year" position, whether it was appropriate and what work she will do. Video here, from Minute 18:39.

Ms. Okabe referred the question to the UN Development Program, whose spokesman Stephane Dujarric Inner City Press asked to "please state what work Eveline Herfkens will be doing for UNDP, whether it is full-time, and what benefits beyond the stated one dollar a year she will receive."

Late on Tuesday, Dujarric responded with a statement that

"UNDP management is pleased to announce that it has accepted an offer from Eveline Herfkens to work as a Special Advisor for the Millennium Campaign. Ms. Herfkens will work as a consultant on a $1 per year salary basis as of early September for a 12 month period."

Regarding benefits, he told Inner City Press that "as with any other staff member, she will receive DSA when on official business." DSA stands for Daily Subsistence Allowance, which for the UN in New York is fully $378 a day, $620 a day if the staff member stays in for example the nearby Tudor Hotel. Click here for UN's DSA schedule, ST/IC/2008/44, which Inner City Press is putting online.

At this most expensive rate, to which Ms. Herfkens has shown she feels entitled, her "dollar a year" could cost the UN $133,680. At the cheapest rate, she would cost the UN $57,450. Some penance.

Analysis: the UN's murky disclosure of how and how much its officials are paid would never be accepted under Security and Exchange Commission or other applicable rules. Salaries are under-reported, without including so-called "Post Adjustment" or DSA. Recently, UNDP told Inner City Press that how much it insures its officials for, and if families of victims of the December 2007 bombing of the UN in Algiers have been paid, "is a confidential matter for each person." Then UNDP discloses, in response to a question, that Herfkens' supposed dollar a year in fact includes DSA. We will continue to ask how much and when she is paid, given the claim that her arrangement somehow makes up for her wrongful receipt of $280,000 from a government while supposedly working only for the UN.

Footnote: speaking of the Tudor Hotel, several Inner City Press sources have noticed another UN Assistant Secretary General, Jane Holl Lute, going in and out of the location, on 42nd Street east of Second Avenue. These sources wonder if she, or other long-time full-time UN officials, still live in hotels and collect the UN's generous Daily Subsistence Allowance. Given the difficulty of getting any answers from Jane Holl Lute about her documented involvement in steering a $250 million no-bid contract to Lockheed Martin for Darfur peacekeeping camps, it has not yet been feasible to get this question answered. But we will get to the bottom of the use and misuse of the UN's DSA.

SP wilde liever juridische zaak tegen Herfkens

DEN HAAG - De SP is het niet eens met de oplossing van het conflict met oud-minister Eveline Herfkens. SP-Tweede Kamerlid Ewout Irrgang had liever gezien dat minister Maxime Verhagen (Buitenlandse Zaken) haar voor de rechter had gesleept. „Ze komt nu weg zonder juridische procedure.”

Het gaat Irrgang niet om het geld maar vooral om de voorbeeldfunctie en de rechtsgelijkheid. Hij vindt dat Herfkens net als andere Nederlanders moet worden behandeld die de regels overtreden, al dan niet bewust. „Zij moeten ook zonder pardon het geld terugbetalen, bijvoorbeeld onterecht ontvangen huursubsidie”, aldus Irrgang.

Hij ziet het gebaar van Herfkens om een jaar geen salaris te innen als een manier om onder zo'n procedure uit te komen en gezichtsverlies te voorkomen. „Ik beschouw het als een indirecte schulderkenning.”

Former Dutch minister keeps UN removal money

Former Dutch development cooperation minister Eveline Herfkens will not be forced to return money she received towards the cost of her apartment in New York. Between 2002 and 2006, the Dutch foreign ministry paid getting on for 200,000 euros towards her rental and removal expenses after she started working for the United Nations.

She had the rank of assistant secretary-general and was based in New York. The payments later turned out to be against UN regulations and Dutch MPs demanded she return the money.

However, Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has now written to parliament, saying Ms Herfkens acted in good faith. The United Nations Development Programme, her employer, is also not insisting on restitution. Ms Herfkens has apologised for her oversight and has offered to work for a year for no salary.

'Verjaring dreigt voor claim Eveline Herfkens'

BERGEN OP ZOOM - De Nederlandse staat loopt elke maand 6000 dollar mis omdat minister Maxime Verhagen van Buitenlandse Zaken de onterecht verkregen huursubidie van oud-minister Eveline Herfkens nog niet heeft teruggevorderd.

Een geldvordering kent namelijk een verjaringstermijn van vijf jaar. Dat zegt advocaat Roger van Dijk uit Bergen op Zoom, die zich in de affaire Herfkens heeft vastgebeten. Herfkens heeft als medewerker van de VN jarenlang 6000 tot 7000 dollar huursubsidie van de Nederlandse overheid gekregen voor haar woning in New York. Eerder dit jaar bleek dat die bijdrage van in totaal 280.000 dollar tegen de regels van de VN was. Minister Verhagen heeft inmiddels besloten het geld terug te vorderen, desnoods via de rechter. Herfkens weigert het bedrag terug te betalen.

Volgens Van Dijk dreigt de claim nu te verjaren. "De eerste betaling heeft eind 2002 plaatsgevonden. Na vijf jaar zijn dergelijke bedragen volgens de wet niet meer terug te vorderen. Behalve als het ministerie een zogenoemde stuitingsbrief naar Herfkens stuurt, waarin wordt aangegeven dat de verjaringstermijn wordt 'gestuit'. Maar volgens mij is dat nog niet gebeurd. Ik denk dat de hele affaire om politieke redenen onder tafel wordt geveegd."

Het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken heeft eerder gezegd ervan uit te gaan dat de affaire Herfkens onder het ambtenarenrecht valt, waarin een stuitingsbrief niet van toepassing is. Volgens Van Dijk is dat 'lariekoek'. "Herfkens was op dat moment helemaal geen ambtenaar van Buitenlandse Zaken." Het ministerie kon daar gisteren geen commentaar meer opgeven.

De Bergse advocaat bood eerder al aan Verhagen aan de claim op Herfkens voor 5000 euro over te nemen. De minister wees dat aanbod af.

Melkert-Herfkens Scandal Continue

Iedere maand dat de minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Maxime Verhagen geen geld terugvordert van Eveline Herfkens kost de Nederlander 3.500 euro. Volgens advocaat Roger van Dijk had dit voorkomen kunnen worden door een tweeregelig briefje, een zogenaamde stuitingsbrief.

Onterechte huursubsidie
De brief had verstuurd moeten worden zodra de affaire Herfkens bekend werd, in januari van dit jaar. Toen werd bekend dat oud-minister van Ontwikkelingssamenwerking Eveline Herfkens onterecht 280.000 dollar aan huursubsidie had ontvangen voor haar appartement in New York. Herfkens was in die periode werkzaam bij de Verenigde Naties.

Verjaringstermijn
De verjaringstermijn van 5 jaar is inmiddels gedeeltelijk verstreken wat betekent dat de subsidie, die Herfkens in 2002 en een gedeelte van 2003 heeft ontvangen, niet meer teruggevorderd kan worden. In totaal heeft dit de Nederlandse Staat al 48.000 dollar gekost. Elke volgende maand betekent een extra verliespost van 6.000 dollar, omgerekend 3.500 euro.

Terugvordering
De Tweede Kamer en de minister willen de onterechte huursubsidie wel gaan terugvorderen, maar Herfkens heeft al laten weten dat zij het geld niet terug wil betalen. Het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken doet officieel nog geen uitspraken over de zaak, maar heeft inmiddels er wel op gewezen dat de aangehaalde stuitingsbrief alleen van toepassing is op civiele procedures en Herfkens wordt benaderd vanuit het ambtenarenrecht.

US Government Statement on Review of UNDP's Operations in North Korea

USUN PRESS RELEASE # 143(08)
June 12, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Office of Press and Public Diplomacy
United States Mission to the United Nations
140 East 45th Street
New York, N.Y. 10017

U.S. Statement on the Report of the External Independent Investigative Review Panel: UN Development Program Activities in North Korea 1999-2007, June 12, 2008

http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/press_releases/20080612_143.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The United States welcomes the Panel's Report and remains concerned by a number of its findings and the on-going need for corrective action. The United States has been working with UNDP management for over a year now to address systemic weaknesses through our UN Transparency and Accountability Initiative (UNTAI). In the coming months, we will follow up with UNDP management to address the Panel's findings and recommendations. We expect our collective effort to result in an appropriate transparency and accountability system for the organization that can help turn the page on this episode.

During the 1999-2007 period covered by the Panel's review, the United States provided over $1.5 billion to support UNDP and its activities worldwide. As one of the largest donors to UNDP and a member of its Executive Board, the United States has a responsibility to ensure the organization meets the standards of accountability and trust expected of public institutions. We must ensure that funding provided to UNDP is used in the most effective way possible and for its intended purpose -- to help the world's poor. In this spirit we offer the following observations.

The Report, which is voluminous, confirms many previous concerns raised by Member States and the findings of both the UN Board of Auditors (BOA) and the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) that there were broad management deficiencies across the entire UNDP/DPRK Country Program regarding payment modalities, staffing practices and project monitoring.

Specifically, we note that the Report confirms that payments were made in bearer instruments, such as cash or 'cash-checks.' As a result of this practice, this Report, like the previous BOA Report, was unable to determine whether check payments made by UNDP to persons and entities were received by the intended beneficiaries. In fact, the Report confirms that "core functions," such as Finance Officer, were performed by local North Korean personnel seconded from the DPRK government. The Report also confirms that UNDP project visits were circumscribed by the DPRK government through required advance "clearance or authorization." Further, the Report confirmed that there were broader management deficiencies relating to project monitoring and implementation across the entire UNDP DPRK Country Program.

As the U.S. Senate PSI Report indicated, these problems might have been addressed earlier had internal audits done by UNDP been made available to Members of the UNDP Executive Board. We therefore welcome the Panel's recommendation that UNDP make its internal audits available to Member States. We are working with UNDP and other Funds and Programs to ensure this becomes a normal practice across the UN system.

We note that the figures provided in the Report are inexact regarding the transfer of funds to the DPRK or DPRK-controlled entities by UNDP and by other UN agencies acting on UNDP's behalf. The figures cover a wide range of possible amounts. Nonetheless, the report does appear to confirm much larger figures than reported earlier by UNDP.

In reviewing available UNDP project budget documents, the Panel was unable to determine in 74% cases "whether the ultimate beneficiary is consistent with the payee name indicated in the financial system," reflecting lax fiduciary practices. Moreover, the Panel was unable to conclusively determine if diversion occurred.

The Panel noted that there is no evidence that UNDP officials knew that the DPRK government misused accounts that had been set up to receive UNDP funds to transfer North Korean monies abroad to avoid possible sanctions or to entities associated with secret weapons programs - nevertheless, we are deeply troubled by this misuse. The Report observes that UNDP did not sufficiently align its management controls to the "challenging environment" in which it found itself operating. Accordingly, the Report recommends "that an evaluation of UNDP-DPRK controls be performed" to strengthen these controls.

The Panel Report revealed an absence of understanding and required sensitivity to U.S. export control laws with respect to "dual use" items. As a result, a large number of sensitive items controlled by the U.S. for "national security and anti-terrorism reasons" were exported and/or retransferred by UNDP to North Korea without licenses.

The Panel noted that UNDP staff had long been aware of the use of counterfeit notes in North Korea. Previous UNDP staff in Pyongyang recognized that "counterfeiting was a significant issue at that time," and took measures to limit UNDP's vulnerability. However, "from the fall of 1999 to 2007, there was no apparent discussion among the Country Office staff about taking proactive measures." UNDP headquarters also ignored warning signs regarding counterfeit U.S. currency, which the U.S. Government brought to the attention of UNDP in the summer of 2006. The Panel noted that the head of UNDP Pyongyang office learned about the counterfeit U.S. currency stored in his office safe in October 2006, but waited until February 2007 to inform UNDP headquarters. The Panel also noted inconsistent accounts of this issue from the UNDP Comptroller.

Finally, the Report found that the whistleblower was justified in raising issues about UNDP's practices in the DPRK and that "he reported conduct and facts about UNDP operations in the DPRK that required resolution and may well have been in violation of UNDP policies as well as applicable agreements with the DPRK." It appears that the whistleblower did not have an opportunity to comment on the Panel's report before it was released.

Rentgate damages reputations

27-03-2008
by political editor John Tyler

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen had some explaining to do in parliament on Thursday. Members of the opposition accused him of misinforming parliament in a scandal involving a former Dutch politician, the United Nations, and a luxury New York apartment.

The controversy centres around former Labour Party Development Minister Eveline Herfkens, and a rental subsidy she received from the Dutch government while working for the UNDP. Starting in late 2002, Ms Herfkens received $7,000 per month to pay for a luxury apartment in New York City. Over the years, her living arrangements cost the Dutch taxpayer $280,000.

Against UN rules
It came to light last year that this arrangement was against UN rules. For this and other reasons, the UNDP put Ms Herfkens on non-active status, and both the UN and the Dutch government opened inquiries to find out who was responsible.

On the basis of his own inquiries, Foreign Minister Verhagen informed parliament that it was not possible to ascertain who had initiated the subsidy construction - Mrs Herfkens or the foreign ministry.

But this week a member of the Socialist Party produced an internal foreign ministry memo, dated October, 2002, in which the ministry seems to suggest the subsidy construction. This led to the accusation that Minister Verhagen was holding something back.

Mr Verhagen vehemently denies that he has been less than fully cooperative. He says prior to the October memo, there was at least one meeting between Ms Herfkens and foreign ministry officials.

"It's absolutely not true that I misinformed parliament. I told parliament that it's not obvious which side took the initiative for getting the rental subsidy. I can't see, in all the documents, who took the initiative, Ms Herfkens or the government."

MPs want their money back
In addition to finding out how this situation came to pass, a majority in parliament would also like Herfkens to pay the money back. Mr Verhagen says the chance of this happening is very small. She has already declined a request to return the subsidy voluntarily, and the Foreign Minister thinks the government does not have a good legal case to force her to do so.

But many parliamentarians disagree. Member of parliament from the Conservative VVD party, Arend Jan Boekestijn, says he will submit a motion requiring Herfkens to reimburse the government, and he thinks a majority in parliament will support it.

Asked how Minister Verhagen comes out of the affair, Mr Boekestijn replied:

"Weakened. But that's also his own position because he admitted that the foreign ministry did a very bad job."