Dutch UN official under fire over aid funds

Dutch diplomats are trying to mediate in a row between the US and former Dutch minister Ad Melkert over his role as second in charge of the United Nation’s development aid organisation (UNDP), reports NRC Handelsblad.


The Americans are angry at what they see as Melkert’s failure to intervene in the abuse of UN funds in North Korea. They claim UN money intended for the population is being siphoned off by dictator Kim Jong Il.
A conciliatory meeting between the US and Melkert at the end of June was cancelled by the Americans at the last moment and has not been rescheduled.
Melkert came under fire from conservative Americans earlier this year because of his former role as chairman of the World Bank ethics committee. The bank president Paul Wolfowitz was forced to step down following a row over preferential treatment for his girlfriend.

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