Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jul 2001
Source: Financial Times (UK)
Copyright: The Financial Times Limited 2001
Contact:  http://www.ft.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/154
Author: Carola Hoyos

ANNAN ORDERS HEAD OF UN DRUGS AGENCY TO STEP DOWN

Pino Arlacchi, head of the United Nations programme to combat the 
international drugs trade, has been told to step down.

Kofi Annan, UN secretary-general, told Mr Arlacchi that he must leave the 
organisation when his contract finishes at the end of February.

Mr Annan has been careful not to voice his frustration over Mr Arlacchi 
openly. The secretary general made his request privately, leaving the 
Italian diplomat an opportunity to be seen leaving on his own accord.

The move follows months of controversy over Mr Arlacchi's management style 
that has put in doubt the future of the UN's programme of fighting the 
international drugs trade.

Several European donors, including the Netherlands, cut off their funding 
of the Vienna-based Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNDCP) 
following allegations of Mr Arlacchi's mismanagement, which were the focus 
of a damning UN investigation released last month. UN internal overseers 
who inspected the agency described its decision-making and operational 
system as "more appropriate for a task force than for an established 
organisation that needs clearly defined responsibilities and lines of 
authority".

Mr Annan is said to have been studying a second report concerning more 
serious allegations of misconduct by Mr Arlacchi relating to plans to send 
a 90-year-old wooden boat on a round-the-world trip "to raise awareness" of 
the agency.

Diplomats who have seen the report say that it is even more damning than 
the first.

Fred Eckhard, Mr Annan's spokesman, said: "We know the secretary-general is 
studying the reports and I've not been informed that he's yet made a final 
decision."

Diplomats say Mr Arlacchi's fate was sealed when he lost the support of the 
US and Italy following the changes of administration in both countries.

"The US is becoming less and less supportive. The Clinton holdovers are 
gone," said one.

Mr Arlacchi, a former member of Italy's socialist party, is a political 
appointee who serves at the pleasure of the secretary-general and relies on 
the support of the Italian government. That support began to fade after 
rightwing Silvio Berlusconi was elected prime minister this year.

Mr Annan has sought funding for the new post of deputy director of the 
UNDCP to rein in Mr Arlacchi.

Mr Arlacchi, who has said in the past he has been unjustly singled out, 
could not be reached for comment.
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