Controversy
In early 2008, the provision by the Dutch government to Ms. Herfkens for the use of an apartment -while she was working for the Millennium Campaign and living in New York City during the period November 2002 until January 2006- stirred up much controversy (e.g.). The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs acknowledged in his letter to the Dutch Parliament of 28 August 2008 that: "The provision of allowances to Ms. Herfkens (over $7000 per month, totalling $280,000) was (supposed to be) in conformity with the policy at the time to promote the appointment of Dutch nationals to international organizations; was in agreement with the relevant regulations; and was also applied in other cases"; and, further, that regarding Ms. Herfkens "there is no question of violation of the Ministry's regulations." The Minister added in his letter: "I regret that in the public debate the impression was wrongly created that Ms Herfkens acted reproachably vis-a-vis the Ministry by accepting allowances."
It is however, against U.N. rules to offer and accept such benefits; and this Dutch policy has been changed recently. UNDP has conducted and completed an internal review regarding this matter. The review concluded that the Dutch government should have known that the provision of such benefits violated U.N. Staff Regulations. The review also concluded that, while Ms. Herfkens did break U.N. rules by accepting the use of an apartment whose rent was paid by the Dutch government, she did so unknowingly and in good faith; and that lack of induction, given the haste in which the MDG Campaign office was set up, also contributed to her not being aware of the prohibition of receiving benefits from a Member. In light of these conclusions, UNDP considers the matter closed. On 28 August 2008, Dutch Foreign minister Verhagen reported the problem had been solved and the Dutch government was not intending to pursue the matter further. As part of this solution Ms. Herfkens would keep her job for another year on a $1 per year salary basis.
Read more about this topic: Eveline Herfkens
Famous quotes containing the word controversy:
“And therefore, as when there is a controversy in an account, the parties must by their own accord, set up for right Reason, the Reason of some Arbitrator, or Judge, to whose sentence, they will both stand, or their controversy must either come to blows, or be undecided, for want of a right Reason constituted by Nature; so is it also in all debates of what kind soever.”
—Thomas Hobbes (1579–1688)
“Ours was a highly activist administration, with a lot of controversy involved ... but I’m not sure that it would be inconsistent with my own political nature to do it differently if I had it to do all over again.”
—Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.)