Ingezonden persbericht
UNDP - verklaring nav uitspraken John Bolton in uitzending NOVA TV over UNDP en Ad Melkert
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - UNDP
V E R K L A R I N G V O O R D E M E D I A
New York/Rotterdam, 20 juli 2007
Geachte redactie, media-relatie,
Hieronder vindt u een verklaring van het VN-Ontwikkelingsprogramma UNDP als reactie op uitspraken van John Bolton over Ad Melkert, tweede man bij UNDP, in de uitzending van NOVA TV van gisteravond naar aanleiding van het hulpprogramma van UNDP in Noord-Korea.
Voor eventuele vragen verwijs ik u naar het hoofdkwartier van UNDP in New York.
Contactpersoon:
Cassandra Waldon
T. 00 1 212 906 6499
M. 00 1 646 483 2468
E. cassandra.waldon@undp.org
Met vriendelijke groet,
Rolf Wijnstra
UNDP media liaison NL
M. 06 41043448
UNDP Statement
New York, 19 July 2007
John Bolton is a private citizen with his own views.
With regard to the remarks made by Mr. Bolton, UNDP would like to state for the record that:
· UNDP, led by Kemal Dervis and Ad Melkert, responded immediately to concerns raised by the U.S. and, when the North Korean Government did not agree to change some of their practices, took decisive action to suspend UNDP operations in the country on 1 March 2007.
· A full independent external audit of UNDP's activities in North Korea is currently underway and UNDP is giving this audit its full support.
· The first phase of the audit found no evidence that UNDP funds had been diverted.