U.N. Report

Same-sex ’review’

The General Assembly’s administrative and management committee on Friday asked Secretary-General Kofi Annan to “review” and “reissue” his order extending family benefits to some homosexual U.N. staff members.

Mr. Annan’s directive, which would apply only to employees whose governments have recognized their same-sex unions, roiled and dominated the committee’s three-week session, causing diplomats to extend their work by two days.

Islamic nations, led by Egypt and Iran, opposed the measure, as did the Vatican and some predominantly Catholic countries. The European Union, Canada and Australia were among those supporting Mr. Annan’s decision. The United States remained mum during the debate, saying Friday that Washington would “welcome” a review by Mr. Annan, who should take into account concerns of member states.

Brazil, sponsor of a defeated effort in the Geneva-based Human Rights Commission to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, supported benefits for same-sex couples. But Kenya was one of many U.N. members to note that homosexuality is outlawed in many countries.

There was no word last week on the U.N. Secretariat’s next step. But if Mr. Annan does nothing, the order to recognize some same-sex partnerships appears to stand.

Madrid clears ETA

Spanish Ambassador Inocencio Arias circulated a letter to the rest of the Security Council last week effectively clearing the Basque separatist group ETA of responsibility for the March 11 Madrid train bombings that killed 191 persons.

In a letter circulated Thursday, Mr. Arias said the March 11 attacks “were committed by radical Islamic elements” apparently based in Morocco. It was the second letter from the Spanish government to council members apologizing for drafting a hasty and inaccurate letter of condemnation for members to sign.

Council members have been quietly disgruntled about issuing an erroneous statement, though ETA has no friends on the council.

“In my view, that closes the case,” said German Ambassador Gunter Pleuger, council president for April.

Food delivery halted

The U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees last week canceled a delivery of 11,000 tons of food and other assistance bound for the Gaza Strip, saying Israeli checkpoint procedures made it too difficult and expensive. Officials with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said Israel’s new prohibition against moving empty shipping containers already had cost additional rental fees of $50,000.

“We rent those containers from the shipping line,” UNRWA spokesman Christer Hordahl told the Associated Press last week. “Not being able to return them means we have so far run up a bill of $50,000, and it’s increasing every day.”

Israel imposed the restrictions after two 17-year-old Palestinian suicide bombers from the Jabaliyah refugee camp in Gaza hid in an empty container bound for the port of Ashdod. Ten Israelis were killed in the two March 14 explosions at the port.

Israeli officials say the freeze is temporary, until security measures can be reviewed.

Roughly half of the 1.3 million Gazans rely on the United Nations for food assistance, UNRWA said. The agency normally delivers about 250 tons of assistance daily.

“If the new restrictions in Gaza continue, I fear we could see real hunger emerge for the first time in two generations,” said Peter Hansen, UNRWA’s commissioner general. “Israel’s legitimate, and serious, security concerns will not be served by hindering the emergency relief work of the United Nations.”

• E-mail Betsy Pisik at UNear@aol.com.