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U.S. promoting Veneman to head U.N. children's fund
UNITED NATIONS (AP)--The United States is promoting secretary of agriculture Ann Veneman to replace Carol Bellamy as head of the U.N. Children's Fund, a post that has traditionally gone to an American, U.N. diplomats said Jan. 11.
The choice is up to Secretary-General Kofi Annan in consultation with UNICEF's board and no decision has been made, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Since UNICEF was created in December 1946 to help destitute young victims of World War II, it has been led by an American and the United States has been the largest donor.
But Annan has told diplomats that no country should have a monopoly on top U.N. posts, and Europeans and others are reported to be interested in the UNICEF post.
Bellamy, 62, a Democrat and former president of the New York City Council, was former President Bill Clinton's choice to head UNICEF. She was appointed executive director in 1995 and reappointed in 1999 to a second five-year term, which ends in April.
Traditionally, the heads of U.N. agencies serve a maximum of two terms.
Veneman, 55, a lawyer raised in California's fertile San Joaquin Valley, was the first female U.S. secretary of agriculture. She resigned after President George W. Bush was re-elected in November, but did not say what she would do next.
Bush appointed Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns, a Republican attorney who grew up on an Iowa dairy farm, to replace Veneman.
UNICEF operates in 158 countries, with a staff of over 7,000 to protect the rights of children, promote girls' education, and help youngsters overcome poverty, violence, disease and discrimination.
Date: 1/27/05
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