Indian tipped to become UN's Iraq envoy
Former Indian Foreign Secretary Salman Haidar, is the front-runner to be the new UN envoy to Iraq, diplomats said on Friday.
Haidar, a Muslim, held India’s second-highest foreign affairs post from 1995 to 1997. He then served a brief stint as India’s high commissioner to Britain before retiring from the diplomatic service in 1997.
UN diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Haidar recently met UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss the job and was the top candidate.
UN associate spokesman Stephane Dujarric said he expects a decision “shortly”.
Despite the surge in violence in Iraq, Annan has said he expects the new UN envoy to be based in Baghdad.
The new UN envoy would be the first senior official permanently based in Iraq since October, but Annan has said he won’t allow large numbers of UN staff to return until the security situation improves.
The UN Security Council has given the United Nations a major political role in helping the new government prepare for elections and draft a constitution, and it would also like the world body to be a major player in Iraq’s reconstruction.
Haidar, now aged 66, joined the foreign service in 1960 and was long considered one of India’s best diplomats.
In addition to rising to the top civil service post in the foreign ministry, second only to the minister for external affairs, he served as director in the prime minister’s office and India’s ambassador to China.
He also led the Indian delegation at the first two rounds of foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan in 1997.
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