Bill Clinton to coordinate aid efforts in Haiti
By DPA, IANSWednesday, February 3, 2010
NEW YORK - The UN has named former US president Bill Clinton to take over coordination of all international aid and reconstruction efforts in quake-shattered Haiti, a UN spokesman said Wednesday.
Martin Nesirky made the announcement after a meeting between Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York.
Ban planned to release more details later Wednesday. The former president has already been working as a special UN envoy to Haiti since the Jan 12 quake.
Along with former US president George W. Bush, Clinton has also been spearheading the US fund-raising campaign.
The new UN assignment carries with it enormous challenges and extraordinary efforts, Ban said, according to the spokesman. But Ban said he could not imagine a better leader for the efforts than Clinton.
Diplomats welcomed the appointment, saying Clinton brought not only extensive experience and reputation from his eight years but would add to it the high respect given UN envoys.
