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Lubbers, Ruud

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The United Nations High Commission for Refugees

The Story of Opus Dei’s Ruud Lubbers: the UNHCR High Commissioner

by Voltaire Network

1 December 2000
On January 1, 2001, the Dutchman Ruud Lubbers succeeded Japan’s Sadako Okata to head of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). His nomination was proposed on October 25, 2000 by UN General Secretary Kofi Annan, and later ratified by the New York-headquartered General Assembly. All of this was no surprise however. Various candidates were proposed for the position - among them Bernard Kouchner, whose candidacy was supported by the French government. France, in turn, promised that if Kouchner were selected, that nation’s financial contribution to the UNHCR would be voluntarily increased.

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The Story of Opus Dei’s Ruud Lubbers: the UNHCR High Commissioner
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees