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i INTERVIEW WITH MARCEL A. BOISARD
nterview
UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANT

SECRETARY-GENERAL

AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNITAR

Until recently, Marcel Boisard was many articles on the subject. Secretary-General, I present my
the highest-ranking Swiss national Finally, he became the UN report to the Board of Trustees, the
in the United Nations System. His Assistant Secretary-General and members of which have been
list of merits is long. Let us briefly Executive Director of UNITAR, appointed by the SG. I also submit
state that he started his career in the which organizes annually more a Report of Activities to the
ICRC, having just completed his than 150 workshops or seminars General Assembly on a biennial
studies at the prestigious Graduate benefiting more than 7,600 partici- basis. So, it is rather a unique case
Institute of International Studies pants, mainly from developing within the UN system. The UN
(HEI) in Geneva. There followed University and UNITAR are the
countries and countries in transi-
studies in the United States and only two bodies to have this special
tion.
Germany, and more than fifteen autonomy.
years as a delegate in the Middle UNITAR does not receive funds
Q: What is UNITAR?
East serving in areas of discord, from the regular budget of the
such as those in Algeria and United Nations. Financial support
Yemen, and the Israeli-Arab MB: UNITAR is an autonomous is entirely by way of voluntary
conflict. He then became an advi- body within the United Nations. contributions from governments,
sor for the Swiss Government in This implies that we do not depend agencies, foundations and indivi-
Africa before taking up a more aca- directly on the Secretary-General dual donors. This obliges us to be
demic career at HEI, where he as such, but have a mandate from inventive, and to respect our enga-
obligations.
and
became a highly respected expert the UN. UNITAR is an indepen- gements
on the Arab and Islamic region, dent institute. Although, for instan- Altogether, we are quite satisfied.
having written several books and ce, I was appointed by the However, it is always a struggle

16 Diva 1.2005