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Interview with Sir John Holmes,

Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affa s
and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator

When you meet a British "Sir".
you expect an elderly, grey-
haired, avuncular gentleman
and not a nice, young, friendly
person like Sir John. His
colleagues in the Office for the
Co-ordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) have, by the
way, put the "Sir aside, so Sir
John is now just John...

Before taking up his new
position at the United Nations,
Sir John was a career British
diplomat who had had postings
in Russia, the UN Mission in
New York and India to his
credit. As if this were not
enough, Sir John has also
served as Assistant Private
Secretary to the Foreign
Secretary; head of the
European Union Department in
Geneva, Sir John took the time The general public is placing higher
the Foreign and Common-
wealth Office, then as Private to answer all our questions and higher expectations when it
when we met him in his New comes to humanitarian work, and we
Secretary and subsequently as
York office have to live up to that. On one hand,
Principal Private Secretary to
you have the current emergencies that
Prime Minister John Major, and
finally as UK Ambassador to Q: You were appointed to your have to be dealt with then you have
current position six months ago. the forgotten crises. On the other
Portugal and France.
hand, you must also look to the future
lVm=
He was awarded the CMG* in To be precise, four and a half months as we are certain that more and more
ago, and during that time I have spent natural disasters will take place -- due
1997 in the Resignation
almost half of my time travelling to the climatic changes. These also
Honours List of former Prime
between Geneva and New York and have to be prepared for.
Minister John Major for his
also visiting the field.
services as Principal Private Q: Geneva is the humanitarian
Secretary. In 1998 he was Q: In your previous job, you were capital of the world, while you
appointed CVO* and in 1999 a diplomat and now you are are based here in New York. Do
awarded the KBE* on the rec- responsible for humanitarian you find it difficult to be so far
ommendation of Tony Blair on affairs. Is it a big difference to be away?
leaving the senior job at No. 10 inside the UN?
Downing Street, a higher hon- That's one of the reasons why I'm
normally
our travelling so much between the two.
than
Its true that when you are a diplomat
you defend the interests of ones The headquarters of OCHA is here in
bestowed because of his work
Tffrt9 on the Northern Ireland Peace country, whereas now I defend a New York, and it's true that the main
humanitarian agencies are in Geneva.
Talks. In 2005 Queen Elizabeth
global cause. I have far more freedom
now than I had in my previous However, when you are involved in
II promoted him to be a GCVO*
humanitarian work, it's also closely
at the conclusion of her State position. However, being a diplomat
linked to the political work that is tak-
you change jobs and locations often,
visit to France to celebrate the
100th anniversary of the so although this job is a new one, as a
very important to be here too.
Entente Cordiale. Despite his diplomat you are used to changing ing place here in New York. So it's
imminent departure for topics like this.
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