Prof. Francesco Frangialli is the Honorary Secretary Basic of the United Nations World Tourism Group (UNWTO and now UN-Tourism). Along with the earlier Secretary Basic, Dr. Taleb Rifai, Tourism (UN Tourism), they issued an pressing public attraction to the member states of the 123rd Government Council of this UN-affiliated group. The 123rd Government Council shall be assembly Could 29-30 in Spain to vote for a brand new Secretary Basic of this UN-affiliated company.
The World Tourism Community Advocacy Committee printed this pressing warning voiced on this open letter by the 2 former Secretaries Basic of UN-Tourism, which solely the UN-Tourism Government Council can implement instantly.
An attraction to the UN-Tourism Government Council for integrity and safety forward of a crucial transition
Letter to the member nations of the UNWTO 123rd Government Council:
Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czechia, DR of Congo, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luthuania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rep. Korea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, UAE, Zambia
Forward of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), we now have realized with nice satisfaction that the Authorities of Georgia has withdrawn its endorsement of the candidature of the present Secretary Basic, Zurab Pololikashvili. This resolution is according to the decision adopted by its Basic Meeting in 2005, limiting the mandate of the Secretary-Basic to 2 phrases.
Mr Pololikashvili can’t be re-elected, however his departure will solely happen in six months. Below these circumstances and making an allowance for his questionable conduct since his first election in 2017, we really feel compelled to solemnly attraction to the Government Council members to revive as quickly as doable the picture of our Organisation and guarantee its integrity and transparency.
The upcoming months of transition should not with out danger. Based mostly on previous expertise, we now have legit considerations concerning the honesty of future monetary operations and the equity of doable appointments and promotions. They need to not proceed to learn as earlier than, shut associates of the Secretary Basic. What has occurred up to now should not proceed and worsen through the transition.
In gentle of those considerations, we urge the Government Council to instantly fee an exterior audit of the group’s funds and administration. This unbiased survey should be thorough and accomplished earlier than the brand new management takes workplace. Solely then can the incoming successor be absolutely conscious of the Group’s administrative and monetary standing, which we all know has deteriorated. The audit findings and proposals shall be submitted to the Government Council.
We additionally name upon the Government Council to place apart the outgoing Secretary-Basic and appoint a provisional administrator to supervise the Group from the date of the subsequent session of the Council till December thirty first. This transitional caretaker will be certain that solely present affairs are handled, strictly excluding main recruitments and procurement processes.
We should not use this six-month interval to make choices which will burden the subsequent administration or erode public belief. Allow us to act now, not in response however in prevention, in order that the way forward for the UNWTO stays constructed on transparency, accountability, and the sense of public service.
Francesco Frangialli & Taleb Rifai
