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Kofi Annan on House Hunting Spree
Former U.N. chief Kofi Annan has purchased a new multi-million dollar villa near Tangier, Morocco on the Mediterranean coast, according to Thursday's edition of the New York Sun newspaper. The Moroccan estate comes on the heels of another posh residence the former secretary-general purchased near Geneva, Switzerland earlier this year. NewsMax has learned that Kofi may be on the lookout for yet a third residence, this one in mid-town Manhattan. Annan has options for a possible long-term loan on a NYC apartment that would allow him to promote and fund raise for his new foundation.
The former U.N. chief is expected to arrive back in NYC next month where he will reunite with his former "patron" Bill Clinton. The occasion will be to participate in Clinton's annual Global Forum which the former president runs in conjunction with the U.N.'s General Assembly debate. Annan's house hunting campaign has again raised issues on Kofi's finances originally raised by NewsMax in 2006.
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The former secretary-general is the first U.N. official to receive not one, but two pensions. Annan receives payments as a retired secretary-general and as a retired U.N. staffer. Together, those payments exceed $250,000 annually for life, tax free.
Annan also put in a claim to the U.N. pension fund for about an additional $1,000,000 shortly after he left office in January. The $1,000,000 was said to cover payments on his staff pension during his term as secretary-general. In 1996, when elected to the U.N.'s top post, Annan voluntarily waved any claims on his staff pension. The U.N. had a rule which prevented any "staffers" from drawing two checks simultaneously. But, under a novel re-interpretation of the statute, Annan's attorneys now claim that the post of secretary-general was an "elected" position and therefore not subject to the rules for U.N. staffers.
Annan has never released a personal financial statement, either as secretary-general or as staff assistant secretary-general or as an under secretary-general. Those positions cover a 25-year span at the world organization. The SG is elected by a majority vote of the General Assembly for a five-year term, and is the only elected position in the U.N. system. As such, Kofi's attorneys insist the position is "unique." The Annan request for back money is still under review by the U.N.'s pension board, though NewsMax has learned the claim is likely to be approved. The administration of the U.N. pension fund is also under review by several General Assembly committees. The over-funded U.N. pension system is among the largest in the world. © NewsMax 2007. All rights reserved. Editor's note:
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