Lobbying Hot to Replace U.N. Envoy for Refugees

UNITED NATIONS —  Diplomats from around the world are pushing their candidates to replace Poul Hartling, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees who steps down next month from the Nobel Prize-winning agency.

U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar is said to be under intense pressure as he prepares to choose among the ambassadors, former government ministers and others lining up for the prestigious $120,000-a-year position.

One U.N. source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the lobbying at United Nations headquarters is “very hot.” Hartling, a former Danish prime minister, is due to retire Dec. 31 as high commissioner.

Ambassador for Refugees

The commissioner acts as the ambassador for 10 million refugees, interceding with governments in an effort to secure decent treatment for them. The Geneva-based agency also runs camps for refugees waiting to return home or resettle abroad.

Because the nominee is subject to confirmation by the 159-member General Assembly, the secretary general must pick a candidate with broad support.

The five main contenders for the post are considered to be:

--Butros Butros Ghali, Egypt’s minister of state for foreign affairs.

--Jean-Pierre Hocke, a Swiss who is director of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

--Anders Thunborg, former defense minister of Sweden.

--Max van der Stoel, a former foreign minister who is now Dutch ambassador to the United Nations.

--Tom Vraalsen, Norway’s U.N. ambassador.

Trudeau a Possibility

Among the others mentioned as candidates are former Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau of Canada and Malcolm Fraser of Australia.

The United States, which provides a quarter of the agency’s budget and has criticized its financial management, favors a strong administrator such as Hocke, according to U.S. sources.

Unlike many U.N. positions, the commissioner’s job does not rotate geographically and various blocs are pulling for their own candidates.

Ghali is the candidate of the Organization of African Unity; Van der Stoel is the European Community’s choice. Prime Minister Olaf Palme of Sweden pushed hard for Thunborg while at the United Nations last month, a U.N. source said.

Logged 580,000 Miles

The secretary general could ask Hartling to stay on another year. However, the 71-year-old Dane, who took over the U.N. job in 1978, says he has had enough.