MAURICE STRONG URGED TO SEEK JOB AS UNITED NATIONS CHIEF

TORONTO STAR, Thursday, May 19th, 1994

STRONG URGED TO SEEK JOB AS UNITED NATIONS CHIEF

by Jonathan Ferguson

Ontario Hydro chairman Maurice Strong is under mounting international pressure to stand for United Nations Secretary-General, diplomatic and business sources say.

The draft for the prestigious U.N. job is spearheaded by developing countries in Africa and Latin America that could tilt a U.N. General Assembly vote in Strong's favor.

"Maurice has a big following among the developing nations that would help immeasurably if he ultimately decides to go for the job," said Stephen Lewis, Canada's former [Socialist] ambassador to the U.N.

The current Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt, is expected to leave his post in 1996. Many U.N. members believe it is the turn of a North American to hold the organization's top post for the first time since its creation in 1946.

If the 102-country Non-Aligneded Movement of mostly developing nations pledged to support Strong, he would clearly be the frontrunner for the top U.N. job. Strong told THE STAR yesterday that he is not personally "involved in activities that would pertain to this discussion."

"Whether or not I am being considered is an academic question, since there is a very competent Secretary- General who will occupy that role for some time," Strong said. "While I am flattered that my name would be raised, my present position as chairman of Ontario Hydro has its own full share of responsibilities."

The draft surfaced this week when Strong supporters in the international business community fretted over his handling of Ontario Hydro's controversial plan to purchase a jungle tract in Costa Rica for around $10 million.

Strong, a leading player on the international environmental scene who has served as an Under- Secretary General of the U.N., has had previous controversial dealings in Costa Rica.

A recent Costa Rican business investment resulted in an Indian tribe accusing him of trying to build a hotel on native land. "Our concern is the appearance of conflict between Strong the able public servant and Strong the entrepreneur at a time when his name is gaining momentum throughout the world for the U.N. post," said a European-based financier and Strong confidante.

"We're at the sensitive point where the job is being raised tentatively to Maurice. Numerous people internationally have initiated talks with Maurice. We don't want them backing off."

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney was the last Canadian whose name was on a list for the top U.N. job - in 1991, with then-U.S. president George Bush's blessing.

But unlike Mulroney, who bowed out of the race when it became clear his support didn't extend far beyond North America, Strong is expected to win multilateral support in recognition of his career as an international humanitarian.

[Especially with them there Costa Rican Indians!]

His international resume includes: founder of the U.N. Environment Program, head of U.N. relief efforts in Ethiopia in the mid-1980s, and secretary-general of the 1992 U.N. Conference on the Environment and Development. Strong solidified his reputation among the world's developing nations in 1992 when he accused the U.S. of committing environmental aggression against the rest of the world.

"At the military level, the United States is the custodian. At the environmental level, the United States is clearly the greatest risk," Strong said before acting as chairman of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June, 1992.

In the race to succeed Boutros-Ghali, Canada has the edge over other nations.

While North America is the favored continent, the U.S. is ruled out by many diplomats because of its clout and the U.N. headquarters in New York. Strong's blue-chip cast of supporters, said sources close to the rapidly organizing draft, include:

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• Prime Minister Jean Chretien who, when a cabinet minister during Pierre Trudeau's years in power, worked with Strong when he headed up federal crown corporations such as Petro-Canada and the Canada Development Investment Corp.
• U.S. Vice-President Al Gore, another internationally acclaimed environmentalist, who became a "personal friend" when Strong twice ran U.N. environmental summits.
• Paul Martin, a Strong protege and federal Finance Minister. Strong hired Martin when he was president of Power Corp., and launched Martin's meteoric business career.
• Toronto-based international financier Andrew Sarlos, of Sarlos and Associates, who is drumming up support for Strong with his network of contacts throughout Europe.
• Stephen Lewis, another internationally acclaimed Canadian humanitarian, who carries great weight with African and Latin American countries for his work as a special representative to the United Nations children's fund, UNICEF.

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Gosh, folks, isn't it just great to see democracy at work, as the world's financiers scurry about, lobbying each other energetically on behalf of the only candidate.But, hey, why leave it to the pro's? You can have a part of the action, too! I'm afraid that the best "loot-the-world" jobs in the new U.N. Administration are already spoken for, but there are still some highly-lucrative positions open for Tax Collectors, Firearms Confiscators and New Thought Enforcers. If you would like to be considered for one of these, send off your properly-sycophantic application right now!
Your application may be helped immeasurably if:

• 
  
• You have a lengthy criminal record
• you have never been caught [or even suspected]
• you enclose information on someone you know who
  • has a gun
  • might buy a gun
  • knows what a gun IS.
• you can say, with a straight face, that you believe that United Nations' Peacekeeping operations actually bring peace.

Really eager would-be slaves and oppressors might try calling the U.N. directly; your chances may be likewise improved if you speak with a heavy German, Russian or Eastern European accent and include the phrase "New Vorld ORDER!" in every sentence.
The rest of you had better finish off those bunkers in your back gardens as soon as possible. Try not to waste any hydro in constructing them - Maurice is tired enough of his present job as it is. He doesn't need any extra pressure.
So, you think that this Starcrossed Secretary-General- in-Waiting is just a good humoured old buffoon, right?
Well, here are some hard facts extracted from Donald McAlvany's excellent book TOWARD A NEW WORLD ORDER [see book list for ordering information], must reading for everyone seriously interested in these matters....