'%20id='ico-down'%20stroke='%23000000'%20stroke-width='1.5'%3e%3cg%20transform='translate(1092.250000,%20254.750000)'%3e%3cpolyline%20id='Path-2-Copy-4'%20transform='translate(5.500000,%202.750000)%20scale(1,%20-1)%20rotate(-180.000000)%20translate(-5.500000,%20-2.750000)%20'%20points='0%200%205.5%205.5%2011%200'%3e%3c/polyline%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
24 May 2004
AMSTERDAM — Dutch United Nations refugee chief Ruud Lubbers has postponed at the last minute a visit to Japan due to a heart complaint, it was reported Monday.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees and former Dutch Prime Minister is taking time off on doctor’s advice. He is suffering from heart problems, Radio Netherlands reported.
Lubbers, 65, was scheduled to be in Japan from Monday to Thursday. It is not yet known when the visit will proceed, newspaper De Volkskrant reported.
But a spokesman for Lubbers said his health problems were unrelated to a complaint of sexual harassment lodged against him in April this year. Lubbers is accused of grabbing a 40-year-old female employee’s bottom.
The UN has dispatched a special team of its internal investigation department to determine whether Lubbers is guilty of sexually harassing the woman in December 2003. It’s not known how long the investigation will take.
[Copyright Expatica News 2004]
Subject: Dutch news