When Samir Sanbar, a journalist and graduate of the American University of Beirut, left his native Lebanon in the 1960's for a job at United Nations Headquarters in New York, he could hardly have imagined the rich opportunity and adventure it was to offer him over the coming 33 years. His latest book "Inside The United Nations" is a memoir of his life at the UN. On his retirement, Sanbar had risen to the rank of Assistant Secretary-General, the UN Secretariat's highest-ranking civil servant from the Arab world. Much loved and respected by his staff and members of the diplomatic community alike, he had worked with five UN Secretaries-General, and developed working and personal relationships with many world leaders. As Head of the UN Department of Public Information, he amassed an encyclopedic knowledge not just of the structure and workings of the United Nations, but also of its people - the staff, diplomats and heads of state he dealt with in the UN offices next to the East River. As an expert Arabist, Samir Sanbar was at times assigned to nation-building missions or cloak-and-dagger operations in the Middle East, sometimes so secretive that the payroll unit, unaware that he still existed, stopped paying his salary. The book reads at times like a spy thriller, at times like a history book, at times like a satirical magazine. With his Ustinov-like anecdotes, and impish yet discerning sense of humor, Sanbar casts a critical eye on the UN system and the diplomatic and political intrigue that goes on next to New York's East River. He provides fresh insight into historical events that didn't quite seem to hang together at the time. Was there ever an éminence grise at UN HQ, and if so, who was it? Not afraid to name names and cite real-life examples, Sanbar decries the lack of leadership in UN diplomacy, which he attributes to cronyism, abandonment of its institutional memory, disloyalty to the UN 'Oath of Office' and lack of the sort of leadership shown by its founding fathers, such as Dag Hammarskjold. We also see the human side of Samir Sanbar. He speaks movingly of his own family, but it is obvious that he sees the UN as a family too. He was exasperated by a suggestion to save money at UN HQ by replacing the tour guides with talking machines and so lose their 'human warmth'. He points out that some famous people started their careers as UN tour guides. When Luciano Pavarotti was appointed the first UN Messenger of Peace, Sanbar struck up an immediate friendship and arranged a meeting with him for which even the Secretary General cancelled all previous appointments. Students of politics, history and diplomacy, will find this book essential to their understanding of the UN system and its place in history, and those who simply enjoy a good read will appreciate its insightful and witty observation of life in that extra-territorial enclave across First Avenue, which has never yet been so thoroughly depicted.
About the Author: Served at the United Nations for 33 years with five different Secretaries-Generals in various assignments and capacities as Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Department of Public Information, later elevated to Under-Secretary General. Implemented the appointment of women in all senior Communications posts in that department, doubling their level of representation to exceed 50 per cent, the first by any UN department. Established United Nations presence on the Internet, with the launch of the UN Website (www.un.org) in June 1995. After retirement, launched in the year 2000 www.unforum.com, an informal participatory website reflecting feedback from diplomats and staff on pending U.N .issues. Organized and chaired the first and second UN World Television Forum (1997 and 1998) at UN Headquarters, an unprecedented gathering of prominent communications and personalities from all regions and cultures.. Initiated "Voices for Life", involving a select number of creative and sports stars (starting with Maestro Luciano Pavarotti) to highlight issues like plight of children in conflict; anti-poverty and anti-drug campaigns; education; peace; development and human dignity. Special Representative of the Secretary General to head the UN Observer Mission to Verify the Referendum and arrange for a peaceful political transition in Eritrea, which became a UN member state. Served as Director of the United Nations Information Centres (68 centres around the world) in the Department of Public Information from 1987 to 1993. Chief, United Nations Centres Services from 1982 to 1987. Undertook special assignments for the Secretary-General. Served as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the UN Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR). Before joining the UN, worked as a columnist and journalist in Lebanese, Arab and international media. Script writer of television documentaries and radio programmes. Author of several publications in English, French and Arabic including two books of short stories and a booklet of inspirational hints entitled "Hold on to Your Dreams". Graduate of the America University of Beirut.