Robert Mugabe asked to be UN 'leader for tourism'

[+virtorio MVC]

With a line-up that includes Drew Barrymore, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, and Ricky Martin, the UN's choice of ambassadors has been known to cause raised eyebrows or the odd smirk.

Seldom, however, has there been such anger, or questioning of the organisation's credibility, as that greeting the appointment of a new international envoy for tourism: Robert Mugabe.

Improbable as it seems, the Zimbabwean president, who is widely accused of ethnic cleansing, rigging elections, terrorising opposition, controlling media and presiding over a collapsed economy, has been endorsed as a champion of efforts to boost global holidaymaking.

Despite that fact Mugabe, 88, is under a travel ban, he has been honoured as a "leader for tourism" by the UN's World Tourism Organisation, along with his political ally, Zambian president Michael Sata, 75. The pair signed an agreement with UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai at their shared border at Victoria Falls on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe's state-owned Herald newspaper quoted Rifai urging tourists from around the world to visit : "I was told about the wonderful experience and the warm hospitality of this country ? By coming here, it is recognition, an endorsement on the country that it is a safe destination."

...

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/29/robert-mugabe-un-international-envoy-tourism?CMP=twt_gu

Seriously? What the f**k?

[seta-san]

can anyone take the U.N. seriously anymore? It's a place for despots to grand stand. They should move it to the middle of corn field in kansas with no street access to the rest of the country and a roach motel for the delegates to sleep in.

[DocM]

Carve out the humanitarian parts for preservation then move the rest of the UN to Antarctica.

[FloatingFatMan]

...Whut?

[ctebah]

This is just the formality on the side of UNWTO. This is from the end of the article:

Correct would be to say UNWTO has presented both presidents with an open letter which calls for them to support tourism as a means to foster sustainable development in their countries to the benefit of their people and consequently ask them to support the sector in this respect.

Neowin has managed to blow this out of proportion much like the website this was originally posted on.

[Anibal P]

This is just the formality on the side of UNWTO. This is from the end of the article:

Neowin has managed to blow this out of proportion much like the website this was originally posted on.

Wow, talk about not getting it.

As far as I'm concerned the whole UN is a failed attempt at a One World Government, and needs to be shut down completely, and all the "ambassadors" need to get real jobs

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

This is just the formality on the side of UNWTO. This is from the end of the article:

Neowin has managed to blow this out of proportion much like the website this was originally posted on.

Every website has blown it out of proportion, the article is pretty badly written. Some people need a reason to hate the UN, and will make one up if need be.

[Growled Member]

And this is why everyone considers the UN a joke.