THE President had preliminary discussions with the Taoiseach last night on her attempt to secure the post of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mrs Robinson indicated publicly yesterday that she was interested in having an international human rights role. Sources later confirmed her interest in the UN human rights post.
Mr Bruton said on radio yesterday that the Government would support her attempt to attain such an international role.
Such Government support could involve intensive lobbying on her behalf by the Irish missions to the UN in Geneva and New York, as well as by Irish diplomats in countries with influence over the appointment.
The appointment will be made by the UN General Assembly, which votes to accept or reject a nomination from the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan. While strong opposition from a large number of UN member states could sway Mr Annan, he is understood to have a high regard for Mrs Robinson and visited her at Aras an Uachtarain in September last.
But UN sources were yesterday sceptical as to whether a candidate from a western country could secure the sensitive post. Developing countries, notably China, resent what they see as the richer states lecturing them on human rights and say they have a different definition of what human rights are.
Mrs Robinson's supporters, however, point to her high profile on development issues and her regular well received visits to Africa as factors that could overcome the developing countries suspicion of a European candidate.
The post becomes vacant at the weekend when the current holder, Mr Jose Ayalo Lasso, returns to Ecuador to become foreign minister. It may not be filled for a number of months, however, to allow Mr Annan to consult UN member states from around the world.
According to a source at the UN Centre for Human Rights the UN human rights body under the supervision of the High Commissioner the developing countries feel strongly that the next commissioner should be one of them. They represent 85 per cent of the world population, and resent the traditional western approach to human rights."
In Geneva on Tuesday, the head of China's delegation to the Centre for Human Rights made this resentment clear. He said US and European delegates "treat the delegates from developing countries like pupils and try to give us a grade. They behave like school masters. It's not fair."
He went on to criticise Amnesty International, regarded by China and many developing countries as the greatest proponent of this attitude. "I think they, make a living out of defaming my country, he said. "I think they are such profoundly biased people."
UN regional politics could also present an obstacle to Mrs Robinson. Such senior UN posts are usually rotated among the regions, with each incumbent being entitled to two four year terms. Because Mr Ayalo Lasso is leaving after less than one term, this bloc may feel they have a claim on the post.
The Costa Rican Ambassador to the US, Ms Picado, and the Chilean Ambassador to the UN, Mr Juan Somovia, are regarded as possible candidates from this bloc.
Ms Graca Machel, the widow of the former president of Mozambique, Mr Samora Machel, is a possible African candidate according to UN sources. The name of Mr Ibrahim Fall of Senegal, who was Mr AyaloLasso's deputy before his recent appointment as a UN assistant Secretary General, is also being mentioned.