“Mr. Labouisse” As I Came to Know Him

by Fouad Kronfol

The first time I met Mr. and Mrs. Labouisse was in the mid-1960's during a visit to the region. In Beirut there was a large reception organized by UNICEF since they were well known from their previous mission with UNRWA. The day of the reception my boss, the area Representative Rachid Koleilat, fell ill and I was asked to assist in introducing guests to the Executive Director. Very nervous, I told him that my knowledge of Lebanese dignitaires and diplomats was very limited, since I dealt more with Jordan. Nevertheless, as the guests arrived I was to meet and escort them towards the Labouisses and officially introduce them by name.. while this went smoothly in the beginning, it became quite chaotic as the flow of guests increased and I simply could not manage the introductions properly. Seeing my discomfort, and despite Eve's insistence, Labouisse told me "Don't worry, we know many of the guests and the few we don't, can introduce themselves. It will be alright". What a relief that was, although I was sure that Eve would not pardon me for the mishap.

The next opportunity to be with Labouisse came during my assignment in the Cairo Area Office where I was given the responsibility for Libya and the Sudan. His visit included a series of social events, most notably a small dinner party that Nadia and I organized at our apartment. It was an extremely tense situation for both of us.... a junior officer receiving the Executive Director and Charles Egger the Deputy at their home...but it turned out an extremely pleasant evening and both Nadia and I were very proud of this event.

At another reception in the apartment of Osman Farrag, the regional Planning Officer, Labouisse quietly took Nadia aside and inquired about her health (she had had a serious surgical intervention) and also told her that he had decided to appoint me as Representative to Sudan and to open a new UNICEF office there. He later talked to me about this, informing me of his appreciation for my work and his trust that I would be successful in this new phase of my young international career. Apart from the initial excitement of such a major career move, the thought of leaving Cairo and living in a hardship duty station like Khartoum for a few years only hit us later on. But on the human side we were both quite impressed with Labouisse's genuine concern for the wellbeing of a junior officer and his wife.

My Khartoum perience was not without its dramatic moments...but that is another story. Anyhow, it ended in my being transferred to NYHQ as Chief of the Middle East Section in the Programme Division. There, of course, I had more often and more substantive interactions with Labouisse. UNICEF offices were in the Alcoa Building next to the UN gardens and my office was not too far from the Front Office.

A couple of situations are vivid in my memory: we all knew that Labouisse was rather reserved and not too comfortable with public relations events...his favourite official "outing" was to invite small groups or individuals for lunch at the French restaurant," La Petite Marmite", next door at the Beekman Tower.

Because of an emergency situation in Cyprus, UNICEF help was being organized and the famous rock singer "Cat "Stevens wanted to donate funds. Jack Ling the Director of Information organized a meeting for him with Labouisse at HQ which I attended. It was quite a sight to see the very proper and restrained Executive Director's face when Cat entered the conference room in tattered blue jeans and a funny T-Shirt to announce his donation, a quite sizable one for that operation.

During the same year it was decided that UNICEF Representatives' Annual Reports should be more "open'' to discuss important issues. Confidential matters should be addressed directly to the Executive Director, and only later be distributed to Divisions and Sections for followup actions.

I remember Labouisse calling me to his office and telling me that the report from Paul Audat in the Algiers office was quite voluminous and in French and that he wanted me to read it and bring to his attention any serious issue. I was quite surprised when he handed me what looked more like the Manhattan telephone directory... a big brick weighing a ton, as I recall...and just as I was leaving he opened his desk drawer and pulled out another pile of paper saying with a smile, "and yes, here is the cover letter which goes with the report. You may need to read it too"....I almost gulped but dutifully took the 28-page letter. I knew that Audat was one of the most prolific writers in his impeccable French in UNICEF.

Labouisse later decided to appoint me as Representative to Vietnam, another tough assignment in a delicate situation. The date of transfer had been foreseen for fall 1980. However Jim Grant was soon to arrive as the new ExDir. So it was decided to advance my departure to the end of 1979, so that Bertram Collins, who was to be the new Director of Personnel, could be in NY when Jim took over in January 1980. This much earlier transfer would have adversely affected plans we had made for the end of year holidays in Canada. I tried to argue for a slightly later departure, but I got into a rather unpleasant discussion with Dick Heyward. In desperation I went to Labouisse himself for a decision. It was late in the evening and we all wanted to go home, but he listened to my pleas. Finally he said that he would speak to Heyward, and that it was OK to go ahead with our planned vacation. However, he did want me to leave for Hanoi as early as possible in the new year.

In another instance on a management issue on which I had taken a very contrary position, Labouisse asked to see me and after listening to my arguments he asked, "and why are you taking such a drastic and tough position?". I replied, "Mr. Labouisse, I have a stake in UNICEF which I hope to serve for many more years, so I want what I think is best for the organization". He asked me my age and when I indicated it was in the forties, he smiled and said, "I am way over seventy but can see and appreciate your point."

In the last few months of his tenure there were many occasions to be with Labouisse, including at the Mexico City Board meeting, but also in NY for a round of goodbye receptions and get-togethers. The most vivid in my memory was the year-end going away party that the UNICEF staff organized in the Delegates Dining room at the UN. As the Chairperson of the Global Staff Association my wife and I were the official "hosts" of the event and had the pleasure of personally greeting Mr and Mrs.Labouisse as they entered the hall.It was quite an elegant affair as I recall. After the speeches, food and drinks, we had music....it was a very proud moment as I stepped onto the floor with Eve Labouisse to open the dancing while Mr. Labouisse danced with Nadia....certainly a night to remember!.

From a personal point of view I was quite sorry to see the end of Labouisse's leadership in UNICEF.....I had gotten to appreciate him more as I got to know and interact with him. After all, he was the one who appointed me to both UNICEF Representative posts I had occupied during my career..Khartoum and Hanoi.

There were many instances, including those listed above, where his actions impressed me The major one was when I was PNG'ed in Sudan. Labouisse took a rather strong position vis-a-vis the Sudanese government in my favour. While, of course, I was obliged to leave the country, he transferred me to NYHQ with a promotion. He also decided not to appoint a new Representative and to freeze UNICEF support for six months. I was pleasantly surprised, moreover, when during that year's General Assembly meeting, Labouisse told me that three ministers from the Sudanese delegation had visited him and had presented their government's "unofficial" apologies for the decision leading to my departure from Khartoum. My vindication, finally !!

CODA: We were very saddened to learn of Labouisse's passing in NY on our second term at UNICEF HQ during the Grant period. I am not superstitious but I found it odd that the first three male Executive Directors of UNICEF all died in a year ending in 5; Pate in 1965, Labouisse in 1985 and Grant in 1995 !!!


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