U.S. SUPPORTS GRO BRUNDTLAND AS W.H.O. DIRECTOR GENERAL

[USIA]

USIS Washington File

23 January 1998

TEXT: U.S. SUPPORTS GRO BRUNDTLAND AS W.H.O. DIRECTOR GENERAL

(Statement by James Rubin, State Department Spokesman) (300)

Washington -- State Department Spokesman James Rubin says the United
States supports the candidacy of Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former
prime minister of Norway, as director general of the World Health
Organization.

"We believe that Dr. Brundtland is superbly qualified for the job. She
offers an ideal mix of technical and leadership qualities to rebuild
the W.H.O. at this critical juncture in its history," Rubin said
January 22. He called upon members of the executive board "to give
serious and favorable consideration to Dr. Brundtland's candidacy."

Following is the text of the statement of James Rubin, State
Department spokesman:

(Begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT QF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 22, 1998

STATEMENT BY JAMES P RUBIN, SPOKESMAN

U.S. SUPPORT FOR DR. GRO HARLEM BRUNDTLAND
AS DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) will nominate a new director
general in Geneva next week. We regard the W.H.O. as one of the most
important specialized agencies in the U.N. system, and one which needs
strong, capable leadership. For this reason, we have decided to
support the candidacy of Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime
Minister of Norway.

We believe that Dr. Brundtland is superbly qualified for the job. She
offers an ideal mix of technical and leadership qualities to rebuild
the W.H.O. at this critical juncture in its history.

The United States is not currently a member of the W.H.O. executive
board, which will nominate the new director general, but we would like
to call upon board members to give serious and favorable consideration
to Dr. Brundtland's candidacy.

(End text)