tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37708643.post2543777013119565445..comments2023-03-24T07:11:31.398-04:00Comments on Portable Films: A million dollars embezzled from Kabul hospital construction project?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37708643.post-75579783939363181382009-02-27T07:27:00.000-05:002009-02-27T07:27:00.000-05:00If you want to know how things have really gone, g...If you want to know how things have really gone, go to Intersos website or contact the organization.<BR/>We are at disposal for clarifying any doubts on our work either in Afghanistan or in other countries of the world.<BR/>Intersos has noticed the Guardian and has started legal proceedings to claim for damages.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37708643.post-13509015508785402062008-06-18T14:08:00.000-04:002008-06-18T14:08:00.000-04:00I would love to do a follow-up interview to offer ...I would love to do a follow-up interview to offer Mr. Helseth's story. Please reply with your contact information, and we will attempt to clear things up based on your new information and the documents we have in hand.Robert Maierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04299111599085662935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37708643.post-70920009638583543562008-05-13T00:33:00.000-04:002008-05-13T00:33:00.000-04:00I sent the excerpted following to the Afghan journ...I sent the excerpted following to the Afghan journalist - while we had many successes and many dificulties in the afghan programmes - as we do in all post conflicts - the story here is without basis in fact - and the issues of how to maintain a hispital and keep it working - which shouold have been the focus even three years ago was typicially turned into a smear and what was done - much easier...<BR/><BR/>response to story....<BR/><BR/>may 13, 2008<BR/><BR/><BR/>It was not a pleasant surprise to see your story on the Kabul Hospital and UNOPS. It was especially disturbing to see you continue to misrepresent the facts.<BR/><BR/>First of all as you know – that project was not done by our office in Kabul – but directly by NY in early 2002 – BEFORE I had even set up the Kabul office. They used an Italian Engineer and worked through Italian NGO. So as you know I did not sign documents nor make payments. So that was the facts on my role.<BR/><BR/>When you asked my office for documents I went to InterSos and New York UNOPS office and retrieved documents and showed them to you.<BR/><BR/>Clearly they showed the million dollars in contracts and the substantial work that was done. UNOPS stood by that work and I relayed that to you.<BR/><BR/>So first of all the work was done and second of all if you continue to question it – why do you question me when you know that this work was not done by my office?<BR/><BR/>I noticed when we first met that you preferred your own “facts” rather than the truth – it is a shame as a professional journalist that you continue this.<BR/><BR/>Gary Helseth<BR/>May 13, 2008Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37708643.post-63592289055729063502008-03-11T07:58:00.000-04:002008-03-11T07:58:00.000-04:00The fact that the project has been completed for a...The fact that the project has been completed for a sum less than the original estimate is not a sign of embezzlement. The journalist in this case is obviously not familiar with the workings of donor/implementing partners and how funds are allocated or reallocated. He is aiming to make a case that may well be without foundation.<BR/><BR/>In this case there are a dozen possible answers, none considered by the writer largely because he does not know.<BR/><BR/>I think this is a great injustice given that it is purely ill informed conjecture.<BR/><BR/>The audit process would ensure that the funds are kept on track. All contracts of this size are generally subject to multiple quotations that undergoes an independent assessment by a panel for their reliability.<BR/><BR/>The journalist may run his organization that way he describes but it is not one that would get through the UN system.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37708643.post-18889238660671166272008-01-17T15:33:00.000-05:002008-01-17T15:33:00.000-05:00nuff respect for your work; greetings from Zurich ...nuff respect for your work; greetings from Zurich - Switzerland, jonasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37708643.post-43229962581474878572008-01-13T12:30:00.000-05:002008-01-13T12:30:00.000-05:00This is only one of the many many many cases. UNOP...This is only one of the many many many cases. UNOPS is a mafia type of organization run mostly by Australians, New Zelanders and some Canadians under the holy name of UN. How much US tax Payers $$ do you think they stole from Afghanistan Elections?? LOts of bags of American Cash!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com