U.S. Jews suggest special advisor for UN chief Annan

NEW YORK - American Jewish leaders have asked UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to appoint a special advisor on Jewish affairs to be his liaison with American Jewish organizations. The request was made at a meeting with Annan last week.

According to a UN source, the Jewish leaders said that they made the unusual request because Annan is surrounded by aides and advisors - many of them from Muslim countries - who are hostile to Jews, and they have therefore found themselves unable to access him. "We have no one to talk to in the secretary-general's entourage," explained one.

As an example of the difficulties, the leaders noted that they had requested last week's meeting a year ago, but only recently received an affirmative response.

UN sources said Annan promised to consider the Jewish leaders' request. At the meeting, the Jewish leaders also complained that several of Annan's recent public statements have been one-sided and hostile to Israel. Annan responded that he is in a difficult situation.

American Jewish leaders have complained for some time about the way Annan's inner circle relates to Jews and Israel. His Pakistani bureau chief is particularly noted in Jewish circles for avowed hostility toward Jews.

Annan's special envoy to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, also aroused Jewish ire recently when he said in a newspaper interview that Israeli policy is "the big poison in the region."