Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Swiss government will decide next Wednesday how to best withdraw its support for Kofi Annan’s Global Humanitarian Forum (GHF), according to Le Temps newspaper, which says the decision has already been taken. The Wednesday meeting will review whether to pay CHF1 million in debts incurred by the forum or whether to let it sort out its own affairs, says journalist Stéphane Bussard in an article Friday 19 March. Bussard does not cite a source.

Walter Fust, who heads the non-profit foundation created in 2007, told Le Temps Thursday that he was not aware any such decision had been made.

The GHF 17 March published a notice on its web site that it is “urgently considering the options for the future” of the organization, in the light of “disappointing receipts from donors.” The Swiss Confederation is a key donor.

Several media reports in recent days have referred to the difficult financial straits of the organization. The Swiss government in May 2009 ordered an audit of the GHF after paying half of its annual CHF1 million contribution. The forum has also been supported by Austria, France, Germany and Liechtenstein, as well as the city and canton of Geneva but funds promised by some of the donors have reportedly not come through.

Links to other sites: Global Humanitarian Forum, Le Temps

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