Juan Gasparini / Human Rights Tribune - Disaster at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the roof is falling down. A part of the grandiose fresco on the ceiling of the human rights room fell down yesterday, only a few days after its inauguration. This is according to various diplomatic sources in Geneva.

The UN tried to avoid the story getting out. The glass doors of room 20 at the Palais des Nations have been covered up and the exits barred. Other parts of the dome may break off later, according to a technician from the UN.

Created by the Spanish artist, Miguel Barcelo, the work was inaugurated with great pomp and ceremony on the 18th November, in the presence of Juan Carlos, King of Spain and Ban Ki moon, UN Secretary General, without forgetting a high ranking delegation from Zapatero’s government. The luxurious renovation of the room is a gift from Spain.

The work has cost nearly 20 million Euros. Private business came up with 60% of the money. The rest came from the budget of the Spanish ministry for foreign affairs, of which a part is debited from an account for development aid funds for poor countries. All of this is being done in the name of multilateralism, according to Spanish diplomats who have confirmed the figures.

Neither the latter nor the artist want to disclose the amounts paid. But sources at the Palais des Nations indicate that Barcelo would have received 6 million Euros. During his long stay in Geneva, the artist stayed in a house in Cologny (an area of Geneva where some of the wealthiest people in the Canton live). Rent would have cost around 15,000 CHF and that is excluding the salary of the French cook who was employed especially for him.

Spain may have wanted to enhance its image by offering the fresco to the UN but the move has all the makings of a catastrophe. Spain is one of those rare European countries, that is not taking part in the debates related to the universal periodic review process, whereby countries review each others human rights record. The third session is currently taking place in the Palais in a room close to that where the cupola is crumbling. Spanish diplomats have not asked any questions nor made any recommendations concerning the 32 countries who have already been through the periodic review process in the past two sessions.

Asked about the collapsing dome, Elena Ponomareva, in charge of information at the UN denied there had been any « incident » but says that « some work is being carried out in room 20 ». In fact, the Palais des Nations in Geneva seems to be in a race against the clock to repair the damage, as on the 12 December there will be a second official inauguration related to the 60th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon will be present. Let’s hope that the fresco does not fall on his head!