SUPPORTERS of the efforts of the President, Mrs Robinson, to secure appointment as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights believe she is on track for the position following her meeting yesterday with the UN Secretary-General.
When Mrs Robinson entered the UN's New York headquarters she was greeted by an unrehearsed gathering of staff from Mr Kofi Annan's office, who cheered and applauded her arrival.
"It was quite unexpected, quite a surprise," according to Irish diplomatic sources. "It was almost a vote of confidence from the Secretary-General."
While Mr Annan, who makes the appointment, will make no announcement until July, it is apparent that he holds the President in high regard and, according to sources close to her, "he is determined to make human rights a corner-stone of his secretary-generalship".
Earlier yesterday a spokesman for Mr Annan praised President Robinson's qualifications and, in the same breath, said the Secretary-General was "looking for a superstar".
The President and Mr Annan met in his office on the 38th floor of the UN building for about an hour, discussing human rights matters. Following the meeting, Mr Annan hosted a lunch for President Robinson at his home on the East River. The 24 guests included several UN permanent representatives (ambassadors), among them the British representative, who has strongly supported Mrs Robinson's candidature, and Mr David Rockefeller.
After the meeting the President confirmed that the human rights job was discussed, but she was circumspect about what Mr Annan told her. "We had a very good discussion ... He was very open with me." Mrs Robinson said they were very much "on the same wave-length" on the need to give human rights a higher profile within the UN.
When asked if there was any response to her expressed interest in being High Commissioner, Mrs Robinson replied: "None as such. It's very much his decision to make." However, she added: "I think it's good that the UN Secretary-General has placed such a high significance on human rights throughout the UN system."