Former UN spokesman teaching at China
By Shao Xiaoyi (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-21 06:05

HANGZHOU: Frederic Eckhard, former spokesman to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, has been appointed guest professor of the School of Humanities at Zhejiang University.

Eckhard was installed yesterday, making the renowned institution in Hangzhou, capital city of East China's Zhejiang Province, a spotlight for the local media.

Eckhard, 62, who was a spokesman to Kofi Annan for eight-and-a-half years, is expected to bring an even higher international profile to the university, which is considered one of the nation's top universities.

"Recruiting him will help the university head for an international-level and have more access to international exchanges," said Pan Yunhe, president of Zhejiang University.

Eckhard is expected to teach two elective courses in Zhejiang University. One is "the role of the spokesman," which will be taught to communications students. The other is "the post-Cold War United Nations," which will be open to all students at the university.

"His excellent academic background, rich experience in news releasing and global reputation indicate that his courses will receive a warm welcome from our students," Pan said.

For the ex-UN spokesman, teaching in Hangzhou had been his long-time dream since his last visit with Kofi Annan to Hangzhou in 2002.

"I was attracted by the beautiful scenery here, and told myself it must be the most beautiful place in the world," Eckhard said at yesterday's installation ceremony. Adding that Zhejiang University's big campus, fast growth and spirit of striving for excellence also attracted him.

When talking about his life as a spokesman, Eckhard said: "It's no life at all," and that he was running about so fast that most of time he did not find time to think.

"Now I am beginning to think analytically about the historical background to what I had been talking to the press about for all these years and I want to share what I am learning about the UN with students here."

The appointment of Eckhard in Zhejiang University inspires a trend for college students to know more about the UN.

"It made us so excited the first time we heard the news that the former UN spokesman will teach us," said Ye Fang, a postgraduate student from the Humanities School of Zhejiang University. "It seems that the UN will soon become so near that I can feel it, and some of my classmates even want to apply for a job with the organization."

Eckhard, who retired from the UN in June last year, had won a revered reputation among journalists when he served as the moderator at press conferences for the secretary-general.

(China Daily 02/21/2006 page2)