Honduran fixer muddying UN waters again

 The nature of their relationship appears to change depending on to whom Watson is speaking. Altarni has been introduced to different individuals under a range of descriptions, although it is understood that the two have maintained a longstanding relationship.

 

 More notably, Watson was appointed to serve as Acting Director of the Office of the SDGs, which is the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, assuming one of the organization's most prestigious Director-level positions on an ad interim basis. Although the appointment had not yet been formalised,  Watson was already presenting himself as the Director and reportedly assured several insiders that the position was his.

 

 Mr. Altarni was recently seen at both FAO HQ in Rome and the UN in New York. Around the same time, he was actively promoting his business venture ''Altarni Alliance'', on his professional social medial profile: https://www.instagram.com/altarni_alliance

 

 According to the company's own description, the venture ''connects capital, projects and markets''. Whether this business has benefited from Mr. Altarni's close association with Watson and his extensive network within the UN is a question that many insiders may find difficult to ignore.

 

 If so, it could also raise broader questions as to whether such arrangement might constitute, or at the very least create the appearance of, a potential conflict of interest, the sources say.

 

 Watson was appointed as FAO representative to China in 2021. There was speculation that together with Chinese authorities Watson was working on the restoration of diplomatic ties between Honduras and Beijing and securing support for Communist China of other countries in the central American area at the expense of Taiwan.

 

    Most countries recognizing Taiwan rather than Beijing are located in central America and the Caribbean. China has been seeking to buy them off in return for dropping Taiwan and succeeded doing so with El Salvador recently.