The executive secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity is a man not to be envied. He is employed in Montreal, Canada, to carry out the wishes of no fewer than 169 countries who are parties to the convention. But he may not communicate with any directly. That privilege goes to his employer, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Ever since the convention entered into force in 1994, this unhappy arrangement has led to administrative chaos, and contributed to the premature departure of one previous executive secretary. Last week, the current executive secretary, too, was on the brink of seeking alternative employment. A last-minute intervention from member countries (see page 5) has staved off almost-certain crisis.

Many countries are appropriately outraged, not least as terms for his new contract had been offered without consulting the convention's nine-country governing body in violation of an earlier arrangement to do so. The process will now be repeated. Some are calling for a comprehensive review, spelling out the respective roles of Nairobi and Montreal within the convention.

There is a strong case for freeing the convention from UNEP's unnecessary and bureaucratic involvement, particularly since the convention now has its own secretariat in Montreal. The Geneva-based secretariat of the climate convention reports directly to the United Nations secretary general, and does not need hand-holding by UNEP. There is no reason to treat biodiversity differently.

The protracted conflict between UNEP and the biodiversity convention must not be allowed to continue. The convention has a major programme of work ahead, including negotiations leading up to the drafting of an international protocol on the safety of genetically modified organisms. Tense talks will not be helped by internal disarray.

And the United States government has yet to ratify the convention. The Clinton administration needs the support of conservative Republicans not yet convinced of the case for further international environmental legislation. Images of a biodiversity convention racked by infighting will only add to their reasons to stay out.