At UN, Turkey Admits No Move to Put Xinjiang on Agenda, Ergodan Quote "Not Based on Realities"

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un2xinjiang070909.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 9 -- The day after Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was quoted by that "We will put the events happening in the Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region onto the agenda of the United Nations' Security Council," Inner City Press asked the charge d'affaires of the Turkish Mission to the United Nations Fazli Corman about the quote and if Turkey had in fact made any moves to that effect. "We didn't make any moves on that," Ambassador Corman said. "That reports were not actually based on the realities."

Inner City Press asked if Prime Minister Erdogan had been misquoted. Yes, Ambassador Corman indicated.

This would not be the first time that a member of the UN Security Council said one thing in its country for popular consummation, but never acted on its within the UN in New York. But the Uighurs are a high profile political issue in Turkey, because they are not only Muslims but Turkic.

On July 8, Inner City Press asked two senior diplomats with China's mission to the UN about Prime Minister Erdogan's quote, and wrote about it. The first expressed surprise. It was noted that only on June 25 Turkish President Abdullah Gul met with Hu Jintao in Beijing. The second, higher placed, came to tell Inner City Press that his mission had "demarched" the Turkish Mission to the UN and that nothing would be raised. Other Security Council members, polled by Inner City Press on July 9 on the margins of a Council meeting about Somalia, expressed doubts that Turkey would even raise the issue.

In the hallway after the Council's Somalia meeting was over, Inner City Press approached Ambassador Corman as he finished speaking with U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative Alejandro Wolff and, after some questions about the North Korea sanctions committee that Turkey chairs, asked about Prime Minister Erdogan's quote.

As noted, Ambassador Corman replied that the "reports were not actually based on the realities." One might interpret this to mean, not based on the political and economic realities.

While China has a veto on any substantive decisions by the Council, as to the U.S., France, UK and Russia, there are no veto rights on procedural votes, such as whether to put a situation or conflict onto the Council's agenda. This is why, for example, Myanmar is on the agenda, despite opposition from China and Russia among others. Outgoing UK Permanent Representative John Sawers told the Press that Sri Lanka could have been put on the agenda of the Council earlier this year, the votes were there, but that the unity of the Council was deemed more important.

In this case, some doubt if it is a desire for Council unity that explains the silence in the Council, even of Turkey despite its Prime Minister's quoted comments. China's economic importance, these critics say, give it in effect a double veto, or two forms of veto. While the immediately conflict in Xinjiang may be calming down, the underlying issues remain. But despite what Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan was quoted as saying -- that Turkey would put the issue on the Security Council's agenda -- is remains doubtful this will happen.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un2xinjiang070909.html

As Sri Lanka Taxes and Cuts NGOs, Parades the Detained Doctors, UN Has Nothing to Say

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/untrip6may2srilanka070909.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 9 -- As the Rajapaksa administration orders the Red Cross and other international non-governmental organizations to close offices and scale down their operations in eastern and northern Sri Lanka, the UN and its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs so far have said nothing.

Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Michele Montas on July 9 about the Red Cross, for example, being forced to close its operations in Trincomalee and Batticaloa where it has 150 staff members. When Sudan threw out some 200 staff from Darfur, the UN criticized it immediately and loudly. Here, the UN said nothing and, when asked, Ms. Montas said "we are trying to get more information." Video here, from Minute 15:18.

On July 8, the Sri Lankan Army put on display the doctors, imprisoned for seven weeks, who had remained in the northern conflict zone offering treatment and casualty figures. Again, the UN had nothing to say. Ban Ki-moon and his top humanitarian aide John Holmes had both in the past spoken about the doctors and their treatment. But confronted with the grotesque display of imprisoned and presumptively threatened humanitarians being forced to make pro-government statement the UN -- a club of governments -- had nothing to say.

Inner City Press on July 9 asked Ban's spokesperson about the doctors. She said, there were their statements earlier and then their statements when they got "out of jail... I can't say what is true." Amnesty International and others have said that statements after detention like this are not credible. But the UN apparently no longer cares what the doctors say.

Inner City Press asked if Ban is requesting that they not be put on trial. Ms. Montas said "he didn't mention trial because there was no question of trial...As far as I know they've been released."

The UN is trying and largely succeeding, for now, in putting into the past its shameful inaction during the carnage in Sri Lanka.
In recent days the UN has promised but not delivered answers on a series of troubling developments in Sri Lanka.

Inner City Press asked about reports of government soldiers firing their weapons in the UN-funded internment camps in Vavuniya. We don't know about that, Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas said, we just don't have access. Inner City Press asked why the UN provides funds if it cannot verify and answer for its use. Ms. Montas said she would look into how it works. But after that, no information or answers were provided.

Nor did the UN's Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs have anything to say when asked about the Sri Lankan government taxing NGOs, which is otherwise only done in Burma. Now, no comment on the government's order to the Red Cross and others to scale back their operations. Even in following up on the Joint Statement Ban issued with Mahinda Rajapaksa, the UN has no follow through. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/untrip6may2srilanka070909.html

On W. Africa Drugs, UN Makes Excuses for Guinea's Conte and CNDD Coup Leaders, No Shame

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/undrug1guinea070809.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 8 -- As the UN system brags about its work against illicit drug trafficking in West Africa, questions have arisen about the UN's engagement with the past and present regimes in Guinea. When previous president-until-death Lansana Conte died in December 2008, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a laudatory statement about Conte's rule.

Soon thereafter, it emerged that Conte's family used diplomatic privileges to traffic massive quantities of drugs. On July 8, Inner City Press asked Ban's Special Representative for West Africa Said Djinnit and UNODC chief Antonio Maria Costa about their dealings with Conte and the CNDD military coup leaders who have succeeded him, in light of Ban's statements against Honduras' coup leaders. Video here, from Minute 53:03.

Mr. Djinnit at first said he didn't understand the question, and then emphasized that he dealt more with Guinea's prime minister than with Mr. Conte, who he said was sick. Djinnit confirmed that he engages with the coup leader CNDD president, who Djinnit says is "committed to deal" with drugs, although he said the UN "has concerns about how it is being done." Video here, from Minute 54:08.

Mr. Costa recounted telling Lansana Conte about the drug trafficking of Conte's son, and then getting a call three hours later from Guinea's prime minister, who said that Conte himself had called to become better informed. Like Djinnit, Costa essentially excused Conte for allow the country's presidency to be used for drug trafficking by saying Conte was ill, and couldn't control his son. The disparity of the UN's statements about "coup leaders" in Honduras and its "flexible" approach to Guinea could not be more stark.

Inner City Press also Djinnit, Costa or their two panel members Andrew Hughes, UN Police Adviser, Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO); and Harper Boucher, INTERPOL Special Representative to the UN, to comment on the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendation that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, so praised by the UN, be removed from public life for 30 years for supporting war lord Charles Taylor.

The only response, such as it was, from from Mr. Hughes, who said he was not the right one to answer. Afterwards, Inner City Press asked INTERPOL's Mr. Boucher about the freeing of former Kosovar prime minister Ceku from an Interpol warrant for war crimes by the flashing of a UN document. Boucher said he wasn't that familiar with the case, but that it might be "political" You don't say...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undrug1guinea070809.html

Amid Liberian Calls to Bar Johnson Sirleaf, UN Says Nothing Except TRC Not At Risk

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/trc1sirleaf070809.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 8 -- The UN system has praised both the Liberia truth and reconciliation commission and Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Now the commission has recommended that Johnson Sirleaf be barred from public office for thirty years, in part because she supported indicted war criminal Charles Taylor, including financially.

Inner City Press on July 7 asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Spokesperson Michele Montas if Mr. Ban or the UN Mission in Liberia have any response to the recommendation, given both the UN's central role in Liberia and Sierra Leone and previous statements about Ms. Johnson Sirleaf. It is up to the Liberians," Ms. Montas said, "not for the UN to decide." Video here, from Minute 16:56.

From the UN's transcript:

Inner City Press: The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission has recommended that President [Ellen] Johnson-Sirleaf be barred from public office for 30 years for having supported Charles Taylor, including economically. Does the… given the central role in Liberia and Sierra Leone, what does the UN think of this recommendation?

Spokesperson Montas: This is a report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia, and the UN mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has received the draft of the Commission’s report. It will be up to the Liberians to determine how they want to take forward the reconciliation process. It is not for the UN to decide; it is for the Liberians to decide.

Inner City Press: What about the issue… because I have seen a lot of UN statements very laudatory of President Johnson-Sirleaf. She has acknowledged apparently giving $10,000 to Charles Taylor rebels at the time. Does that change the UN’s opinion at all?

Spokesperson Montas: I will not comment on this.

But the UN, particularly the UN Development Program, has supported Johnson Sirleaf including in her campaigns. Given reports that she gave $10,000 to Taylor's forces, which recruited child soldiers and cut off limps, shouldn't the UN have something to say now?

Inner City Press asked UN envoy to West African Said Djinnet, was briefing the Security Council on Tuesday morning, what he thought of the recommendation. Mr. Djinit declined to comment, noting that there is a UN Mission in Liberia, UNMIL. Inner City Press then asked Djinnit directly about what Inner City Press has quoted an African Ambassador as saying, that the UN offered Djinnit as a possible replacement for Rodolphe Adada in Darfur. Djinnit laughed and pointed at his ear.

On July 8, Inner City Press asked Ms Montas if the UN will be responding to the call by the Liberian Human Rights Campaign that UNMIL provided protection to the members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Ms. Montas wasn't sure; later in the day, UN Police Advisor Andrew Hughes answered Inner City Press by saying he wasn't the right person to ask. Said Djinnit thanked Inner City Press for not asking in public about the possible Darfur post. (Separately, a concerned diplomat told Inner City Press that "the West" likes Djinnet.) And then the following arrived:

Subj: Liberia and TRC Commissioners
From: unspokesperson-donotreply [at] un.org
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 7/8/2009 3:27:25 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Regarding your question at today's Noon Briefing regarding Liberia and the TRC Commissioners: UNMIL already supports the Liberia National Police, (LNP) in the police's primary responsibility for ensuring day-to-day civil security in Liberia.Currently, there is no credible evidence of threats to any member(s) of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). If any such threat was made, UNMIL, in support of the LNP, would be available to assist in the protection of TRC Commissioners. To date, no requests for additional security support have been made by the TRC Commissioners.

But still not comment by the UN about the recommendation of the TRC Commissioners. Some rule of law...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/trc1sirleaf070809.html

As Group of Friends on Myanmar Meets at the UN, UK Perm Rep Sawers Doesn't Friend Them Despite UK Push for Trip

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/bangam1myanmar070809.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 8 -- In the run up to the trip to Myanmar by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his envoy Ibrahim Gambari, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the House of Commons that the UK had urged Ban to go to Burma. The trip took place; General Than Shwe rejected Ban's request to meet with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi; nearly everyone called the endeavor a failure.

With Ban still out of New York, at the G-8 meetings in Italy, Gambari descended to the UN basement on July 8 to brief the 14 countries on Ban's Group of Friends on Myanmar. Notably, UK Permanent Representative John Sawers was not present, unlike his counterparts from Japan, Indonesia and Singapore, among others. Some some suspected Facebook fallout -- and joked of Sawers not "friending" the Group -- others questioned the UK being so loud before the trip, and so quiet afterwards, at least in public.

Gambari, normally affable, rushed into the meeting room. UN staff have confirmed to Inner City Press that Than Shwe in a fit of pique made Gambari travel to the country's jungle capital by road, rather than by air. Reportedly, surrounded by the Ban-selected scribes on this most recent trip, Gambari wished for the presence of other reporters, to witness the indignities and discomforts that he has been going through.

There was also the report -- an exclusive by Inner City Press -- that Gambari's name was offered by Ban as a possible replacement for Rodolphe Adada in Darfur, but that some Western powers rejected it. A subsequent candidate Said Djinnit earlier on June 8 thanked Inner City Press for not asking publicly about the Darfur post, at least not during his press conference on West Africa (Inner City Press' report on West Africa is forthcoming.)

Indonesia's Ambassador strode in jaunty as ever; Japan's Takasu with a staffer. China's also jaunty Deputy had Xinjiang on his mind, saying that despite Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's statement that Turkey will put Xinjiang on the Security Council's agenda (see Inner City Press story here), the Turkish Mission to the UN has received no instructions to this effect. Other Ambassador's marveled at the recent and dirty campaign to re-nominate Mr. Supachai as secretary general of UNCTAD.

Diplomat's minds seemed everywhere except on Myanmar. But since the UK asked for the trip, some felt Sawers should have been present. He spoke of the issue earlier in the day, but only to select reporters, and only off the record. Whether this approach is the best for Burma is in question. Watch this space.

Update of 4:07 p.m. -- to be fair, Sawers' affable deputy was present. Whether he will speak on the record after the meeting, given the UK's role, remains to be seen.

Update of 4:31 p.m. -- while the Friends on Myanmar continue meeting, the head of a Security Council mission spoke to Inner City Press about the Turkish Prime Minister - China imbloglio: "that's why we have a free Press," he said.... But on Myanmar, there are no other reporters outside the Friends' basement meeting.

Update of 5:15 p.m. -- And when the meeting broke up, like clock work at precisely five o'clock, Gambari declines to speak with the Press, saying to wait for Ban to return to New York. Inner City Press said, or asked, "Ban will speak to the Security Council?" "Or to this group," Gambari answered. That would be to further downgrade the Myanmar issue.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/bangam1myanmar070809.html

Turkey's Erdogan Says Will Put Xinjiang on UN Council Agenda, Didn't on Sri Lanka, China's Reaction

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1xinjiang070809.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 8, updated -- While the 150 deaths in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region are covered, with China's consent if not control, in media worldwide, very little is being said at the UN, particularly in its Security Council. Following a July 6 meeting on North Korea, the issue did not arise. Nor July 7 as the Council met about West Africa.

But on July 8, Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Istanbul,"We will put the events happening in the Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region onto the agenda of the United Nations' Security Council."

In May and June 2009, Inner City Press asked Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and now-retired UN Ambassador Ilkin about putting the issue of over 10,000 dead civilians in Sri Lanka on the Council's agenda. Both demurred.

Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu on May 11 told Inner City Press that the UN should “cooperate with the government of Sri Lanka because we have to cooperate in all efforts against terrorism.”

On June 2, Ambassador Ilkin told Inner City Press emphatically that Sri Lanka is not on the Council's agenda. Video here, Minute 22.

Now, because of the involvement of Muslims in Xinjiang, Turkey's prime minister wants it on the Council's agenda. What standard is Turkey applying?

Inner City Press asked a senior Chinese diplomat at the UN about Erdogan's statement. It is an internal matter, the Chinese diplomat said. After Inner City Press' follow-up, he conceded that Chinese authorities should have handled the beating of Uighur factory workers in South China better: they "didn't do enough to disclose what they knew."

But he insisted, Muslims have rights, but not to kill. He likened it to African American in the United States, saying they have grievances but cannot break the law to express them and "burn down public buildings and kill innocent passersby."

Regarding the Turkish prime minister's vow to the GCC to put the issue on the Council's agenda, the Chinese diplomat smiled. He said, "So be it." Watch this site.

Update of 5:30 p.m., July 8 -- the Chinese Mission to the UN, working quickly, "demarched" the Turkish mission and reportedly the actual Turkish plan or desire to try to put Xinjiang on the Security Council agenda is no more. This is how it works. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1xinjiang070809.html

As UK's Malloch Brown Again Seeks Cash, Sri Lanka and IMF Loan Questions, UN Scandals

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ukmmb1srilanka070809.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 8 -- The United Kingdom, whose power is so magnified by its permanent seat on the UN Security Council that like France it is one of the UN's major defenders, finds its interface with the Organization in some disarray.

Beyond the so-called "Facebook-gate" surrounding UK Permanent Representative Sir John Sawers, fairly or not, now the UK's Minister for the UN Lord Mark Malloch Brown has announced he will step down by the end of July "for family reasons."

This comes a fortnight after Malloch Brown told Inner City Press that "As far as I'm concerned, the IMF loan [to Sri Lanka] is not going anywhere." Given the personal qualifier, one wonders about the UK's engagement with the Rajapaksa administration going forward, particularly given lack of UK statements on the ongoing internment in northern Sri Lanka including by ostensible envoy Des Browne (who was seen July 7 during Prime Minister's Questions raising not Sri Lanka but a proposed business closing in his Kilmamock district).

This new transition recalls Malloch Brown's flirtation with the private sector, specifically the empire of his long-time friend George Soros, just after he left the UN with Kofi Annan at the end of 2006. While working for the UN in New York, the Malloch Browns lived on a Soros-owned estate in suburban Westchester.

When questioned about the potential conflict of interest, given for example the intertwining of the UN Development Program which MMB had headed with Soros' Open Society Institute, MMB said he was paying $10,000 a month. He declined to provide documentation.

Subsequently, after Inner City Press exposed MMB's decision while at UNDP to spend over $500,000 on a purportedly independent scholarly book praising UNDP and himself, Malloch Brown lost his cool and dropped the "J word" -- jerk -- for which then UN spokesman Stephane Dujuarric apologized days later.

The book, "UNDP: A Better Way?" by Craig N. Murphy, thanks as the first acknowledgement "Mark Malloch Brown, who hired me to write this history. He offered the unbeatable combination of... a good salary and travel budget." MMB like Murphy continues to search for that.

Before Malloch Brown's second hand apology, a new rationale was found: Malloch Brown was defending his friend Brian Gleeson, embroiled then in a separate UNDP scandal. Now Gleeson is being recycled as the Australian government's Coordinator General for "Remote Indigenous Services." Another of MMB's UNDP (and by his own account Soros) compadres, Kalman Mizsei, has resurfaced as EU envoy in Moldova.

Where will Malloch Brown recycle himself now? His sudden resignation was not raised by the opposition during the July 8 Prime Minister's Questions, fielded by House of Commons Leader Harriet Harman given Gordon Brown's commitments at the G-8 meetings in Italy -- at which as exclusively reported by Inner City Press he UN World Food Program is flying in school children from Ghana for a "simulated feeding program" display for G-8 leaders' spouses. Which spouses will attend? What does Malloch Brown think of this UN World Food Program initiative? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ukmmb1srilanka070809.html

Siemens AG Banned Only 6 Months by UN, 2 Years by World Bank, UN Pays For Non-Existent Garden

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1siemens070709.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 7 -- As German conglomerate Siemens AG, fresh from guilty pleas under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, faces a two year suspension as a vendor by the World Bank, the United Nations has imposed only a six month ban.

On July 7, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Michele Montas, who has previously defended the UN's failure to ban the Indian Enron Satyam, to explain the different penalties imposed by the UN and the World Bank. "Each body has its own decision making process," Ms. Montas answered. Video here, from Minute 18:25.

Inner City Press then asked if it would be fair to conclude that the UN or at least its Department of Management which oversees procurement takes anti-corruption even less seriously than the World Bank, based on its ban being one-quarter of the World Bank's, based on the same facts. "It's not a question of which organization is more stringent than the other," Ms. Montas argued. But isn't it?

Previously, even though the World Bank had barred Satyam from contracting, the UN continued to do business with it. After this was raised by the Press, the UN said it was winding down contracting with Satyam. No updates have been given.
In June there was no press conference by the chief of the Department of Management, Angela Kane, who has complained that UN responses are not published. For this story, Inner City Press waited hours after asking the question at the UN's noon briefing. The Siemens question is one which should be answered.

At a smaller level, Inner City Press has been informed that while the UN's North Lawn is now covered by the temporary building which will house the General Assembly and Secretary General's Office during the five years of the Capital Master Plan, payments continue to be made on a multi-year contract for gardening of the North Korea. This was reported to Inner City Press by a whistleblower, and then confirmed by a UN procurement official. But what is being done?

The Department of Management, which oversees both procurement and the Capital Master Plan, is continuing despite criticism even in the U.S. Congress with a plan to change reporters' current working conditions, with closed door offices to meet and speak with sources including whistleblowers, to an "open office" plan in which there will be no doors, no walls to the ceiling, no privacy. A whistleblower free zone appears to be what the UN Department of Management has in mind. Watch this site.

From the UN's July 7, 2009 transcript:

Inner City Press: about Siemens, this German conglomerate has been barred by the World Bank from doing business with it for two years for violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act. So now the UN is only barring them for only six months, and I am wondering if the Department of Management or Procurement or the Senior Review Panel -– what’s the difference in terms of the acts? Why would the UN… [interrupted]?

Spokesperson Montas: Each body has its own decision making process, you know. Here, it is for six months and for longer over there. You know, it’s a matter of the individual administrations to decide.

Inner City Press: is it fair to say that from this one could say the World Bank is more serious about anti-corruption than the UN? [interrupted]?

Spokesperson Montas: That has nothing to do with this. This is just an administrative matter. They have been banned for six months. So it’s not a question of which organization is more stringent than the other. I don’t think this is the issue. I think the issue is that each one of these organizations has taken measures about Siemens. Thank you all so very much.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1siemens070709.html

For G-8 Spouses, WFP Flies in Ghanaian Children for "Simulated Feeding," $500,000 Cost and Ms. Sheeran Disputed, re N. Korea

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/wfp1g8display070709.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 7 -- During the upcoming G-8 meeting in Italy, the UN World Food Program is flying school children from Ghana to Rome for a "simulated food distribution" display for the spouses of G-8 representatives. WFP has ordered staff not involved in the display to not come to work that day. They will, however, received "special leave with full pay."

Inner City Press wrote about this last week, quoting an internal WFP e-mail. On July 7, Inner City Press called in to what was described as a WFP press briefing about the G-8 and asked for response to criticism of the event as insensitive to beneficiaries of UN aid and for the cost, as well as about limitations WFP accepts from the government of North Korea.

The WFP officials on the conference call -- who will remain unnamed at their request -- at first did not answer the question, and then stated that the event would cost only a fraction of the figure Inner City Press used its its July 2 story, $500,000.

Inner City Press asked to be given on the record WFP's figure, including staff time, accommodation and air fare -- and carbon offsetting of the jet travel, if any. Four hours later, after close of business in Rome, a WFP spokesman said that an answer might be forthcoming. In the interim, WFP had scrubbed up and approved a quote from the "background" briefing for a less critical wire service piece.

And so, beyond the WFP e-mail below describing the event, here is the basis for Inner City Press' estimate of cost:

According to the WFP website, 'WFP employed 10,200 people in 2008 (91 percent of staff serve in the field.)' That means about 1000 work at WFP Headquarters in Rome. Even accounting for a satellite building that will stay in operation -- though who knows how many staff will show up or be able to get near it -- we estimate that 800 staff go home and that the average grade is the mid range of a P4 (grades are higher at WFP headquarters than in the field). The direct cost for such a post is about $100,000 but one must add to that pension, staff assessment and a large "post adjustment" because the dollar is weak against the Euro. Therefore a more realistic annual cost for a mid range P4 is perhaps $150,000-160,000.

The work year has 260 days, so a single day of labor lost costs the organization $576. Multiplied by 800, one gets about $467,000 -- plus related security costs, the cost of flying in the Ghanaian children to eat corn-soy blend in view of the G-8 spouses, the construction of a fake schoolhouse by WFP's pool, etc. In addition there is the Italian government paying rent on a building that is not being used to manage food aid but as a set for this theater. The last public figure on the website for the building costs was about $45 million per annum with a daily cost of roughly $123,000. So $467,000 plus $123,000 yields about $590,000.

Immediately after a senior WFP official on Tuesday's conference call said that costs were only "a fraction" of $500,000, Inner City Press formally asked for WFP's estimate of costs, and for confirmation that a WFP staffer was expelled from North Korea.

At deadline nine hours later, the following arrived:

Hi Matthew, On the question regarding the planned event at WFP headquarters on Friday 10 July, I refer you to the response given during the teleconference earlier today. On the question of DPRK, I have the following response:

A senior WFP official said one WFP staff member in DPRK has had to leave the country because his visa was not renewed by the authorities. A number of other WFP staff members have been reassigned, or rotated to new duty stations because WFP's operations have contracted and the number of people required to support WFP's activities have gone down.

"While WFP continues to operate under the new conditions imposed by the DPRK authorities, it has not formally accepted them, and WFP is continuing to push for a return to the original terms of agreement negotiated with the government at the launch of the current emergency operation," the official added.

We continue to wait for WFP's cost estimate. Inner City Press immediately followed up on the above, asking for the costs, if the WFP staff member who had to leave DPRK was from South Korea, and another question.

The initial questions were sent to WFP chief Josette Sheeran's e-mail address. Ms. Sheeran, on whom Inner City Press has previously reported, including where possible praising her work, has taken to hiring yet more former colleagues from the Washington Times, most recently Elizabeth "Lisa" Bryant.

Within the UN system community in Rome, many believe that Ms. Sheeran engaged in a quid pro quo with FAO chief Jacques Diouf, hiring a relative of his for an information technology post in exchange for FAO hiring the husband of her personal assistant, Tanujah Rastogi. They snark that since Ms. Sheeran Shiner bragged that while editing the Washington Times she ran story after story about the Clintons and Whitewater, the Obama Administration with Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State might want to see a change at the top of WFP. Through in the snafu of the $500,000 simulated feeding program and.... well, watch this site.

Rome colleagues:

As you know, Italy will be hosting the G8 Summit next week and leaders from more than two dozen countries will be in L’Aquila. We are honored that the Italian government has asked WFP to host an official program at our headquarters on Friday, 10 July, as part of the spouse program.
This visit is a profound testament to the increasing visibility of WFP's work -- and an opportunity to help the world better understand the important work we do. On our premises, we are arranging a simulated food distribution and a symbolic African schoolhouse, where a small group of Ghanaian schoolchildren will help celebrate our work. (You may have noticed the large exhibit being erected this morning behind the pool.)

Due to the security precautions mandated by the Italian government and the visiting delegations, only those employees involved in the event or deemed necessary for critical operations by their managers will be permitted on the main building premises during the morning of July 10. Among other things, parking will be severely limited at our main building and automobile access limited in Parco de Medici in general.
But we encourage you to take advantage of this special exhibit and bring your families, including your children, on the afternoon of 10 July – anytime after 2:00 – so they can get a taste of our field work and meet the schoolchildren. If you cannot bring your family on 10 July, note that the tent and displays will remain up on Monday, 13 July, so we invite you to bring family members to see the display then.

Though this is a special event, we realize it might cause some inconvenience. We hope you can appreciate what an historic opportunity this is for some of the world’s most influential people to understand what we do and to see the impact of their donations.

Here are some guidelines for the day: If you work in the main building, please do not come to the office Friday morning, 10 July. The St. Martin’s building will remain open. As much as possible, please work from home... We expect the main building to re-open for business as usual at 2:00, so if it's feasible for you to return, please do so. If returning to the office in the afternoon is not feasible for you -- we recognize that some of the Parco de Medici transit options do not run in the afternoon, for instance – you are authorized special leave with full pay. Thank you,
Steve Taravella
Chief of Internal Communications, World Food Programme
Via C.G. Viola 68,Rome, Italy 00148

Footnote: one WFP staffer, anonymous from fear of retaliation, asked if Josette Sheeran would similarly "parade around Food Stamp recipient in the United States," and went on to suggest that if the G-8 spouses wanted to see "needy Africans" while in Italy, they could check out the camps on Lampedusa...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/wfp1g8display070709.html

As Security Council Meets on N. Korea, Malay Bank, Ban and Kang Nam 1 in UN Penumbra

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unsc1may6dprk070609.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 6, updated -- As the UN Security Council mechanically convened days after North Korea fired seven missiles into the Sea of Japan, the mystery grew around the Kang Nam 1 ship with its reputed cargo of weapons for Myanmar, and the unnamed Malaysian bank reportedly pegged to process Burmese payments.

The place of a middleman between the regimes in North Korea and Myanmar is called by some the vortex of evil. Others apparently call it good business.

Reports -- and photos -- emerged Monday of tunnels in Myanmar designed by North Korean advisers. DVB reports that

"five Burmese companies – Htoo Trading, Kambawza, Asia World, Aden and Shwe Thanlwin – are known however to have provided machinery for the digging of the tunnels... A secret visit by General Thura Shwe Mann, the Burmese regime’s third-in-command, along with 18 other high ranking military officials to North Korea in November 2008, is another indicator of how the two countries have been cooperating. During the visit, Shwe Mann and North Korean Army Chief General Kim Gyok-sik signed an Memorandum of Understanding on further cooperation plans. The Burmese delegation also visited an underground military hardware factory near Pyongyang."

But it is Pyongyang's threats to Japan and Seoul which trigger UN action. Myanmar gets a free pass.

In front of the Security Council late Monday afternoon, Japanese media converged as they did after the last launch by Pyongyang. South Korea's Ambassador came and said they expect the Council to react. Inner City Press asked a Council diplomat when Ban Ki-moon's envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari is slated to brief the so-called Group of Friends on Myanmar.

This is what Ban said when empty handed he left Myanmar: that Gambari would return to New York and brief the Friends while he traveled on to Geneva -- click here for Inner City Press' UNCTAD story -- Ireland and then the G-8 meeting in Italy.

The diplomat said Ban would have been expected to do the briefing himself, but perhaps with so little accomplished, Gambari would have to do.

A strange theory justifying Ban's apparently fruitless trip to Myanmar began to circulate in the UN on Monday: that it was due to Ban's presence that the Kang Nam 1 did not dock in Myanmar. Since Ban has already claimed on the Charlie Rose television program that he saved 500,000 people in Myanmar, taking credit for the Kang Nam 1's return to North Korea may not be far off.

While the Malaysian bank at issue has so far gone unnamed, one wonders if the UN committee set to finger companies for sanctions this coming Friday might not name the Malay bank. Watch this space.

Update of 5:40 p.m. -- the Council has "suspended" its consultations on North Korea until 6 p.m..

Update of 6:06 p.m. -- a Council diplomat tells the Press that whatever will happen today will happen soon. The crowd of mostly Japanese media expresses a collective desire to leave.

Update of 7:05 p.m. -- First, the Chinese delegation strode out, telling the Press, the President will have a statement for you. Then the U.S. squad, with Susan Rice, Alejandro Wolff and at least two bodyguards, came out, the bodyguards between Ms. Rice and the press. Finally the Ugandan Ambassador, Council president for July, emerged and read out what he called an "oral statement," that the Council condemns the missiles, finding them a violation of resolutions. He was followed by Japan's Ambassador Yukio Takasu, who called the "oral statement" -- less even than a formal Press Statement, which in turn is less than a Presidential Statement which is less than a resolution -- "clear and strong."

Inner City Press asked Amb. Takasu to comment on the Kang Nam ship. Takasu said that Japan had spoken with other neighboring countries about their duty to search such North Korea ships if they came to port. Inner City Press asked, did Japan speak to Myanmar, and what does Japan think of Ban Ki-moon's recent two day trip to Myanmar: success or failure?

Takasu said Japan spoke "bilaterally" to countries in Asia "but not necessarily to Myanmar." He said it was too early to judge Ban's trip, she spoke with Ban and Gambari "during" the trip and would be briefed upon Ban's return to New York. He called the current outcome of the Kang Nam trip a demonstration of the value of UN resolutions. But the Ugandan Ambassador told Inner City Press that the Kang Nam didn't even come up during the consultations, and another Council diplomat confirmed this. Go figure. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unsc1may6dprk070609.html

Zelaya and d'Escoto Flew in Chavez' Plane, Some Questions UNanswered

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unpga5honduras070609.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 6 -- Venezuela's Hugo Chavez provided the plane on which Manuel Zelaya and UN General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann flew July 5 over Tegucigalpa, d'Escoto Brockmann's spokesman Enrique Yeves confirmed to Inner City Press on July 6.

Brockmann's return from his native Nicaragua to brief the General Assembly in New York will be paid "from the President's budget," Yeves said, adding that the PGA's budget is "audited by external and internal auditors like everything else at the UN." Video here, from Minute 17:44.

Now that it is confirmed that Chavez provided the plane to Zelaya and presumably paid for jet fuel, the extent of his support and control in Honduras is worth re-examining. As noted, Zelaya refused to provide the Honduran parliament with his budget in September 2008.

After the Honduras Supreme Court ruled that Zelaya could not hold a flash referendum removing presidential term limits, it has been reported that the referendum -- or "opinion poll" -- materials were prepared and paid for by Chavez.

On July 5, Nicaragua's ambassador to the Organization of American States predicted that Honduras will say that it and Venezuela are behind and funding protests in Tegucigalpa, in an echo of Iranian claims that the UK is behind the protests in Tehran. Sticking with that comparison, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was asked by the Los Angeles Times

LAT: If President Ahmadinejad comes to the U.N. General Assembly in September as the elected president of Iran, will you acknowledge his election as legitimate?

BKM: It's up to the member states who should represent their country. If he comes as president of Iran, I'm ready to meet with him again and discuss all matters.

By that logic, once Honduras' Supreme Court ruled it legal that Zelaya be replaced by Micheletti, Ban and the UN Secretariat would have deferred to the country's highest court. But getting a sense of the political winds, Ban applied a different test. Either test can be defended, but a double standard can't. Or hasn't.

Back at the UN, D'Escoto Brockmann refused to defend his use of UN funds to hire two relatives. After that, his spokesman Enrique Yeves refused to answer, or even listen to, Inner City Press' question about how much of the PGA's Office's $280,000 budget from the UN has been spent. Several correspondents at the UN say the amount has nearly or entirely all been spent. Has it been replenished?

UN General Assembly Resolution 53/214

13. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance the Office of the President of the General Assembly by taking all the necessary steps to ensure the full implementation of paragraph 1B.10 of the report of the Secretary-General entitled “United Nations reform: measures and proposals”,6 [A/52/303] as adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 52/220, so as to provide transparency and accountability and thereby strengthen the ability of the President of the General Assembly effectively and efficiently to discharge the responsibilities of the Office as deemed appropriate;

14. Decides that the President of the General Assembly, consistent with the approved programme budget, should have full authority to use the funds provided in the budget for the Office, including hospitality and travel and any other requirements for the accomplishment of the official responsibilities;

Paragraph 1B.10 of S-G report [A/52/303] provides

1B.10 In order to enhance further the ability of the President of the General Assembly to discharge his responsibilities, it is proposed that the budget include a sum of $250,000 for each year of the biennium to supplement the level of support currently provided. Consultations would be held with each President of the Assembly to determine the way in which these funds would be used to enhance support for his/her Office.

Given this, can the funds be used without explanation to hire relatives? Are the funds in fact subject to audit by the UN Board of Auditors and investigation by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services? These are transparency and accountability questions, like the "how much has been spent" question which has still not been answered. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unpga5honduras070609.html

At Ban's UN, Ivorians Against UNCTAD Second Term As OIOS Complaint, E-mails Surface

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban2unctad070609.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 6 -- Despite complaints pending before the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services, the nomination by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of Supachai Panitchpakdi for a second term atop the UN Conference on Trade and Development was confirmed July 6 by the UN General Assembly.

Before the vote, the representative of Cote d'Ivoire, which fielded a candidate who as documented by Inner City Press was smeared by Supachai's senior advisor Kobsak Chutikul, read a speech expressing "reservations" at the process, stating that the "ethical values that should inspire our Organization were overthrown" by "defamatory practices against our candidate." Video here, from Minute 6:23.

Today, while Ban Ki-moon is in UNCTAD's headquarters city of Geneva, Inner City Press publishes an additional July 3 e-mail by Kobsak Chutikul, and another complaint pending unacted upon before the OIOS.

Inner City Press asked Mr. Supachai on June 24 to respond to his advisor's documented "game plan" of having UNCTAD staff lobby particular Ambassadors and spread negative information about the Ivorian candidate. Supachai said that because the complaint was before "the Office of Internal Oversight... we may have to defer to OIOS." Video here, from Minute 54:04.

He denied that he had campaigned, characterizing it as a mere "re-nomination," essentially an automatic second term. On July 6, the Ivorian representative in the General Assembly dispute that this should be automatic, an argument that may be raised again in two years in New York. As Inner City Press has reported, this argument was made to Team Ban, that to allow the African Group to deny Supachai a second term would be a bad precedent for Ban.

While Supachai on June 24 dodged questions about listening devices hidden in the UN in Geneva as well as the acts of his special advisor, while claiming that whistleblower protections are in place at UNCTAD, Kobsak Chutikul has since sent out the e-mail below.

--- Forwarded by xxxxxxxx/UNCTAD/GVA/UNO on 03.07.2009 14:49 -----

Kobsak Chutikul/UNCTAD/GVA/UNO

03.07.2009 13:54

To Kobsak Chutikul/UNCTAD/GVA/UNO@UNGVA

Subject Allegations of misconduct

Dear Colleagues,

Upon return from mission, I realise that recent press stories relating to me, as well as copies of emails attributed to me that have been widely circulated, have caused concern and bewilderment in the house.

In my opinion, the context of those emails have clearly been distorted. Investigations will have to establish the facts.

However, while awaiting the outcome of the investigation, at this point in time, I would like on my part to apologise for the damage that this matter may have caused to the good name and reputation of UNCTAD. I also deeply regret the embarrassment that has been caused to innocent third-parties outside the organization. Over the next few days, I shall be seeking to meet individually with those affected to apologise to them personally.

Colleagues whose names have been associated with me all acted in good faith in what they must have perceived to have been the best interests of the organization, with no malicious intent.

It has been a sobering experience. I shall strive to repair the harm done to this organization by the public disclosures of a complaint that was accompanied by incomplete and misleading information. I'm confident, nonetheless, that the organization will eventually emerge stronger from this period of relative trial and tribulation, as has been the case so many times in the past.

Sincerely yours, Kobsak.

That despite the disclosure of the "Game Plan" e-mail, no disciplinary action has been taken continues to amaze many within and outside of UNCTAD and the UN. Inner City Press now publishes another complaint earlier filed with the OIOS:

Subject: Integrity issues in UNCTAD management
To: investigationsoios [at] un.org
Dear Sir/madam,

I am an UNCTAD staff member with a wholly satisfactory UN service record, and I feel obliged to report a blatant recent example of poor management at UNCTAD, which is seriously troubling to many colleagues. While this issue may not concern me in the strict sense of my immediate employment or contractual conditions, it could have a bearing on the general matter of personnel issues at UNCTAD, something that all of us, programme managers and staff, have a stake in.

I considered the options of either addressing myself to the Under-Secretary General for Management or the Secretary-General of UNCTAD himself, but I am concerned that such a formal open approach could subject me to retaliation, or otherwise be ignored. And as the Ombudsman's Office seems ill-equipped to understand and address such a matter, I feel that the safest, correct route to bring this to the attention of the concerned offices in the Organisation is through OIOS. Please find below the full explanation of this matter and attached some relevant documents.

1. I wish to bring to your attention the deep dissatisfaction among many UNCTAD staff-members with the decision announced on 19 September 2008 by the Acting Deputy Secretary General of UNCTAD to appoint Mr. Angelo Galindo as Officer-in-Charge of UNCTAD Human Resources Management Service (HRMS), effective 6 October. Mr. Galindo has acted since 2007 as Special Assistant to the Secretary General (for personnel and related administrative matters).

2. This appointment comes in the wake of a series of staffing re-assignments and appointments at UNCTAD that were arbitrary and undertaken without proper consultation with programme managers and concerned staff members or consideration of the impact on their morale and career prospects. This most recent appointment confirms that a pattern of faulty administrative decision-making at UNCTAD is tolerated, if not institutionalized.

3. This has created an environment perceived by many staff members to feature the same managerial impunity to which the Under-Secretary General for Management, Ms. Angela Kane, took exception in her recent UNOG Town Hall meeting. Regrettably, the various administrative, oversight and inspection mechanisms intended to uphold good management and safeguard staff-member's rights that Ms. Kane stressed at that meeting are not working as they should or else I would not have felt obliged to report this confidentially to the Ombudsman.

4. This appointment is problematic because of the official public record of the staff member's service with the United Nations. Mr. Galindo brought a case to the UN Administrative Tribunal (UNAT) appealing against disciplinary action taken against him by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, following a 2002 ruling by the UN Joint Disciplinary Committee (JDC) (UNAT Judgment 1151, Galindo- copy available on the UNAT website).

5. In 2003, the Tribunal accepted that part of Mr. Galindo's appeal that contended that the penalty to which he was subject was disproportionate to the offenses that the JDC concluded he committed. The Tribunal did not pronounce itself on the offenses ascertained by the JDC nor did it accept other parts of Mr. Galindo's pleas. But it did conclude that Mr. Galindo "should be granted priority consideration for any position at the level for which he applies and for which he is qualified".

6. The JDC had found in 14 January 2002 that Mr. Galindo should be subject to disciplinary action because he had demonstrated unsatisfactory conduct:

• "…the staff member has failed to comply with his obligations under the Charter of the United Nations, the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules... ";

• "…evidence that the staff member committed unlawful acts…";

• "…evidence that the staff member abused the United Nations privileges and immunities …";

• "…evidence that the committed acts discredited the United Nations…";

• "….a blatant lack of integrity and that the staff member's position as Chief of Personnel of UNCTAD constitutes an aggravating factor".

7. When he informed the staff-member of the disciplinary action that he decided in March 2002, the Secretary-General of the United Nations stated that he had "given careful consideration to the findings of the Committee and has concluded that the charges that (he) committed theft and discredited the United Nations are well founded and that (his) conduct constituted a serious violation of the standards of conduct and integrity expected of each staff member of the Organization, aggravated by (his) official position as Chief of Personnel of UNCTAD".

8. The Secretary-General decided that "due to the nature and seriousness of (his) misconduct, (his) demotion will be with no possibility of promotion and would entail a reassignment to an environment where (he) shall no longer exercise decision-making and managerial responsibilities…"

9. UNAT subsequently determined this disciplinary action to have been disproportionate to the offense, despite acknowledging his "bizarre behavior" under stress. While, UNAT ruled that Mr. Galindo should be considered for any post "for which he is qualified", the other facts of his record are not disputed, in particular his proven lack of integrity and other attributes especially important for the incumbent of such a position.

10. Notwithstanding Mr. Galindo's special skills in the area of human resources "management", the official observations about his competencies which are part of the public record do not reflect the qualifications and standards of integrity and leadership expected from somebody placed in charge of personnel matters in any United Nations Department.

11. While everybody should be given a second chance even when they fail, this staff member has been compensated fairly for any unfair decision to which he might have been subject, first by being returned to his former (P-4) grade, not to mention having been promoted to his current post at the P-5 level.

12. However, awarding this staff-member line functions in areas where he can exercise decision-making and managerial responsibilities flies in the face of the standards that we are all expected to observe as United Nations staff members and to which the Secretary-General of UNCTAD personally committed at the outset of his term in the form of an "Integrity Statement". Indeed, UNCTAD staff find it difficult to believe that the Secretary-General of UNCTAD is aware of the specifics of Mr. Galindo's record, or else he would not have approved his assignments since 2007 in the area of human resources management at the recommendation of his senior advisors.

Of Mr. Galindo, another UNCTAD whistleblower states that "the Dr. Supachai/ Chutikul-administration did its best to revert a tacit understanding that he must not be allowed to handle (again) personnel matters. He paid back by helping Mr. Chutikul to recruit Mr. Bautista, former First Secretary at the Mission of the Philippines in Geneva, now one of the gentlemen of the game plan e-mail exchange, to a senior post at UNCTAD and thus saved him from a pending reassignment to Vietnam."

Is this any way to run an Organization? Some now question, when, even before Inner City Press asked Ban's Spokesperson and wrote about them, was Team Ban aware of these pending complaints and what has been done about them? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban2unctad070609.html

Burmese Days of UN's Ban Ki-moon Are a Failure, By Ban's Own Measure, North Korea Fires Missiles

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban7burmapress070409.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 4 -- As UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon leaves Myanmar, not only is Aung San Suu Kyi still on trial, Mr. Ban was not allowed to visit her. On the other hand, Ban offered ham handed praise of Than Shwe's moving his country forward. Ban claimed that perhaps other political prisoners would be released, if not now then before the election.

Why did Ban Ki-moon go to Myanmar? In the run-up to the trip, before it was announced that he would go, Ban sent his envoy Ibrahim Gambari to test the waters. Whatever test was applied, upon Gambari's return to New York, Ban's office confirmed to the eight journalists hand picked to be allowed to cover Ban's trip that it would in fact occur. Several had been told in advance and had booked tickets, canceled them then re booked at additional cost.

With Ban already in Japan with an entourage of 22 UN personnel -- but few of the selected UN correspondents cover this first leg of the trip -- Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas what would be in the indicia of if Ban's Myanmar venture was a success or a failure.

The question was asked against the background of negative reviews of Ban's performance and predictions that Myanmar's Than Shwe regime would use Ban's trip to legitimize their trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and their highly controlled, pro-military mock election planned for 2010.

Ms. Montas reacted with exasperation, saying that Ban had clearly enunciated his goals for the trip. But that was not the question: how would the public know if it was a success or failure? Montas appeared to acknowledge that if the goals Team Ban had set out were not moved forward during the trip, it would be a failure.

Now, not only is Aung San Suu Kyi still on trial, Ban was not allowed to visit her.

On the other hand, Ban offered ham handed praise of Than Shwe's moving his country forward. Ban claimed to his hand-picked scribes that perhaps other political prisoners would be released, if not now then before the election.

Meanwhile North Korea, fresh from throwing Korean-speaking international UN staff out of the country, fired seven missiles in contempt for the US, the UN and, some said, Mr. Ban Ki-moon. The UN Spokesperson never provided basic information that had been promised in the pre-holiday press briefings. None of the promised pool reports were ever provided. And the circus like trip continued. Watch this site.

Footnote: as Inner City Press reported June 28 and was confirmed by Ban's Spokesperson Michele Montas on June 29, Ban's office hand-picked which journalists would be told of the opportunity to cover his trip to Burma. Ms. Montas first said that the UN "picked people who were willing to pool for others." On July 2, when Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas when these pool reports would begin, she reversed course and argued that "I said some of them were willing to pool, some of them... There is no print pooling, no."

Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas to confirm the information in a list it has seen, that there are at least 22 UN personnel in Ban's traveling party, ranging from political chief Lynn Pascoe and deputy chief of staff Kim Won-soo to Hak-Fan Lau, to whom reporters on Ban's previous UN mission to Burma gave at least some pooled material. "I can check for you," Ms. Montas answered. By noon on July 4 in New York, no information was provided. Watch this site.

UN's Ban Says "Assured" of Fair Burmese Elections, Despite Junta's Constitution

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, July 3-4 -- After the first of what may be two meetings with Burmese strongman Than Shwe, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the reporters he picked to travel with him, "I was assured that the Myanmar authorities will make sure that this election will be held in a fair and free and transparent manner."

As simply one example, since the constitution the junta pushed through in the wake of Cycle Nargis in May 2008 provides that fully one-quarter of seats must go to military members, it is difficult to see how an election under it could be described as fair.

Unnamed UN officials -- in New York the UN has still refused to confirm even which officials are traveling with Ban -- are quoted that the general are considering endorsing "allowing the National League for Democracy to open offices across the country and to permit her to campaign," referring to the imprisoned and on trial Aung San Suu Kyi. There is only one problem: the junta's constitution prohibits anyone who ever married a foreigner, as Mrs. Suu Kyi did, from running for office.

Myanmar is not, however, isolated from the whole world. It is reportedly seeking to import more weapons from North Korea, and it on the record gave $50,000 to President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka, perhaps in tribute to him having done to the Tamil Tigers and civilians what Than Shwe would like to do with Karen rebels and civilians.

The UN, of course, continued unabated seeking to raise donor funds for Myanmar, with the attendant run off through current exchange to Than Shwe's regime, without any question about Myanmar turning around and giving post bloodbath aid to Sri Lanka. Nor has the UN tried to track the use of Nigeria's $500,000 grant to Myanmar, on which Inner City Press exclusively reported.

Ban's deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe, who is along on the trip, is quoted telling the reporters whom she identified for the trip that Ban will have a second meeting with Than Shwe. (It is not clear why Ms. Okabe or her Office could not have conveyed this announcement to other UN reporters).

In the air is that Ban might then pull a rabbit out of the hat. But what if the rabbit is dead? Watch this site.

* * *

UN's Ban "Appreciates" Than Shwe's Actions in Burma, Scam Election on Horizon

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, July 3 --UN's Ban Ki-moon told Burmese military leader Than Shwe on July 3, "I'd like to appreciate your commitment to move your country forward." Since Cyclone Nargis hit the Irradwaddy Delta in May 2008, Shwe has used the displacement it occasioned to give land under what used to be fishing villages to his regime's cronies.

While to some that is "moving [the] country forward," to others it is the antithesis of the type of development the UN should be praising. While unlikely, perhaps Ban meant that while he would like to appreciate Shwe's actions, in good faith he cannot.

Inner City Press is told by well placed UN sources that, even beyond the currency exchange scams through which the UN allowed up to one quarter of post cyclone donor funds to be taken outright by Burma's junta, the UN Country Team continues to subsidize the dictatorship by, for example, accepting requirements to buy certain equipment in-country at inflated prices.

While some argue that the UN stays silent out of commitment to remain serving Burma's poor, the staged theatrics of Ban's current trip lead others to see a darker, more mixed motive.

"Ban desperately needs the appears of a win at this time," Inner City Press was told July 2 by a UN official who requested anonymity from fear of retaliation. "The generals in Naypyitaw know that, and they are using Ban's desperation to legitimatize the fixed election they plan for 2010."

The official characterized the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi as a less fundamental issue, one on which Ban might be allowed to claim some victory such as her transfer from Insein Prison back to house arrest, or a commit to later full release. Such a commitment, if the past is any guide, could later be rescinded, as could the release of lower profile political prisoners during Ban's current two day trip. Who knows -- maybe Ban will claim credit for the adjournment today of Suu Kyi's trial for a week.

The stated rationale was the failure of a Burmese (kangaroo) appeals court to return to court the file along with its decision barring two of Suu Kyi four proposed witnesses from testifying. Perhaps as his entourage claims, Ban's quiet diplomacy and soft power work in mysterious ways. Watch this site.

* * *

As UN's Ban Lands in Burma, Kibuki Theater Omits Rohinya and Karen Peoples

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, July 3 -- With news of his airplane's touch-down in Yangon, the carefully stage managed visit to Myanmar of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon began on July 3. To a group of accompanying reporters whom he had hand-picked, Ban called his task difficult but necessary. The media dutifully performed their electronic drum roll, as for a magician before he performs a sleight of hand.

Clearly, Ban's current envoy Ibrahim Gambari got some commitments for photo-ops for Ban during his preparatory trip to Myanmar. These predetermined win-wins were withheld from, and apparently not obtained by, the accompanying media. Thus fresh from Ban's stop in Japan the kibuki theater began: a widely reported challenge with a preplanned denouement. But could he flub up even this?

Of the accompanying wire services, two of the three -- or with Yonhap was it four? -- quoted Ken Roth of Human Rights Watch on what would constitute success, or failure, on this trip. Might Ban meet with Aung San Suu Kyi? Might she nonetheless be sentenced to further house arrest? Why is she being barred from the 2010 election?

Beyond the Aung San Suu Kyi show, about about the Karen people? Even more oppressed, what about the Rohinya?

The UN's Ibrahim Gambari told Inner City Press that the Rohinya, Muslims long in Burma but denied citizens' rights, are beyond the scope of this "good offices" mandate.

Ironically, an Afro-Arab UN Ambassador to the UN told Inner City Press that Gambari wanted but was passed over for the job of UN envoy to Darfur because as a Muslim he was viewed by Western power as too pro Sudan. That his name was put forward for the Sudan job shows what an afterthought Myanmar is -- until Ban Ki-moon is desperate for the appearance of a win. He has chosen the reporters, and has hidden the Gambari-won hole card. But might the game still not work out? Watch this site.

* * *

With Only Ban-Picked Press Allowed on UN's Burma Trip, Promised Pooling Denied, Theater with Than Shwe

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, July 2 -- As UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon approaches Myanmar to meet with its military leader Than Shwe, information about his performance on the trip became even harder to come by. On June 29, Ban's spokesperson Ms. Montas told Inner City Press that the UN in hand selected the reporters who could accompany Ban "picked people who were willing to pool for others."

On July 2, when Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas when these pool reports would begin, she reversed course and said that only TV images would be pooled, no print. Video here, from Minute 19:07.

Even on Ban's first trip to Myanmar, when he says he saved 500,000 people, wire service reporters gave information from their notes to a UN staffer named Hak-Fan Lau, who is also on this trip, for dissemination to other reporters who cover the UN. Faced with a spate of negative publicity, Team Ban is providing even less information now than then. Some surmise this is an attempt to control coverage.

Ms. Montas told Inner City Press to wait to see what the reporters with Ban published. "We gave priority to wires... three or four, sorry, three are traveling with the Secretary General."

The confusion between three or four wires appears to depend on whether South Korea-based Yonhap, which was selected to go, is considered a global wire service. AP, Reuters and AFP are all on the trip, as is a correspondent from the New York Times. Another major U.S.-based daily, which along with two other media organizations the UN met about on May 8 with an eye toward suing, was not allowed to go.

Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas to confirm the information in a list it has seen, that there are at least 22 UN personnel in Ban's traveling party, ranging from political chief Lynn Pascoe and deputy chief of staff Kim Won-soo to the aforesaid Hak-Fan Lau. "I can check for you," Ms. Montas answered. By 6 p.m. on July 2 in New York, no information was provided. The UN in New York is closed for holidays both July 3 and 4 when Ban is in Myanmar. Still, watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban7burmapress070409.html

At UN, Uganda Promotes Its Action on LRA, Affably Dodges on Kenya and Abkhazia

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN www.innercitypress.com/scjuly1ruganda070209.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 2 -- Uganda still has "scouts and intelligence people" working with the army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, six months after their ill-fated joint action against the Lord's Resistance Army, Ugandan Permanent Representative to the UN Ruhakana Ruganda told the Press on July 2.

Ambassador Ruganda, as the Security Council's rotating president for July, affably took four questions from Inner City Press, two about the LRA, one about Kenya and another about the recently disbanded UN Mission in Georgia, a vote on which Uganda abstained.

Surprisingly, Ruganda described the joint DRC - UPDF action in December 2008 against Joseph Kony's LRA as a "positive thing" that "liberated captives." Video here, from Minute 36:02.

Most observers called it ill-conceived, in that once Kony got away, the LRA slaughtered scores of Congolese civilians. It is said that the UN Mission in the Congo, MONUC, was told about the operation only moments before it began.

Inner City Press asked Ruganda about his quoted statement that he will use his month as Council president to vigorously promote such "regional cooperation." Ruganda answered first about the Hutu rebels partially repatriated from DRC to Rwanda, 500 of whom he said the Council visited during its recent mission to the region.

What Ruganda did not say is that the remaining FDLR in the Kivus are now killing villagers in retaliation, as denounced July 2 by Human Rights Watch.

On disbanding the UN's Mission to Georgia, on which Uganda voted with China, Vietnam and Libya, Inner City Press asked if the Council will at least still monitor the mission of past and present envoy Johan Verbecke, whom Ban taps to continue to participate at the Geneva talks involving Russia and Georgia. Video here, from Minute 22:04.

We haven't discussed that very specific question, Ruganda answered. Sources tell Inner City Press that Verbecke's Georgia gig will soon terminate, as he'll be named Belgium's Ambassador to the UK.

When Inner City Press asked about the long-delayed briefing to the Council about Kenya, called for in the Council's own February 2009 Presidential Statement, Ruganda opined that "I don't think the Security Council should be involved in everything." Video here from Minute 39:02. But the Council issued statements on Kofi Annan's mission, and called for his report.

Some say that because the UK and US took different sides in Kenya -- and because Ban Ki-moon does not like to be compared with Kofi Annan -- the called for briefing will never take place. Even though Annan has now set an August deadline for Kenya to try suspects for inciting violence at the time or he'll refer them to the International Criminal Court, Ruganda's answer makes it appear that for all these reasons, the Council will not revisit Kenya. Just as the Council never officially put Sri Lanka on its agenda, despite tens of thousands killed there.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/scjuly1ruganda070209.html

Haitian Protester Was Killed by Bullet, Not "Blunt Object" As UN Claimed, "Mostly Rubber"

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ungo5haiti070209.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 2 -- While the UN congratulates itself for naming Bill Clinton as envoy to Haiti, questions are multiplying about the June 18 death of a civilian mourner in a crowd policed by the UN in Port au Prince. On June 19, UN Spokesperson Michele Montas said that the demonstrator, who remains unidentified but was among 2000 marching with the casket of Rev. Gerard Jean-Juste, was killed not by a bullet but by a "blunt object."

In June 22, Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas if the UN peacekeepers policing the crowd has fired rubber bullets or live ammunition. Ms. Montas never answered the question, but instead insisted that "the demonstrator was not killed with a gun."

Now it emerges from the autopsy that the demonstrator was killed by a bullet. In Haiti, the UN has acknowledged this finding to the local press corps, and that its peacekeepers used live ammunition. But nothing was said by the UN in New York, to amend its previous statements.

On July 2, Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas about her statement that the demonstrator was killed by a blunt object.

"MINUSTAH has said that, true," Ms.Montas replied, referring to the UN mission in Haiti by its French acronym. She then said, contrary to her UN counterpart in Haiti, that the autopsy was not yet out.

When Inner City Press repeated its unanswered June 22 question about live ammunition, Ms Montas said "I didn't get an answer, I gather they are rubber bullets, mostly." Video here, from Minute 13:03.

It seems to some that the UN Spokesperson should update claims she has made once they are contradicted in the public record -- particularly by local UN offices.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ungo5haiti070209.html

WFP In Pyongyang Has Korean Speakers Expelled, Flies African Children to Eat for G-8

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/wfp1nkrome070209.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 2 -- While the UN in New York announced that its World Food Program will shrink what remains of its program in North Korea, in the midst of declining donor confidence and missile tests by Pyongyang, the UN was more quiet about the restrictions it had been under and is accepting in the country. WFP in a memorandum from Beijing notes that the Kim Jong Il government now requires that none of WFP's remaining international staff should be able to speak Korean.

Inner City Press is told that WFP - Pyongyang's main Korea speaker was expelled from the country as persona non grata on June 20 and that this bodes badly for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon naming a new UN envoy to North Korea. Reportedly, Ban had focused on a South Korean envoy, with an eye toward running the candidate by members at the upcoming G-8 meeting. But if Kim Jong Il is expelling from the country what few UN system Korean speakers remained, such an envoy seems even less likely.

Speaking of WFP and the G-8, for the upcoming meeting WFP is flying in children from Ghana to eat as a part of an "exhibit" for the spouses of G-8 leaders on July 10. The internal WFP email is below. Several WFP sources expressed disgust to Inner City Press at the event, which they ascribe to WFP head Josette Sheeran. One asked, "Would she parade around Food Stamp recipient in the United States?" They put the expenses of the event, including the substantial closure of the WFP headquarters on July 10, at $500,000.

The e-mail:

Rome colleagues:

As you know, Italy will be hosting the G8 Summit next week and leaders from more than two dozen countries will be in L’Aquila. We are honored that the Italian government has asked WFP to host an official program at our headquarters on Friday, 10 July, as part of the spouse program.
This visit is a profound testament to the increasing visibility of WFP's work -- and an opportunity to help the world better understand the important work we do. On our premises, we are arranging a simulated food distribution and a symbolic African schoolhouse, where a small group of Ghanaian schoolchildren will help celebrate our work. (You may have noticed the large exhibit being erected this morning behind the pool.)

Due to the security precautions mandated by the Italian government and the visiting delegations, only those employees involved in the event or deemed necessary for critical operations by their managers will be permitted on the main building premises during the morning of July 10. Among other things, parking will be severely limited at our main building and automobile access limited in Parco de Medici in general.

But we encourage you to take advantage of this special exhibit and bring your families, including your children, on the afternoon of 10 July – anytime after 2:00 – so they can get a taste of our field work and meet the schoolchildren. If you cannot bring your family on 10 July, note that the tent and displays will remain up on Monday, 13 July, so we invite you to bring family members to see the display then.

Though this is a special event, we realize it might cause some inconvenience. We hope you can appreciate what an historic opportunity this is for some of the world’s most influential people to understand what we do and to see the impact of their donations.

Here are some guidelines for the day: If you work in the main building, please do not come to the office Friday morning, 10 July. The St. Martin’s building will remain open. As much as possible, please work from home... We expect the main building to re-open for business as usual at 2:00, so if it's feasible for you to return, please do so. If returning to the office in the afternoon is not feasible for you -- we recognize that some of the Parco de Medici transit options do not run in the afternoon, for instance – you are authorized special leave with full pay. Thank you,

Steve Taravella
Chief of Internal Communications, World Food Programme
Via C.G. Viola 68,Rome, Italy 00148

And see, www.innercitypress.com/wfp1nkrome070209.html

In Sri Lanka, UN Hires Lawyer for Arrested Staff, But Will It Protect Anyone?

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/untrip6may1srilanka070109.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 1 -- After more than a week of silence by the UN about two of its staff members grabbed up by Sri Lanka's government, on July 1 Inner City Press again asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Michele Montas about their fate. This time, Ms. Montas had an answer. The UN has "hired a lawyer who has visited" the UN staff, who are "still detained in Colombo." Video here, from Minute 21:15.

The head of the UN Refugee Agency in Sri Lanka Amin Awar issued a strange statement saying in essence that the government is free to detain staff as long as procedures are followed. But despite top UN humanitarian John Holmes' statement that unlike international staff, national staff members of the UN are not immune, the Staff Union disagrees. They criticize Awad's statement, and counter that national staff have immunity within the scope of their work.

Troublingly, sources in Sri Lanka describe to Inner City Press even the torture of UN staff, and of doctors disappeared by the government after remaining in the conflict zone offering treatment and casualty figures. A Red Cross worker who had been in the conflict zone has been killed in Jaffna, where now newspaper editors face death threats.

Is all of this consistent with Ban Ki-moon and Majinda Rajapaksa's Joint Statement? At the UN, answers like the hiring of a lawyer to work on the case of grabbed-up staff are only given if the questions keep being asked. Apparently, the UN would rather the questions stopped.

In fact, lawyers in Sri Lanka who represent those accused of Tamil Tiger sympathies have themselves been labeled as traitors by the country's military. The UN has already shown it cannot protect its own staff in Sri Lanka. Can it even protect the lawyers it hires for its staff? Watch this site.

Footnote: Inner City Press asked outgoing Turkish Ambassador and Security Council president Baki Ilkin if he thought the Council's sessions on Sri Lanka, held in the UN's basement, had helped in any way to protect civilians in Vanni. "There is no gauge," he said, but :"everything the Security Council does or says -- or doesn't do or say -- has an impact." Video here, from Minute 2:33.

In one view, the Council's refusal to put Sri Lanka on its agenda, and relegation of the issue to ill-attended basement session has the impact of emboldening the Rajapaksa government to make its final assault in the Vanni, and to now use UN funds to detain Tamils in camps and grab up UN staff. Everything not done or not said has an effect. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/untrip6may1srilanka070109.html

UN Says and Shows It Won't Cover Stories Countries Don't Like, Critics Targeted

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unrules1media070109.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 1 -- The UN runs its own News Service, its own Video and Radio operations. The chief of these divisions, Ahmad Fawzi, was asked on July 1 what the UN does on the story if "a country regards it as not a good story."

"We don't do it," Mr. Fawzi. The audience at the UN-TV showcase, mostly comprised of UN staff members, laughed. Inner City Press followed up, asking if the UN would cover news events that trigger criticism of the UN, like the slaughters in Rwanda or Srebrenica.

Fawzi replied that the UN commissioned a report on the failures of its member states and peacekeeping operation in Srebrenica. He added, "Are we going to produce a video about it? I don't know."

Inner City Press has previously interviewed Mr. Fawzi's colleague Susan Farkas, now the head of UN TV and Radio and present at the July 1 screening, who told the Press, "I find it astonishing that you think there's a story in the fact that we don't investigate the UN... The UN pays us. The UN pays us to produce a program which promotes the issues that the UN cares about."

Thus, the first of the videos shown on July 1 concerned children left behind in Moldova as their parents migrate for jobs. The second concerned the genocide in Rwanda, but merely mentioned without explaining that prior to the upsurge in killing, nearly all UN personnel left.

It certainly did not mention the UN Development Program staffer who used UN equipment to round up and target Tutsis to be killed. That is not the only story, but it is part of the story. And a stoytelling that is precluded from the beginning from including all pertinent facts cannot be called independent.

Inner City Press asked Fawzi about the UN News Service, which churns out relentlessly pro-UN stories, ranging from Ban Ki-moon's popularity to the UN's successes in the Congo. Appearing to take the question to be about the UN's press release service, Fawzi said "we cover what happens in the building [but] it is not gloss, it is not promotional, it tells what goes on in the House."

But UN News Service covers nearly every statement by UN agency, never quotes a critic or even raises a question. It is not unlike the state news agencies of some member countries. And any member state, it appears, can get a story removed from the Service. A story on Nagorno Karabakh, for example, fell under criticism and was quietly taken down. So too a story about Sri Lanka from the affiliated -- but ostensibly even more independent -- UN humanitarian Relief Web news service.

While in the previous interview Ms. Farkas went on to ask, "Do you work for the Heritage Foundation," on July 1 Fawzi said, "there are others whose job it is to look at us critically and we accept that with a very open mind and an open heart."

It is not clear what "we" he was referring to. Consider a "Dear Colleague" letter circulated to the 435 members of the House of Representatives earlier this week, the text of which is below.

"Angered by past and continuing media reports of corruption, mismanagement and inaction at the United Nations, the UN is again seeking to cover up evidence and stifle freedom of the press.

Meeting on May 8 about 'reporting by the press,' high level UN officials discussed sending threatening letters to several press agencies and other bodies, as well as complaining to Google News about a small, independent news agency that has uncovered numerous UN scandals. Last year, a similar complaint resulted in that agency's temporary removal from Google News. In response to a question about that meeting, the Secretary General's spokeswoman furiously retorted, 'I don't have to account to you for meetings I participate in.'

The UN's Department of Management is also reportedly pushing to obstruct press coverage, seeking to charge media outlets $23,000 to maintain office space, and to move journalists covering the UN into open, un-walled offices -- deterring whistleblowers from coming forth and preventing oversight.

These UN efforts to restrict press freedom and oversight directly contravene the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognized that 'Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression... and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.' Once again, the UN is actually undermining the principles on which it was founded."

The May 8 meeting, involving Under Secretaries General Angela Kane (Management), Kiyo Akasaka (Public Information -- the boss of both Mr. Fawzi and Ms. Farkas) and Patricia O'Brien (Legal Affairs), as well as Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's speech writer Michael Meyer and Spokesperson Michele Montas, was memorialized in a memo from Ms. Kane to Ban.

Inner City Press was shown the memo, wrote and asked Ban's spokeswoman Michele Montas about it by email, along with the three USGs, none of whom has yet to explain how their participation is consistent not only with the First Amendment, which they say does not apply, but even to the cited Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

While it has previously been claimed to Inner City Press that the UN would not, for example, even consider seeking to have a publication removed from Google News, Ms. Kane's memo shows different. What was that again, that "there are others whose job it is to look at us critically and we accept that with a very open mind and an open heart"? Some do and some don't.

Footnote: the "Dear Colleague" letter circulated on Capitol Hill states that the UN is "seeking to charge media outlets $23,000 to maintain office space, and to move journalists covering the UN into open, un-walled offices -- deterring whistleblowers from coming forth and preventing oversight." Previously the Department of Public Information, where Mr. Fawzi works and which Mr. Akasaka heads, told UN journalist they would have the same walled free space during and after the fix-up on the UN building.

Now that first $23,000 was demanded, then wall-less "whistlebelower free" zones have been offered, no explanation of the change has been offerer, nor how it is consistent with the statement that "there are others whose job it is to look at us critically and we accept that with a very open mind and an open heart." Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unrules1media070109.html

Afghanistan's Karzai Wants Warlords in His Tent, UN Ambassador Says, Rejects Ashdown

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un3afghan070109.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 1 -- While Paddy Ashdown, who had been slated to be the UN's "Super-envoy" to Afghanistan until President a shot down the idea, says that the war against the Taliban is being lost, Karzai's Ambassador to the UN Zahir Tanin on June 30 wry told the Press that "people have different views." He became more expansive when Inner City Press asked, "Some are saying that President Karzai is assembling a war lord ticket, Mr. Fahim in particular, and that ministries have to promised to supporters." Video here, from Minute 501.

Ambassador Tanin said, "This is what we read. There are political players in Afghanistan... Whether you call them warlords or not... Any candidates including President Karzai try to have their support... if not with Karzai, other candidates will try to have them with him."

Tanin went on, "they have "influence.... if they support one or another incl President Karzai, it is very different than the idea of warlords on one side and non warlords on other."

While Tanin left the stake out after this statement, it seems fair to summarize it as a preference by the Karzai administration to have the warlords inside his tent rather than outside. But how far does this go?

The UN's envoy to Afghanistan Kai Eide briefed the Security Council, but walked by without stopping at the stakeout microphone where Tanin was to speak. Part of a UN envoy's job is to speak and explain his positions. His deputy Peter Galbraith has also yet to speak to the press. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un3afghan070109.html