By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un3kfcgate110609.html
UNITED NATIONS, November 6 -- The President of the UN General Assembly Ali Treki of Libya, whose photo op with KFC's impersonator of Colonel Sanders had led so far to the suspension of two UN Security officers, one of them a thirty year veteran, was asked by Inner City Press on Friday if anyone in his office invited the Colonel in, and if he views the suspension as appropriate.
"I don't know the man," Treki responded, in reference to Colonel Sanders. "I personally don't consumer fried chicken very often. I am not an admirer of him." Video here, from Minute 19:25.
The response, which made nearly all in the press room laugh while to some seeming pre-scripted, may undercut in some circle the advertising value of the photo op to KFC and its parent Yum! Brands. (They might point out that they seek a "seat at the UN" for KFC's grilled chicken, not fried.)
But Treki did not answer whether a member of Treki's staff, reportedly his daughter, invited the Colonel Sanders impersonator up to the UN's second floor, where he took photos at the Security Council stakeout as well. And Officers Rodriguez and Herring, the latter a 30 year veteran who has flown with Security Council Ambassadors from the U.S., China, Russia, France and the UK to trip in Africa and elsewhere, remain suspended.
Concerns are being raised about the suspension's possible effect on Herring's pension. In short, the answer was funny, but the scapegoating is not. Watch this site.
Footnote: Another UN stakeout snafu took place on the evening of November 5, when after Treki spoke at the General Assembly stakeout, a representative of an NGO did, and then was escorted from the premises and had her UN identification pass revoked, click here for Inner City Press' story.
At Friday's press conference, about the Goldstone report vote Inner City Press asked Treki why the resolution does not mention Hamas by name. Treki referred to Egypt's response, that Hamas was elected and will investigate itself. Video here, from Minute 18:12. On all these fronts, we'll see.
