By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unbye1montas113009.html
UNITED NATIONS, November 30 -- Marking the end of Michele Montas' 35 months as UN spokesperson, the UN devoted Monday's noon briefing, and a thousand dollar plus reception to Ms. Montas on Monday night. At noon, after Ban Ki-moon praised Ms. Montas while she chided both "blogging voices" and her inability to provide more answers in the briefing room, Ms. Montas ran her last noon briefing. Inner City Press asked three questions, none of which got answered.
On the UN's shooting of a civilian in Haiti earlier in November, Ms. Montas said "I don't have anything new... I can't say anything more about it."
On a letter about Sri Lanka that the Elders, including Kofi Annan and Desmond Tutu say they have sent to Mr. Ban, Ms. Montas said "I am not aware of the letter."
Asked for comment on Guinea's arrest of a prominent human rights figure while Mr. Ban's own panel is in the country investigating the killings and rapes of September 28, Ms. Montas said, "I'm not going to comment on specific cases."
Later, at her farewell reception, Mr. Ban told the Press she reminded him of a Korean actress of his youth, the "Elizabeth Taylor" of Korea.
Mr. Ban referred to Michele Montas as "Michelle Obama" -- it wasn't clear if this was intentional, or why -- and recounted how hard she has worked, like a tight rope walker.
After 9 pm., Ms. Montas and three from her "team" left the UN compound carrying left-over silver balloons.
