By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/ban1sudanturkmen122909.html
UNITED NATIONS, December 29 -- When state media in the hermit state of Turkmenistan published what it called the New Years greeting of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, complete with his promise to travel to the country in April 2010, the UN had no comment.
Inner City Press on December 28 asked for confirmation of Mr. Ban's now published travel plans. For security reasons, Inner City Press was told, the UN only announces such plans a week in advance. But, Inner City Press was told, most media rely on reports like Turkmenistan's.
So is the UN saying Turkmenistan's state media breeched protocol by publishing Ban's missive? To this, there was no answer. Therefore no reason to seek comment on the BBC's December 28 pick-up from Sudan's state media SUNA, "Sudanese leader receives congratulatory message from UN chief" --
Khartoum, December, 28 (SUNA): President of the Republic, Field Marshal Umar Al-Bashir, received Monday [28 December] a written message from the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, congratulating him on the anniversary of Sudan Independence Day.
The UN Secretary General expressed the UN adherence to its noble goals and values as a global platform in all fields, pointing out that the contribution of the member states and the commitment of the leaders to the countries to achieve goals will enable the UN to confront the current challenges and establish a peaceful world where any one will enjoy justice and well-being.
Source: Suna news agency website, Khartoum, in English 28 Dec 09
How many other leaders -- in these cases, an ICC indicted war criminal and the former dentist of the Father of all Turkmen, Turkmenbashi -- got holiday wishes from Ban? There was also no answer to this.
And so, legitimization in Khartoum and springtime for Ban Ki-moon in Ashkabat, a capital formed by the demolition of its former residents' houses, largely by a French construction firm. On this we can rely? Watch this site.
28.12.09 12:08 TURKMENISTAN.RU
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit Turkmenistan in April 2010
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will visit Turkmenistan in April 2010. This was announced in the Secretary-General's New Year message of congratulations to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The text of the message was published in today's central press...
