UNITED NATIONS, April 12 -- When the UN's Ban Ki-moon was in Kyrgyzstan last week, just before the violent overthrow of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, his top political advisor met with a single opposition figure: former UN staff member Roza Otunbayeva, days before she took over Bakiyev's place as a de facto head of state a/k/a coup leader.
Last week Inner City Press reported, then exclusively, that Ms. Otunbayeva had worked for the UN from 2002 to 2004 in Georgia. Inner City Press asked Mr. Ban's spokespeople if Ban "or his staff had any communications with her prior or subsequent to the fall of the Baliev Government yesterday?"
Ban's associate spokesman Farhan Haq replied archly, "" I wouldn't comment on the leadership in Kyrgyzstan while Jan Kubis prepares his visit. I can confirm that Rosa Otunbayeva had been Deputy SRSG for UNOMIG from 2002 to 2004. "
But over the weekend, sources told Inner City Press that Ban's head of Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, had met with opposition figures including Ms. Otunbayeva. Some suggested, perhaps tongue in cheek, that Mr. Ban had belatedly become something of a Johnny Appleseed of revolutions, in this case one which Russia also supported.
And so at the next noon briefing on April 12, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky about the meeting with Ms. Otunbayeva, which (other) opposition figures the UN met with. Video here, from Minute 9:50.
"I think it's singular rather than plural," Nesirky said, "and it was Ms. Otunbayeva." He alluded to a "half dozen representatives, mostly journalists, including Ms. Otunbayeva."
But what was the purpose of the meeting? Was Ms. Otunbayeva a journalist?
"The S-G," Nesirky continued, was in other meetings and so asked Mr. Pascoe and others in the delegation to do the meeting and report back.
Who else was in the meeting: now UN envoy Jan Kubis? Inner City Press asked for a read out on the pre-revolution meeting, but Nesirky declined. "I don't think that's possible, that goes beyond normal diplomatic practice."
So what did the top political advisor for Mr. Ban -- or should be call him Johnny Appleseed? -- discuss with Ms. Otunbayeva?
Footnote: moments later in front of the UN Security Council, Inner City Press asked this month's Council president Yukio Takasu of Japan about the call by Bakiyev for the UN to send peacekeepers to Kyrgyzstan. Video here, from Minute 4:07.
Ambassador Takasu said he and Council member are "obviously aware of the report" but the Council and S-G have not received "official notification." Could it be a bit difficult to send an official letter from Kyrgyzstan right now? Watch this site.
