By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, November 5 -- In September a newspaper in Lebanon ran a quote from a “Western diplomat” saying that even US President Barack Obama couldn't stop the Special Tribunal on Lebanon investigating the bombing that killed Rafiq Hariri, under a quote by French ambassador to the UN Gerard Araud.
This set off a diplomatic chain reaction that resulted in the French Mission to the UN banning the Lebanese press from briefings and, at least some sources say, in the firing of the journalist.
According to multiple sources, and as partially confirmed by French Mission spokesman Stephane Crouzat, when the Assafir newspaper in Lebanon published without byline a reference to Obama not being able to stop the STL, the French Mission immediately traced it to journalist Khaled Dawoud, then employed by Al Jazeera but also reporting for Assafir (sometimes spelled As Safir).
Two results are not in dispute: Mr. Dawoud, and also other Lebanese reporters, were barred from subsequently briefings by Ambassador Araud. Additionally, Mr. Dawoud's employment with Al Jazeera ended. At least three sources affirm that the French diplomatic corps reached out to Al Jazeera. Others say it was based on complaints and a power struggle with Al Jazeera's Washington bureau chief.
Incontrovertibly the reporter Khalid Dawoud was told by Al Jazeera that his services were no longer needed. The upshot, the sources say, is that a country which claims to be for freedom of the press acted such that a UN correspondent lost his job.
The French Mission, when asked by Inner City Press to comment for this story, provided the following statement by spokesman Stephane Crouzat:
“Dear Matthew, In response to your questions: A Lebanese journalist writing under a pseudonym did not respect the off the record rules. France did not receive any complaint from the USA. French diplomats did not call any news media in this regard. The French mission will continue to work with all journalists who abide by the rules.”
But numerous sources have told Inner City Press that other Lebanese reporters beyond Mr. Daoud have been barred from French mission briefings; the sources liken this to collective punishment. Some Lebanese reporters, and this one, have been told they are not on any ongoing blacklist. We'll see. Watch this site.
Footnotes: Ambassador Gerard Araud, as evidenced most recently by his on the record Q&A with the press after the Security Council's November 5 session about the STL, is among the more articulate and self depreciating diplomats at the UN.
But press access issues at the French Mission to the UN predate Araud's arrival, back at least to a visit by President Nicolas Sarkozy during which a “French passport only” briefing was held in the UN press room.
