By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 29 -- As Kofi Annan prepared to meet late Wednesday with his successor as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, some basic "mechanics" of Annan's role for the UN and Arab League on Syria remain undecided or at least undisclosed.
Five days ago on February 24 Inner City Press asked Ban's two top spokespeople a few questions:
"What will Kofi Annan's status be as special envoy? Will he receive a UN salary (on top of his two concurrent UN pensions)? How is Mr. Annan's mission to be funded? Will payments be made directly to Annan or through a third party?"
Having received no answers, at the February 29 noon briefing Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesperson Martin Nesirky to respond. He said "I think the precise mechanics are being worked out between the League of Arab States and the UN... Some of the details will be made known." Video here, from Minute 20:11.
That only "some" of the "mechanics" -- who is paying whom, for what -- would be made known, and others by implication kept confidential, peaked Inner City Press' interest, leading to follow up question: will the UN disclose who is paying whom?
Nesirky responded angrily, claiming he had answered the questions and telling Inner City Press it wasn't listening. But still no answers have been provided.
Inner City Press asked Nesirky to respond to the statement by Jihad Makdissi, spokesman for Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, that "Muallem has contacted Mr. Ban Ki-moon to know the details and goals of Annan's mission... We expect a letter explaining the nature of the mission of Kofi Annan so we can review it."
Nesirky said the statement has been seen. But will Ban deign to send the requested letter? Watch this site.
