By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, April 26 -- How secret and selective has the UN become? On April 25, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky:
Inner City Press: it is reported that former President Nicolas Sarkozy will meet with Ban Ki-moon today. This was something said by his entourage... I looked at his schedule; it’s not there. Are we missing something or are they misinformed that Mr. Sarkozy will be meeting with Ban Ki-moon?
Spokesperson Nesirky: I will check for you, I am not aware of anything happening today. I will check for you.
Then Inner City Press heard nothing back from Nesirky. Ban Ki-moon's schedule for April 26, when it was put online, did not mention any meeting with Sarkozy.
But at noon on April 26, Nesirky told Agence France Presse that yes, Ban would be meeting with Sarkozy.
Inner City Press asked why it was not listed on Ban's schedule, and why it was not told, since it asked the question 24 hours before.
Nesirky's response was that the meeting is “private” -- how many “private” political meeting does Ban Ki-moon have?
Sarkozy's team say the meeting will "evoke the principal international subjects." That's private? Sarkozy is now involved in investing money for Qatar - which has its own principle international subjects...
Then Nesirky said that since Inner City Press had asked about April 25, it was fine not to answer and say the meeting would be April 26. Is that fine? The Free UN Coalition for Access says no. Watch this site.
