By Matthew Russell Lee, Video here
UNITED NATIONS, May 31 – After the UN's envoy on Cyprus, whom UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said was full time, said he has no current plans to return to Cyprus, Inner City Press on May 31 asked Dujarric: Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you about Cyprus. I'm sure you've seen the President of Cyprus has said that Mr. [Espen Barth] Eide was out of line in speaking about hydrocarbons as exploration as a risk, and then mostly I wanted to ask you about this quote by the… the… by the spokes, Aleem Siddique, saying that Mr. Eide has no pl… no current plans to return to the island. So I just wanted to know, where do things stand from the Secretary-General's point of view on this… this thing that was thought to be coming to a conclusion? And also just about Mr. Eide, is he "when actually employed?" When he says he's not going back, is he still working on the case? Where does he work [inaudible] work?
Spokesman: Mr. Eide continues in his role. I'm not going to comment on whatever comments were made on the hydrocarbons.
Inner City Press: Is he a full-time envoy?
Spokesman: Yeah, he is, as far as I know. If he's not, I'll correct… the record will be corrected, but I believe he is.
Spokesman: Mr. Eide continues in his role. I'm not going to comment on whatever comments were made on the hydrocarbons.
Inner City Press: Is he a full-time envoy?
Spokesman: Yeah, he is, as far as I know. If he's not, I'll correct… the record will be corrected, but I believe he is.
Update: now in the UN transcript there's this: "[He later added that Mr. Eide is on a “when actually employed” contract.]" Added to who? Perhaps Dujarric announced it over his public address system piped into the office the UN gives to (Dujarric) friendly journalists. But Dujarric evicted Inner City Press from the UN Press Briefing Room and from Inner City Press' long time times office S-303 (see paragraphs 9-10, here); he keeps Inner City Press restricted. He did not email this correction to Inner City Press. Then he put out this statement: "The Secretary-General today invited Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades to New York for a joint meeting to discuss the Cyprus talks and the way forward. Both leaders have accepted his invitation. The Secretary-General looks forward to welcoming the leaders, together with his Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, on the evening of Sunday, 4 June. Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General
New York, 31 May 2017." After Eide met with Secretary General Antonio Guterres on May 5 (and Eide spoke to some in the UN lobby), on May 6 Guterres' holdover spokesman Stephane Dujarric responded with this: "In response to questions regarding the meeting yesterday between the Secretary-General and his Special Advisor on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, the Spokesman said the following: The Secretary-General met on Friday with his Special Advisor on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, for a thorough discussion at this critical juncture in the Cyprus talks. Given the risk of the process running out of time, the Secretary-General called again on the leaders and all interested parties to do their utmost to bring the process to a successful conclusion, for the benefit of all Cypriots. The Secretary-General and his Special Advisor also discussed how the United Nations can best support the two leaders in their endeavor. "
New York, 31 May 2017." After Eide met with Secretary General Antonio Guterres on May 5 (and Eide spoke to some in the UN lobby), on May 6 Guterres' holdover spokesman Stephane Dujarric responded with this: "In response to questions regarding the meeting yesterday between the Secretary-General and his Special Advisor on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, the Spokesman said the following: The Secretary-General met on Friday with his Special Advisor on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, for a thorough discussion at this critical juncture in the Cyprus talks. Given the risk of the process running out of time, the Secretary-General called again on the leaders and all interested parties to do their utmost to bring the process to a successful conclusion, for the benefit of all Cypriots. The Secretary-General and his Special Advisor also discussed how the United Nations can best support the two leaders in their endeavor. "
Earlier, after Inner City Press three times asked the UN about its peacekeepers in Cyprus stealing watches, on March 23 UN spokesman Farhan Haq said a single peacekeeper was repatriated on March 11, for court-martial. He refused to say which of the peacekeepers caught on video, from which country. We'll have more on tthis
After Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on March 22, Inner City Press asked him about a meeting later in the day, with ExxonMobil. Anastasiades said it was on topics related to the contracts to be signed on April 5. Video here. An hour later, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Farhan Haq about Cyprus. From the UN transcript:
Inner City Press: On UNFICYP [United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus], I wanted to ask… it's been said from here that there… I guess UNFICYP or people here at Headquarters are looking at two issues: one, the Chief Financial Officer becoming a Cypriot citizen, seemingly in violation of the status of for… status of mission agreement; and also the… the… the filmed stealing of watches by UNFICYP personnel. Particularly, on the latter, where it seems like it's on video, what's actually been done since this video emerged?
Deputy Spokesman: You've heard what we've had to say about both of those questions. I don't have anything further to say at this point. Once there's an update, we'll provide it.
Question: Is there a timeline?
Deputy Spokesman: Once we're done with the process, we'll let you know. And if that's it...
Deputy Spokesman: You've heard what we've had to say about both of those questions. I don't have anything further to say at this point. Once there's an update, we'll provide it.
Question: Is there a timeline?
Deputy Spokesman: Once we're done with the process, we'll let you know. And if that's it...
Haq never sent any update to Inner City Press, which got confirmation of the meeting from the schedule of UNTV. Perhaps Haq "squawked" the answer to Inner City Press' questions to the in-house audio system that works only for those with office, from which Haq, his boss Stephane Dujarric and Cristina Gallach got Inner City Press evicted for seeking to cover the corruption of Ban Ki-moon, Ng Lap Sang and his fundees. This is today's UN.
Amid delay of the UN's Cyprus talks, Inner City Press on February 21 asked about the delay and the case of the "Chief Financial Officer of UNFICYP [United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus who] has been recently granted citizenship of Cyprus.... is there any policy on host countries of peacekeeping missions giving citizenship to internationals that are based there?"
UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq replied, "I'm not aware of someone from UNFICYP taking Cypriot nationality, but I'll check on that." There is more, below. And on February 28, about another incident, Inner City Press asked the UN, transcript here and below. A week later, having been provided no update on the UN's "investigation" of clear video of its personnel stealing watches, Inner City Press asked again. From the UN's March 7 transcript
UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq replied, "I'm not aware of someone from UNFICYP taking Cypriot nationality, but I'll check on that." There is more, below. And on February 28, about another incident, Inner City Press asked the UN, transcript here and below. A week later, having been provided no update on the UN's "investigation" of clear video of its personnel stealing watches, Inner City Press asked again. From the UN's March 7 transcript
