By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Video Q&A
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - SDNY/FOIA
UN GATE, June 11 – Each day, the current United Nations less accountable. And Inner City Press, banned now for the 1536th day by Secretary General Antonio Guterres continues to report on it - including its failures on Iran. From the corrupt land of wishful thinking: "The Secretary-General received a phone call on Saturday, 11 June, from the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H.E. Mr Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The Secretary-General expressed his satisfaction at the extension of the truce in Yemen, as well as his appreciation of Iran’s efforts in this regard. The Secretary-General also reiterated his position that diplomacy must prevail in order to return to the full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)." Just happened to pick up his phone...
On December 17, 2021 a Senior US State Department Official briefed the press about the suspended JCPOA talks. He said Iran must have had its reasons for stepping away but he hoped they would return. He cited the week's talks on UNSC Resolution 2231 in the UN Security Council, in a UN access to which the US State Department has yet to secure for independent US-based Press (while Iran state media have numerous free offices in the UN). The official did, however, effectively quip about curb your enthusiasm.
Here's the quote: "thanks to the diplomacy of the European Union in particular, we now have a common understanding of what the text will be that will serve as the basis for negotiations on nuclear issues. That’s, again, a welcome step, but I’d also caution that we should curb our enthusiasm because we’re now at best to where we were last June, and what we’ve done is define the items on the agenda that need to be discussed." We'll have more on this - and on the UN.
On September 23 amid an UNGA in violation of NYC COVID law and of basic free press principles, this Guterres read-out: "The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Secretary-General congratulated the Foreign Minister on his recent appointment. The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister discussed matters of mutual interest, including the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and regional issues. "
And also from inside: "Dear colleagues, MALU has just informed us that there will be a stakeout on Monday, September 20th at 11:40 am with the Secretary-General and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Boris Johnson, following the Informal Leaders Roundtable on Climate Action. A limited number of only five (5) RESIDENT media, as well as a couple of photographers will be accommodated. RSVPs will be taken on a first come first served basis. Please send your name to contactus [at] unca.com no later than 4:00 PM TODAY Thank you for your attention and cooperation. Valeria Robecco President, United Nations Correspondents Association."
The UN has neither responded to or offered any explanation when a lawyer's letter - to UN official Fleming, and Tal Mekel, and to each UNCA Executive Committee member - urged them to have a dialogue about ending the UN's banning and censorship of Inner City Press.
On August 9, an independent (minded) journalist asked Dujarric about the letter, video here,
Spokesman: There has been no change in Mr. Lee's status.
Question: Has the letter been answered? Do you plan to answer it?
Spokesman: It's been received. Whether or not it's been answered, I don't know yet.
The letter was received by the UN's Melissa Fleming, Maria Luiza Vioti and Tal Mekel and to each UNCA Executive Board member, to them citing UNCA's stated goals that it has a charter to supposedly uphold.
What's next? Since the letter, Inner City Press has published exclusive stories not only from the U.S. court systems but about the United Nations, including its agencies UNOPS, UNFPA, UNITAR and UNESCO. (Also credited in AP, Daily Mail, and Nigeria's Sahara Reporters, amid answers from the IMF.)
But none of its written questions have been answered by the UN Spokespeople, and it remains banned from entry to the UN's briefings. This must end.
Having asked for a colleagial discussion, and while still offering it, things must turn to the law. UNCA is a New York State non-profit which has not only not abided by its stated goals - it has tortiously interfered with a journalist's right to cover the United Nations. The United Nations itself propounds Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and has other legal duties that must be addressed by national courts, particularly in the UN's host country...
Those in receipt of the first, friendly letter: melissa.fleming@un.org, marialuiza.viotti@un.org, mekel@un.org, malu@un.org, and UNCA
Valeria Robecco, ANSA News Agency, Nabil Abi Saab, Al-Araby, Jianguo Ma, Xinhua News Agency, Edith Lederer, Associated, Giampaolo Pioli, Quotidiano, Linda Fasulo, Ibtisam Azem, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed Newspaper, Ali Barada, France 24, Asharq Al-Awsat; Oscar Bolanos, OMB News, Sherwin Bryce-Pease, SABC South Africa - Alexander Hassanein, The Tokyo Shimbun, Maria Khrenova, TASS, Philippe Rater, Agence France-Presse, Kaori Yoshida, Nikkei, Betul Yuruk, Anadolu Agency
Iranian state media has several offices in the UN. But Inner City Press cannot enter, even to use the bullpen.
We'll have more on all this. Watch this site.
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