UN Dodges Protest of Ban's TRNC Trick in Cyprus, Questions Refused

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/ban1prus020410.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 4 -- Following UN Secretary General's largely failed and protested visit to Cyprus, back in New York the UN spin machine doggedly presented things as rosy, alongside an upbeat view of Alexander Downer.

Inner City Press asked Ban's Associate Spokesman Farhan Haq to comment on February 2 on four Greek Cypriot parties' boycott of the reception for Ban, due to his meeting at the "presidential" compound in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. From the UN's transcript:

Inner City Press: About his trip, I wanted to ask about the reports that, while he was in Cyprus, four of the Greek Cypriot parties, European parties, the Greens and two acronyms, DEKO and EDEK, boycotted his reception. They say because he met with Ali Talat at the presidential office in the break-away region. Where did he meet with Mr. Talat and what’s his response to the boycott by these important parties in Cyprus?

Associate Spokesperson Haq: As for Cyprus, I would leave it, as you know, the Secretary-General is on his way back from Cyprus. He will brief the Security Council about this and his other travels tomorrow at 3 p.m., and he will meet with you after that at approximately 4:30 p.m. at the Security Council stakeout. So, I’ll leave it for him to comment.

But during Ban's media stakeout on Wednesday, February 3, Inner City Press was not allowed to ask him a question. In fact, no Greek or Greek Cypriot reporter was allowed. The only question allowed by Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky was from a Turkish journalist. And Ban's answer was, as always, rosy. But is this just propaganda?

Before the stakeout, a Greek Cypriot told Inner City Press there was no reason to even wait to here Ban Ki-moon speak. Ban has allowed Alexander Downer to destroy the process, he said, opining that beyond himself, what Downer cares about in this post is retaining the British bases.

And then there's Downer's claim that his work for business consultancy Bespoke Approach could never conflict with the Cyprus role that Ban has given him. Only at the UN.

Here to the single Cyprus question allowed by Nesirky was Ban's non-downer answer:

"I was very much encouraged by such a strong commitment by both leaders to continue their negotiations. And I was again, very much encouraged and touched by the strong support of the people from both sides who were chanting, in unison, shouting 'resolution now.' These were all the loud and clear voices from the general population, regardless of where they were from, both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot. That was quite moving for me. I felt a strong sense of responsibility [about] what the United Nations can do more to facilitate this Cypriot-led and Cypriot-owned negotiation. My observation was that a solution was possible and a solution was within reach, and, in fact, they made significant progress in power-sharing and governance. I was quite encouraged by this. Of course, there are many more important issues: property; border and security issues. I hope they will continue. President Dimitris Christofias told me that he will issue some sort of plan for further negotiations, despite this planned [Turkish Cypriot] election, and that is quite encouraging. And I am going to have my special adviser, Alexander Downer, continuously engaged, so that this negotiation will be facilitated."

Downer, of course, is not "continuously" engaged -- rather, he is drumming up business for Bespoke Approach. Alternate Foreign Minister of Greece Dimitris Droutsas, whom Inner City Press asked Thursday morning about the IMF, will meet with Ban Ki-moon and then the Press on Thursday afternoon. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban1prus020410.html

IMF's Strauss-Kahn Coy on Opposing Sarkozy and Intervening in Greece, IMF and Greek Denials, Yemen Deferrals

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/imf1greece020410.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 4, updated -- The managing director of the International Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss-Kahn bragged Thursday to radio station RTL in his native France that he might leave the IMF early -- and perhaps challenge Nicolas Sarkozy for the French presidency -- and that if asked by Greece, the IMF could "intervene" in the country.

Questions about both comments were dodged later on Thursday by the spokesperson for Strauss-Kahn and the IMF, Caroline Atkinson. Strauss-Kahn is quoted that "As it stands... I am planning to see out my mandate. But if you ask me whether in certain circumstances I could reconsider this question, the answer is yes, I could reconsider this question."

This is consciously leaving open the door to reconsider and leave. But Ms. Aktinson emphasized only his "planning to see out my mandate" and called everything else "hypothetical."

On Greece, Strauss-Kahn said regally, "I have a mission on the ground to provide technical advice requested by the Greek government. And if we're asked to intervene, we will." He added, "I understand that the Europeans don't want this for the moment."

Inner City Press on Thursday morning asked Dimitris Droutsas, Alternate Foreign Minister of Greece, to describe his government's thinking about IMF help. Mr. Droutsas responded on the record, "Categorically may I state, any idea of the IMF... there is no idea about that."

Still, at Thursday's IMF biweekly briefing, Ms. Aktinson emphasized the "the IMF" -- not just Strauss-Kahn -- "had a technical team in Athens because the Greeks are very interested in getting any help from us on the technical implementation of the plan."

Later on February 4 Droutsas told Inner City Press, on camera, that he was unaware of any IMF team having been in Athens. Video here, last question. One wag wondered, has the IMF become like the CIA, or Xe / Blackwater, whose presence is alleged and denied?

But the IMF under Strauss-Kahn brags about being present. As with the wider UN, the rush to be relevant.

It was surprising, then, that when Inner City Press asked Ms. Aktinson about Yemen -- using as the lead in a quote by UK Foreign Secretary (Ivan Lewis) that "we address the economic problems that face Yemen, especially through the IMF program" -- Ms. Atkinson said she didn't have information about Yemen and would have to respond later to Inner City Press. But as February 8 hit midnight, still no information was provided. Yemen is in the news, and one would expect the omnipresent Strauss-Kahn to be all over it. We'll see.

Ms. Atkinson gave a pro-IMF spin in responding to Inner City Press' question about the IMF's new loan to Haiti, but we'll be writing about that later, along with the IMF's Yemen response. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/imf1greece020410.html