At UN, French Obama Diss Report Led to Lebanese Press Ban, Collective Punishment Alleged, Ongoing Blacklist Denied

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, November 5 -- In September a newspaper in Lebanon ran a quote from a “Western diplomat” saying that even US President Barack Obama couldn't stop the Special Tribunal on Lebanon investigating the bombing that killed Rafiq Hariri, under a quote by French ambassador to the UN Gerard Araud.

This set off a diplomatic chain reaction that resulted in the French Mission to the UN banning the Lebanese press from briefings and, at least some sources say, in the firing of the journalist.

According to multiple sources, and as partially confirmed by French Mission spokesman Stephane Crouzat, when the Assafir newspaper in Lebanon published without byline a reference to Obama not being able to stop the STL, the French Mission immediately traced it to journalist Khaled Dawoud, then employed by Al Jazeera but also reporting for Assafir (sometimes spelled As Safir).

Two results are not in dispute: Mr. Dawoud, and also other Lebanese reporters, were barred from subsequently briefings by Ambassador Araud. Additionally, Mr. Dawoud's employment with Al Jazeera ended. At least three sources affirm that the French diplomatic corps reached out to Al Jazeera. Others say it was based on complaints and a power struggle with Al Jazeera's Washington bureau chief.

Incontrovertibly the reporter Khalid Dawoud was told by Al Jazeera that his services were no longer needed. The upshot, the sources say, is that a country which claims to be for freedom of the press acted such that a UN correspondent lost his job.

The French Mission, when asked by Inner City Press to comment for this story, provided the following statement by spokesman Stephane Crouzat:

“Dear Matthew, In response to your questions: A Lebanese journalist writing under a pseudonym did not respect the off the record rules. France did not receive any complaint from the USA. French diplomats did not call any news media in this regard. The French mission will continue to work with all journalists who abide by the rules.”

But numerous sources have told Inner City Press that other Lebanese reporters beyond Mr. Daoud have been barred from French mission briefings; the sources liken this to collective punishment. Some Lebanese reporters, and this one, have been told they are not on any ongoing blacklist. We'll see. Watch this site.

Footnotes: Ambassador Gerard Araud, as evidenced most recently by his on the record Q&A with the press after the Security Council's November 5 session about the STL, is among the more articulate and self depreciating diplomats at the UN.

But press access issues at the French Mission to the UN predate Araud's arrival, back at least to a visit by President Nicolas Sarkozy during which a “French passport only” briefing was held in the UN press room.

While there are rumors of Araud soon leaving New York and the UN, one hopes the over-controlling and de facto blacklists, the use of access for leverage, can stop.

In UN Council, Hariri Tribunal Friday, Pascoe's Views & Video Choi, Darfur Deference

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 1, updated Nov. 5 -- Preventive diplomacy under another name and the Hariri Tribunal on Lebanon will be be addressed by the UN Security Council in this first week of the UK's presidency, Inner City Press learned Monday afternoon.

The UN has been very quiet about when United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission prosecutor Daniel Bellemare will be in New York, with UN spokesman Martin Nesirky shirking off questions at Monday's noon briefing. By late afternoon from a Council member Inner City Press learned that the briefing is Friday, November 5 under “Any Other Business.”

[Update: while it was supposed to be Bellamare, he canceled a trip to Boston, New York and Washington because of the attack on Tribunal staff -- this was first reported by Al Nahar -- so it is UN lawyer Patricia O'Brien.]

Also contentious is the concept of preventative diplomacy. The UK has wanted to hear more from the UN Department of Political Affairs, and proposed a wide ranging presentation by DPA chief Lynn Pascoe for November 4 under the heading “preventive diplomacy.”

Some other Security Council members, wary of the Council's mission creep and of that heading, pointed out that it is not on the Council's agenda. Thus it will simply be called “Briefing by Mr. Pascoe,” and seemingly will be confined to a closed door session. One hopes that Pascoe's grab of the time of the General Assembly created Good Offices on Myanmar staff will be raised.

On November 3, Cote d'Ivoire envoy Choi will brief the Council by video link up. Even that gave rise to protests, from some members who do not want the precedent of envoys no longer coming to New York to make their presentations.

They should be aware: UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari was in New York last Monday October 25 while they met about Sudan, but did not come to the meeting. “On leave,” Inner City Press has been told.

An issue that remains unresolved by the Council but should be early in the UK presidency is that of those in Abu Shouk IDP camp who have been arrested and harassed since the Council's visit in early October. Now two have been named, while another Council member says the list that should be looked at is longer. What will the UK do? Watch this site.

Footnote: Also on Darfur, when Inner City Press asked the UN's Special Rapporteur on Racism and Xenophobia Githu Muigai to comment on Sudan, accused of genocide, he declined to, saying the International Criminal Court is considering it. So does being indicted have its benefits?