On Syria Chemical Weapons, Churkin Slams Psaki and Leak of P5 Talks, Says Carla Del Ponte Was “Very Clear” - But Where Is She?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 11 – Speaking to the press about chemical weapons in Syria for the second time in three days, Russia's Permanent Representative Vitaly Churkin on Thursday slammed the planned leak of Permanent Five Security Council members' failed negotiation of a resolution.

Churkin said the UK's Mark Lyall Grant convened the five Permanent members to discuss a draft resolution which would track the G8 statement as to chemical weapons. But, Churkin argued, that statement envisioned the team led by Ake Sellstrom coming up with a report for the Council to review and then act on.

The British drive on the wrong side of the road, Churkin jokes, and they got the order here wrong as well. His criticism, however, was of the immediate leaking “to the first journalist” around, that Russia blocked it. Churkin said he had the permission of China's Li Baodong to say China's position was identical to Russia's on this.

Churkin similarly criticized US State Department spokesperson Jennifer Psaki saying that Russia was blocking Sellstrom's probe, saying this is misleading about the Security Council's role in the probe. He reminded that it was Syria which asked for the probe in the first place, of the Khan al-Asal deadly incident in March.

Inner City Press asked Churkin if too much time has gone by for Sellstrom or anyone else to make meaningful conclusions based on a visit to Khan al Asal now. Churkin replied that since the team keeps pushing, they must feel it or something is possible.

Inner City Press also asked Churkin whatever happened with Carla Del Ponte, who said there were strong suspicions of rebel chemical weapon use, then essentially disappeared. This perspective was not in the Commission of Inquiry's report, and it was Paulo Pinheiro and Karen AbuZayd who presented it, both in Geneva and New York. Churkin replied that Del Ponte was “very clear.”

But the question remains: where is Carla Del Ponte? 

Footnote: There is scuttlebutt that outgoing CTBTO chief Tibor Toth may be rewarded by Ban Ki-moon with an Assistant- or even Under-Secretary General post. Conflict? Watch this site.

   

On Nuclear Test Ban, Toth Hopes for Obama One-Liner, "The View" of Egypt Non-Static

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 24 -- With President Barack Obama headed to "The View" television show before delivering a speech Tuesday morning in the UN General Assembly, Inner City Press on Monday put the question of whether Obama will mention a ban on testing nuclear weapons to Tibor Toth, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization.

  Toth replied, "Personally I would wish a one liner... we will have to see." He went out, in UN-ese, that it is "robust action" that is most important. Video here, from Minute 22:15

  But where? Inner City Press also asked Toth if there had in his view been any movement in the past year toward the US ratifying the CTBT. 

 Toth cited a National Academy of Science report on verifiability, saying it is an "important ingredient for the Senate to resume consideration of the Test Ban Treaty," a review he hopes will be "on the merits." Video here, from Minute 18:06.

   Inner City Press also asked him if events in the past year in Egypt made him think ratification there is any more likely. He answered obliquely, that regions -- he mixes Asia / Pacific with the Middle East -- should be viewed in a "non-static way." Ya don't say. Watch this site.

After Death in Vienna, UN Says Can't Speak Until Authorities, Who Wait for UN Orders

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unv1death110309.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 3 -- Following the death of Timothy Hampton of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Office in Vienna, the UN in New York called it a suicidal fall. But now that a second autopsy points in another directly, the UN tells Inner City Press it is deferring to and "cannot comment on" an investigation being undertaken by the Austrian authorities.

But there is a problem: the UN's own press summary from Vienna reports that that publication "Osterreich reports that the investigations have been stopped. However, if the United Nations calls for further investigations the police could take action again."

So the UN says it can't say anything because the Austrian authorities are investigating. But the Austrian authorities say they are stopping their investigation unless the UN says something.

Meanwhile well placed Vienna sources tell Inner City Press of "overwork, lack of appreciation and support from the Tibor Toth management team which is run by his Eastern European sycophants. It is known to staff as the Politbureau."

Inner City Press asked the UN's Office of the Spokesperson:

Because the noon briefing today started late, was rushed and took no questions, here are a few below on deadline, thanks in advance: A second autopsy carried out on the body of the British nuclear scientist who fell to his death at the UN in Vienna seems to indicate the death was not a suicide. But the UN seemed quick to issue a statement immediately after the incident that no foul play was suspected. Does the UN have plans to reconsider its earlier swift denial of foul play? Will the UN conduct its own investigation?

The response:

Our colleagues in Vienna have sent us the following information:

We cannot comment on the details of an investigation being undertaken by the Austrian authorities.

The Austrian authorities are now following up on the death of a staff member from CTBTO who was found at about 8.30am on Tuesday 20 October 2009 in one of the stairwells in the E-building of the Vienna International Centre. No suspicious circumstances have been found.

The staff member was employed by the CTBTO as a processing engineer. Contrary to some press reports, he had no role in the Iran talks taking place at the VIC in the same week. The CTBTO is a separate organization from that of the IAEA and played no role in the Iran negotiations. There is no connection between the death of the staff member and the Iran talks at the IAEA.

It seems, however, he was working on North Korea. But how to get to the bottom of the issue? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unv1death110309.html