For Expo 2020 Dubai UN Guterres' Global Censor Alison Smale Names As Commissioner General Maher Nasser Who Blocks Press

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive CJR  PFT

UNITED NATIONS GATE, February 2 -- The United Arab Emirates, ostensibly criticized by the UN for jailing human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor, recently outed for its spying and censorship, and for the Dubai ruling family's incarceration and worse of Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum, is set to be assisted by the UN with Expo 2020 Dubai.    

 Tellingly, the head of UN Secretary General's Department of Global Communcations Alison Smale, who has without due process bannedinvestigative Inner City Press from any entry of the UN since 3 July 2018, is naming as "Commissioner General" of Expo 2020 Dubai her deputy Maher Nasser whose false complaint against Inner City Press as one of the few bases of her exclusion edict. 

 While Smale was asked by UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression David Kaye about the lack of due process and how Inner City Press could appeal, she never answered on that. Instead, her response said that Inner City Press' written questions to the Office of the Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric would be answered. But this has not been true, for weeks at a time. Even before former New York Times Berlin bureau chief Smale banned Inner City Press, there was no substantive answer to its questions about whistleblower's complaints to it that Smale diverted funds meant for her Department's swindling Swahili programming to English language social media lavishing praise on Guterres. There is still no public financial disclosure for Smale on the UN's website, unlike officers who came in after her. Smale's email naming Nasser is below. But here's their record with censorship:

 After receiving  from Smale's staffer Tal Mekel at 6 pm on Friday 20 October 2017 a letter clearly drafted by Nasser, Inner City Press immediately published a story about it. The Free UN Coalition for Access, an actual press freedom advocacy group which UN official Hua Jiang had threatened Inner City Press' accreditation for posting a sign for on its then UN office door, put out a press release and flier. And on Monday 23 March 17 before 11 am Inner City Press sent the following to Smale and to Guterres and his deputy Amina J. Mohammed: "The UN threat letter sent to me after 5 pm on Friday, attached, coming as it does as Inner City Press pursues stories not only of UN corruption but, most pressingly, inaction amid mass killings in Cameroon and elsewhere is troubling... As to Mr Nasser's misuse of the DPI / MALU threat process to try to win an argument he escalated on Twitter on October 19, saying I should be less negative about the UN when I noted how many clicks it takes to find sexual abuse and exploitation information on the new DPKO site he promoted - before he blocked me on Twitter on October 20 -- great outreach there, now communications are broken off -- the audiolinked to in the article is from the stakeout area by the Secretariat lobby elevators. It did not violate even this rule that the DPI and DSS mis-negotiated, not with the press corps but a subset of the UN Correspondents Association, whose members by the way do not obtain or even seek prior consent for recording, and membership in which is not and cannot be required to be a resident correspondent." But Smale, using Nasser's bogus complaint and ignoring Inner City Press' response, has banned Inner City Press for 213 days and counting. 

Here now is her email naming her deputy Censor to head an Exposition of Censorship in the UAE: "From: Julie James Sent: Friday, January 25, 2019 9:56 PM To: Alison Smale [and members of the UN Communications Group] Subject: Nomination of UN Commissioner General for Expo 2020 Dubai - Message from USG Smale     Dear Colleagues,   As those of you who were at the UNCG Principals meeting in Madrid in November 2017 will recall, one of the agenda items was planning for UN participation at Expo 2020 Dubai. Since that discussion, we have not received any formal interest from UNCG members to take a lead role in planning for the Expo.   Recent contacts with the Dubai organizers meanwhile have indicated their preference for the UN Secretariat to take the lead and ensure a coherent UN participation at the Expo. The organizers have also confirmed that there will be a UN Pavilion and they have asked for UN engagement and to start a coordination process with all concerned. I understand that separate discussions and outreach have been made by the Expo organizers to some of you in relation to the Opportunities Pavilion.   In view of the theme, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” and the coordination role played by the Department of Global Communications, I intend, in order to start planning for the Expo as soon as possible, to nominate Mr. Maher Nasser, Director of our Outreach Division as the UN Commissioner-General for Expo 2020.   Maher brings to this role over 31 years of UN experience, 13 of which have been with the Department, a thorough knowledge of the work of the United Nations and the issues on its agenda, and strong connections with UN system leadership and all of you. He is further able to build on established connections with UAE officials to ensure that their plans for a UN Pavilion are reflective of the work and priorities of the  United Nations System. In view of the need to start active planning, I will proceed with the nomination of Maher as Commissioner General to the Secretary-General pending any response from you by 30 January. We look forward to working with you to leverage the opportunity of Expo 2020 to showcase the UN at its innovative best, working together for a common goal, and creating a peaceful and prosperous world for a better future.   All best, Alison   Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications  Julie James Special Assistant to the Director Strategic Communications Division Department of Global Communications."

  And there's this, from Smale's Department now known as Guterres' Department of Global Censorship: 

"From: malu Date: Wed, Jan 2, 2019 at 12:23 PM Subject: U.N. eAccreditation request for Matthew LEE Ref# M72295425 has been declined    

"Greetings Matthew LEE from ICP     INNER CITY PRESS,  Your media accreditation request, with reference no: M72295425, has been declined for the following reason: Accreditation was withdrawn on 17 August 2018."

   No due process, no road map to return, pure censorship. We will not rest. We'll have more on this.

On Yemen, After Ban's False Pause Fails, Happy Talk of Ethiopia, Financing for Development

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 13 -- The UN Secretariat's bungling of Yemen mediation has become ever more clear, according to multiple sources and documents exclusively seen by Inner City Press, see below. On July 9, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon proudly announced a humanitarian pause to start on July 10 at midnight.

  Three days after the pause failed, still Ban Ki-moon had said nothing about it. In the interim he cranked out, on July 13, a statement about Colombia inviting the UN to a sub-committee meeting. There was also agushing read-out of a Ban's meeting with Ethiopia's prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn, while several of the Zone 9 bloggers remain locked up as noted by the Free UN Coalition for Access.

  Ban was in Addis Ababa for the Financing for Development conference; here are his UN's "messaging" points in the run-up to that conference (and here an Inner City Press story about it; we'll have more). But isn't the UN responsible to say something after a humanitarian pause it announced doesn't happen, and people are killed? 

  It quickly became clear that some of key parties had not been spoken with or agreed; the pause's midnight beginning came and passed amid airstrikes.

  Inner City Press is informed by sources that Ban Ki-moon was urged to not make the dubious pause announcement, including from within the UN's own Department of Political Affairs -- but Ban announced it anyway.

  At best, it was rolling the dice. At worse, on the very day that UN is rightly criticizing itself for making false promises of protection in Srebrenica 20 years ago, in this case Yemenis were told there would be a pause, and some perhaps relied on it, to their detriment. And still the UN had said nothing.

  After the July 9 announcement, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman if the Saudis had been spoken with. The answer was, Hadi told the Saudis his position. But did Hadi ever agree to the pause, or just to the conditions set forth in his letter to UN? What of Hadi's responsibilities to the Yemeni people?

Update: now Saudi Al Arabiya says Saudi Arabia never received any communication from Hadi to stop airstrikes, here. Someone is lying.

  Where is the UN's replacement envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed? Headed to Ethiopia, Ban's spokesman said, to meet with Ban on the sidelines of the Financing for Development conference there. Does IOCA harbor ambitions for another UN system post, or back in his own country? What sort of a track record is this? Watch this site.

 At the July 10 UN noon briefing in New York, Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric if the UN had spoken with those in Yemen opposing the Houthis but not supporting or in contact with Hadi. Video here. From Dujarric's answer, it seems no such contact has been made.

  So, Inner City Press asked, if such a group fires on the Houthis and they fire back, is the pause over, has it been violated? We'll see what happens.

Back on July 9, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, transcript here:

Inner City Press: can you, one, characterize not the communications with Mr. Hadi, but with Saudi Arabia that's running the coalition, the Saudi-led coalition.  And does this mean the Secretary-General's understanding is no airstrikes during this time period, and no further advances or use of heavy weapons by the Houthis?  Does the pause mean no firing? What does it mean to each of those two sides?

Spokesman Dujarric:  What it means is that, if you read the statement, the President… Secretary-General notes that the President, President Hadi, has communicated his acceptance of the pause to the coalition to ensure their support.  A humanitarian pause means no fighting.  It means no bombing.  It means no shooting.  It means no fighting.  It means exactly that:  a humanitarian pause in the fighting that we've seen, to enable our humanitarian colleagues to get the aid to where it's needed, to preposition, and stockpile, and to reach the millions that need it.

Inner City Press:  Right.  But just for example, policing, who's doing policing in these various cities?  Things happen.

Spokesman Dujarric:  Obviously I think… [cross talk] In any area in the country, there is a… there is de facto control and, obviously, there is a need to ensure safety and security.  What we're talking about is a humanitarian pause in the fighting that we've been witnessing for weeks on end now.

Inner City Press:  So just one last thing on this.  So the commitment on airstrikes is through President Hadi to the UN?

Spokesman:  You know, the… [cross talk] Obviously, President Hadi is a critical interlocutor with the coalition.  And as I've said, we've taken note of the fact that he's conveyed to the coalition his acceptance.  We expect everyone involved in this conflict to honor this humanitarian pause.

 On July 7 the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights upped its estimate of civilians killed since March 27 to 1,528, adding that one million people have been displaced since the beginning of this round of the conflict. To the Saudi airstrike on UNDP in Khormaksar, Aden, OHCHR added that "IOM’s Migrant Response Centre in Basateen, also in Aden, was struck by a mortar and an airstrike damaged IOM’s office in Harad."

   IOM, as Inner City Press reported, had earlier paused its evacuation by air of those seeking to flee Yemen due to some party, which it left unnamed, demanding information about those fleeing BEFORE the flights could leave. Inner City Press has asked others in the UN about this and has been told IOM should have done the screening after the people were able to flee. IOM refused a direct question about caused it to violate this best practice, then stopped sending the Press any information.

   There are countries, normally vocal about civilian deaths, which are selling military equipment to Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies. Ban Ki-moon, now in Oslo, is relying entirely on Saudi-selected replacement envoy Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who was unable to even get the parties in the same room in Geneva, much less reach an agreement. There remain, for now, OHCHR's body counts.

  On June 24, Inner City Press asked the UN's replacement envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed about the request by the Houthis and others to meet not with him but with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who did not meet with them in Geneva. Transcribed here. 

  On June 25 Inner City Press asked Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq to confirm receipt of the letter and if Ban will meet them. Haq said Cheikh Ahmed is the envoy, and Ban's headed to San Francisco. The UN Security Council issued a Press Statement, here.

 Also on June 25, Inner City Press asked new UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien three questions about Yemen: cholera, the destruction of ambulances in Sa'ada and about international staff. Video here.

  O'Brien replied that cholera is a risk; he had no information on WHO it was that destroyed the ambulances in Sa'ada (we can guess.) On international staff, which the UN evacuated earlier, he spoke of a rise from 17 to 70, with the goal of getting to 200. He would not say if they are anywhere in the country outside of Sana'a, citing security. But at least he spoke - the Free UN Coalition for Access thanked him.

Here's from the June 24 stakeout, as fast transcribed by Inner City Press:

Inner City Press: On the parties in Sanaa requesting to meet the Secretary General – what’s your response?

Cheikh Ahmed: "This question was raised during our discussion with the Houthis, the GPC and their allies. The Secretary General had delayed twice his travel in order to be there for the parties. We have sent twice a plane from Sanaa which the delegation from Sana'a could not take..  Therefore the Secretary General had a major engagement, which was the election of the new president of the General Assembly which takes place only once a year , and he had to attend it. But the Secretary General will continue being engaged on this."

  The ceremonial elevation of the President of the GA who will take over in September was not an election at all - no vote was taken. At the top, Cheikh Ahmed said (again, as fast transcribed by Inner City Press)

"I just briefed the Security Council on the latest developments in Yemen, with a particular focus on the Geneva Consultation. I informed the Council that the Geneva intra-Yemeni Consultations are a milestone... Despite the raging battles and ongoing violence, and the dramatic humanitarian situation, Yemenis accepted the Secretary General’s invitation and participated in the consultations.

"The personal presence of the Secretary General was an indication of the primary importance attached by the United Nations and the international community, and in particular the Secretary General himself on the Yemeni situation. I deeply regret the deep division between the parties and the lack of compromise that prevented an agreement that was within reach. The holding of the Geneva consultation was itself a great achievement in light of the extreme violence unleashed in Yemen.

"While the government came to Geneva to seek the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2216, the government acted in a positive and constructive spirit. Both sides showed signs of constructive engagement. There is an emerging common ground upon which we can build to achieve a ceasefire coupled with a withdrawal.

"While we pursue a long term cessation of violence, I call on all relevant parties to agree without delay to the humanitarian truce, especially during Ramadan. We should not forget that Yemenis are living under dire conditions and it pains me to witness this ongoing suffering. I call on all stakeholders to spare no effort to help us achieve a temporary respite for the Yemeni people.

"I am aware that reviving the political process will not be easy. The Secretary General and I have been clear from the outset that this consultation was only a stepping stone towards the long inclusive political process. All the parties affirmed their commitment to remain engaged with the UN in search of a peaceful solution of the conflict. I have no doubt that it is possible to build upon this positive spirit in the forthcoming consultation.

"I strongly believe that the UN facilitated intra-Yemeni consultations offer the best chance for moving towards a de-escalation of the crisis and a return to the political process. I personally believe there is no military answer to this conflict. I therefore remain committed and will spare no effort to achieve a cease fire and the swift return to a peaceful, inclusive political process."

 Before the meeting, UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft stopped and told the press of the danger of famine in the country, and of his hope for a Yemen Press Statement from the UNSC, in which the UK is the "penholder" on Yemen.  Periscope video here, replay including on desktop for 24 hours.

 Inner City Press was digging into the letter from political parties IN Yemen, asking for a meeting with Ban Ki-moon, NOT with replacement envoy Cheikh Ahmed. These parties, including but not limited to the Houthis, were delayed in getting to Geneva so that they could not meet with Ban (who while there DID meet with a US-listed Al Qaeda terrorist).

  While some are sure to argue that Ban now meeting with the parties would undercut Cheikh Ahmed, others point out the the underlying resolution speaks of the Secretary General's Good Offices INCLUDING his Envoy. The envoy is not the only game in town - nor, given his lack of disclosure, raised by Inner City Press, should he be. We'll have more on this.

   

Press Banned from UN Event Promoted by UN Correspondents Association President Pamela Falk of CBS, UNreformed

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 9 -- Many meetings are needlessly closed to the press and public at the UN, but a new and absurd low was hit on June 9. 

  Of an event called "UN Summer Academy," the head of the UN Correspondents Association Pamela Falk had been tweeting for weeks, even as both UNCA and she bought and then deleted Twitter followers, once uncovered.

 On June 9 itself, Falk promoted her appearance, citing UNCA. So Inner City Press, after covering Libya and theUN's continuing failure to issue a promised "Bulletin on Accessibility" for persons with disabilities, went to cover the event.

  It was in the Dag Hammarskjold Library auditorium, where notably UNCA screened a Sri Lanka government film denying war crimes, then tried to get Inner City Press thrown out of the UN for its reporting on it, summary here. There have been no reforms of UNCA since.

  On June 9 no sign said "closed;" there was a UN Summer Academy banner in front. Inner City Press went in and, in order not to take any seat that could be sold -- UNCA as noted charges money, then holds faux UN briefings in the room the UN gives them for free, now long sitting empty until an upcoming scam "reopening" -- stood in the back.

  Down on the stage, Pam Falk was citing anger at sovereignty and non-interference. Inner City Press began to record and prepare to report on this event which had been and was being publicized. Audio here.

  Then a man rushed up from near the stage and asked Inner City Press to step outside. He said the session was "a closed meeting" for "a small group of people." Inner City Press made its argument to continue to record and report on the substance of this meeting being held in the UN. He declined to let Inner City Press back in. Audio here, from 0:19. 

  What is the purpose? 

  How can a supposed group of UN correspondents, or at least its two year figurehead, promote such a meeting which is then closed to the press? 

   Needless to say, the new Free UN Coalition for Access, formed after UNCA's board tried to get the investigative Press thrown out of the UN and then remained unreformed, opposes and will have more on this.

Similarly, but ultimately less inexplicably, a group of UN spokespeople which considers such issues as media accreditation met in New York May 20 to 22, and Inner City Press on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access asked to observe or at least get a summary.

  On May 20, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said no, it is internal, and declined to take a follow up question.  

  Now a summary of the meetings obtained by Inner City Press shows that to this "internal" UN meeting the Gates Foundation, Burson-Marsteller and the New York Times, among others, were invited:

UN Communications Group 13th Annual Session at Principal’s Level – 20-22 May 2014, UNHQ

The annual UNCG 13th Annual Session at Principal’s Level meeting, which was co-hosted by DPI and UNICEF, brought together directors and heads of communication from all UN entities. It allowed for a focused discussion and exchange of best practices in the field of advocacy and communication.

Working sessions were chaired by Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, Under-Secretary-General, and featured interventions by Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General, and Yoka Brandt, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF.

Presentations were made on the following topics: “Communicating as One” – by USG Launsky-Tieffenthal;

“Breaking through the noise” - by Bruce Mau, Massive Change Network; Climate and post-2015 – a discussion moderated by USG Launsky-Tieffenthal; “Voice, reach and engagement” - UNICEF’s global communication strategy, by Paloma Escudero, Director of Communications, UNICEF; “Working with ad agencies to amplify UN messages” – David Ohana, Chief of Brand Building, UNICEF; Twiplomacy - social media in international organizations - by Adam Snyder, Director of Digital and Social Strategy, Burson-Marsteller; Journalism roundtable on the convergence of new and traditional media with panelists: Miriam Elder, Foreign Editor at Buzzfeed; Rebecca Howard, General Manager of Video Production at the New York Times; Jeremy Hillman, Director of External Communications, Gates Foundation, moderated by Deborah Seward, Director of Strategic Communications Division, DPI; “Storytelling, listening & communicating with data" - by Sebastian Majewski, Gates Foundation and Anoush Tatevossian, UN Global Pulse.

Other sessions focused on the high-impact of Partnerships; Social media, the Post-2015 agenda, and the 2015 EXPO Milan. Stephane Dujarric spoke about his work as the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

   So can a meeting be called "internal" when at least two media organizations and outside foundations are invited? On what terms? Here was UNICEF's response to FUNCA's request:

“The UN Communications Group meeting is co-hosted by UN DPI and UNICEF. It’s an internal meeting so isn’t open via webcast or otherwise.”

   Isn't open "otherwise"? To whom?

Background: Previous UNCG Annual Principals Meetings have come out with statements like that it is "important for the United Nations family to engage with all forms of new media, but that some, such as blogs, present particular challenges for accreditation."

   Even today, the UN lags behind the OSCE in raising concerns about the detention by Ukraine authorities of journalists like those of Life News, which put on YouTube video of “UN” marked helicopters in Ukraine. Inner City Press asked Dujarric about this on May 20 and was told that no one in the UN system has even raised the issue to Kyiv, unlike the OSCE. Video here.

   Inner City Press wrote to UNICEF to asked to attend or get access to a webcast of the UNCG meeting but was told: “The UN Communications Group meeting is co-hosted by UN DPI and UNICEF. It’s an internal meeting so isn’t open via webcast or otherwise.”

   But if it concerns topics like accreditation, shouldn't it be open or summarized? Watch this site.

   

Some Press and All Public Were Banned from UN Communications Group, But NYT & Gates Foundation Were There, FUNCA Objects

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 29 -- A group of UN spokespeople which considers such issues as media accreditation met in New York May 20 to 22, and Inner City Press on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access asked to observe or at least get a summary.

  On May 20, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said no, it is internal, and declined to take a follow up question.  

  Now a summary of the meetings obtained by Inner City Press shows that to this "internal" UN meeting the Gates Foundation and the New York Times, among others, were invited:

UN Communications Group 13th Annual Session at Principal’s Level – 20-22 May 2014, UNHQ

The annual UNCG 13th Annual Session at Principal’s Level meeting, which was co-hosted by DPI and UNICEF, brought together directors and heads of communication from all UN entities. It allowed for a focused discussion and exchange of best practices in the field of advocacy and communication.

Working sessions were chaired by Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, Under-Secretary-General, and featured interventions by Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General, and Yoka Brandt, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF.

Presentations were made on the following topics: “Communicating as One” – by USG Launsky-Tieffenthal;

“Breaking through the noise” - by Bruce Mau, Massive Change Network; Climate and post-2015 – a discussion moderated by USG Launsky-Tieffenthal; “Voice, reach and engagement” - UNICEF’s global communication strategy, by Paloma Escudero, Director of Communications, UNICEF; “Working with ad agencies to amplify UN messages” – David Ohana, Chief of Brand Building, UNICEF; Twiplomacy - social media in international organizations - by Adam Snyder, Director of Digital and Social Strategy, Burson-Marsteller; Journalism roundtable on the convergence of new and traditional media with panelists: Miriam Elder, Foreign Editor at Buzzfeed; Rebecca Howard, General Manager of Video Production at the New York Times; Jeremy Hillman, Director of External Communications, Gates Foundation, moderated by Deborah Seward, Director of Strategic Communications Division, DPI; “Storytelling, listening & communicating with data" - by Sebastian Majewski, Gates Foundation and Anoush Tatevossian, UN Global Pulse.

Other sessions focused on the high-impact of Partnerships; Social media, the Post-2015 agenda, and the 2015 EXPO Milan. Stephane Dujarric spoke about his work as the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

   So can a meeting be called "internal" when at least two media organizations and outside foundations are invited? On what terms? Here was UNICEF's response to FUNCA's request:

“The UN Communications Group meeting is co-hosted by UN DPI and UNICEF. It’s an internal meeting so isn’t open via webcast or otherwise.”

   Isn't open "otherwise"? To whom?

Background: Previous UNCG Annual Principals Meetings have come out with statements like that it is "important for the United Nations family to engage with all forms of new media, but that some, such as blogs, present particular challenges for accreditation."

   Even today, the UN lags behind the OSCE in raising concerns about the detention by Ukraine authorities of journalists like those of Life News, which put on YouTube video of “UN” marked helicopters in Ukraine. Inner City Press asked Dujarric about this on May 20 and was told that no one in the UN system has even raised the issue to Kyiv, unlike the OSCE. Video here.

   Inner City Press wrote to UNICEF to asked to attend or get access to a webcast of the UNCG meeting but was told: “The UN Communications Group meeting is co-hosted by UN DPI and UNICEF. It’s an internal meeting so isn’t open via webcast or otherwise.”

   But if it concerns topics like accreditation, shouldn't it be open or summarized? Watch this site.

   

Press & Public Banned from UN Communications Group, Accreditation Mulled

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 20 -- A group of UN spokespeople which considers such issues as media accreditation is meeting in New York today and tomorrow, and Inner City Press on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access asked to observe or at least get a summary.

  On May 20, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said no, it is internal, and declined to take a follow up question. But previous UNCG Annual Principals Meetings have come out with statements like that it is "important for the United Nations family to engage with all forms of new media, but that some, such as blogs, present particular challenges for accreditation."

   Even today, the UN lags behind the OSCE in raising concerns about the detention by Ukraine authorities of journalists like those of Life News, which put on YouTube video of “UN” marked helicopters in Ukraine. Inner City Press asked Dujarric about this on May 20 and was told that no one in the UN system has even raised the issue to Kyiv, unlike the OSCE. Video here.

   Inner City Press wrote to UNICEF to asked to attend or get access to a webcast of the UNCG meeting but was told: “The UN Communications Group meeting is co-hosted by UN DPI and UNICEF. It’s an internal meeting so isn’t open via webcast or otherwise.”

   But if it concerns topics like accreditation, shouldn't it be open or summarized? Watch this site.