As UN Admits Risk Assessments Not Done, Top Brass Jostle For Position

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/cmp1risk050509.html

UNITED NATIONS, May 5 -- Despite the massive funds raised for it, the UN's Capital Master Plan has an amateur quality to it. Most recently, CMP director Michael Adlerstein back-dated a letter in which he implicitly takes back an earlier claim that all necessary Security Risk Assessments had already been completed.

Meanwhile, Adlerstein's boss Angela Kane of the Department of Management is said to be making a play to avoid relocation across First Avenue, now telling the Outreach Division of the UN's Department of Public Information that it should relinquish its space in the library to Kane, and instead be relocated twice.

Sources tell Inner City Press this shows a double standard: workers at the UN are impacted -- fired in the cafeteria, relocated even now in other units -- while their purported leaders seek special benefits and do not, as Secretary General Ban Ki-moon once promised, "lead by example."

Mr. Ban on Tuesday gave a press conference largest about the UN's report on Gaza and, as asked by Inner City Press, Sri Lanka (click here for that). But when asked about how often he is away from Headquarters, Ban said that he spends a lot of time managing the UN.

But why then, for example, has there been little action taken on the expose of controlled substance irregularities in the UN Medical Service?

Why is the head of security David Veness still in place a year after he resigned after the bombing of the UN in Algiers? Source say Veness has been told to clean up the mess caused by the lack of risk assessment. Veness has passed it on to Mohammad Bani-Faris, who asked Adlerstein to sign a letter responding to criticism. Adlerstein did not want to sign, so Bani-Faris sent the letter himself on April 28, click here to view.

Then -- perhaps after Inner City Press' May 4 report of Adlerstein blaming UN Security -- on May 5 a letter from Adlerstein surfaced, back-dated to April 9, click here to view, with near-identical language to Bani-Faris' April 28 missive. While some laugh at this chaos, others don't -- for example, the food service workers in the cafeteria who were unceremoniously told this week that layoffs start on August 2. They were still grumbling on Tuesday -- click here for Inner City Press' article on Monday -- and asking about others being impacted. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/cmp1risk050509.html

As UN Chiefs Sign Contracts, Only Some Can See Them, Transparency Still Lacking

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban1compacts021209.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 12 -- In a quirky but strangely endearing ceremony on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon signed compacts with two dozen of his senior staff members, taking a photo shaking hands with each and then a group photo like in elementary school. In his prepared remarks, Ban said that "the compacts you have signed will all be published on our intranet site, iSeek. This means we are not only talking about transparency, we are practicing it." But this web site is not available to the public or even member states that UN ostensibly serves.

Under Ban's predecessor Kofi Annan, there was talk of a freedom of information policy for the UN system. It was entrusted to then-Department of Management chief Alicia Barcena. It was never implemented. Thursday Barcena was back, on a brief visit to New York from her new posting with ECLAC in Santiago, Chile. Her successor Angela Kane held a thick binder. Inner City Press asked Ms. Kane, "So you're the master of ceremonies?"

"My department organized this," she answered. "Write nicely about our Organization."

In that spirit, we'll note that the UN's envoy on children and armed conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, chatted about Gaza and the Congo with top humanitarian John Holmes. Deputy chief of staff Kim Won-soo, who didn't sign a Compact, moved to sit next to American Department of Political Affairs chief Lynn Pascoe; one surmised that Sri Lanka was discussed.

Mister Disarmament, Sergio Duarte, came over to wait to speak with Mr. Kim. Vijay Nambiar, the chief of staff last seen strolling 42nd Street at 10 p.m. Wednesday night, help organize the final picture. Why aren't you signing a compact, he was asked. Because I am staff, he answered, this is for line managers. Nambiar has been mentioned to perhaps move laterally to the top post at the UN Development Program, the short list for which Team Ban is also keeping secret, unlike Kofi Annan's list. The UNDP post is described as third-highest in the UN system. The list should be released.

Nor did the UN's Number Two, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, sign a compact, though at the ceremony's end, after first they appeared lost, the compact were entrusted into her custody. Then, after photographer's instructions moved the group back behind the desk -- "the Secretary General said to say something when something's broken," the UN photographer said, and this is broken" -- the group snap shot was taken.

Public Information chief Kiyo Akasaka and Mr. Ban bowed to each other after the signing. Four tall men, Messrs Costa, Diarra and Kubis, and to a lesser degree Shaaban Shaaban, towered over Mr. Ban. Mr. Sha was said to be on official travel, and did not appear by TV like Achim Steiner with his name tag, or the trio from Geneva. In from the field were Noeleen Heyzer, Abdoulie Janneh and Anna Tibaijuka, still famous for her critique of Operation Take-Out-the-Trash in Zimbabwe, carried about by Robert Mugabe's security forces. Missing from the UN's Compact ceremony was acting security chief David Veness, or any replacement.

Inga-Britt Ahlenius, last seen chatting at a party for Iran, was the first to sign her Compact. To the surprise of some, technology chief and Assistant Secretary General Choi Soon-hong signed a Compact. The other Under-Secretaries General were encourage to sign contract with their ASGs. Alain Le Roy, then, should draft one with his deputy Edmond Mullet, known to have participated in Ban's meeting later on Thursday with Sudan's Ambassador. That meeting broke up to allow a private tete a tete. One hopes Ban didn't read from notes. Click here for Inner City Press' Sudan coverage of later in the day.

Later in the hallway -- Inner City Press has been told, "this is not a press conference, just a photo op" -- the UN's top lawyer Patricia O'Brien committed to take a look at seeming abuses of the UN's logo and name by corporations. We hope to have more on this, and on the USGs who have still not followed Ban's urging to make at least some minimal public financial disclosure.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban1compacts021209.html

At UN Security, Prefixed Promotions, Whistleblowers' Dog Days

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/undss1chaos020609.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 6 -- Unanswered questions swirl around UN Security, from accountability for lapses in Algeria, Niger, Pakistan and Somalia, to irregularities in hiring and promotions and even discpline. On February 4, Inner City Press formally asked two members of the Office of the UN Spokesperson a series of questions about UN Security, including what is the status of the much-promised disciplinary action against UN officials for their inattention to duties in the run-up to the Algiers Bombing, as documented by the Zacklin Report? Does the Secretary-General think that a Zacklin-style accountability panel should be set up to examine the security failures that have taken place in recent months, including the lack of security clearance and security protection of Mr. Robert Fowler, the abduction of the UNHCR official in Quetta, Pakistan, and the killings of UNDP staff in Somalia?

Two days later, not a single answer has been provided. Nor has the UN said anything about replacing Sir David Veness, who months ago announced he was resigning as the sole case of accountability following the Algiers bombing. He is still in charge of DSS.

On a seemingly more mundane but not unrelated level, whistleblowers have provided Inner City Press with a list of UN Security "Possible Transfers and Assignments / Reassignments." These sources say that this list undermines the credibility of interviews that are being conducted, implying that some decisions have already been made. They say as a matter of belated transparency, the list should be released. They allege favoritism in promotion, false resumes and misuse of UN vehicles, retaliation against those who complain, even of physical abuse.

Sometimes the public news about UN Security is negative, but the exoneration is much more quiet. Take the case of Gamal Ibrahim, exposed on Fox News and elsewhere for alleged abuse of a dog in the UN's Canine Unit. Last month, the UN Headquarters Joint Disciplinary Committee recommended that the charges be dropped, as the evidence was not conclusive.

As recited in Confidential Report 216 in Case Number 2008-14, Numbered Copy 1 attached,

"On July 3, 2007, DSS Management was informed of allegations of improper conduct... It was alleged that Mr. Ibrahim had physically abused his canine partner Buddy... On 21 January 2008, the case was referred to the JDC.... Mr. Ibrahim responded to the charges... The redness on Buddy's skin has always existed and is part of his skin and hair complexion...

The [2 July 2007] incident at the Security Council appears to have been misinterpreted... Buddy was playful and rest his two front legs affectionately on my shoulders on that occasion. To calm him I gave hand and verbal commands, which had nothing threatening for him... SS/O Mascioli has a reputation for harassment, fabrication and extrapolation, besides taking occasionally a free lunch from vendors... the rationale for their false allegations was essentially triggered by a spirit of retribution against me, as a result of my whistleblower role."

Since the allegations were found to be without corroboration, is this the case the UN Security whistleblower whose dog didn't bark? To be continued.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undss1chaos020609.html

UNDP's Evacuation of Jordan Building Confirmed by UN, Unexplained by UNDP

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/undp1jordan100708.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 7 -- The UN Development Program has evacuated its staff from its building in Amman, Jordan due to danger. This information was gleened not from UNDP, which twice declined to confirm it, but rather from UN system Security chief David Veness. Inner City Press approached him Tuesday afternoon in the Economic and Social Council chamber and he acknowledged that UNDP had deemed its building unsafe, and that when UNDP unilaterally pulled out, it led to "noice" and push-back from other UN agencies which felt they had not been consulted.

By contrast to this candor, UNDP's spokesman issued a vague non-non-denial, and then refused to say more. First,

"We are not curtailing operations. The delivery of programmes continues as normal in Jordan. However, we do from time, to take the necessary security precautions but they have not had an impact on our ability to do our work."

Then, after Inner City Press again asked for confirmation and description of the change, and where other agencies were informed, this:

"On Jordan, I will not get into the details of security precautions. There are procedures in place and they are being followed."

Why would UNDP think that that it has or can be more secretive that the chief of all UN Security?

It is anticipated that the so-called accountability report about the bombing of UN premises in Algiers will be released on October 8, and that UNDP and its Designated Officer Marc de Bernis will figure prominently. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undp1jordan100708.html

UN's Concern About Investors Kept Algeria Threat Level Low Before the Bombing, Some Counter-Terrorism Reforms

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un2safety063008.html

UNITED NATIONS, June 30 -- Belated describing to the Press his report on the bombing of the UN in Algiers back in December, Lakhdar Brahimi on Monday acknowledged that the UN takes into consideration governments' desire to downplay security threats. "It's a sensitive issue," he said, because when the UN raises threat levels, "investors stop going there... The UN takes that into consideration." Video here, from Minute 9:39.

Since the UN, particularly through its UN Development Program, operates on the premise that the only road to development is by building the capacity and strengths of governments, this runs counter to prioritizing the safety of staff. In this case, there were other conflicts of interest. UK Ambassador to the UN John Sawers told the Press on Monday morning that he is "not sure if the choice of an Algerian" like Brahimi "to investigate a bombing in Algeria was the right way to go. Inner City Press asked Brahimi about the comment. Brahimi replied that he didn't think he was assigned the investigation because he is Algerian, and that Algeria didn't feel it controlled the investigation. Judge me on my work, Brahimi said.

But his report dodged the obvious question, of holding anyone accountable. That task has been assigned to yet another panel, this one headed by Ralph Zacklin, who the UN Staff Union on Monday called "an insider who has served as legal counsel... with repsonsible for some sensitive political issues including the Oil for Food program, where he assisted in some procurement decision criticized by [Paul] Volcker." They question if this is a person who will objectively mete out responsibility.

So far, only David Veness has resigned. Ambassador Sawers sung Veness' praises on Monday, saying he will be hard to replace. Inner City Press is told that Jack Straw sold Veness on the job by saying it could take him to retirement. Who now will wants this hot potato? While word on the street is Russian, it may be Poland's time, we'll see.

Counter-Terrorism Changes Still Fall Short: Following a string of court decisions criticizing the UN's Al Qaeda and Taliban sanctions as violating the due process rights of those put on the lists, the UN Security Council on Monday extended the sanctions with some changes, including committing to review all names on the lists within the next two years. Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador to the UN John Sawers if the reforms in Resolution 1822 are retroactive, and thus might be used to try for better outcomes in the court decisions questioning the sanction. They are not retroactive, Sawers answered, but they will help going forward. Video here, from Minute 2:10. Costa Rica later said that it is not strong enough in providing due process in the listing and delisting of those subject to sanctions. But Costa Rica voted for the resolution, and as Sawers has noted, few reporters cover the sanctions anyway. UN Counter-Terrorism czar Michael Smith has yet to brief the press. Ah, accountability....

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un2safety063008.html

UN Officials' "Compacts," Withheld from Public, Skirt Issues of Security and Procurement

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1compacts020408.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 4 -- On Monday Ban Ki-moon signed 28 agreements with his senior managers which will, his Under Secretary General for Management Alicia Barcena told reporters, commit these officials to measurable targets for their work in 2008. Ms. Barcena said the agreements were being placed on the UN's intra-net so that UN staff can see them. Since the UN is an international organization, Inner City Press asked Ms. Barcena why they shouldn't be in the internet, available to Member States and to the public at large. Staff first, Ms. Barcena said, adding that later, "nothing precludes them from being public."

Later on Monday, Inner City Press asked one of the officials, Carolyn McAskie, Assistance Secretary General for Peacebuilding Support, if she would object to her agreement being made public. "I see no reason why not," Ms. McAskie said. Click here to view. ASG McAskie's agreement, called a Compact, is representative of most of the other agreements Inner City Press has seen. (The Compact by Antonio Maria Costa in his capacity as head of the UN Office in Vienna was not, a spokesperson told Inner City Press, complete in time for Monday's launch, despite Ms. Barcena's statement that all 29 were ready.) In fact, most parts of the Compacts are identical boilerplate, committing to no more than 5% vacancies, and 100% compliance with the Performance Appraisal System. Among the mandate-specific commitments in Ms. McAskie's Compact is to have ready a strategy for Guinea-Bissau by mid-2008.

A notable Compact is that of UN Security chief David Veness, which mentions reducing vehicle accidents -- perhaps in light of the serious accident at Headquarters in 2007, which sources tell Inner City Press resulted from a lack of training provided by the Security Department -- but says little about the elephant in the room, the deadly bombing of UN premises in Algiers in December 2007. Sources tell Inner City Press that the UN and UN Development Program facilities in Rabat, Morocco and in Sana'a, Yemen are even less secure that Algiers was, and that in Sana'a, no barricades have been built under the Algiers-like theory that it might anger the local government. But you won't find this in Mr. Veness' Compact for 2008.

Rather, under Drugs and Crimes, you'll find reference to a "Turkmen Border Initiative." Under Children and Armed Conflict, there's the very specific output of a legal brief for the trial of Thomas Lubanga in 2008. Peacekeeping's Jean-Marie Guehenno promises vaguely to comply with Security Council mandates, while using his Compact to complain that the UN's rules for procurement are no good, a post-facto justification for having worked around the rules to issue a $250 million no-bid contract to Lockheed Martin for the Darfur Mission.

Humanitarian chief John Holmes commits himself to passing, or seeing passed, two General Assembly of ECOSOC resolutions concerning climate change. The nearly defunct Office of the Special Advisor on Africa mandate says repeatedly, support OSAA as appropriate. Investigator Inga-Britt Ahlenius commits to very little, saving meeting regularly with the Secretary General.

It is said that the Deputy Secretary General personally reviewed these Compacts; while only Ms. Barcena briefed on the process, the DSG should still be heard from on. Ms. Barcena's Compact commits her, among other things, to coordinating the UN's Funds and Program, something that appears to be a problem, not only in light of UNDP's Kosovo-like unilateral declaration of independence from the whistleblower protection scheme of the UN Ethics Office, but most recently in light of UNICEF's failure to implement the most basic of safeguards in offering up the UN's North Lawn to "celebrate" the opening of a Gucci store on Fifth Avenue. This was criticized Monday by Ban's chief of staff Vijay Nambair, who was visible during the signing ceremony, which was broadcast on UN Television. These Compact are presented as a big deal for the UN. Then why not make them public?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1compacts020408.html

UN's Review of Algiers Bombing is Slow and Thus Far Secret, As Questions Multiply

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban1algiers011408.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 14 -- A month after the bombing of UN premises in Algiers, the head of the UN's own Department of Safety and Security David Veness delivered a report to Ban Ki-moon, the UN's Secretary-General. Secret is the operative word: on Monday at the UN, Inner City Press asked Mr. Ban, "at what point do you think some of these reports would be made public, where you feel comfortable with the public, or at least the staff, seeing what the findings are?" Ban replied, "I think it is not appropriate at this time to make any interim report public. When there is a time, then we will let you know about our findings and recommendations."

Following the August 19, 2003 bombing of the UN's Iraq headquarters in the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, similar interim and internal reports were begun. A month after that bombing, then-Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed Finland's former president Martti Ahtisaari to chair an "Independent Panel on the Safety and Security of UN Personnel in Iraq." Ahtisaari quickly appointed three others to assist him, traveled to Baghdad, Amman and Geneva, and delivered a report on October 20, 2003, which was made public two days later. The report, among other things, criticized the UN for ignoring signs of a worsening security situation in Baghdad.

What has been learned, in the four years since? Many UN insiders question why a month has been wasted on an internal review which one knew needed to be superseded by an outside investigation. These insiders are troubled that there is not even a commitment that the outside review will be made public. At Monday's UN noon briefing, most questions revolved about the withheld internal report, and warnings the UN may or may not have received. Beyond the UN's Senegalese security coordinator in Algiers, Inner City Press is told by knowledgeable sources that a staffer of the UN's Department of Field Support, previously Department of Peacekeeping Operations, on information and belief from within the MINURSO mission in Western Sahara, also conveyed relevant information.

At Monday's briefing, a correspondent who Kofi Annan called a cheeky schoolboy questioned persistently about Ban's statement that no warning had been received. Inner City Press read into the record what Mr. Ban had said, that "the United Nations has never received any advanced warnings from whatsoever sources on this issue," and then asked:

"I wanted to make sure, number one, that that definitely includes, for example, the UN Development Program. Because it said that the coordinator for security in Algeria was this guy Mark de Bernis of UNDP. When he said this, did he mean the United Nations, the entire system?"

The spokesperson said yes, the entire system and that she didn't know if Mr. Veness spoke to de Bernis. Last Wednesday, Inner City Press asked UNDP's Office of Communications to "describe the role in security in Algeria of UNDP's Marc de Stanne de Bernis, including confirming or denying that he ever received requests to raise the threat level, or phase, in Algeria." The request was reiterated to UNDP on Monday, but still without response. Back on January 8, Inner City Press had asked Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson, "Was Mr. de Bernis himself actually in charge of raising the level or did he have to run it by somebody above himself?" The spokesperson then said, "All this will be in the report that Mr. Veness will submit on the 11th. I am just asking you to wait until the 11th." But January 11th came and went with no information being released. On Tuesday, January 15, the spokesperson said that the new panel is expected to be named "early next week." Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban1algiers011408.html