In Arab League Run-Up, Kerry's Pitch on ISIL; Syria Coalition Wants Seat, UNRWA Seeks Funds

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 6 -- Starting from thebeheading of US journalist James Foley, the Syrian Coalition has pushed harder to equate Assad and the Islamic State, and to present themselves, based in Turkey, as a key to fighting ISIL. Their pitch on the Arab League meeting is below.

 But first, this read-out from a Senior US State Department official, of Secretary of State Kerry's call with Nabil al-Arabi:

"Secretary Kerry spoke with the Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil Elaraby today to discuss developments in the region and to provide an update on efforts to combat ISIL in advance of the Arab League meetings which start tomorrow.  They discussed the need for the Arab League and its members to take a strong position in the coalition that is developing against ISIL and the importance of decisive action to stop the flow of foreign fighters, counter ISIL's financing, and combat its incitement.

"The Secretary emphasized that the military aspect is only one part of this effort and that to degrade and destroy the threat posed by ISIL will require a holistic approach that will take time, persistence and require coordination with our Arab partners at the international, regional, and local level – combining military, law enforcement, intelligence, economic, and diplomatic tools. Both leaders also recognized that Iraq is on the front line in the war against ISIL and that Iraq, the United States, the region, and the international community must stand together to assist Iraq in facing this threat."

  Earlier on September 6 the Syrian Coalition issued a statement that:

"Nasr al-Hariri, Secretary General of the Syrian Coalition, calls on the Arab League to go beyond political recognition of the Syrian Coalition and grant it full legal recognition as the representative of the Syrian people during a meeting held today with Secretary General of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi. 

 "Al Arabi invited the Syrian Coalition to occupy Syria’s seat in the Arab League tomorrow and speak on behalf of the Syrian people. 'Fighting terrorism cannot be done piecemeal, therefore the Arab League’s resolution must include putting an end to the terror practiced by the Assad regime against the Syrian people,' Al Hariri said commenting on the Arab League’s intention to pass a resolution to confront terrorism during the upcoming ministerial meeting."

  There were other statements aimed in advance at this Arab League ministerial meeting, including about Gaza, from UNRWA:

"In a speech to be delivered tomorrow (Sunday), to Arab League Foreign Ministers in Cairo, UNRWA’s Commissioner General, Pierre Krahenbuhl, will ask for 47 million dollars for 4 weeks emergency work in Gaza.

"In his first major policy address since the ceasefire, Krahenbuhl will tell the ministers that 'there is a crying need for financial support now, today. Longer term reconstruction must be addressed but will depend on the outcome of negotiations on access for building materials. My main message to you today is please do not wait for weeks before providing support.'

"In a message to Arab League Secretary General, Nabil al-Arabi he will say 'UNRWA can only carry out these tasks if it has the funds to do so. We depend almost entirely on voluntary contributions. Secretary General, you kindly co-chaired a meeting with Mr Ban Ki-Moon in New York a year ago which generated a renewal of the commitment of Arab governments to aim at providing 7.8 % of UNRWA’s programme budget. I have to say that performance at 4% still falls well short of this target. I urge your members to give more generously to allow UNRWA to continue its vital work.'"

   We'll see how much support for UNRWA comes out of the Arab League -- and how much support for the "coalition" against ISIL.

Footnote: Agence France Presse, purporting an info-graphic of journalists killed last year, listed four as killed "in Gaza." Since all other listed jurisdiction are full UN member states, some surmised AFP's nomenclature let off the hook the killer of those journalists. Despite calling it social media, 17 days later AFP has not responded.

   

On Syria, UN Says Ban Ki-moon Discusses New Envoy with Arab League's Elaraby, But Saudi Arabia Wouldn't Meet Brahimi

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 18 -- Syria was the main topic when UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met the Arab League's Nabil Elaraby on June 18 in Geneva, according to the UN. "They discussed the current search for a successor of Lakhdar Brahimi and agreed to continue these consultations," the UN says.

  But already two Permanent Five members of the UN Security Council have said a Brahimi replacement shouldn't or probably won't represent the Arab League.

  And Brahimi has said that Saudi Arabia refused to meet with him. So what would be the point? 

  According to the UN, Ban and Elaraby "also exchanged views on the current state of the Middle East peace process, as well as on the on-going crises in Iraq, Libya and Somalia."

 On Iraq, what is the Arab League's role? Iraq's Maliki has accused Saudi Arabia of supporting "genocide," which the US State Department spokesperson on June 17 called "offensive." But the US couldn't describe any Arab League role in Iraq: what could it be?

Background: Brahimi has let it all hang out. Inner City Press wrote about it on June 8, and on June 9 asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric:

Inner City Press: The Lakhdar Brahimi interview with Der Spiegel, I’m sure you’ve seen it and among other things, he says Saudi Arabia refused to meet with him, not wanting a peaceful settlement. He said that the chemical weapons attack in Khan al-Assal was in all probability caused by the opposition, and I just wanted to know... I can keep going down this litany. I understand that he’s now a private individual, but factually speaking, let’s say on the Saudi issue, since he represented the Secretary-General as well as the League of Arab States at the time, is it true? Can you confirm that Saudi Arabia declined to meet with him and what does this say about Brahimi replacement also representing the Arab League?

Spokesman Dujarric: I think, obviously, Mr. Brahimi’s interview was done as a private citizen. He no longer is the Joint Representative. However, the Secretary-General’s own position on a number of these issues has been expressed fairly directly either by me or by the Secretary-General himself. I think Mr. Brahimi over the past, over the time of his work as the Joint Special Representative, has been fairly candid about his opinion. On the issue of the use of chlorine, that is something that the OPCW [Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]has been looking into. And as the Secretary-General himself said here in this room, this time of sort of interim between, without an official Joint Representative, is being used as a time for stock-taking to see how that role can be best used to keep the political process moving to work for a peaceful end to the conflict in Syria.

Inner City Press: Because the Khan al-Assal was the attack that preceded the larger one so he was basically saying that the first reported, you know, use of chemical weapons, the one that Mr. Sellström was sent initially to investigate, was, he believes, done by the opposition. And since this… this seems to be a pretty major statement and it doesn’t seem to Khan al-Assal was ever fully investigated. That’s what many people said…

Spokesman: No, I understand. You know, I’m not going to go on a play by play of his comments. I think the Secretary-General’s own position has been very clear and very strong and what Mr. Brahimi expressed was his own private, private view.

 From Brahimi's interview with Der Speigel:

SPIEGEL: To what degree does this conflict pose a threat to Israel?

Brahimi: Israel is very happy. Things are going very, very well for them. If Bashar goes it's great; if Bashar stays it's great. Syria is being weakened. Syria had some kind of strategic weapon with their chemical weapons and that's gone. So Israel is doing very well, thank you very much. You don't need to worry about them.

  The UN Office of the Spokesperson refused last week to confirm what a Permanent Five member of the UN Security Council's Permanent Representative told Inner City Press, that the UN Secretariat doesn't want a Brahimi representative to also represent the Arab League. Brahimi said:

SPIEGEL: We have been told that the Saudis even refused to meet with you.

Brahimi: That's a fact. I think they didn't like what I was saying about a peaceful and negotiated settlement with concessions from both sides

  So, no Arab League it would seem. From the section on chemical weapons:

it does seem that in Khan al-Assal, in the north, the first time chemical weapons were used, there is a likelihood that it was used by the opposition.

  Brahimi's conclusion, which Der Spiegel turned into a headline:

It will be become another Somalia. It will not be divided, as many have predicted. It's going to be a failed state, with warlords all over the place.

  Just on Inner City Press note: Somalia may not be "divided," but Somaliland (and Puntland) assert independence...

   On May 13 after Syria envoy Lakhdar Brahimi publicly resigned at the UN, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric selected who could ask him questions, with a decided slant. After Brahimi left, Inner City Press asked at the subsequent noon briefing if Brahimi will return to work for Algeria, specifically as a Bouteflika deputy. 

  Dujarric said that should and could be posed directly at Brahimi at his question and answer media stakeout later in the day. Video here.

    Inner City Press waited. But when Brahimi came to the stakeout, Dujarric's deputy Farhan Haq selected essentially the same questioners as Dujarric picked for Brahimi at noon. What was the point? Beyond propaganda? 

  In the earlier session, Inner City Press, which on May 3 reported that former Tunisian foreign minister and Ben Ali associate Kamel Morjane was being vetted to replace Brahimi, had this and another question to ask. Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric, however, made a selection of questioners which left these out, while including the so-called “Holy Seat” of the UN Correspondents Association, become the UN's Censorship Alliance.

  Brahimi was not asked about his future plans; Ban was not asked about vetting Morjane. After the two left, Dujarric continued taking questions along the same line. When called on, Inner City Press asked about Morjane and this: is Brahimi planning to take a role in Algeria once his resignation is effective on May 31?

  Dujarric said that should be asked to Brahimi -- what a surprise -- and then said without knowing it to be true that it could be asked later in the day to Brahimi after he briefs the Security Council. As he should know there are deadlines: including two more questions pending to be written about shortly.

  On this, what sources tell Inner City Press concerns Brahimi working with Bouteflika in Algeria. Out of respect for Brahimi, Inner City Press didn't reported it, wanted to let Brahimi himself address it on camera at this resignation press availability. But no. Watch this site.

Footnote: the debate seems to be whether Brahimi's replacement should "be an Arab" -- if so, North Africa is seen as the likely but shallow pool -- or, say, Javier Solana. We'll have more on this -- and on Dujarric contradicting one of the publications he called on for Ban and Brahimi, that the UN's Martin Griffith has himself been Banned from Damascus....

   

Westerwelle Won't Comment on Spying on Syria, Elaraby Easy on US

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 26 -- When German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle and the Arab League's Nabil Elaraby appeared for an 8:30 am press conference on Wednesday, seven hours before the German-organized UN Security Council meeting about the Arab League, each made a point of speaking in their native language, for the home audience.

 But Inner City Press got in two questions in English, one of which was dodged and the other not directly answered.

  Inner City Press asked Westerwelle about reports that German ships have been collecting intelligence from Syria, for example on army movements, and providing it to the Syria opposition. 

  Westerwelle said he would not comment on that. It was in the German newspaper Die Welt. Some say there are countries that want to be able to tell their home audience they are helping the rebels, but then... don't want to answer questions about it.

  Elaraby had said that Palestine is the most important issue. Inner City Press asked about the draft(s) of a Council Presidential Statement for the afternoon, and about what Council sources tell Inner City Press is the "Host Country's" opposition to a reference to Palestine and the Arab peace initiative.

  But Elaraby did not answer about this specific opposition, rather saying that the tragedy of Palestine was caused by the Security Council, and should be fixed by it. Welcome to the world of the Security Council veto -- as on Syria. Watch this site.

As Ban Meets UAE & Arab League, Roed-Larsen at Both, Ladsous UAE

By Matthew Russell Lee

 

UNITED NATIONS, September 21 -- As this Fall's UN General Assembly begins, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and different members of his team met back to back Friday with the United Arab Emirates' foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan then with an Arab League delegation led by Nabil Elaraby.

  Inner City Press covered both as photo-ops, being confined between the two in a holding room with an Egyptian videographer in the office of Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson. Questions arose about Ban's different line-ups for the two meetings.

  Ban's uncommunicative top Peacekeeper Herve Ladsous, the fourth Frenchman in a row to hold the post, attended the meeting with the UAE but not with the Arab League.

  Since the UAE is hardly big in UN Peacekeeping, one thought the rationale would be to talk about Syria. But Ladsous was absent from the more Syria-focused Arab League meeting.

   Terje Roed-Larsen, whose mandate under Security Council resolution 1559 Syria has repeatedly sought to reign in, was present for both meetings.

  Ban's top lawyer Patricia O'Brien, also uncommunicative in that she has repeatedly refused requests to do a press conference or take questions, arrived for the Arab League meeting, of which Inner City Press made a 3-minute video, on YouTube here and below.

  The head of the UN Department of Political Affairs, former US State Department official Jeffrey Feltman, was understandably present for both meetings. The UAE foreign minister called out to him, "Jeff, I just sent you a text message," which Feltman acknowledged receiving. For Iran - LOL?

  Here was Ban's spokesperson's office's read-out of the UAE meeting:

 

"They discussed several regional issues including Syria, and the Middle East Peace Process. The Secretary-General thanked Sheikh Abdullah for hosting the UN presence in the UAE and welcomed the newly established UNOCHA Gulf Office. He also noted the important role the UAE is playing in humanitarian financing through its Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid."

 

So that's why the UN's top humanitarian Valerie Amos was there. But why was Ladsous at the UAE meeting? Watch this site.

 

Update of 6:36 pm -- the UN spokesperson has put out this read out of the Arab League meeting:

 

They discussed first and foremost the situation in Syria, with its political impasse, widespread human rights abuses, and growing humanitarian crisis.

 

They expressed serious concern about the question of Palestine, the lack of progress in peace negotiations, and the alarming economic situation as well as the absence of hope in the occupied Palestinian territory.

 

Finally, they discussed the rioting that recently erupted following the posting of the irresponsible and provocative video on the Prophet Mohammed, which they condemned, while deploring the violence that ensued.

 
But what about France Banning even peaceful protests? Click here for that.

On Syria, Ban Ki-moon Takes Center Stage Then Defers to Annan, UN/Acceptable Violations?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNdisclosed Location, June 7 -- Outside the UN Security Council on Thursday afternoon, three separate rostrums were set up. When they emerged, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon took the center. But why?

Kofi Annan is the JOINT Special Envoy of the UN and Arab League: Ban and the Arab League's Araby should have been on his two sides. Especially when Ban answered a question by saying, I have much to add to what [Annan] said. One wag muttered, You're right, you don't have much to add.

During the closed door Security Council consultations, Western diplomats were bragging that inside Ban had said that Annan's six point plan is not likely to be implemented. Inner City Press asked a non-Western diplomat who was inside the room, did Annan say that? No, was the answer. And it IS the "Annan plan."

Annan, of course, if far from perfect. When Fox News was given a question, the specter of the Oil for Food scandal was in the air. To ITN, Annan denounced "unacceptable human rights violations." It begs the question: are there "acceptable" rights violations? There do seem to be, at least for Ban Ki-moon in Sri Lanka. Anyone who raises this gets targeted, including for expulsion.

Another discrepancy arose and seemed to go un- or under-reported. Earlier in the week, Inner City Press learned and exclusively reported that after indicating he wanted to have an "informal interactive dialogue" with the Security Council, as for example Thabo Mbeki recently did about Sudan, Araby switched course and said he DIDN'T want to meet with the Council.

Thursday morning a non-Western diplomat exclusively told Inner City Press that Arabi had "changed his mind or was persuaded by someone else" and now wanted an informal dialogue, which was then scheduled for 2:30. Perhaps this was reported in Western big media and it's just not yet in Google News. But as of 6:15 pm on Thursday, it's not there: until now.

As Arab League Proposes al-Khatib, Libya UN Fiasco & Banning Not Answered

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 12 -- When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited Jordan earlier this year, he apparently didn't even speak with Abdel Elah al-Khatib, the Jordanian politician and businessman who had a rocky term as UN envoy to Libya, complete with conflicts of interest, and then quit.

On February 9, the day after Ban told the media he had discussed a joint envoy with the Arab League's Nabil Elaraby, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky when, in fact, Ban last spoke with al-Khatib. Nesirky said he found find out and answer the question, but four days later has not.

Al-Khatib never disclosed nor stopped his business activities, which Inner City Press showed included links to a Gaddafi-affiliated bank in Libya, while serving as envoy. He demanded private jets and made UN staff assigned to help him cry, from abuse. Then he was eased out by current UN envoy Ian Martin, and quit -- all this according to well placed sources in the UN Department of Political Affairs, and then unconvincingly denied.

This would be the UN - Arab League envoy to Syria? First, Ban or his spokesman should have to answer these questions, including the one for which an answer was promised four days ago.

From the UN's February 9 transcript:

Inner City Press: one follow-up on this issue of an envoy. The name of Al-Khatib has resurfaced, who was obviously the Envoy to Libya, and so I just wondered when, if you can say — I know that the Secretary-General visited Jordan recently — have there been any contacts with Mr. Al-Khatib, or some people saw it as that, sort of a something of a failed endeavour. Have they… are they still in contact? Does Mr. Al-Khatib have any advisory or other role with the UN, or did that end abruptly and not… did they speak when he was in Jordan, just as one example?

Spokesperson Martin Nesirky: I’m not sure which part of the question to answer at this point.

Inner City Press: How does it stand between Ban Ki-moon and his previous Envoy to a crisis in Libya? When is the last time they spoke?

Spokesperson Nesirky: I’d have to check on that particular point. As for the League of Arab States proposal, as you will have heard me say, this was a proposal from them, and we are waiting to hear more details. Therefore, it doesn’t seem appropriate to put the cart before the horse. But on your particular question about the last interaction, let me find out.

We're still waiting. Watch this site.