At World Cup in Brazil, 60% of UN Security Council But Only 16% of UN Member States Will Play: Of Malvinas and Migrants in France

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 1 -- In the upcoming World Cup in Brazil later this month, nine of the 15 members of the UN Security Council will participate. So 60% of the Security Council's members will be there, while only 16% of the UN's 193 member states will be.

  Of the five Permanent members of the Security Council, only China won't be there. Of the Group of 4, only India will be absent. Of countries on the Council's agenda, present in Brazil will be Iran and Cote d'Ivoire, Bosnia and Greece (arguably on due to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia “name” issue).

  In Group B, Security Council members Australia and Chile will face off, June 13 in Cuiaba. In Group H, Russia and South Korea will play there on June 17 (South Korea was president of the Security Council for May; Russia is president in June.)

  There are few ideological battles, at least in the first round. Iran is not in in Group G with the United States -- G is for Germany, and Portugal too -- and the UK and Argentina and the Malvinas / Falkland Islands dispute are in different groups.

  In Group E, France and Ecuador might at least disagree about regime change and the treatment of migrants, when they play June 25 in Rio. Watch this site.

Footnote: In New York, recently Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's golf buddy (along with the UK and South Korea) San Marino's ambassador set up another pick-up game, seemingly including Ukraine's long-time Permanent Representative Yuri Sergeyey, next to Ban's legacy striker Kim Won-soo. To some, there seems to have been even less diversity in this group that at the World Cup...

   

UN Admits Chad Troops Walk Off Job in Mali, No Answer on Somalia, Jarba & Golf, Faux UN Briefing on CAR Today

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 18 -- The inclusion of troops from Chad in the UN Mission in Mali MINUSMA has been subject to controversy, including since Chad is on the UN's own list of child soldier recruiters. But UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous overrode that concern.See Inner City Press story, and Ladsous' non-answers.

  On Wednesday before the day's noon briefing Inner City Press asked the spokespeople for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about Chadian troops leaving their post -- Absent WithOut Leave, AWOL -- in northern Mali, among other questions:

"Please confirm or deny that AFISMA troops, reportedly from Chad, have left their positions in Northern Mali, and what the UN is doing about it."

Two hours after a noon briefing in which the UN's credibility was questioned, the UN provided Inner City Press with a response to the Mali question (but not the other ones)

Subject: Your question on Mali
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Wed, Sep 18, 2013 at 2:28 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

We have the following from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations:

The UN Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) is aware that some members of the Chadian contingents left their base in Tessalit yesterday.

The Chadian authorities, in collaboration with the Mission, are currently in discussions with the group to understand the reasons behind their action and find a rapid solution.

Meanwhile, MINUSMA has taken appropriate measures to keep performing its mandated tasks.

So were other troops sent to Tassalit? What ever happened with Mauritania's demand to only serve on its own border? Ladsous' refusal to take Press questions... leaves many questions unanswered.

And Ban's Spokesperson's Office for the second day has left these questions answered, along with a new one:

From yesterday: What is the UN's reaction - denial? - of allegation that in Somalia an AMISOM contingent, on information and belief from Burundi, provides services to UNMAS' David Bax?

Please state if the corruption allegations against Ugandan troops in AMISOM (selling materiel in the black market) trigger the UN's Human Rights Due Diligence Policy.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24116606

From Sept. 3: "As brought up in the most recent briefing based on NYT profile, please provide a list of the S-G's golfing partners in the past year who are diplomats, and, separately, a summary of issues discussed."

And the new one:

"Please state whether the current presentation in room S-310 about Central African Republic is a "UN briefing" and explain why it was publicized, at least electronically, only to those correspondents who paid money / dues?"

  This question, troublingly, has still not been answered with regard to the so-called "UN briefing" by Saudi-sponsored Syria rebel boss Ahmad al Jarba held in S-310 on July 26. And the UN wonders why, among other reasons including bringing cholera to Haiti and remaining silent on Sri Lanka, its credibility is under question. Watch this site.

   

In Haiti, UN Peacekeeper from Sri Lanka Charged with Rape, Echoes of Past and Cholera, Others Questions UNanswered: Somalia, Jarba to Golf

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 17 -- UN misdeeds in Haiti are not surprising, given the introduction of cholera. Nor, troublingly, are allegations of abuse by Sri Lankan soliders: a large contingent was repatriated in the past for sexual abuse.

But when a new allegation came out, not commented on by the MINUSTAH mission, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's top two spokespeople:

"What is the UN's reaction - denial? - of allegation of rape by MINUSTAH peacekeeper from Sri Lanka?http://www.sentinel.ht/news/articles/crime/5010-new-case-of-un-peacekeeper-rape-in-haiti"

And the UN came back with this response:

From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Tue, Sep 17, 2013 at 10:56 AM
Subject: Your question on Haiti
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

In response to your email question about Haiti, we have the following information from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations:

We are aware of the allegations made against a military staff member. As you know, the UN has a zero tolerance policy sexual exploitation and abuse that we at MINUSTAH strictly enforce. A preliminary investigation has been launched to determine the facts of the case.

But what does "zero tolerance" mean if the alleged rapists are simply sent home, with any subsequent prosecution never disclosed?

Inner City Press also asked:

What is the UN's reaction - denial? - of allegation that in Somalia an AMISOM contingent, on information and belief from Burundi, provides services to UNMAS' David Bax?

Please state if the corruption allegations against Ugandan troops in AMISOM (selling materiel in the black market) trigger the UN's Human Rights Due Diligence Policy.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24116606

From Sept. 3: "As brought up in the most recent briefing based on NYT profile, please provide a list of the S-G's golfing partners in the past year who are diplomats, and, separately, a summary ofissues discussed."

There are also questions pending including about the faux"UN briefing" by Syria rebel Ahmad al Jarba. Watch this site.

   

After France Tells Inner City Press That Ban Ki-moon Told It of Syria Report, UN Won't Confirm, Selective and Murky

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 12 -- Syria has confirmed it gave a letter from Bashar al Assad to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for accession to the Chemical Weapons treaty of 1993 (Inner City Press put it online here).

  But it remains murky to whom other than France Ban spoke last night about the UN report on the topic, when it will be released and what it will say.

Inner City Press at 10 am on Thursday asked France Ambassador Gerard Araud the basis of his foreign minister Laurent Fabuis saying the UN report will be submitted to the Security Council on Monday and will implicate Assad.

Araud said, we were told last night. When Inner City Press asked, by whom, Araud replied: the Secretary General.

  But when Inner City Press asked Ban's associate spokesperson Farhan Haq to confirm what Araud said and who ELSE Ban spoke to, Haq refused. He said Ban speaks to a range of people.

Inner City Press asked: did Ban tell Russia or China last night? Haq wouldn't answer. On a second round of questions Inner City Press formally asked for a list of whom Ban spoke to about Syria yesterday. 

  It is similar to the ongoing request by the Free UN Coalition for Access for disclosure of whom Ban golfs with (beyond the pro-West troika of the Permanent Representatives of South Korea, San Marino and the UK). It should be disclosed.

  When September's Security Council president Gary Quinlan of Australia came out, Inner City Press asked him about what Araud and Fabius had said, if to his knowledge Ban has spoken with all of the Permanent Five members, or even all 15 Council members including Australia.

  Quinland replied that he did not know. So, not Australia. Who DID Ban give the heads-up to? And why? Watch this site.

   

From Syria, Letter to Ban Ki-moon, Race for Relevance Has Elected 10 of UNSC in Lobby, No Briefing, Africa Dropped Like Hot Yam

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 3 -- On Syria, after US President Barack Obama said he's comfortable proceeding without the UN chemical weapons inspection report and without the UN Security Council, the UN has been all Syria, all the time in what we've dubbed its Race for Relevance.

  On this Tuesday after Labor Day, the UN has canceled its normal noon briefing because Ban will speak on Syria at 1 pm, apparently for only 15 minutes. So, no Q&A with the UN about its billion dollar peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Sudan, nor Mali nor Haiti: all dropped like a hot potato -- or yam.

  The UN press corps swarmed the lobby Tuesday morning seeking comment from the Elected Ten members of the Security Council on their way up to meet with Ban about Syria. Tweeted cell phone photo here.

  On the way down, the Permanent Representatives of South Korea -- Ban's golfing buddy, click here for Inner City Press story on that -- and Argentina, last month's President of the Council, referred all questions to this month's Council chief, Gary Quinlan of Australia.

  Quinlan at least stopped, and Inner City Press filmed. But he made no substantive comment, saying that he will hold a press conference on September 4 at 12:30. That's supposed to be on the Council's September Program of Work.

  Meanwhile, the Free UN Coalition for Access @FUNCA_info put online the UN General Assembly debate speakers' list, version 2 sent to member states on August 30, here. Notably, Qatar now has a spot in the first, opening morning with Obama on September 24.

  Inner City Press obtained and put online Syria's August 31 letter to the UN, here, which among other things notes that Syria in March asked the UN to determine WHO used chemical weapons at Khan al Asal, but says that the US, France and UK opposed that. Turn, turn, turn. Watch this site.

   

UNreformed: When Ban Ki-moon Golfs With Western Allies, Shouldn't Any UN Issues Discussed Be Disclosed?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 1, updated -- The UN's impartiality is much discussed these days, not least by the UN itself. So there were bound to be Press questions when today's New York Times quoted Secretary General Ban Ki-moon:

"I try to play golf. I do not have a membership, so I’m invited by some friends. The Korean ambassador has a membership. The ambassador of San Marino, [Alexander] Bodini, plays at Deepdale in Long Island. That’s a very good place. Another is Manhattan Woods, with the Korean ambassador."

  Because of the UN's Syria chemical weapons investigation, there was a press briefing on Sunday morning. Inner City Press asked if the UN had accepted a free plane from Germany to fly its team and samples from Damascus to The Hague (yes) then asked about Ban's golfing. Video here, from Minute 26:35.

  Specifically, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesperson Martin Nesirky how he'd respond to the argument this undermines the UN's or at least Ban's perceived impartiality. Nesirky said Ban also golfs with others; he gave the example of UK Permanent Representative Mark Lyall Grant (who sesupport of a particularly tough soccer team West Ham Inner City Press has previously reported.)

  That's still three Western or pro-Western golf partners. Inner City Press asked, what about North Korea? Syria? Iran? Eritrea. There was laughter. Not that it is without humor, but why? Because the named countries or ambassadors don't play golf? (Inner City Press been jokingly asked if it thinks Syria's Ja'afari even knows how to play golf. But would Ban ask?) Because of course Ban wouldn't golf with them?

  How are decisions made? Why aren't more disclosures made? This is a question that the new Free UN Coalition for Access @FUNCA_info has asked and will keep asking, as it will for the disclosure of the telephone calls Ban makes, and the schedule of his Political and Peacekeeping chiefs, Jeffrey Feltman of the US and Herve Ladsous of France.

  For US President Barack Obama, for example, the White House sends out reports that list, at least by visual observation, his golf partners.

  As to the UN, Inner City Press has asked UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant by Twitter, a medium in which he has responded to previous Inner City Press questions, if any issues were discussed on the links. 

Update of 6:30 pm - Class act that he is, Ambassador Lyall Grant did reply: "What happens on the golf course stays on the golf course. Isn't that the rule? Or is that Vegas?"

  That IS the phrase. But the point for now of asking was, if substantive talk does occur during Ban's golf outing, it is at least relevant to know if Ban golfs or try to golf with both sides of conflicts. Not only on the Korean peninsula but also, say, on the Malvinas / Falkland Islands. We appreciate the answer, but Inner City Press (or more likely as a matter of policy the Free UN Coalition for Access, @FUNCA_info) will have more on this.

   

On Syria, UN Spokesperson Doesn't Know if US Shared Evidence, Says Ban Ki-moon Golfs with UK Too, Not Only South Korea: Impartial?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 1 -- After UN chemical weapons inspector Ake Sellstrom spoke with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday morning about Syria, Ban's spokesperson Martin Nesirky took questions from the press.

One of the elephants in the room was John Kerry, or at least his announcement earlier in the morning that the US' lab tests of hair and blood samples from Ghouta show the presence of sarin.

Inner City Press asked Nesirky to comment on the US moving or saying it moved so much more quickly, and if the US has shared any of this evidence with the UN. To the latter, Nesirky later said that he didn't know. (It seems strange that it wouldn't come up on Ban's call with Sellstrom, but maybe in The Hague as on the UN's internal EZTV system CNN can't be heard.)

On the former, Nesirky said the UN is unique capable of conducting an impartial investigation, clarifying that this involved chain of custody. Inner City Press asked that since the US speed also involved faster lab work, did this mean Ban found the fast-labs less than credible? Nesirky returned to his prior answer.

Gulf media questioned why, if two Syrian officers are accompanying the samples, there are not two representatives from the rebels, presumably from Team Jarba. Nesirky replied that this was what had been negotiated.

Nesirky graciously allowed Inner City Press a final question, which were two. First, about Germany providing a plane to fly the samples and team to The Hague. Yes, Nesirky said, what's the second. Actually it was related to the implication of the first: that for the UN to accept free service from some member countries might undercut its perceived impartiality.

Inner City Press asked about a statement by Ban Ki-moon in Sunday's New York Times, Sunday Routine column:

I try to play golf. I do not have a membership, so I’m invited by some friends. The Korean ambassador has a membership. The ambassador of San Marino, [Alexander] Bodini, plays at Deepdale in Long Island. That’s a very good place. Another is Manhattan Woods, with the Korean ambassador.

Inner City Press asked Nesirky how the UN would respond to the argument this undermines the UN's or at least Ban's perceived impartiality. Nesirky said Ban also golf with others; he gave the example of the UK (presumably Mark Lyall Grant, whose support of a particularly rough soccer team West Ham Inner City Press has previously reported.)

Inner City Press asked, as to Ban's social golfing, what about North Korea? Syria? Iran? Eritrea. There was laughter. Not that it is without humor, but why? Because the named countries or ambassadors don't play golf? (Inner City Press been jokingly asked if it thinks Syria's Ja'afari even knows how to play golf. But would Ban ask?)  Because of course Ban wouldn't golf with them? How are decisions made? Why aren't more disclosures made? Watch this site.

   

Sponsored by Oil Firm ENI, UNCA's Dag Hammarskjold Fund for Journalism Promotes Sri Lanka Ambassador

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 30 -- In the campaign by Reuters, Agence France Press, Voice of America and other board members of the UN Correspondents Association to dis-accredit Inner City Press and slow the growth of the new Free UN Coalition for Access, the arguments have shifted.

  They've gone from stealth complaints and requests to dis-accredit to anonymous posts implying terrorist funding, or now funding by countries' Mission to the UN.

  Neither is true, but the allegation is ironic from UNCA, since even the program of its December 19, 2012 ball -- for which it charged $250 a plate -- lists as funders not only countries but, among others, the Italian oil company ENI, which also purchased the back page of UNCA's 2012 Directory.

  Beyond ENI, full page ads were purchased from UNCA by an Italian eyewear firm I-Velvet ("Italia Independent"), Benetton, Royale Air Maroc, the ginseng cream Sulwhasoo, J.Estina, watchmaker Romanson, and "Royal Gold La Bagnaia," built by Marisa Riffeser of the family owning the newspaper of UNCA's then President.

  So a composite UNCA supporter could grease up with Sulwhasoo, put on the I-Velvete shades and Romanson watch and play golf in Tuscany. Where does the investigative journalism come in?

   Even the awards that UNCA gave out were to media groups which bought full page ads in UNCA's program. The ostensibly beneficiary, UNCA-affiliated Dag Hammarskjold Fund for Journalism, is also funded by countries' mission and the same Italian oil company.

   Even UN Correspondents Association's faded jewel the "Dag" has been corrupted by the UNCA Executive Committee and its lack of conflict of interest rules.

   In late 2011 and the first half of 2012, UNCA's then-president tried to expel Inner City Press for its reporting on the Sri Lankan Mission's UNCA film screening denying war crimes, after a past financial relationship with -- the renting of one of Pioli's apartments some years ago when he was a UN official to -- Sri Lanka's now Ambassador to the UN, Palitha Kohona.
 
  Click here for the report by the Sri Lanka Campaign, led by former Secretary General Kofi Annan's Director of Communications Edward Mortimer.

  Then in 2012 the UNCA-affiliated Dag Hammarskjold Fund for Journalism chose as one of its four fellows a journalist from Sri Lanka who conducted laudatory interviews with the same Sri Lankan Ambassador, Kohona. 

  Click as simply two examples here (quoting "Doctor" Kohona that Ban Ki-moon's "internal report will not affect Sri Lanka"), and here (YouTube praise of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon).  

  Again, where does the investigative journalism come in?

 "The Dag" also takes money from the Italian oil firm ENI, and has on its board the Voice of America reporter Margaret Besheer who pushed to expel Inner City Press along with other former and current UNCA Executive Committee members and the past -- and current? - UNCA President.

 These are all pictured in the "Dag" section of UNCA's glassed-in bulletin board , which the UNCA leadership demands to UN Media Accreditation be the only voice on the UN's press floor walls. (ENI, presumably, could post an advertisement.)

 Sometimes it's hard to keep track: does UN Media Accreditation and Department of Public Information work for UNCA's Executive Board -- that is, for Reuters, AFP et al. -- or does UNCA work for the UN's Herve Ladsous and even Ban Ki-moon?

  That's why they call it the UN's Censorship Alliance.

   As a number of UN correspondents, and now some UN diplomats and officials have opined, UNCA's leadership has taken a turn toward the "disgusting." Their response to on the record criticism with anonymous posts alleging terrorist financing is a last straw. Watch this site.